Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correlates of African American sexual assault survivors’ medical care seeking

ABSTRACT African American women are at higher risk for sexual assault than other racial/ethnic groups and have an overall high prevalence of lifetime sexual assault. Despite elevated risk and prevalence, African American survivors are often reluctant to use services in the aftermath of sexual assault. Yet, little research has focused exclusively on African American women’s sexual assault experiences including their experiences of medical care seeking. A mail survey study was conducted in Chicago (2010–2011) to understand better African American women’s sexual assault experiences in relationship to post-assault medical care seeking in a large community sample (N = 836). Multivariable regression analyses examined whether demographics, assault characteristics, trauma history, and post-assault psychosocial factors were related to medical care seeking. Results revealed unique correlates of immediate and long-term help-seeking from a variety of medical/health sources. Being of older age and lower income, perceived life threat, and delayed disclosure were related to less medical care seeking. Survivors who were assaulted by strangers, experienced interpersonal and contextual traumas, and who received tangible aid and mixed social reactions were related to medical care seeking. Implications for research and clinical practice with this population are provided.
Elevating SOX2 in prostate tumor cells upregulates expression of neuroendocrine genes, but does not reduce the inhibitory effects of enzalutamide

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in men. In this cancer, the stem cell transcription factor SOX2 increases during tumor progression, especially as the cancer progresses to the highly aggressive neuroendocrine‐like phenotype. Other studies have shown that knockdown of RB1 and TP53 increases the expression of neuroendocrine markers, decreases the sensitivity to enzalutamide, and increases the expression of SOX2. Importantly, knockdown of SOX2 in the context of RB1 and TP53 depletion restored sensitivity to enzalutamide and reduced the expression of neuroendocrine markers. In this study, we examined whether elevating SOX2 is not only necessary, but also sufficient on its own to promote the expression of neuroendocrine markers and confer enzalutamide resistance. For this purpose, we engineered LNCaP cells for inducible overexpression of SOX2 (i‐SOX2–LNCaP). As shown previously for other tumor cell types, inducible elevation of SOX2 in i‐SOX2–LNCaP inhibited cell proliferation. SOX2 elevation also increased the expression of several neuroendocrine markers, including several neuropeptides and synaptophysin. However, SOX2 elevation did not decrease the sensitivity of i‐SOX2–LNCaP cells to enzalutamide, which indicates that elevating SOX2 on its own is not sufficient to confer enzalutamide resistance. Furthermore, knocking down SOX2 in C4‐2B cells, a derivative of LNCaP cells which is far less sensitive to enzalutamide and which expresses much higher levels of SOX2 than LNCaP cells, did not alter the growth response to this antiandrogen. Thus, our studies indicate that NE marker expression can increase independently of the sensitivity to enzalutamide.
Contribution to the multidimensional analysis of the success factors of the integration of the ICTE in higher education in Morocco: case of the MOOC 'relational databases: understanding to master' students' point of view

In order to contribute to the successful integration of ICTE (Information and Communication Technologies for Education) in higher education in Morocco, a pilot experiment was carried out among university students (Master of Science in Computer Sciences at Hassan II University Casablanca). In this article, we assume that the integration of ICTE is justified as shown by the multidimensional analysis adopted in the treatment of informant's responses. Thus, through an observation and application analysis of the chi-square law statistical test, we aim to consider the dependency relationships between the various modalities in the questionnaires and the various ways of monitoring the MOOC. The analysis of the results of this experiment has led to four main dimensions: teacher coaching, collaboration between learners, prerequisites in the module element and the rate of MOOC follow-up. These dimensions represent the most important factors for the integration of ICTE from a student's point of view.
The intestinal tissue homeostasis – the role of extracellular matrix remodeling in inflammatory bowel disease

ABSTRACT Introduction: Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling of the intestinal tissue is important in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to the extensive mucosal remodeling. There are still gaps in our knowledge as to how ECM remodeling is related to intestinal epithelium homeostasis and healing of the intestinal mucosa. Areas covered: The aim of this review is to highlight the importance of the ECM in relation to the pathogenesis of IBD, while addressing basement membrane and interstitial matrix remodeling, and the processes of wound healing of the intestinal tissue in IBD. Expert opinion: In IBD, basement membrane remodeling may reflect the integrity of the intestinal epithelial-cell homeostasis. The interstitial matrix remodeling is associated with deep inflammation such as the transmural inflammation as seen in fistulas and intestinal fibrosis leading to fibrostenotic strictures, in patients with CD. The interplay between wound healing processes and ECM remodeling also affects the tissue homeostasis in IBD. The interstitial matrix, produced by fibroblasts, holds a very different biology as compared to the epithelial basement membrane in IBD. In combination with integration of wound healing, quantifying the interplay between damage and repair to these sub compartments may provide essential information in IBD patient profiling, mucosal healing and disease management.
Compound Dynamics and Combinatorial Patterns of Amino Acid Repeats Encode a System of Evolutionary and Developmental Markers

Abstract Homopolymeric amino acid repeats (AARs) like polyalanine (polyA) and polyglutamine (polyQ) in some developmental proteins (DPs) regulate certain aspects of organismal morphology and behavior, suggesting an evolutionary role for AARs as developmental “tuning knobs. ” It is still unclear, however, whether these are occasional protein-specific phenomena or hints at the existence of a whole AAR-based regulatory system in DPs. Using novel approaches to trace their functional and evolutionary history, we find quantitative evidence supporting a generalized, combinatorial role of AARs in developmental processes with evolutionary implications. We observe nonrandom AAR distributions and combinations in HOX and other DPs, as well as in their interactomes, defining elements of a proteome-wide combinatorial functional code whereby different AARs and their combinations appear preferentially in proteins involved in the development of specific organs/systems. Such functional associations can be either static or display detectable evolutionary dynamics. These findings suggest that progressive changes in AAR occurrence/combination, by altering embryonic development, may have contributed to taxonomic divergence, leaving detectable traces in the evolutionary history of proteomes. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that the evolutionary trajectories of the 20 AARs in eukaryotic proteomes are highly interrelated and their individual or compound dynamics can sharply mark taxonomic boundaries, or display clock-like trends, carrying overall a strong phylogenetic signal. These findings provide quantitative evidence and an interpretive framework outlining a combinatorial system of AARs whose compound dynamics mark at the same time DP functions and evolutionary transitions.
Endurance training remodels skeletal muscle phospholipid composition and increases intrinsic mitochondrial respiration in men with type 2 diabetes.

The effects of exercise training on the skeletal muscle (SKM) lipidome and mitochondrial function have not been thoroughly explored in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We hypothesize that 10 weeks of supervised endurance training improves SKM mitochondrial function and insulin sensitivity that are related to alterations in lipid signatures within SKM of T2D (males n=8). We employed integrated multi-omics data analyses including ex vivo lipidomics [MS/MS-shotgun] and transcriptomics [RNAseq]. From biopsies of SKM, tissue and primary myotubes mitochondrial respiration were quantified by high resolution respirometry. We also performed hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps and blood draws before and after the training. The lipidomics analysis revealed that endurance training (>95% compliance) increased monolysocardiolipin by 68.2 % (MLCL, p ≤ 0.03), a putative marker of mitochondrial remodeling and reduced total sphingomyelin by 44.8 % (SM, p ≤ 0.05) and phosphatidylserine by 39.7 % (PS, ≤ 0.04), and tended to reduce ceramides lipid content by 19.8 %. Endurance training also improved intrinsic mitochondrial respiration in SKM of T2D without alterations in mitochondrial DNA copy number or cardiolipin content. RNAseq revealed 71 transcripts in SKM of T2D that were differentially regulated. Insulin sensitivity was unaffected and HbA1c levels moderately increased by 7.3 % despite an improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) following the training intervention. In summary, endurance training improves intrinsic and cell-autonomous SKM mitochondrial function and modifies lipid composition in men with T2D independent of alterations in insulin sensitivity and glycemic control.
Encapsulation of Vitamin D3 in Pickering Emulsion Stabilized by Nanofibrillated Mangosteen Cellulose: Effect of Environmental Stresses.

Vitamin D3 was encapsulated in 10% wt soybean oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions stabilized by either nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) or whey protein isolate (WPI) at 0.3%, 0.5%, and 0.7% w/w. The vitamin D3 -enriched emulsions were tested for their stability against temperature (30 °C to 90 °C), pH (2 to 8), and ionic strength (0 to 500 mM NaCl). The mean particle diameter (d32 ), ζ-potential, and creaming stability of the oil droplets in the emulsions were measured, as well as their vitamin D3 encapsulation efficiency (EE). After preparation, the oil droplet size (d32 ) of the emulsions stabilized by NFC increased with increasing emulsifier concentration, whereas the droplet size of emulsions stabilized by WPI decreased. NFC provided good stability to the emulsions through a combination of steric and electrostatic repulsion. The EE of vitamin D3 increased with increasing emulsifier concentration. Heating or ionic strength did not significantly (P < 0.05) affect the emulsions properties and EE. On the other hand, the NFC-stabilized emulsions were sensitive to highly acidic conditions (pH 2), with an increase in particle size and decrease in EE. The WPI-stabilized emulsions aggregated around the isoelectric point of the adsorbed proteins (pI ≈ 4.8). Increasing NFC or WPI concentration improved the stability and EE of the emulsions against environmental stresses. NFC-stabilized emulsions had good long-term stability. The results show that NFC can be used as an effective emulsifier for creating vitamin-enriched emulsions with good stability. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study can be used to develop more effective encapsulation technologies for fat-soluble vitamins in emulsion-based food products. Encapsulation using nanofibrillated cellulose effectively protected the encapsulated vitamins against environmental stresses which occur in industrial food production (such as pH changes, salt addition, and thermal processing). Moreover, nanofibrillated cellulose extracted from mangosteen rind is a nature-derived emulsifier that is environmental friendly.
Glaucoma following cataract surgery in the first 2 years of life: frequency, risk factors and outcomes from IoLunder2

Background We investigated glaucoma related adverse events, predictors and impact at 5 years following surgery in the IoLunder2 cohort Methods Population based observational cohort study of children undergoing cataract surgery aged 2 years or under between January 2009 and December 2010. Glaucoma was defined using internationally accepted taxonomies based on the consequences of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Glaucoma related adverse events were any involving elevated IOP. Multivariable analysis was undertaken to investigate potential predictors of secondary glaucoma with adjustment for within-child correlation in bilateral cataract. Unilateral and bilateral cataract were analysed separately. Results Complete follow-up data were available for 235 of 254, 93% of the inception cohort. By 5 years after primary cataract surgery, 20% of children with bilateral cataract and 12% with unilateral had developed secondary glaucoma. Glaucoma related complications had been diagnosed in 24% and 36% of children, respectively. Independent predictors of glaucoma were younger age at surgery (adjusted OR for reduction of week in age: 1.1, 95%C I 1.1 to 1.2, p<0.001); the presence of significant ocular comorbidity (adj OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 9.6, p=0.01); and shorter axial length (adj OR for each mm 1.7, 95% CI 10.0 to 1, p=0.05) for bilateral cataract. Shorter axial length was the single independent factor in unilateral disease (adj OR 9.6, 95% CI 1.7 to 52, p=0.009) Conclusions Both younger age at surgery (the strongest marker of ocular ‘immaturity’) and smaller ocular size (a marker of both immaturity and developmental vulnerability) can be used to identify those at greatest risk of glaucoma due to early life cataract surgery.
Fragmented QRS as a candidate marker for left ventricular nonrecovery in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy

Fragmented QRS (fQRS) complex, with various morphology, has been recently described as a diagnostic criterion of several cardiac diseases. However, there are little data regarding the prognostic role of fQRS in peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) patients. We aimed to investigate the effect of fQRS on predicting left ventricular (LV) nonrecovery in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM).
Diffusion basis spectrum imaging for identifying pathologies in MS subtypes

Diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) combines discrete anisotropic diffusion tensors and the spectrum of isotropic diffusion tensors to model the underlying multiple sclerosis (MS) pathologies. We used clinical MS subtypes as a surrogate of underlying pathologies to assess DBSI as a biomarker of pathology in 55 individuals with MS. Restricted isotropic fraction (reflecting cellularity) and fiber fraction (representing apparent axonal density) were the most important DBSI metrics to classify MS using brain white matter lesions. These DBSI metrics outperformed lesion volume. When analyzing the normal‐appearing corpus callosum, the most significant DBSI metrics were fiber fraction, radial diffusivity (reflecting myelination), and nonrestricted isotropic fraction (representing edema). This study provides preliminary evidence supporting the ability of DBSI as a potential noninvasive biomarker of MS neuropathology.
Holistic image understanding with deep learning and dense random fields

One aim of holistic image understanding is not only to recognise the things and stuff in images but also to localise where they are exactly. Semantic image segmentation is set up to achieve this goal. The purpose of this task is to recognise and delineate the visual objects. The solution to this task provides detailed information to understand images and is central to applications such as content-based image search, autonomous vehicles, image-editing, and smart glasses for partially-sighted people. This task is challenging to address not only because the visual objects from the same category could have a variety of appearances but also because of the need to account for contextual information across images such as edges and appearance consistency. The objective of this thesis is to bridge the gap between the pixel-based image representation in computer devices and the meaning extracted by humans. Our primary contributions are fourfold. Firstly, we propose a factorial fully-connected conditional random field that addresses the problem of jointly estimating the segmentation for both object class and visual attributes. Secondly, we embed the proposed factorial fully-connected conditional random fields framework in an interactive image segmentation system. This system allows users to refine the semantic image segmentation with verbal instructions. Thirdly, we formulate filter-based mean-field approximate inference for fully-connected conditional random fields with Gaussian pairwise potentials as a recurrent neural network. This formulation allows us to integrate fully convolutional neural networks and conditional random fields in an end-to-end trainable system. Fourthly, we show the relationship between fully-connected conditional random fields with Gaussian pairwise potentials and iterative Graph-cut: We found that fully-connected conditional random fields with Gaussian Pairwise potential implicitly model the unnormalised global colour models for foreground and background.
Visuospatial Working Memory Capacity in the Brain After Working Memory Training in College Students With ADHD: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: ADHD has been associated with persistent problems of working memory. This study investigated the efficacy of an intensive and adaptive computerized working memory treatment (CWMT) at behavioral and neural levels. Method: College students (n = 89; 40 females) with ADHD were randomized into a standard-length CWMT (45 min/session, 25 sessions, n = 29), shortened-length CWMT (15 min/session, 25 sessions, n = 32), and a waitlist group (n = 28). Both CWMT groups received treatment for 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Lab sessions before and after CWMT assessed electroencephalography (EEG) indicators of working memory, behavioral indicators of working memory performance, and ADHD symptomatology. Results: No evidence was found for neural or any other behavioral transfer effects of improvement for the CWMT treatment groups over the active control or waitlist group. Conclusion: Our study does not provide evidence for the benefits of CWMT at neural or behavioral levels.
Detailed subject-specific FE rib modeling for fracture prediction

Abstract Objective: The current state of the art human body models (HBMs) underpredict the number of fractured ribs. Also, it has not been shown that the models can predict the fracture locations. Efforts have been made to create subject specific rib models for fracture prediction, with mixed results. The aim of this study is to evaluate if subject-specific finite element (FE) rib models, based on state-of-the-art clinical CT data combined with subject-specific material data, can predict rib stiffness and fracture location in anterior-posterior rib bending. Method: High resolution clinical CT data was used to generate detailed subject-specific geometry for twelve FE models of the sixth rib. The cortical bone periosteal and endosteal surfaces were estimated based on a previously calibrated cortical bone mapping algorithm. The cortical and the trabecular bone were modeled using a hexa-block algorithm. The isotropic material model for the cortical bone in each rib model was assigned subject-specific material data based on tension coupon tests. Two different modeling strategies were used for the trabecular bone. The capability of the FE model to predict fracture location was carried out by modeling physical dynamic anterior-posterior rib bending tests. The rib model predictions were directly compared to the results from the tests. The predicted force-displacement time history, strain measurements at four locations, and rotation of the rib ends were compared to the results from the physical tests by means of CORA analysis. Rib fracture location in the FE model was estimated as the position for the element with the highest first principle strain at the time corresponding to rib fracture in the physical test. Results: Seven out of the twelve rib models predicted the fracture locations (at least for one of the trabecular modeling strategies) and had a force-displacement CORA score above 0.65. The other five rib models, had either a poor force-displacement CORA response or a poor fracture location prediction. It was observed that the stress-strain response for the coupon test for these five ribs showed significantly lower Young’s modulus, yield stress, and elongation at fracture compared to the other seven ribs. Conclusion: This study indicates that rib fracture location can be predicted for subject specific rib models based on high resolution CT, when loaded in anterior-posterior bending, as long as the rib’s cortical cortex is of sufficient thickness and has limited porosity. This study provides guidelines for further enhancements of rib modeling for fracture location prediction with HBMs.
Synaptic GABAergic transmission in the central amygdala (CeA) of rats depends on slice preparation and recording conditions

The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is a primarily GABAergic brain region implicated in stress and addictive disorders. Using in vitro slice electrophysiology, many studies measure GABAergic neurotransmission to evaluate the impact of experimental manipulations on inhibitory tone in the CeA, as a measure of alterations in CeA activity and function. In a recent study, we reported spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current (sIPSC) frequencies higher than those typically reported in CeA neurons in the literature, despite utilizing similar recording protocols and internal recording solutions. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate two common methods of slice preparation, an NMDG‐based aCSF perfusion method and an ice‐cold sucrose solution, as well as the use of an in‐line heater to control recording temperature, on measures of intrinsic excitability and spontaneous inhibitory neurotransmission in CeA neurons. We report that both slice preparation and recording conditions significantly impact spontaneous GABAergic transmission in CeA neurons, and that recording temperature, but not slicing solution, alters measures of intrinsic excitability in CeA neurons. Bath application of corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) increased sIPSC frequency under all conditions, but the magnitude of this effect was significantly different across recording conditions that elicited different baseline GABAergic transmission. Furthermore, CRF effects on synaptic transmission differed according to data reporting methods (i.e., raw vs. normalized data), which is important to consider in relation to baseline synaptic transmission values. These studies highlight the impact of experimental conditions and data reporting methods on neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in the CeA.