Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relation of low cognitive abilities to low well-being in old age is attenuated in individuals with greater cognitive reserve and greater social capital accumulated over the life course

Abstract Objectives: The present study sets out to investigate the relation of cognitive abilities to well-being and its interplay with key life course proxies of cognitive reserve and social capital in a large sample of older adults. Method: Three thousand eighty older adults served as sample for the present study. Physical well-being (EuroQoL-5D questionnaire) and psychological well-being (Satisfaction with Life Scale) as well as cognitive performance in terms of verbal abilities (Mill Hill vocabulary scale), processing speed (Trail Making Test part A), and cognitive flexibility (Trail Making Test part B) were assessed. Participants reported information on education, occupation, cognitively stimulating leisure activities, the different languages regularly spoken as well as family and close friends. Results: Moderation analyses showed that the relation of cognitive performance to physical and psychological well-being was significantly attenuated in individuals with a higher cognitive level of the first job after education, a larger number of midlife and current cognitively stimulating leisure activities, a larger number of languages regularly spoken, a larger number of significant family members and friends, and more frequent contact with and more confidence in significant family members. Conclusion: Present data suggest that the relation of low cognitive abilities to low well-being in old age is attenuated in individuals with greater cognitive reserve and greater social capital accumulated over the life course.
Comparison of PROMIS Anxiety and Depression, PHQ-8, and GAD-7 to screen for anxiety and depression among patients presenting for spine surgery.

OBJECTIVE: In this paper, the authors demonstrate to spine surgeons the prevalence and severity of anxiety and depression among patients presenting for surgery and explore the relationships between different legacy and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) screening measures. METHODS: A total of 512 adult spine surgery patients at a single institution completed the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7), 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) depression scale, and PROMIS Anxiety and Depression computer-adaptive tests (CATs) preoperatively. Correlation coefficients were calculated between PROMIS scores and GAD-7 and PHQ-8 scores. Published reference tables were used to determine the presence of anxiety or depression using GAD-7 and PHQ-8. Sensitivity and specificity of published guidance on the PROMIS Anxiety and Depression CATs were compared. Guidance from 3 sources was compared: published GAD-7 and PHQ-8 crosswalk tables, American Psychiatric Association scales, and expert clinical consensus. Receiver operator characteristic curves were used to determine data-driven cut-points for PROMIS Anxiety and Depression. Significance was accepted as p < 0.05. RESULTS: In 512 spine surgery patients, anxiety and depression were prevalent preoperatively (55% with any anxiety, 24% with generalized anxiety screen-positive; and 54% with any depression, 24% with probable major depression). Correlations were moderately strong between PROMIS Anxiety and GAD-7 scores (r = 0.72; p < 0.001) and between PROMIS Depression and PHQ-8 scores (r = 0.74; p < 0.001). The observed correlation of the PROMIS Depression score was greater with the PHQ-8 cognitive/affective score (r = 0.766) than with the somatic score (r = 0.601) (p < 0.001). PROMIS Anxiety and Depression CATs were able to detect the presence of generalized anxiety screen-positive (sensitivity, 86.0%; specificity, 81.6%) and of probable major depression (sensitivity, 82.3%; specificity, 81.4%). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated data-driven cut-points for these groups. CONCLUSIONS: PROMIS Anxiety and Depression CATs are reliable tools for identifying generalized anxiety screen-positive spine surgery patients and those with probable major depression.
Cognitive characteristics of children and adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorders.

Cognitive problems are among the important and common sequelae in child patients with PTSD, for example poor memory, poor concentration, intrusive thoughts and flashbacks (e.g., Yule, &Gold 1993; Last; 1993). In recent years, investigators have started to study these functions in adults with PTSD, but they have yet to be investigated in young people with PTSD. Therefore, following extensive investigations of cognitive processing in adults with anxiety disorder including PTSD, it is proposed to apply some of these paradigms to investigate PTSD in children. Chapter One presents a general introduction describing the background to the work and an outline of the proposed studies. Chapter Two describes the concept of PTSD, phnomenology, classification of PTSD and PTSD in children and finally three noncognitive theories of PTSD. Two basic concepts of cognition i.e. memoiy and attention are described in Chapter Three. Cognitive theories of emotional disorders especially that of Williams et al. (1988) and cognitive models of PTSD are presented. Chapter Four describes how a dictionaiy of emotional words was developed and a list of different types of emotional words was created. In the first experiment in Chapter 5, young people with PTSD, children of adults with PTSD and normal subjects, participated in a colour naming task. The task consisted of 5 categories of words: threat-related depressed-related, trauma-related, positive and neutral words which appeared randomly, one after the other on the screen of a computer in four different colours three times. The results indicated that the PTSD patients had a greater interference toward trauma-related words than other types of words compared to the control group. Children of adults with PTSD showed an attentional bias towards trauma-related and threat-related words. Chapter Six describes a second experiment on attention with children with PTSD. Four types of words -physical threat, social threat, depressed and neutral wordswere presented to the subjects one after the other. The subjects were asked to press a button
Computational prediction of diagnosis and feature selection on mesothelioma patient health records

BACKGROUND Mesothelioma is a lung cancer that kills thousands of people worldwide annually, especially those with exposure to asbestos. Diagnosis of mesothelioma in patients often requires time-consuming imaging techniques and biopsies. Machine learning can provide for a more effective, cheaper, and faster patient diagnosis and feature selection from clinical data in patient records. METHODS AND FINDINGS We analyzed a dataset of health records of 324 patients having mesothelioma symptoms from Turkey. The patients had prior asbestos exposure and displayed symptoms consistent with mesothelioma. We compared probabilistic neural network, perceptron-based neural network, random forest, one rule, and decision tree classifiers to predict diagnosis of the patient records. We measured classifiers' performance through standard confusion matrix scores such as Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC). Random forest outperformed all models tried, obtaining MCC = +0.37 on the complete imbalanced dataset and MCC = +0.64 on the under-sampled balanced dataset. We then employed random forest feature selection to identify the two most relevant dataset traits associated with mesothelioma: lung side and platelet count. These two risk factors resulted so predictive, that decision tree focusing on them achieved the second top accuracy on the complete dataset diagnosis prediction (MCC = +0.28), outperforming all other methods and even decision tree itself applied to all features. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that machine learning can predict diagnoses of patients having mesothelioma symptoms with high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, in few minutes. Additionally, random forest can efficiently select the most important features of this clinical dataset (lung side and platelet count) in few seconds. The importance of pleural plaques in lung sides and blood platelets in mesothelioma diagnosis indicates that physicians should focus on these two features when reading records of patients with mesothelioma symptoms. Moreover, doctors can exploit our machinery to predict patient diagnosis when only lung side and platelet data are available.
Aconselhamento na preveno do HIV: olhar dos usurios de um centro de testagem

This article analyzes the relevance ascribed to counseling for HIV prevention by users of a testing service. The study's main theoretical references were the democratization of discourse as proposed by Fairclough and the disciplinary power and confessional techniques analyzed by Foucault. The research was done from November 2005 to March 2006 at an HIV testing and counseling center in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Thirty-two individuals participated in the study. Techniques included in-depth interviews and an adaptation of the content analysis method, with emphasis on thematic modality. The interpretation of counseling as a "necessary evil" revealed an ambivalent approach (both democratic and coercive), but this ambiguity did not appear problematic. The difficulty lay in constructing models for interaction that prioritized symmetry in the counseling relationship and focused on users' participation as key protagonists in HIV prevention.
An early seizure variant type of a male Rett syndrome patient with a MECP2 p.Arg133His missense mutation

The clinical spectrum of Rett syndrome (RTT; Mendelian Inheritance in Man [MIM] #312750) in males is considered to be wider than previously expected. Therefore, the existence of RTT with a normal male karyotype is still controversial. Here, we report the first case of a male patient presenting with an early seizure type of Rett‐like phenotypes with a missense variant of MECP2.
Research advances on the formation mechanism of resistant starch type III: A review

Abstract Resistant starch (RS) plays a key role in providing metabolic and colonic health benefits. In particular, RS type III (RS3) is of great interest because of its thermal stability and its preserved nutritional functionality. RS3 can be prepared by physical treatment, including high hydrostatic pressure, ultrasound, extrusion, autoclaving, microwave cooking, and heat-moisture treatment. The acid and enzymatic hydrolysis can also be applied to facilitate the generation of small molecules, which increases the inherent crystallinity of RS3 upon retrogradation. Depending on processing conditions, RS3 with diversified structural characteristics can be formed. These structures play a key role in determining the physiological behavior of RS3. Therefore, a deep understanding of the structural rearrangement pattern during different processing treatment is of great importance for regulating the molecular structure of RS3 and thereby its corresponding physiological properties. This review thus focuses on the past and current status of research into the in-depth study of RS3 formation mechanism and the changes to RS3 structural characteristics under different processing conditions. The objective was to provide a theoretical guidance for the rational selection of preparation methods for RS3 and for designing RS3 structures with specific physiological functionalities for relevant industrial applications.
Facing recovery: Emotional bias in working memory, rumination, relapse, and recurrence of major depression; an experimental paradigm conducted five years after first episode of major depression

Abstract Identifying vulnerability factors for relapse of depression is essential in planning preventive interventions. Emotional face processing in major depression (MDD) shows promise as a potential cognitive marker for depression. The current study investigates how working memory (WM) load in face processing relates to rumination and new episodes of MDD in a novel explorative paradigm. It was expected that history of MDD is associated with reduction of the ability to process sad stimuli in high WM load conditions and reduction of the ability to process happy stimuli in low WM conditions. It was further predicted that these relations are associated with rumination and risk for relapse. The experiment was included as a cross sectional part in a follow-up study of a population that previously experienced first episode (FE) depression. The FE (N = 23) and a healthy control group (N = 22) completed a WM face processing task. In the task, three happy or sad faces were presented, processed in either a high or low WM taxing manner, followed by a target stimulus consisting of one of the previous pictures. Response time and accuracy were dependent variables. Rumination and number of relapses or recurrences were measured. The FE group recalled the placement of significantly fewer happy faces in the low WM load condition, and significantly fewer sad faces in the high WM load condition compared to controls. Significantly different scores between groups predicted trait rumination. Poor accuracy in the sad high WM load condition correlated with high degree of rumination. Relapse or recurrence was predicted by rumination. The present study supports an emotional WM deficit in remitted MDD. This suggests that deficits in manipulation of sad faces could represent a trait bias related to rumination and depression.
Simulation program of a cytotoxic compounding robot for monoclonal antibodies and anti-infectious sterile drug preparation

The aim of this study was to develop a specific simulation program for the validation of a cytotoxic compounding robot, KIRO® Oncology, for the preparation of sterile monoclonal antibodies and anti-infectious drugs. The impact of excipient formulations was clearly measured using simulation accuracy tests with worst case excipient (i.e. viscous, foaming) and allowed to correct the robotic settings prior to real production. Corrections brought accuracies within the acceptable range of ±5%. KIRO® Oncology robot has also the capacity of self-cleaning and a simulation combining media fill test, and environmental monitoring was able to validate the aseptic process including simulation of worst case conditions and highlighting the areas not accessible to self-cleaning to be corrected by additional manual cleaning measures. The risk of chemical contamination was simulated by using fluorescent dye of the process with high-risk excipient formulation and overpressure vials. Quality control reliability was simulated by using a model drug, and final concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection. Finally, productivity was simulated using different models of production showing the impact of the type of drug, the number of vials and the poor standardization of the process.
Deep Convolutional Neural Networks for Feature-Less Automatic Classification of Independent Components in Multi-Channel Electrophysiological Brain Recordings

Objective: Interpretation of the electroencephalographic (EEG) and magnetoencephalographic (MEG) signals requires off-line artifacts removal. Since artifacts share frequencies with brain activity, filtering is insufficient. Blind source separation, mainly through independent component analysis (ICA), is the gold-standard procedure for the identification of artifacts in multi-dimensional recordings. However, a classification of brain and artifactual independent components (ICs) is still required. Since ICs exhibit recognizable patterns, classification is usually performed by experts’ visual inspection. This procedure is time consuming and prone to errors. Automatic ICs classification has been explored, often through complex ICs features extraction prior to classification. Relying on deep-learning ability of self-extracting the features of interest, we investigated the capabilities of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for off-line, automatic artifact identification through ICs without feature selection. Methods: A CNN was applied to spectrum and topography of a large dataset of few thousand samples of ICs obtained from multi-channel EEG and MEG recordings acquired during heterogeneous experimental settings and on different subjects. CNN performances, when applied to EEG, MEG, and combined EEG and MEG ICs, were explored and compared with state-of-the-art feature-based automatic classification. Results: Beyond state-of-the-art automatic classification accuracies were demonstrated through cross validation (92.4% EEG, 95.4% MEG, 95.6% EEG+MEG). Conclusion: High CNN classification performances were achieved through heuristical selection of machinery hyperparameters and through the CNN self-selection of the features of interest. Significance: Considering the large data availability of multi-channel EEG and MEG recordings, CNNs may be suited for classification of ICs of multi-channel brain electrophysiological recordings.
Expression and clinical significance of miR-139-5p in non-small cell lung cancer

Objective MiR-139-5p is a common tumor-associated microRNA (miRNA), which inhibits the occurrence and development of malignant tumors from various tissue sources. We detected miR-139-5p expression levels in tissues from patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to explore the relationship between miR-139-5p expression and clinicopathological parameters. Methods MiR-139-5p expression levels were detected in cancerous and normal tissues from 60 NSCLC patients by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, using normal paracancerous tissue as a control. The relationships between miR-139-5p and clinicopathological parameters of NSCLC, including survival, were analyzed by t-tests and univariate analysis. Results MiR-139-5p expression levels were significantly reduced in NSCLC tissues compared with normal adjacent tissue. MiR-139-5p expression was not significantly associated with age, sex, or smoking history, but was related to clinical stage, pathological type, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, low expression of miR-139-5p, clinical stage (II/III), adenocarcinoma, tumor ≥3 cm, and lymph node metastasis were all related to overall survival. Conclusion MiR-139-5p expression levels are down-regulated in NSCLC tissues, and low expression is associated with clinical stage, pathological type, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis in NSCLC patients. MiR-139-5p may act as a tumor suppressor gene in the occurrence and development of NSCLC.
Finite Element Analysis of Novel Separable Fixture for Easy Retrievement in Case with Peri-Implantitis

Peri-implantitis is a common complication following dental implant placement, which may lead to bone loss and fixation failure. With the conventional fixture, it is difficult to perfectly clear-up the infection. To solve this, we have designed a separable fixture of which the top part is replaceable. This study aimed to compare the structural and biomechanical stability of the separable and conventional fixture. A single surgical model corresponding to the first molar in a virtual mandible model and conventional/separable implants were reproduced to compare the biomechanical characteristics of the implants using finite element analysis (FEA). The loading condition was 200N preload in the first step, and 100N (Axial), 100N (15°), and 30N (45°) in the second step. The stress distribution on the cortical bone in the separable implant was lower than the conventional implant. In particular, the Peak von Mises Stress (PVMS) values of the separable implant under lateral load was found to be about twice as low as that of the conventional implant. In this study, we suggest that the separable implant has an equivalent biomechanical stability compared to the conventional implant, is easy to retrieve in the case of peri-implantitis, and has an excellent initial stability after the surgery when used in stage 2.
Development of a Whole-Virus ELISA for Serological Evaluation of Domestic Livestock as Possible Hosts of Human Coronavirus NL63

Known human coronaviruses are believed to have originated in animals and made use of intermediate hosts for transmission to humans. The intermediate hosts of most of the human coronaviruses are known, but not for HCoV-NL63. This study aims to assess the possible role of some major domestic livestock species as intermediate hosts of HCoV-NL63. We developed a testing algorithm for high throughput screening of livestock sera with ELISA and confirmation with recombinant immunofluorescence assay testing for antibodies against HCoV-NL63 in livestock. Optimization of the ELISA showed a capability of the assay to significantly distinguish HCoV-NL63 from HCoV-229E (U = 27.50, p < 0.001) and HCoV-OC43 (U = 55.50, p < 0.001) in coronavirus-characterized sera. Evaluation of the assay with collected human samples showed no significant difference in mean optical density values of immunofluorescence-classified HCoV-NL63-positive and HCoV-NL63-negative samples (F (1, 215) = 0.437, p = 0.509). All the top 5% (n = 8) most reactive human samples tested by ELISA were HCoV-NL63 positive by immunofluorescence testing. In comparison, only a proportion (84%, n = 42) of the top 25% were positive by immunofluorescence testing, indicating an increased probability of the highly ELISA reactive samples testing positive by the immunofluorescence assay. None of the top 5% most ELISA reactive livestock samples were positive for HCoV-NL63-related viruses by immunofluorescence confirmation. Ghanaian domestic livestock are not likely intermediate hosts of HCoV-NL63-related coronaviruses.
Short- and Midterm Outcomes of Open Repair and Fenestrated Endografting of Pararenal Aortic Aneurysms in a Concurrent Propensity-Adjusted Comparison

Purpose: To compare outcomes of patients treated for pararenal aortic aneurysms using fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (fEVAR) vs open surgical repair (OSR) in 3 high-volume centers. Materials and Methods: A multicenter retrospective analysis was conducted of 200 pararenal abdominal aortic aneurysm patients electively treated with OSR (n=108) or fEVAR (n=92) from 1998 to 2015 at 3 tertiary institutions. Endpoints were 30-day morbidity and mortality, late reinterventions, visceral artery occlusion, and mortality. Analysis was conducted on the entire population and on a propensity score–matched population constructed on age, gender, coronary artery disease (CAD), and chronic renal failure. Results: In the total cohort, fEVAR patients were significantly (p<0.001) older and had higher frequencies of CAD (p<0.001) and previous stroke (p=0.003). OSR patients had higher risk of perioperative morbidity (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.09 to 5.71, p=0.033), specifically respiratory failure (OR 4.06, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.72, p=0.034). These findings were confirmed in the propensity-adjusted analysis, where cardiac complications were also higher after OSR (OR 12.8, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.21, p=0.02). No difference in perioperative mortality (2.2% in fEVAR vs 1.9% in OSR) was identified. Mean follow-up was 50 months (range 0–119). Four-year results showed higher survival (91.2% vs 69.3%, p=0.02) and freedom from reintervention (95.6% vs 77.8%, p=0.01) after OSR in the unmatched population, with a small but significant (p=0.021) difference in the risk of late visceral artery occlusion/stenosis after fEVAR. On propensity analysis, no differences in late survival were found between groups. Conclusion: fEVAR and OSR may afford similar early and midterm survival rates. Higher risks of perioperative systemic complications after OSR are counterbalanced by higher risks of late visceral vessel patency issues and need for reintervention after fEVAR. Both procedures are safe and effective in the long term in experienced centers, where patient evaluation should drive the treatment strategy.