Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measure of Early Vision Use: development of a new assessment tool for children with cerebral palsy

Abstract Purpose To report the development of an assessment tool to describe “how vision is used” for children with cerebral palsy. Method Measurement development consisted of three steps: (i) an online survey to explore the relevance and comprehensiveness of visual behaviours identified in a previous conceptualisation study; (ii) construction of items and a rating scale for the new measure; and (iii) cognitive interviews to explore comprehensibility and refine the measure in preparation for field testing. Survey respondents were 130 parents of children with cerebral palsy, eight adults with cerebral palsy, and 108 clinicians (n = 246). Nine parents participated in the interviews. Results The new tool, the Measure of Early Vision Use, is a 14-item descriptive measure of typical performance of visual behaviours observable in everyday activities, as rated by parent/caregiver observation. Each item is rated on a 4-point ordinal scale. Conclusions This new measure is conceptually grounded within the Activity level domain of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a measure of a single visual ability construct. The target population is children with cerebral palsy, and using parent report the Measure of Early Vision Use describes both strengths and limitations in using vision. This study addressed the selection of items and response options for the new scale, and provides evidence to support content relevance, comprehensiveness and comprehensibility from key stakeholders. Further research will explore psychometric properties and clinical utility. Implications for rehabilitation The ability to use vision in daily activities is relevant to the development and learning of all children, so the availability of a method for describing visual abilities has potential for diverse research and clinical purposes. The Measure of Early Vision Use is a parent-report tool that provides a criterion-referenced method for quantifying and describing how children use vision in typical daily activities to support intervention planning. Clinicians and parents wishing to measure vision use in children with cerebral palsy can be confident about the rigorous methods used to develop this tool, including consultation with key stakeholders.
Colloidal Crystallization Accomplished by Electrodeposition on Patterned Substrates

We report colloid crystal growth by using electrodeposition of charged polymer colloid particles on patterned conductive substrates. We used photolithography to create patterns with conductive grooves and dielectric ribs on indium-tin oxide surfaces. Two approaches were used to enhance long-range order in two‐dimensional colloid crystals grown on patterned surfaces: (i) patterning of substrates with features commensurate with several particle diameters and (ii) patterning of substrates with features commensurate with a single particle diameter. We demonstrate the effect of commensurability on colloid crystal growth and present the results of real‐time studies of colloid crystallization in constrained geometry during electrodeposition on patterned substrates.
Coating of Carbon Fibers With Calcium Phosphate by Sol- Gel Method

Sol-gel technique has been used to coat carbon fibers with calcium phosphate to improve the esthetic of black carbon fibers as it's biocompatible. To improve bonding between carbon fibers and prepared calcium phosphate powders, the surface of carbon fibers has been treated with para-aminobenzoic acid. The structural tests include: (SEM, XRD, AFM and FTIR). The morphology of the coating layers has been examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The crystallized phase composition of coatings has been identified by x-ray diffractometry (XRD). The grain size of dried and heat treated calcium phosphate coat has been estimated by atomic force microscope (AFM) and fourier transform ـ! ـ infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis which support and verify the x-ray diffraction findings.
HDAC6 inhibition restores TDP‐43 pathology and axonal transport defects in human motor neurons with TARDBP mutations

TDP‐43 is the major component of pathological inclusions in most ALS patients and in up to 50% of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Heterozygous missense mutations in TARDBP, the gene encoding TDP‐43, are one of the common causes of familial ALS. In this study, we investigate TDP‐43 protein behavior in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)‐derived motor neurons from three ALS patients with different TARDBP mutations, three healthy controls and an isogenic control. TARDPB mutations induce several TDP‐43 changes in spinal motor neurons, including cytoplasmic mislocalization and accumulation of insoluble TDP‐43, C‐terminal fragments, and phospho‐TDP‐43. By generating iPSC lines with allele‐specific tagging of TDP‐43, we find that mutant TDP‐43 initiates the observed disease phenotypes and has an altered interactome as indicated by mass spectrometry. Our findings also indicate that TDP‐43 proteinopathy results in a defect in mitochondrial transport. Lastly, we show that pharmacological inhibition of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) restores the observed TDP‐43 pathologies and the axonal mitochondrial motility, suggesting that HDAC6 inhibition may be an interesting therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders linked to TDP‐43 pathology.
Application Placement and Timing of Nitrogen Solution for No‐Till Corn

Fertilizing no-till corn (Zea mays L.) with urea-based N sources requires managing for N losses such as immobilization and NH 3 volatilization. In this study the interactive effects of fertilizer N application time and placement method were evaluated by applying urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution to no-till corn. Eight site-years of data were collected from sites in central, northeast, and northwest Missouri on Ochraqualf, Albaqualf, and Udifluvent soils, respectively. Experimental design was a complete factorial of N application time (preplant and sidedress), placement method (knife, dribble and broadcast) and rate (67, 135, and 202 kg N ha −1 ). Knife injected N increased yields relative to broadcast and dribbled N in five of eight site-years [. ]
Gas-liquid mass transfer in fluidized particle beds

Gas/liquid mass transfer has been studied in air/water fluidized beds of 0.05-8 mm glass spheres in a 0.14 m diameter reactor. The volumetric mass transfer coefficients kL a were independent of bed height, and, for particle diameters up to 1 mm, decreased linearly with solids concentration. Low solids loadings as well as large diameter particles significantly increased kL and a, respectively, as compared to the two-phase system.
Apoptosis in hippocampal tissue induced by oxidative stress in testosterone deprived male rats

Abstract The testosterone decline is one of the potential causes of oxidative stress-induced anxiety and depressive behaviors, and cognitive impairment induces irreversible neuronal damage, which is not clearly understood. The orchidectomized rat model was used; the hippocampal neurons and anxiety behavior were analyzed. Adult male albino rats were divided into control and orchidectomy (ORX) groups, orchidectomy (ORX + T), and normal (Cont + T) groups. Testosterone propionate was used as a testosterone supplement. The anxiety and depressive-like behavior observed in ORX animals in the open field (OF) and elevated plus-maze experiments were effectively overturned in the ORX + T group. Studies on isolated hippocampus showed reduced antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and glutathione (GSH) compounds), increased lipid peroxidation (LPO), elevated caspase3, and reduced anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and increased apoptotic nuclei in TUNEL staining of the hippocampus in the ORX rats. These observations indicate free radical-mediated neural damage. Testosterone presence promoted the antioxidant defense system and restored normal pyramidal neuron morphology in ORX + T. This study confirms that testosterone is indispensable in the normal adult hippocampus and deficiency seems to be a potential risk factor for neurodegenerative disorders. Besides, androgen appears to be a possible therapeutic strategy for treating depression/neurodegenerative diseases in aging men.
Organic Dye for Highly Efficient Solid‐State Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye sensitized solar cells are an interesting low cost alter native to conventional solar cells. Efficiencies over 10 % have been achieved. [1,2] Advantageous is the replacement of the liquid electrolyte in these devices with a solid charge carrier material to avoid any sealing and long term stability prob lems. In 1998 Bach et al. [3] demonstrated that the electrolyte can be replaced by a hole conductor. Here we report a very efficient solid state solar cell with the amorphous organic hole transport material 2,2¢,7,7¢ tetrakis (N,N di p methoxyphenyl amine)9,9¢ spirobifluorene (spiro OMeTAD) as hole conduc tor and for the first time an organic metal free indoline dye as sensitizer. Record efficiencies for this type of cell of over 4 % over the solar spectrum were reached. Until now, sensitization using organic dyes has not been as efficient as using ruthenium dyes, which have been success fully applied previously. Metal free dyes such as perylene de rivatives, [4] coumarin dyes, [5] porphyrin dyes, [6] and cyanine and merocyanine dyes [7] have been used as sensitizers, but did not achieve the same solar conversion efficiency as ruthenium dyes. The efficiencies achieved in this work with the indoline dye (D102) are even higher than the highest currently report ed values for ruthenium dye sensitized solid state cells. In ad dition, this dye has the advantage that it can be produced at low cost, because it does not contain the expensive rare metal ruthenium and it is easy to synthesize. Up to now the best results reported with spiro OMeTAD as a hole conductor are efficiencies of 3.2 %. [8] In that work the dye uptake and open circuit voltage were optimized by a sil ver complexation. In the case of the indoline dye we were able to reach an efficiency of just over 4 % without further optimi zation. This shows the extremely high potential of the indoline dye as a sensitizer in solid state dye sensitized solar cells. In doline dyes have previously been used in dye sensitized solar cells with a liquid electrolyte. [9,10] There also they showed a good performance of up to g = 6.1 % conversion efficiency compared to 6.3 % for a N3 dye sensitized cell. [9] Solid state devices usually have a lower performance, which is not the case here with an extraordinary efficiency of 4 %, which ap proaches that of their liquid …
Heat Dissipation of Transparent Graphene Defoggers

In spite of recent successful demonstrations of flexible and transparent graphene heaters, the underlying heat‐transfer mechanism is not understood due to the complexity of the heating system. Here, graphene/glass defoggers are fabricated and the dynamic response of the temperature as a function of input electrical power is measured. The graphene/glass defoggers reveal shorter response times than Cr/glass defoggers. Furthermore, the saturated temperature of the graphene/glass defoggers is higher than for Cr/glass defoggers at a given input electrical power. The observed dynamic response to temperature is well‐fitted to the power‐balance model. The response time of graphene/glass defogger is shorter by 44% than that of the Cr/glass defogger. The convective heat‐transfer coefficient of graphene is 12.4 × 10−4 W cm−2 °C−1, similar to that of glass (11.1 × 10−4 W cm−2 °C−1) but smaller than that of chromium (17.1 × 10−4 W cm−2 °C−1). The graphene‐based system reveals the lowest convective heat‐transfer coefficient due to its ideal flat surface compared to its counterparts of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO)‐based systems.
Can the RAVLT predict deterioration from MCI to dementia? Data from long term follow up

ABSTRACT Objective To assess whether the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) could differentiate deterioration from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to dementia. Methods Twenty-six participants who were diagnosed with MCI performed the RAVLT and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline and after nearly a decade (M = 8.8 years, SD = 3.16), in order to evaluate whether they progressed to dementia. Results Twelve participants [5 males, 7 females; age M = 63.7 (7.7)] kept their diagnoses of MCI; 14 participants [11 males, 3 females; age M = 75.0 (6.5)] converted to dementia. Both groups had similar MMSE scores at baseline [26.6 (0.6); and 26.6 (0.7) respectively]. Significant differences between dementia and MCI groups were found on most measures of the RAVLT at baseline: Immediate memory [p = . 04], delayed recall [p = . 003], total learning [p = . 01], learning rate [p = . 002], retrieval efficiency [p = . 004], and false alarms [p = . 004]. Thus, the RAVLT results were significantly worse at baseline in those who later converted. The results remain the same when controlling for age. Conclusion The results extend previous findings with follow-up of nearly a decade demonstrating that most of the RAVLT measures are sensitive to differentiate conversion from MCI to dementia.
Polymer and Ion Concentration Effects on Gellan Gel Strength and Strain

Failure stresses and strains were measured in compressive, tensile and torsional modes on gellan gels at four polymer (0.6–1.8% w/v) and seven Ca++ (1.5–60 mM) concentrations. Shear stresses at failure were equal in all three testing modes and proportional to gellan content. Low calcium gels increased linearly in strength with Ca++ concentration until it reached a level of about 0.5 calcium ions per repeat tetrasaccharide unit of gellan gum polymer. Gel strength decreased linearly with Ca++ at higher concentrations. Low calcium gels were extensible with failure strains decreasing as the logarithm of Ca++; whereas high calcium gels were brittle and failed at a constant strain, the value of which was twice as high in compression and torsion as in tension.
Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of cancer: the D2d cancer outcomes (D2dCA) ancillary study.

CONTEXT Observational studies suggest that low vitamin D status may be a risk factor for cancer. OBJECTIVES In a population with prediabetes and overweight/obesity that is at higher risk of cancer than the general population, we sought to determine if vitamin D supplementation lowers risk of cancer and precancers. DESIGN The D2d cancer outcomes study (D2dCA) is an ancillary study to the Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes (D2d) study. SETTING Twenty-two US academic medical centers. PARTICIPANTS Participants had prediabetes and overweight/obesity and were free of cancer for the previous 5 years. INTERVENTIONS Vitamin D3 4000 IU daily or placebo. MAIN OUTCOMES At scheduled study visits (four times/year), cancer and precancer outcomes were identified by questionnaires. Clinical data were collected and adjudicated for all reported events. Cox proportional hazard models compared the hazard ratio (HR) of incident cancers and precancers between groups. RESULTS Over a median follow-up of 2.9 years, among 2385 participants (mean age 60 years and 25-hydroxyvitamin D 28 ng/mL), there were 89 cases of cancer. The HR of incident cancer for vitamin D vs. placebo was 1.07 (95% CI: 0.70, 1.62). Of 241 participants with incident precancers, 239 had colorectal adenomatous polyps. The HR for colorectal polyps for vitamin D vs. placebo was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.64, 1.07). CONCLUSIONS In the D2d population of participants with prediabetes and overweight/obesity not selected for vitamin D insufficiency, vitamin D supplementation did not have a significant effect on risk of incident cancer or colon polyps.
Temperature dependence of scaling laws in adsorption on bivariate surfaces

The adsorption of particles with nearest-neighbor repulsive interactions is studied through Monte Carlo simulation on bivariate surfaces characterized by patches of weak and strong adsorbing sites of size l. Patches are considered to have a square geometry and they can be either arranged in a deterministic ordered structure or in a random way. Quantities are identified which scale obeying power laws as a function of the scale length l and its dependence on the temperature is determined. Consequences of this finding are discussed for the determination of the energetic topography of the surface from adsorption measurements.
A rapid-cycle assessment strategy for understanding the opioid overdose epidemic in local communities

Background Certain communities in the United States experience greater opioid-involved overdose mortality than others. Interventions to stem overdose benefit from contextual understandings of communities’ needs and strengths in addressing the opioid crisis. This project aims to understand multiple stakeholder perspectives on the opioid epidemic in communities disproportionately affected by opioid-involved overdose mortality. Methods We performed a rapid-cycle qualitative assessment study utilizing in-depth interviews with community stakeholders and observations of community meetings in eight communities in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, disproportionately impacted by opioid-involved overdose mortality. Stakeholder categories included: current and past illicit users of opioids; medical and social service providers; emergency medical services; law enforcement; spouse or other family members of illicit users/former users of opioids; government officials; school officials; community members. Content analysis was utilized to identify themes and answer study questions. Regular feedback to stakeholders was provided to support targeted interventions. Results We performed semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 130 community stakeholders and 29 community meeting observations in 2018–2019. Participants perceived similar economic and social determinants as origins of the opioid overdose epidemic including lack of economic resources, loss of jobs, transient populations and dilapidated housing. However, they differed in their awareness of and attention to the epidemic. Awareness was dependent on the visibility of opioid use (presence of paraphernalia litter, location of drug users, media coverage, and relationship to users). Overall, there was good knowledge of naloxone for opioid overdose reversal but less knowledge about local syringe services programs. Perceptions of harm reduction efforts were ambivalent. Conclusions Members of communities impacted by the opioid epidemic perceived that economic downturn was a major factor in the opioid overdose epidemic. However, the varied beliefs within and between communities suggest that interventions need to be tailored according to the cultural norms of place.
Predicted reproductive longevity and women’s facial attractiveness

Physical attractiveness has been shown to reflect women’s current fecundity level, allowing a man to choose a potentially more fertile partner in mate choice context. However, women vary not only in terms of fecundity level at reproductive age but also in reproductive longevity, both influencing a couple’s long-term reproductive success. Thus, men should choose their potential partner not only based on cues of current fecundity but also on cues of reproductive longevity, and both may be reflected in women’s appearance. In this study, we investigated if a woman’s facial attractiveness at reproductive age reflects anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level, a hormone predictor of age at menopause, similarly as it reflects current fecundity level, estimated with estradiol level (E2). Face photographs of 183 healthy women (Mage = 28.49, SDage = 2.38), recruited between 2nd - 4th day of the menstrual cycle, were assessed by men in terms of attractiveness. Women’s health status was evaluated based on C-reactive protein level and biochemical blood test. Serum AMH and E2 were measured. The results showed that facial attractiveness was negatively correlated with AMH level, a hormone indicator of expected age at menopause, and positively with E2, indicator of current fecundity level, also when controlled for potential covariates (testosterone, BMI, age). This might result from biological trade-off between high fecundity and the length of reproductive lifespan in women and greater adaptive importance of high fecundity at reproductive age compared to the length of reproductive lifespan.
Primordial Germ Cell Migration and Histological and Molecular Characterization of Gonadal Differentiation in Pachón Cavefish Astyanax mexicanus

The genetic regulatory network governing vertebrate gonadal differentiation appears less conserved than previously thought. Here, we investigated the gonadal development of Astyanax mexicanus Pachón cavefish by looking at primordial germ cells (PGCs) migration and proliferation, gonad histology, and gene expression patterns. We showed that PGCs are first detected at the 80% epiboly stage and then reach the gonadal primordium at 1 day post-fertilization (dpf). However, in contrast to the generally described absence of PGCs proliferation during their migration phase, PGCs number in cavefish doubles between early neurula and 8–9 somites stages. Combining both gonadal histology and vasa (germ cell marker) expression patterns, we observed that ovarian and testicular differentiation occurs around 65 dpf in females and 90 dpf in males, respectively, with an important inter-individual variability. The expression patterns of dmrt1, gsdf, and amh revealed a conserved predominant male expression during cavefish gonadal development, but none of the ovarian differentiation genes, i. e. , foxl2a, cyp19a1a, and wnt4b displayed an early sexually dimorphic expression, and surprisingly all these genes exhibited predominant expression in adult testes. Altogether, our results lay the foundation for further research on sex determination and differentiation in A. mexicanus and contribute to the emerging picture that the vertebrate sex differentiation downstream regulatory network is less conserved than previously thought, at least in teleost fishes.
The clinical impact of Prostate Imaging–Reporting and Data System classification in patients with haemospermia undergoing multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate

In this study, we evaluated the role of the Prostate Imaging–Reporting and Data System (PI‐RADS) classification of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) to determine the likelihood of prostate cancer (PCa) in patients with haemospermia. Fifty‐one patients presenting with haemospermia between 2018 and 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Forty‐two of the patients (82.4%) were over 40 years, and the median prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level was 1.4 ng/ml. Fourteen of the patients (27.5%) had recurrent haemospermia. All patients underwent mpMRI, and assessments were classified according to PI‐RADS v2. The mpMRI revealed PI‐RADS one to four lesions in 10 (19.6%), 30 (58.8%), 6 (11.8%) and 5 (9.8%) patients respectively. One patient with PI‐RADS 3 and five with PI‐RADS 4 lesions underwent cognitive fusion prostate biopsy depending on MRI findings, and two patients with PI‐RADS 4 lesions were diagnosed with PCa. Patients with haemospermia and risk factors, that is aged over 40 years, a high PSA level or familial history of PCa, need a more thorough evaluation with mpMRI.