Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EMPIRICAL STUDIES RECHERCHES EMPIRIQUES HUMAN-MACHINE COOPERATION IN CAR DRIVING FOR LATERAL SAFETY : DELEGATION AND MUTUAL CONTROL

Deux experiences ont ete realisees sur piste pour evaluer les effets benefiques, autant que les effets negatifs a combattre, de deux principaux modes de cooperation homme-machine pour la securisation du controle lateral en virage. Avec le mode de delegation de fonction, l’automate prend entierement en charge le controle lateral (conduite au centre de la voie), en laissant au conducteur le controle longitudinal. Avec le mode controle mutuel, l’automate se contente de critiquer le comportement du conducteur. La premiere experience a ete concue pour evaluer d’eventuels effets negatifs de la delegation de fonction sur la reprise en main du vehicule en situation d’invalidite de l’automate (contournement d’obstacle). Trois resultats principaux ont ete retires de cette experience. En premier lieu, des difficultes de reprise en main ont ete observees dans le contournement d’obstacle, avec une suspicion de negligence de la prise d’information necessaire a la realisation de la fonction deleguee. En second lieu, une certaine experience du dispositif est apparue necessaire pour atteindre un niveau acceptable de confiance et de maitrise de l’interaction avec le dispositif. Les verbalisations revelaient encore l’elaboration d’un modele de l’interaction avec le dispositif et la difficulte de se faire une idee precise de la repartition des fonctions entre le conducteur et le dispositif. Enfin, en troisieme lieu, les styles de prise de virage des participants et du dispositif se sont averes provoquer des interferences negatives, alors que des interferences positives etaient verbalisees en ligne droite. La seconde experience visait a evaluer les effets benefiques de deux realisations du
Intraoperative Brain Mapping in Multilingual Patients: What Do We Know and Where Are We Going?

In this review, we evaluate the knowledge gained so far about the neural bases of multilingual language processing obtained mainly through imaging and electrical stimulation mapping (ESM). We attempt to answer some key questions about multilingualism in the light of recent literature evidence, such as the degree of anatomical–functional integration of two or more languages in a multilingual brain, how the age of L2-acquisition affects language organization in the human brain, or how the brain controls more than one language. Finally, we highlight the future trends in multilingual language mapping.
Impacts of Life-Time Exposure of Arsenic, Cadmium and Fluoranthene on the Earthworms’ L. rubellus Global DNA Methylation as Detected by msAFLP

This study reports on the effects of long-term exposure to the metals arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fluoranthene on the survival, growth, development and DNA methylation status of the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus. Exposures to the three chemicals were conducted over their whole juvenile developmental period from egg to adult. Significant effects on one or more measured endpoints were found for all three chemicals. Arsenic had no effect on survival, but had a significant effect on growth rates at concentrations of 36 mg/kg or higher and also slowed the rate of maturation. Cadmium significantly reduced juvenile survival at 500 mg/kg, juvenile growth at 148 mg/kg and maturation rates at all tested concentrations. Fluoranthene had no effect on survival or the developmental period, but did significantly reduce growth rates at 800 mg/kg. Effects at these concentrations are consistent with the known effects of these three chemicals on earthworms from previous studies conducted mainly with Eisenia fetida. Both As and Cd had no effect on DNA methylation patterning in earthworms measured at the end of the exposure. Fluoranthene was shown, for the first time. to have an effect on a species’ DNA methylation levels. These results suggest that apical phenotypic changes for As and Cd are not necessarily associated with changes in DNA methylation profiles. However, exposure to the organic chemical fluoranthene influenced DNA methylation patterns, suggesting wider remodelling of the epigenome for this chemical.
Activity of Antibiotics and Potential Antibiofilm Agents against Biofilm-Producing Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Complex Causing Chronic Pulmonary Infections

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) cause lung infections in patients with underlying pulmonary diseases (PD). The Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) is the most frequently involved NTM. The MAC-PD treatment is based on the administration of several antibiotics for long periods of time. Nonetheless, treatment outcomes remain very poor. Among the factors involved is the ability of MAC isolates to form biofilm. The aim of the study was to assess the in vitro activity of different antibiotics and potential antibiofilm agents (PAAs) against MAC biofilm. Four antibiotics and six PAAs, alone and/or in combination, were tested against planktonic forms of 11 MAC clinical isolates. Biofilm was produced after 4 weeks of incubation and analyzed with the crystal violet assay. The antibiotics and PAAs were tested by measuring the absorbance (minimum biofilm inhibition concentrations, MBICs) and by performing subcultures (minimum biofilm eradication concentrations, MBECs). The clarithromycin/amikacin and clarithromycin/ethambutol combinations were synergistic, decreasing the MBECs values compared to the individual antibiotics. The amikacin/moxifloxacin combination showed indifference. The MBIC values decreased significantly when PAAs were added to the antibiotic combinations. These results suggest that antibiotic combinations should be further studied to establish their antibiofilm activity. Moreover, PAAs could act against the biofilm matrix, facilitating the activity of antibiotics.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex May Influence Semantic Fluency and Functional Connectivity in Fronto-Parietal Network in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique that is increasingly used as a nonpharmacological intervention against cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias. Although rTMS has been shown to modify cognitive performances and brain functional connectivity (FC) in many neurological and psychiatric diseases, there is still no evidence about the possible relationship between executive performances and resting-state brain FC following rTMS in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In this preliminary study, we aimed to evaluate the possible effects of rTMS of the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in 27 MCI patients randomly assigned to two groups: one group received high-frequency (10 Hz) rTMS (HF-rTMS) for four weeks (n = 11), and the other received sham stimulation (n = 16). Cognitive and psycho-behavior scores, based on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Apathy Evaluation Scale, and brain FC, evaluated by independent component analysis of resting state functional MRI (RS-fMRI) networks, together with the assessment of regional atrophy measures, evaluated by whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM), were measured at baseline, after five weeks, and six months after rTMS stimulation. Our results showed significantly increased semantic fluency (p = 0.026) and visuo-spatial (p = 0.014) performances and increased FC within the salience network (p ≤ 0.05, cluster-level corrected) at the short-term timepoint, and increased FC within the left fronto-parietal network (p ≤ 0.05, cluster-level corrected) at the long-term timepoint, in the treated group but not in the sham group. Conversely, regional atrophy measures did not show significant longitudinal changes between the two groups across six months. Our preliminary findings suggest that targeting DLPFC by rTMS application may lead to a significant long-term increase in FC in MCI patients in a RS network associated with executive functions, and this process might counteract the progressive cortical dysfunction affecting this domain.
Treatment Outcome in Patients with Mycobacterium abscessus Complex Lung Disease: The Impact of Tigecycline and Amikacin

Background: The contemporary guidelines have recommended multiple antimicrobial therapies along with oral macrolides for the treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus complex lung disease (MABC-LD). However, there is little evidence supporting the parenteral tigecycline-containing regimens against MABC-LD. Therefore, we conducted this study to evaluate the effect of intravenous tigecycline-containing regimens on the treatment of MABC-LD. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 6 medical centers. Patients with MABC-LD that were followed up at ≥12 months were enrolled. Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies were identified by hsp65, rpoB, secA1 gene PCR, and sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined for 34 patients using broth microdilution methods following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline. The microbiology and treatment outcomes were defined as either success or failure. The impacts of tigecycline and amikacin were adjusted for age, comorbidities, surgical resection, and radiologic scores. Results: During the study period, seventy-one patients were enrolled for final analysis. The microbiology failure rate was 61% (43/71) and the treatment failure rate was 62% (44/71). For M. abscessus complex, 97% (33/34) of tigecycline MIC were ≤1 mg/L. Amikacin also demonstrated great susceptibility (94.1%; 32/34). Treatment with regimens containing tigecycline plus amikacin provided better microbiology success (adjusted OR 17.724; 95% CI 1.227–267.206) and treatment success (adjusted OR 14.085; 95% CI 1.103–166.667). Conclusion: The outcome of MABC-LD is always unsatisfactory. Treatment regimens with oral macrolide in combination with tigecycline and amikacin were correlated with increased microbiology success and less treatment failure.
Five Fabaceae Karyotype and Phylogenetic Relationship Analysis Based on Oligo-FISH for 5S rDNA and (AG3T3)3

Most Fabaceae have nitrogen fixation abilities and are valuable forage and medicinal resources. However, cytogenetic data of many Fabaceae species are unclear. Karyotypes reveal cytological characteristics and are crucial to understanding the organization and evolution of chromosomes in species. Oligo-FISH can reveal genetic composition and karyotype variation patterns with rapid and efficient results. Karyotype analysis of five Fabaceae species by oligonucleotide probes showed that: Robinia pseudoacacia, karyotype formula 2n = 2x = 20m + 2sm, cytotype 2B, arm ratio 3.4821, eight chromosomes distributed 5S rDNA signal. The karyotype formula of Robinia pseudoacacia ‘idaho’ was 2n = 2x = 20m + 2sm, cytotype 1A, arm ratio 1.8997, and 5S rDNA signal was distributed on six chromosomes. Karyotype of Robinia pseudoacacia f. decaisneana 2n = 2x = 20m + 2sm, cytotype 1B, arm ratio 2.0787, the distribution of eight chromosomes with 5S rDNA signal. Karyotype formula of Styphnolobium japonicum 2n = 2x = 14m + 12sm + 2st, cytotype 2B, arm ratio 2.6847, two chromosomes have 5S rDNA signal. Amorpha fruticose karyotype 2n = 2x = 38m + 2sm, cytotype 1B, arm ratio 3.2058, four chromosomes possessed 5S rDNA signal. Both ends of all species’ chromosomes have (AG3T3)3 signals. The results of this study provide chromosome numbers and a physical map, contributing to the construction of the Oligo-FISH barcode and providing molecular cytogenetics data for Fabaceae.
Horned Melon Pulp, Peel, and Seed: New Insight into Phytochemical and Biological Properties

Artificial neural intelligence was established for the estimation, prediction, and optimization of many agricultural and food processes to enable enhanced and balanced utilization of fresh and processed fruits. The predictive capabilities of artificial neural networks (ANNs) are evaluated to estimate the phytochemical composition and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus) pulp, peel, and seed. Using multiobjective optimization, the main goals were successively achieved through analysis of antimicrobial potential against sensitive microorganisms for peel (Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus brasiliensis, and Penicillium aurantiogriseum), pulp (Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Typhimurium), and seed samples (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans), and its connection with phytochemical and nutritional composition and antioxidant activity. The highly potent extracts were obtained from peels which represent a waste part with strong antioxidant and antifungal capacity. Briefly, the calculated inhibition zone minimums for sensitive microorganisms were 25.3–30.7 mm, while the optimal results achieved with carotenoids, phenolics, vitamin C, proteins, lipids, DPPH, ABTS, and RP were: 332.01 mg β-car/100 g, 1923.52 mg GAE/100 g, 928.15 mg/100 g, 5.73 g/100 g, 2.3 g/100 g, 226.56 μmol TE/100 g, 8042.55 μmol TE/100 g, and 7526.36 μmol TE/100 g, respectively. These results imply the possibility of using horned melon peel extract as an antioxidant and antifungal agent for food safety and quality.
Oxidative-Induced Angiogenesis Is Modulated by Small Extracellular Vesicle miR-302a-3p Cargo in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells

Extracellular vesicles are released from cells under diverse conditions. Widely studied in cancer, they are associated with different diseases playing major roles. Recent reports indicate that oxidative damage promotes the release of small extracellular vesicle (sEVs) from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), with an angiogenic outcome and changes in micro-RNA (miRNA) levels. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the miRNA miR-302a-3p, included within RPE-released sEVs, as an angiogenic regulator in cultures of endothelial cells (HUVEC). ARPE-19 cell cultures, treated with H2O2 to cause an oxidative insult, were transfected with a miR-302a-3p mimic. Later, sEVs from the medium were isolated and added into HUVEC or ARPE-19 cultures. sEVs from ARPE-19 cells under oxidative damage presented a decrease of miR-302a-3p levels and exhibited proangiogenic properties. In contrast, sEVs from miR-302a-3p-mimic transfected cells resulted in control angiogenic levels. The results herein indicate that miR-302a-3p contained in sEVs can modify VEGFA mRNA expression levels as part of its antiangiogenic features.
A Narrative Review on Current Diagnostic Imaging Tools for Dentomaxillofacial Abnormalities in Children

The current review narrates the findings and discusses the available diagnostic tools for detecting structural abnormalities. The review discusses several diagnostic tools, such as magnetic resonance imaging, cone beam computed tomography, multi detector row CT and positron emission tomography. The vital findings and comparative analysis of different diagnostic tools are presented in this review. The present review also discusses the advent of newer technologies, such as the HyperionX9 scanner with less field of view and 18F-FDG PET/CT (positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18] fluoro-D-glucose, integrated with computed tomography), which can give more efficient imaging of dentomaxillofacial structures. The discussion of effective comparative points enables this review to reveal the available diagnostic tools that can be used in the detection of dentomaxillofacial abnormalities in the pediatric population. The advantages and disadvantages of each tool are discussed, and the findings of past publications are also presented. Overall, this review discusses the technical details and provides a comparative analysis of updated diagnostic techniques for dentomaxillofacial diagnosis.
Establishment of ICU Mortality Risk Prediction Models with Machine Learning Algorithm Using MIMIC-IV Database

Objective: The mortality rate of critically ill patients in ICUs is relatively high. In order to evaluate patients’ mortality risk, different scoring systems are used to help clinicians assess prognosis in ICUs, such as the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III (APACHE III) and the Logistic Organ Dysfunction Score (LODS). In this research, we aimed to establish and compare multiple machine learning models with physiology subscores of APACHE III—namely, the Acute Physiology Score III (APS III)—and LODS scoring systems in order to obtain better performance for ICU mortality prediction. Methods: A total number of 67,748 patients from the Medical Information Database for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) were enrolled, including 7055 deceased patients, and the same number of surviving patients were selected by the random downsampling technique, for a total of 14,110 patients included in the study. The enrolled patients were randomly divided into a training dataset (n = 9877) and a validation dataset (n = 4233). Fivefold cross-validation and grid search procedures were used to find and evaluate the best hyperparameters in different machine learning models. Taking the subscores of LODS and the physiology subscores that are part of the APACHE III scoring systems as input variables, four machine learning methods of XGBoost, logistic regression, support vector machine, and decision tree were used to establish ICU mortality prediction models, with AUCs as metrics. AUCs, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and calibration curves were used to find the best model. Results: For the prediction of mortality risk in ICU patients, the AUC of the XGBoost model was 0.918 (95%CI, 0.915–0.922), and the AUCs of logistic regression, SVM, and decision tree were 0.872 (95%CI, 0.867–0.877), 0.872 (95%CI, 0.867–0.877), and 0.852 (95%CI, 0.847–0.857), respectively. The calibration curves of logistic regression and support vector machine performed better than the other two models in the ranges 0–40% and 70%–100%, respectively, while XGBoost performed better in the range of 40–70%. Conclusions: The mortality risk of ICU patients can be better predicted by the characteristics of the Acute Physiology Score III and the Logistic Organ Dysfunction Score with XGBoost in terms of ROC curve, sensitivity, and specificity. The XGBoost model could assist clinicians in judging in-hospital outcome of critically ill patients, especially in patients with a more uncertain survival outcome.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen: Clinical Application and Research Status

The squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is a tumor marker that has gained increasing attention for its biological functions and significance in normal physiological and pathological processes. Not only SCCA but also circulating immune complexes of SCCA and immunoglobulin M (IgM) are involved in normal physiological and pathological processes, providing a background for numerous clinical studies aimed at assessing the potential role of SCCA, SCCA–IgM, and SCCA isoform complexes in clinical practice. Previous studies support the clinical value of SCCA as a tumor marker for either diagnosing squamous cancers or monitoring the response to radiotherapy or chemotherapy, tumor relapse, and treatment failure. However, these studies show contrasting results, making the diagnostic or prognostic value of SCCA controversial. To reduce clinical heterogeneity across studies and achieve a more accurate and reliable comparison of results, a standardized detection method, scoring system, and cutoff level need to be established. Moreover, despite the fact that performances of different methods are comparable, the dynamic observation of tumor marker kinetics should be conducted under the same method.
Effects of Aquatic Training in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Simple Summary Swimming can be an alternative in the physical exercise curriculum to improve the motor abilities as well as the social behavior and communication skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in schools and institutions. It is important to assess the effects of different forms of aquatic training (e.g., technical vs. game-based) to improve motor and stereotypy skills as well as emotion regulation in autistic children. This information should be of great interest to professionals to choose the appropriate training form to improve each of these abilities. The finding that both forms of swimming had a positive effect on gross motor skills and stereotyped behaviors in autistic children is in agreement with the accumulated evidence of swimming’s effectiveness to alleviate symptoms of motor and behavioral problems. In contrast, emotion regulation is not likely to improve after a short intervention period. The preliminary findings of this study are an important guidance for future researchers to further examine the neurophysiological and cognitive mechanisms of exercise–emotion and exercise–behavior relationships in children with ASD. Abstract A variety of aquatic training regimens have been found to be beneficial for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in multiple domains. This study investigated and compared the efficacy of two aquatic training regimens (technical vs. game-based) on gross motor skills, stereotypy behavior and emotion regulation in children with ASD. Twenty-two autistic children were randomly assigned into three groups: two experimental groups performed either a technical aquatic program or a game-based aquatic program and a control group. Participants were assessed before and after an 8-week training period, with the Test of Gross Motor Development, the stereotypy subscale of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale, and the Emotion Regulation Checklist. A significant effect for time was found in gross motor skills and stereotypy behavior in both experimental groups. An improvement in gross motor skills was observed in both experimental groups compared to the control group. A small pre-post change effect in emotion functioning was found in all groups. No significant differences were observed between the experimental groups in all assessed variables. Our findings provide additional evidence suggesting the effectiveness of beneficial effects of aquatic activities on the motor and social skills that underpin the hypothesis that motor and intellectual domains are highly interrelated in autistic children.
Macrophage Polarization in Atherosclerosis

The implication of the heterogeneous spectrum of pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophages (Macs) has been an important area of investigation over the last decade. The polarization of Macs alters their functional phenotype in response to their surrounding microenvironment. Macs are the major immune cells implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. A hallmark pathology of atherosclerosis is the accumulation of pro-inflammatory M1-like macrophages in coronary arteries induced by pro-atherogenic stimuli; these M1-like pro-inflammatory macrophages are incapable of digesting lipids, thus resulting in foam cell formation in the atherosclerotic plaques. Recent findings suggest that the progression and stability of atherosclerotic plaques are dependent on the quantity of infiltrated Macs, the polarization state of the Macs, and the ratios of different types of Mac populations. The polarization of Macs is defined by signature markers on the cell surface, as well as by factors in intracellular and intranuclear compartments. At the same time, pro- and anti-inflammatory polarized Macs also exhibit different gene expression patterns, with differential cellular characteristics in oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. Macs are reflective of different metabolic states and various types of diseases. In this review, we discuss the major differences between M1-like Macs and M2-like Macs, their associated metabolic pathways, and their roles in atherosclerosis.