Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth Factor Proteins and Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Place on the Path to Precision

Background: Since the neurotrophic hypothesis of depression was formulated, conflicting results have been reported regarding the role of growth factor proteins in depressed patients, including whether there are state or trait alterations found in patients compared to controls and whether they represent predictors of treatment response. Recently it has been hypothesized that heterogeneity of findings within this literature might be partly explained by participants' history of treatment-resistant depression. This study aimed to investigate the role of growth factor proteins in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) undergoing an inpatient intervention. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 36 patients with TRD and 36 matched controls. Patients were assessed both at admission and discharge from a specialist inpatient program. We examined serum biomarker differences between patients and non-depressed matched controls, longitudinal changes after inpatient treatment and relationship to clinical outcomes. Additionally, the influence of potential covariates on biomarker levels were assessed. Results: Patients displayed lower serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (OR = 0.025; 95% CI = 0.001, 0.500) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGFC; OR = 0.083, 95% CI = 0.008, 0.839) as well as higher angiopoietin-1 receptor (Tie2; OR = 2.651, 95% CI = 1.325, 5.303) compared to controls. Patients were stratified into responders (56%) and non-responders (44%). Lower VEGFD levels at admission predicted subsequent non-response (OR = 4.817, 95% CI = 1.247, 11.674). During treatment, non-responders showed a decrease in VEGF and VEGFC levels, while responders showed no significant changes. Conclusion: TRD patients demonstrate a deficit of peripheral growth factors and our results suggest that markers of the VEGF family might decline over time in chronically depressed patients in spite of multidisciplinary treatment. The action of angiogenic proteins may play an important role in the pathophysiology of TRD, and pending comprehensive investigation may provide important insights for the future of precision psychiatry.
Analysis of Forming Limits in Sheet Metal Forming with Pattern Recognition Methods. Part 1: Characterization of Onset of Necking and Expert Evaluation

In automotive manufacturing, high strength materials, and aluminum alloys are widely used to address the requirement of ensuring a lightweight car body and correspondingly, reducing pollution. In this context of complexity of materials and structures, an optimized process design with finite element analyses (FEA) is mandatory, as well as a correct definition of the material forming limits. For this purpose, in sheet metal forming, the forming limit curve (FLC) is used. The FLC is defined by the onset of necking. The standard evaluation method according to DIN EN ISO 12004-2 is based on the cross-section method and assumes that the failure occurs due to a clear localized necking. However, this approach has its limitations, specifically in the case of brittle materials that do not exhibit a distinct necking phase. To overcome this challenge, a pattern recognition-based evaluation is proposed. Although pattern recognition and machine learning techniques have been widely employed in the medical field, few studies have investigated them in the context of analyzing metal sheet forming limits. The application of pattern recognition in metal forming is subject to the exact definition of the forming behaviors. Thereby, it is challenging to relate patterns on the strain distribution during Nakajima tests with the onset of necking for the FLC determination. Thus, the first approach was based on the crack evaluation, since this class is well-defined. However, of substantial interest is the evaluation of the general material instabilities that precede failure. Therefore, in the present study, the analysis of the material behavior during stretching is conducted in order to characterize instability classes. The results of Nakajima tests are investigated using an optical measurement system. A conventional pattern recognition approach based on texture features, considering the outcomes of expert interviews for the definition of classes is used for the FLC determination. Moreover, an analysis of the validity of the supervised learning is conducted. The results show a good prediction of the onset of necking, even for high strength materials with a recall of up to 92%. Some deviations are observed in the determination of the diffuse necking. The discrepancies of the different experts’ prognoses highlight the user-dependency of the FLC, suggesting further investigations with an data-driven approach, could be beneficial.
MiR‐145 affected the circular RNA expression in prostate cancer LNCaP cells

Recent evidence has demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) played crucial roles in fine‐tuning the levels of gene expression by sequestering the corresponding microRNA (miRNAs). Their interaction with disease‐associated miRNAs indicates that circRNAs are important for the development of disease, and miR‐145 has been previously shown to have antitumor effect in prostate cancer. In the current study, we successfully established the miR‐145‐overexpressed prostate cancer LNCaP cells (LNCaP‐miR‐145) using lentiviral vectors. LNCaP cells expressing the empty vector (LNCaP‐NC) were used as the negative control. The circRNA expression in LNCaP‐miR‐145 cells was detected by microarray analysis, and the miRNA targets of circRNAs were predicted using the bioinformatics software TargetScan and miRanda. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression levels of circRNAs in the prostate cancer tissue, nonmalignant tissue, LNCaP‐miR‐145 cells, and LNCaP‐NC cells. The interaction of miRNA and circRNA was further confirmed by the dual‐luciferase reporter assay. A total of 267 and 149 circRNAs were significantly up‐ and downregulated in LNCaP‐miR‐145 cells, respectively. hsa_circRNA_101981, hsa_circRNA_101996 and hsa_circRNA_09142 were the 3 circRNAs that interacted with hsa‐miR‐145‐5p; hsa_circRNA_008068 and hsa_circRNA_406557 were the 2 circRNAs that interacted with hsa‐miR‐145‐3p. Most of the circRNAs corresponded to the protein‐coding exons. The expression levels of hsa_circRNA_101981, hsa_circRNA_00806, and hsa_circRNA_406557 were upregulated in the LNCaP‐miR‐145 cells, but downregulated in the prostate cancer tissue. In contrast, the expression levels of hsa_circRNA_101996 and hsa_circRNA_091420 were downregulated in the LNCaP‐miR‐145 cells, but upregulated in the prostate cancer tissue. Moreover, miR‐145‐5P might regulate the expression of hsa_circRNA_101981, hsa_circRNA_101996, and hsa_circRNA_09142, while miR‐145‐3P might regulate the expression of hsa_circRNA_008068 and hsa_circRNA_406557. Overexpression of miR‐145 promoted the expression of hsa_circRNA_101981, hsa_circRNA_008068, and hsa_circRNA_406557 but suppressed the expressions of hsa_circRNA_101996 and hsa_circRNA_091420 in LNCaP cells. The results from the current study should give us a clue to clarify the tumor suppressive effect of miR‐145.
Social Robots for People with Aging and Dementia: A Systematic Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND Social robots are currently a form of assistive technology for the elderly, healthy, or with cognitive impairment, helping to maintain their independence and improve their well-being. OBJECTIVE The main aim of this article is to present a review of the existing research in the literature, referring to the use of social robots for people with dementia and/or aging. METHODS Academic databases that were used to perform the searches are IEEE Xplore, PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, taking into account as date of publication the last 10 years, from 2007 to the present. Several search criteria were established such as "robot" AND "dementia," "robot" AND "cognitive impairment," "robot" AND "social" AND "aging," and so on. , selecting the articles of greatest interest regarding the use of social robots in elderly people with or without dementia. RESULTS This search found a total of 96 articles on social robots in healthy people and with dementia, of which 38 have been identified as relevant work. Many of the articles show the acceptance of older people toward social robots. CONCLUSION From the review of the research articles analyzed, it can be said that use of social robots in elderly people without cognitive impairment and with dementia, help in a positive way to work independently in basic activities and mobility, provide security, and reduce stress.
A joint sensing and transmission power control policy for RF energy harvesting cognitive radio networks

We consider a radio frequency energy harvesting cognitive radio network in which a secondary user (SU) can opportunistically access channel to transmit packets or harvest radio frequency energy when the channel is idle or occupied by a primary user. The channel occupancy state and the channel fading state are both modeled as finite state Markov chains. At the beginning of each time slot, the SU should determine whether to harvest energy for future use or sense the primary channel to acquire the current channel occupancy state. It then needs to select an appropriate transmission power to execute the packet transmission or harvest energy if the channel is detected to be idle or busy, respectively. This sequential decision‐making, done to maximize the SU's expected throughput, requires to design a joint spectrum sensing and transmission power control policy based on the amount of stored energy, the retransmission index, and the belief on the channel state. We formulate this as a partially observable Markov decision process and use a computationally tractable point‐based value iteration algorithm. Section 5 illustrate the significant outperformance of the proposed optimal policy compared with the optimal fixed‐power policy and the greedy fixed‐power policy.
Efficacy and effectiveness of omalizumab in the treatment of childhood asthma

ABSTRACT Introduction: Omalizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds and inhibits free serum immunoglobulin E, a mediator involved in the clinical manifestations of allergic asthma. Evidence for its efficacy and safety in the treatment of moderate–to-severe allergic asthma is based primarily on studies in adolescents and adults. However, there is increasing evidence of its utility in children with allergic asthma aged 6–12 years. Areas covered: This article reviews efficacy, safety, and effectiveness of omalizumab in the treatment of moderate-to-severe allergic asthma in children aged 6–12 years in clinical trials and in studies in clinical practice. Pharmacoeconomic aspects of its use among this population and the positioning of omalizumab in pediatric asthma management guidelines are also discussed. Additionally, an algorithm for the management of poorly controlled severe pediatric asthma in children older than 6 years is proposed. Electronic databases, such as PubMed, were searched for terms Asthma and Omalizumab and for asthma management guidelines. Expert commentary: Add-on omalizumab is an effective maintenance therapy in children aged 6–12 years with poorly controlled moderate-to-severe allergic asthma treated with medium–high inhaled corticosteroids doses and inhaled long-acting β2-agonists. Omalizumab appears safe in children in both clinical trials and real-life setting and may be cost-effective.
Acute sleep loss results in tissue-specific alterations in genome-wide DNA methylation state and metabolic fuel utilization in humans

Simulated shift work uncovers potential tissue mechanisms for metabolic effects attributed to sleep loss and circadian disruption. Curtailed sleep promotes weight gain and loss of lean mass in humans, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. We investigated the genomic and physiological impact of acute sleep loss in peripheral tissues by obtaining adipose tissue and skeletal muscle after one night of sleep loss and after one full night of sleep. We find that acute sleep loss alters genome-wide DNA methylation in adipose tissue, and unbiased transcriptome-, protein-, and metabolite-level analyses also reveal highly tissue-specific changes that are partially reflected by altered metabolite levels in blood. We observe transcriptomic signatures of inflammation in both tissues following acute sleep loss, but changes involving the circadian clock are evident only in skeletal muscle, and we uncover molecular signatures suggestive of muscle breakdown that contrast with an anabolic adipose tissue signature. Our findings provide insight into how disruption of sleep and circadian rhythms may promote weight gain and sarcopenia.
Prospects for the research and application of biodegradable ureteral stents: from bench to bedside

Abstract Ureteral stents are commonly used in urological practices but are frequently associated with patient discomfort, encrustation and stent-related infection. And a second procedure is needed to remove the stent. New biomaterials and designs have been attempted to solve these problems. The development of biodegradable ureteral stent shows promising prospects in future clinical applications. This article reviews the biomaterials and preparation methods commonly used in the present study of biodegradable ureteral stents. To date, none of the technological developments has lead to the ‘ideal’ biodegradable ureteral stent, but much progress has been made in the stent design by improving the physical characteristics and biocompatibility of the biomaterials. The controllability of degradation, the biggest problem faced currently, still needs to be further improved. In the future, the nanotechnology and chemical modification of biomaterials may be able to further optimize the properties of degradation.
Serum Angiopoietin‐2 Predicts Mortality and Kidney Outcomes in Decompensated Cirrhosis

Acute kidney injury in decompensated cirrhosis has limited therapeutic options, and novel mechanistic targets are urgently needed. Angiopoietin‐2 is a context‐specific antagonist of Tie2, a receptor that signals vascular quiescence. Considering the prominence of vascular destabilization in decompensated cirrhosis, we evaluated Angiopoietin‐2 to predict clinical outcomes. Serum Angiopoietin‐2 was measured serially in a prospective cohort of hospitalized patients with decompensated cirrhosis and acute kidney injury. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were examined over a 90‐day period and analyzed according to Angiopoietin‐2 levels. Primary outcome was 90‐day mortality. Our study included 191 inpatients (median Angiopoietin‐2 level 18.2 [interquartile range 11.8, 26.5] ng/mL). Median Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 23 [17, 30] and 90‐day mortality was 41%. Increased Angiopoietin‐2 levels were associated with increased mortality (died 21.9 [13.9, 30.3] ng/mL vs. alive 15.2 [9.8, 23.0] ng/mL; P < 0.001), higher Acute Kidney Injury Network stage (stage I 13.4 [9.8, 20.1] ng/mL vs. stage II 20.0 [14.1, 26.2] ng/mL vs. stage III 21.9 [13.0, 29.5] ng/mL; P = 0.002), and need for renal replacement therapy (16.5 [11.3, 23.6] ng/mL vs. 25.1 [13.3, 30.3] ng/mL; P = 0.005). The association between Angiopoietin‐2 and mortality was significant in unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression models (P ≤ 0.001 for all models), and improved discrimination for mortality when added to MELD score (integrated discrimination increment 0.067; P = 0.001). Conclusion: Angiopoietin‐2 was associated with mortality and other clinically relevant outcomes in a cohort of patients with decompensated cirrhosis with acute kidney injury. Further experimental study of Angiopoietin/Tie2 signaling is warranted to explore its potential mechanistic and therapeutic role in this population.
The use of traditional and complementary medicine among patients with multiple sclerosis in Belgium

Introduction. Conventional treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) is often disappointing. As a result, some of these patients seek salvation in traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM). The aim of this study is to describe how many patients with MS use T&CM and what their motives and expectations are in doing so. Methods. Ninety-nine patients with diagnosed MS, attending the service of ambulatory revalidation of the National Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis in Melsbroek (Belgium) were included in February 2004 in this retrospective study. All patients had MS resulting in motoric or psychosocial symptoms. The disability was not quantified for this study. Participants were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire on their current treatment of MS including T&CM. Results. In total 44% of the participants had experiences with T&CM. The most frequently used T&CM were homeopathy and acupuncture. Participants using conventional treatment were more satisfied with the support (p=0.006) and the treatment outcome (0.018) than T&CM users. The use of T&CM was not related to gender, education, living conditions, causal treatment such as disease modifying-therapy (DMT), grade of disability or subtype of the disease. Conclusion. Patients diagnosed with MS seek hope in T&CM such as homeopathy or acupuncture. The results of this study suggest that MS patients need more professional support in their personal search for alternative therapies. Key point. 50% of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis search relief in traditional and complementary medicine such as homeopathy or acupuncture. These patients often feel compelled to try every opportunity to heal, often stimulated or urged on by friends or relatives. Multiple sclerosis patients are more satisfied with their conventional treatment than with the traditional and complementary medicine.
The Influence of Fatigue on Star Excursion Balance Test Performance in Dancers

Dance is associated with a high risk of injury and fatigue is often a contributing factor. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) has been used to identify alterations in normal movement that may contribute to injury risk; however, there has been limited investigation of the potential effects of fatigue. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of dance-specific fatigue on SEBT performance, with implications for injury and performance in dance. Thirty-five university dancers completed the modified SEBT in anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial directions prior to and immediately following the Dance Aerobic Fitness Test (DAFT). The SEBT was completed for dominant and non-dominant legs. Heart rate and rate of perceived exertion were quantified as measures of fatigue. Post-DAFT, the mean SEBT percentage maximized reach distances for dominant and non-dominant legs were non-significant compared to pre-DAFT scores. Lack of a main effect for exercise was observed in each of the anterior dominant and non-dominant, posterolateral dominant and non-dominant, and posteromedial dominant and non-dominant scores. It is concluded that the limited changes in the ability of dancers to perform the SEBT suggest that they were able to maintain SEBT performance in both dominant and non-dominant legs following exercise. This resistance to fatigue may demonstrate a dance-specific performance adaptation so that potential alterations in movement performance that may increase injury risk were not observed.
Exploring the Reasons for Decrease in Binding Affinity of HIV-2 Against HIV-1 Protease Complex Using Interaction Entropy Under Polarized Force Field

In this study, the differences of binding patterns between two type HIV (HIV-1 and HIV-2) protease and two inhibitors (darunavir and amprenavir) are analyzed and compared using the newly developed interaction entropy (IE) method for the entropy change calculation combined with the polarized force field. The functional role of protonation states in the two HIV-2 complexes is investigated and our study finds that the protonated OD1 atom of Asp25′ in B chain is the optimal choice. Those calculated binding free energies obtained from the polarized force field combined with IE method are significantly consistent with the experimental observed. The bridging water W301 is favorable to the binding of HIV-1 complexes; however, it is unfavorable to the HIV-2 complexes in current study. The volume of pocket, B-factor of Cα atoms and the distance of flap tip in HIV-2 complexes are smaller than that of HIV-1 consistently. These changes may cause localized rearrangement of residues lining their surface and finally result in the different binding mode for the two types HIV. Predicated hot-spot residues (Ala28/Ala28′, Ile50/Ile50′, and Ile84/Ile84′) are nearly same in the four systems. However, the contribution to the free energy of Asp30 residue is more favorable in HIV-1 system than in HIV-2 system. Current study, to some extent, reveals the origin for the decrease in binding affinity of inhibitors against HIV-2 compared with HIV-1 and will provides theoretical guidance for future design of potent dual inhibitors targeting two type HIV protease.
Cataloguers' Awareness and Perception of Resource Description and Access (RDA) Rules for Cataloguing Practice in Some Selected Libraries in Bauchi State of Nigeria

This study assessed cataloguers’ awareness and perception of Resource Description and Access (RDA) rules for cataloguing practice in some selected libraries in Bauchi State. The study employed a descriptive survey method. The population of this study comprised all the 10 professional cataloguers in the selected academic libraries in Bauchi State. The sample size of the study was ten (10) professional cataloguers in some selected academic libraries in Bauchi State; while the sampling technique is often used when the population is so large, in this study, the entire population is manageable because it was discovered that the population was relatively small as a result the sampling technique adopted was purposive. Structured Interview was used as the instrument for data collection. It was revealed from the study most library cataloguers have little understanding and perception about the conceptual meaning of Resource Description and Access rules which is used for cataloguing practices and fund issues surrounding the adoption of RDA for cataloguing. Library cataloguer’s in the selected libraries agreed that there are problems militating against their perception and involvement in resource description and
Pressure for health service delivery and its implications on safety behaviour of health care practitioners

AIM The study aim to examine whether management commitment and prioritization of safety at the hospital had any relationship with health care workers' safety behaviour under pressure to deliver health care. BACKGROUND Sub-Saharan Africa faces a human resource crisis in the health sector, leading to a compromise of the safety practices of nurses and other care providers. Hence there is a need to probe the influence of pressure for health service delivery on safety behaviour. METHODS The sample consisted of 295 respondents consisting of nurses, medical doctors and biological scientists from two teaching hospitals (Tamale Teaching Hospital and Komfu Anokye Teaching Hospital). A quantitative research design approach was used. Simple linear regression was carried out to test the hypotheses formulated. RESULTS The results showed that pressure for health service delivery negatively affected health care workers' safety behaviour whereas management commitment to safety and priority of safety at the hospital were positively related to safety behaviour. CONCLUSION Priority and the commitment of management to safety can influence the safety behaviour of nurses and other caregivers who are under pressure to deliver quality health care to the great number of patients. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Upholding high safety standards by management can create an enabling environment that would compel nurses and other caregivers to provide apt safety behaviours which in the long run can improve the quality of safety of nurses and other care providers.