Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Instructional Videos for Seniors over 75: The Effects of Addressing Potential Errors in User Instructions

Using a laptop or tablet computer can be challenging for senior users, but using these devices can facilitate communication with family and care-givers. The goal of the current study is to get more insight in how to instruct and train senior users to use the keyboard of a tablet computer that is specifically designed for seniors (Compaan). Research has suggested that addressing errors and showing how to correct these errors can have positive effects on the learning process. Two series of video instructions were developed. In the first series, it was explained how to use the tablet computer without addressing potential errors. In the second series, potential errors were addressed. Forty seniors (75 – 97 years of age) participated in this study. The participants were asked to familiarize themselves with the Compaan, with the help of one of the series of instructional videos. Their learning progress, task effectiveness, and their self-efficacy and satisfaction levels were measured. The results showed that most participants were interested and motivated to learn to use the tablet computer. Participants who watched the videos in which potential errors were addressed performed somewhat better than the other group.
Cognitive control and daily affect regulation in major depression and borderline personality disorder: protocol for an experimental ambulatory assessment study in Berlin, Germany

Introduction Affective disturbances and difficulty in affect regulation are core features of major depressive disorder (MDD) as well as borderline personality disorder (BPD). Whereas depressed individuals are characterised by affective inertia, individuals with BPD are characterised by affective instability. Both groups have been found to use more maladaptive affect regulation strategies than healthy controls. Surprisingly, however, there have been hardly any studies directly comparing these two disorders to disentangle shared and disorder-specific deficits in affective dynamics and affect regulation. Furthermore, theoretical models link deficits in affect regulation to deficits in cognitive control functions. Given that individuals with MDD or BPD are both characterised by impairments in cognitive control, the present study will further examine the link between individual differences in cognitive control and disturbances in affect dynamics and regulation in the daily life of individuals with MDD or BPD. Methods and analyses We will use a smartphone application to assess negative and positive affect as well as affect regulation strategies at eight times a day for 7 days. We will further employ four computerised tasks to assess two cognitive control functions, namely interference control and discarding irrelevant information from working memory. Our hypotheses will be tested using a multimethod approach. Power analyses determined a sample size of 159 (53 MDD, 53 BPD, 53 controls) to detect medium effect sizes. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval has been obtained from the Freie Universität Berlin. Data collection started in January 2017 and will last until the end of 2018. Results will be disseminated to relevant psychotherapeutic and patient communities in peer-reviewed journals, and at scientific conferences.
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in an Irish tertiary referral centre for epilepsy

Abstract Objectives: To examine the prevalence, psychiatric co-morbidity and management of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) in patients admitted to a tertiary referral Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU). Methods: Medical records of patients admitted to the EMU between 2003 and 2005 were examined and data from neurological, neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological assessments were analysed. Results: Over a three year period 224 patients were referred to the EMU and 44 (20%) were diagnosed with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). A total of 13 people (6%) were diagnosed with both PNES and epilepsy. Of those diagnosed with PNES 34 (75%) were referred to psychology services for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and 26 (58%) were followed-up by psychiatry services. Conclusions: The prevalence rates for PNES and co-existing PNES and epilepsy are consistent with previous reports. Rates of psychiatric co-morbidity were less than would be expected in this clinical population. Clear evidence-based guidelines to manage people with PNES are required.
Automated System for Subjective Evaluation of the Ukrainian Speech Intelligibility

In this paper, a prototype of an automated system for subjective evaluation of intelligibility of the Ukrainian speech in communication channels is proposed. The structure of this system includes nine articulation tables of speech monosyllables of consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) type and a set of computer programs that allow automating most of the stages of articulation test. Examination of the proposed automated system proved its efficiency and satisfactory consistency with literature data. At the same time, when testing the developed software, several interesting phenomena were discovered. First, when listening, by some people, to noisy and reverberated signals in rooms through acoustic monitors, speech intelligibility turned out to be abnormally high, reaching 80-94% for a signal-to-noise ratio of minus 10 dB and a reverberation time of 2.7 seconds. Secondly, the masking properties of white noise were more pronounced for small signal-to-noise ratios, rather than what was predicted in some literary sources. Nevertheless, the developed software as a whole can be considered as suitable for communication channels acoustic testing. After certain upgrade, the system can be used for acoustic examination of rooms too.
The effect of the burden of caregiving for people with spinal cord injury (SCI): a cross-sectional study.

AIM To assess the caregiver burden (CB) of caregivers for people with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and to examine the psychological impact of the burden of caregiving. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cross-sectional study. A set of structured questionnaires was administered to 55 family caregivers of individuals with SCI. The Modified Barthel Index was used to evaluate the independence of care recipients. The Caregiver Burden Inventory was modified and used to assess the CB. The Family Strain Questionnaire - Short Form was administered to measure the psychological impact of CB. The Short Form 36 was used to assess the health status of the participants. RESULTS CB affects mainly the domains related to time management, the physical condition of caregivers and their sense of personal failure. An increased level of CB and the dependency level of SCI survivors is significantly correlated (p < 0.01) with an increase in the need of psychological support and a decrease in perceived health and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Caregiving for people with SCI implies the occurrence of CB. The contribution of caregivers should be recognised and supported with tailored relief interventions.
Correlation between Diabetes Mellitus and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Dry-To-Wet Lab Approach

Recent years have witnessed an increased prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among diabetes mellitus (DM) patients—conditions which might share common risk factors such as obesity and advanced aging. Therefore, we conducted dry-to-wet lab research approaches to assess the correlation of type 1 DM (T1DM) and type 2 DM (T2DM) with KOA among all age and genders of Taiwanese population. The strength of association (odds ratio: OR) was analyzed using a phenome-wide association study portal. Populations of 37,353 T1DM and 1,218,254 T2DM were included. We observed a significant association of KOA with T1DM (OR: 1.40 (1.33–1.47), p< 0.0001) and T2DM (OR: 2.75 (2.72–2.78), p< 0.0001). The association between T1DM and KOA among the obese (OR: 0.99 (0.54–1.67), p = 0.0477) was insignificant compared to the non-obese (OR: 1.40 (1.33–1.48), p < 0.0001). Interestingly, a higher association between T2DM and KOA among non-obese persons (OR: 2.75, (2.72–2.79), p < 0.0001) compared to the obese (OR: 1.71 (1.55–1.89), p < 0.0001) was noted. Further, histopathologic and Western blot studies of diabetic mice knee joints revealed enhanced carboxymethyl lysine (advanced glycation end product), matrix metalloproteinase-1, and reduced cartilage-specific proteins, including type II collagen (Col II), SOX9, and aggrecan (AGN), indicating deteriorated articular cartilage and proteoglycans. Results indicate that DM is strongly associated with KOA, and obesity may not be a confounding factor.
Association between schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are significant public health problems. Scientists have recently explored the association between schizophrenia and ASD, but the findings are inconsistent. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of epidemiological studies to examine the association between schizophrenia and ASD. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were used for literature searches to identify eligible studies published in English before October 2, 2017. Relevant studies estimating the association between schizophrenia and ASD were included. The meta‐analysis of the prevalence of schizophrenia in individuals with ASD encompassed 1,950,113 participants and 14,945 individuals with ASD. A random‐effects model was chosen to synthesize the effect sizes of individual studies. The prevalence of schizophrenia was significantly higher in individuals with ASD than in controls (odds ratio = 3.55, 95% confidence interval: 2.08–6.05, P < .001). Both sensitivity analysis and publication bias testing revealed that the findings were robust. The systematic review of the prevalence of ASD in individuals with schizophrenia encompassed 930 participants. The prevalence of ASD in individuals with schizophrenia ranged from 3.4 to 52%. The systematic review and meta‐analysis showed a significant association between schizophrenia and ASD. Autism Research 2018, 11: 1110–1119. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cryptic protein interactions regulate DNA replication initiation

DNA replication is a fundamental biological process that is tightly regulated in all cells. In bacteria, DnaA controls when and where replication begins by building a step‐wise complex that loads the replicative helicase onto chromosomal DNA. In many low‐GC Gram‐positive species, DnaA recruits the DnaD and DnaB proteins to function as adaptors to assist in helicase loading. How DnaA, its adaptors and the helicase form a complex at the origin is unclear. We addressed this question using the bacterial two‐hybrid assay to determine how the initiation proteins from Bacillus subtilis interact with each other. We show that cryptic interaction sites play a key role in this process and we map these regions for the entire pathway. In addition, we found that the SirA regulator that blocks initiation in sporulating cells binds to a surface on DnaA that overlaps with DnaD. The interaction between DnaA and DnaD was also mapped to the same DnaA surface in the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, demonstrating the broad conservation of this surface. Therefore, our study has unveiled key protein interactions essential for initiation and our approach is widely applicable for mapping interactions in other signaling pathways that are governed by cryptic binding surfaces.
An ex vivo bladder model with detrusor smooth muscle removed to analyse biologically active mediators released from the suburothelium

Studies of urothelial cells, bladder sheets or lumens of filled bladders have suggested that mediators released from urothelium into suburothelium (SubU)/lamina propria (LP) activate mechanisms controlling detrusor excitability. None of these approaches, however, has enabled direct assessment of availability of mediators at SubU/LP during filling. We developed an ex vivo mouse bladder preparation with intact urothelium and SubU/LP but no detrusor, which allows direct access to the SubU/LP surface of urothelium during filling. Pressure–volume measurements during filling demonstrated that bladder compliance is governed primarily by the urothelium. Measurements of purine mediators in this preparation demonstrated asymmetrical availability of purines in lumen and SubU/LP, suggesting that interpretations based solely on intraluminal measurements of mediators may be inaccurate. The preparations are suitable for assessments of release, degradation and transport of mediators in SubU/LP during bladder filling, and are superior to experimental approaches previously used for urothelium research.
Natural Disease Course of Ulcerative Colitis During the First Five Years of Follow-up in a European Population-based Inception Cohort—An Epi-IBD Study

Background and Aims Few population-based cohort studies have assessed the disease course of ulcerative colitis [UC] in the era of biological therapy and widespread use of immunomodulators. The aim of this study was to assess the 5-year outcome and disease course of patients with UC in the Epi-IBD cohort. Methods In a prospective, population-based inception cohort of unselected patients with UC, patients were followed up from the time of their diagnosis, which included the collection of their clinical data, demographics, disease activity, medical therapy, and rates of surgery, cancers, and deaths. Associations between outcomes and multiple covariates were analysed by Cox regression analysis. Results A total of 717 patients were included in the study. During follow-up, 43 [6%] patients underwent a colectomy and 163 [23%] patients were hospitalised. Of patients with limited colitis [distal to the left flexure], 90 [21%] progressed to extensive colitis. In addition, 92 [27%] patients with extensive colitis experienced a regression in disease extent, which was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalisation (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.5 95% CI: 0.3-0.8]. Overall, patients were treated similarly in both geographical regions; 80 [11%] patients needed biological therapy and 210 [29%] patients received immunomodulators. Treatment with immunomodulators was found to reduce the risk of hospitalisation [HR: 0.5 95% CI: 0.3-0.8]. Conclusions Although patients in this population-based cohort were treated more aggressively with immunomodulators and biological therapy than in cohorts from the previous two decades, their disease outcomes, including colectomy rates, were no different. However, treatment with immunomodulators was found to reduce the risk of hospitalisation.
Mesenchymal stem cells induced anti‐inflammatory features in B cells from breast tumor draining lymph nodes

The immune‐modulatory effect of adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) on B cells in cancer has not been well elucidated. Herein, the interaction between B cells and ASCs isolated from the breast fat of either normal (nASCs) or breast cancer women (cASCs) was investigated. B cells derived from breast tumor draining lymph nodes were co‐cultured with nASCs or cASCs and B cells proliferation was assessed in direct and transwell assays. Moreover, B cells were co‐cultured with cASCs, nASCs or mesenchymal stromal cells of the tumor tissue (TSCs) and B cell cytokine production was assessed using flow cytometery. cASCs or TSCs were co‐cultured with either intact or B cell depleted lymphocytes and frequencies of CD25+FoxP3+ Tregs, IL‐10+ or IFN‐γ+CD4+ T cells were assessed. Results showed that co‐culture of B cells with ASCs in transwell chambers did not affect B cell proliferation. nASCs, however, was able to significantly reduce B cell proliferation in direct co‐culture experiments (P = 0.004). The frequencies of IL‐10+, TNF‐α+, IL‐2+, and IFN‐γ+ B cells were not significantly different in the co‐cultures of B cells with ASCs or TSCs. But the TNF‐α+/ IL‐10+ B cells ratio decreased in all co‐cultures, a reduction merely significant in B cell‐cASCs co‐culture (P = 0.01). The frequencies of CD4+ T cells subsets in either intact or B cell depleted lymphocytes did not undergo significant changes following co‐culture with ASCs or TSCs. Therefore, ASCs is capable of inhibiting B cell proliferation in a contact dependent manner and shifting the cytokine profile of B cells toward an anti‐inflammatory profile.
Updates on the surface antigens of basophils: CD16 on basophils of patients with respiratory or insect venom allergy and the rejection of CD203c and CD63 externalization decoupling by bisindolylmaleimides

CD16 was previously suggested to be a new marker of basophils that is subject to downregulation by FcεRI crosslinking. Certain compounds, including supraoptimal concentrations of the PKC inhibitors, bisindolylmaleimides, decouple the release of granules containing CD203c, CD63 and histamine, and may thus help to identify the mechanisms related to the CD16 externalization.
DNA Topoisomerase 1 Structure-BASED Design, Synthesis, Activity Evaluation and Molecular Simulations Study of New 7-Amide Camptothecin Derivatives Against Spodoptera frugiperda

Camptothecin and its derivatives (CPTs) have strong toxicity to eukaryotic cells by targeting their DNA topoisomerase 1 (Top1) protein and have been increasingly explored as potential pesticides for plant protection. However, the detailed structure-binding mechanism of the interactions between CPTs and the insect Top1 protein remains unclear, which significantly hinders the development of novel CPTs as new insecticides. Herein, a series of 7-amide camptothecin analogs based on the binding mode of camptothecin in complex with Top1 (Sf Top1)-DNA from Spodoptera frugiperda cultured cell line Sf9 were designed and synthesized. Fifteen of these compounds exhibited excellent cytotoxic activity (values of IC50 from 2.01 to 6.78 μM) compared with camptothecin (29.47 μM). The molecular simulations revealed the binding mechanism when the camptothecin parent rings were inserting parallel to DNA bases and stabling the ternary complex by π-π stacked and hydrogen-bond interactions, and further suggested that introduction of lipophilic and some electron-withdrawing groups on the amide linkage of camptothecin could be beneficial to its activity via some non-covalent interactions. Furthermore, almost all the synthesized compounds could inhibit the growth of Spodoptera litura larvae strongly (Inhibition rate from 50.20 to 79.05%), superior or comparable to camptothecin (55.69%) after 8 days of exposure. In particular, the compounds 4c, 4d, 4f, and 4j, which presented more than 70% inhibitory activities, were deserved to be developed as potential biorational pesticides. The information described here would be useful for the further design and development of potentially effective pesticides in the field of plant protection.
The biopsychosocial model of pain in the context of pediatric burn injuries

Burns are a common and traumatic source of childhood injury in the United States. The treatment and recovery from burn injuries can be significantly painful and may lead to chronic or persistent pain for years following the initial incident. Further, burn injuries in youth have been found to increase the potential for significant psychosocial (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD) and physical (e.g., decreased mobility) impairment. Relatedly, the general experience and processing of pain in youth can also be associated with greater psychosocial (e.g., anxiety, depression) impairment and functional disability over time. However, the phenomenology and associated characteristics of the pain experience following burn injury and, in particular, the potential for combined impact on physical and psychosocial outcomes in youth with severe and/or prolonged pain and a history of burn injury is poorly understood.
Equine-related injuries requiring hospitalisation in the Midland Region of New Zealand: a continuous five-year review.

AIM To examine the pattern and outcomes of equine-related injuries for hospitalised patients in the Midland Region of New Zealand over a five-year period. METHOD A retrospective review of all patients admitted to hospitals within the Midland region of New Zealand with an injury date 1 January 2012-31 December 2016, as a direct result of equine-related trauma. RESULTS Seven hundred and one patients were admitted due to equine-related injuries, 6.6% were major trauma events (Injury Severity Scale >12), with nearly half of all injuries (47.3%) to the extremities. Mean age was 36 years (median 38 years), and 69% were females. The most common mechanisms of injury were falls from horse (70.6%), kicked (12.7%) and knocked (6.7%) by the horse. Males were more likely to have a non-fall injury. Average length of stay (all patients) was 3.4 days, and half of all patients required surgery. All patients survived. At Waikato Hospital, the largest district hospital in the region, the average inpatient cost was NZ$7,805/patient. CONCLUSION The study has identified the demography, injury types, risk factors and outcomes for equine-related injuries in the Midland Region of New Zealand. Indications are that the severity of such injuries may be less than previously reported. However, the volumes and costs of injury represent a significant burden on the health system, individuals and communities. More detailed understanding of causative factors will allow targeting of prevention strategies to address high-risk activities and demographic groups.
Metabolic syndrome and the risk of cholangiocarcinoma: a hospital-based case–control study in China

Background Metabolic syndrome is regarded as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, no research has been conducted to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), especially in the Chinese population. Herein, a hospital-based case–control study was carried out in China to explore the association between metabolic syndrome and CCA risk. Patients and methods In this study, 303 CCA patients (136 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma [ICC] and 167 extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma [ECC]) were included, who were observed at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), from 2002 to 2014. Healthy controls were randomly selected from the database of PUMPH Health Screening Center. We retrospectively extracted metabolic syndrome and other possible risk factors from clinical records, followed by investigation of the relationship with CCA via calculation of ORs and 95% CIs using logistic regression analysis. Results Metabolic syndrome was significantly and positively correlated with all CCA subtypes, with adjusted ORs (AORs) of 0.35 (95% CI =0.29–0.42) and 0.29 (95% CI =0.19–0.44) for ICC and ECC, respectively (both P<0.001). Dyslipoproteinemia harbored a stronger relationship with ICC (OR =3.16; 95% CI =2.12–4.71) than ECC (OR =1.87; 95% CI =1.27–2.77), whereas hypertension harbored a stronger association with ECC (OR =3.09; 95% CI =2.09–4.58) than ICC (OR =2.06; 95% CI =1.32–3.21). Obesity was related to both ICC and ECC, with similar ORs, while diabetes was only related to ICC (OR =4.59; 95% CI =2.78–7.58), but not ECC (OR =0.97; 95% CI =0.49–1.94). Conclusion Metabolic syndrome was significantly related to a 1.86-fold elevated CCA risk.