Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oncofetal protein glypican‐3 is a biomarker and critical regulator of function for neuroendocrine cells in prostate cancer

Neuroendocrine (NE) cells comprise ~1% of epithelial cells in benign prostate and prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCa). However, they become enriched in hormonally treated and castration‐resistant PCa (CRPC). In addition, close to 20% of hormonally treated tumors recur as small cell NE carcinoma (SCNC), composed entirely of NE cells, which may be the result of clonal expansion or lineage plasticity. Since NE cells do not express androgen receptors (ARs), they are resistant to hormonal therapy and contribute to therapy failure. Here, we describe the identification of glypican‐3 (GPC3) as an oncofetal cell surface protein specific to NE cells in prostate cancer. Functional studies revealed that GPC3 is critical to the viability of NE tumor cells and tumors displaying NE differentiation and that it regulates calcium homeostasis and signaling. Since our results demonstrate that GPC3 is specifically expressed by NE cells, patients with confirmed SCNC may qualify for GPC3‐targeted therapy which has been developed in the context of liver cancer and displays minimal toxicity due to its tumor‐specific expression. © 2023 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
User-defined spectral manipulation of HRTF for improved localisation in 3D sound systems

Front-back and elevation confusions typically occur when non-individualised HRTFs (head related transfer functions) are used in a 3D sound system. A practical strategy is proposed to allow more ‘customisation’ of the 3D sound system. Thus it is envisioned that the performance of the basic 3D sound system would be enhanced with the flexibility of user-defined adjustments without the actual measurement of an individual's HRTF.
Lung Cancer Screening: Implementation Challenges and Health Equity Considerations For the Western Pacific Region

The WHO Western Pacific Region (WPR) is home to 37 countries/areas and 1.9 billion people. It is economically, culturally, and linguistically diverse, containing some of the world’s most populous countries such as China, to some of the least, such as Niue and Tuvalu. Its health systems must serve populations facing the impacts of climate change, from vast geographic areas to tiny island territories, as well as those with a history of colonization. These factors all pose challenges to the equitable provision of health services, including cancer screening.
Remembering a life: an examination of open-ended life stories and the reminiscence bump in patients with Alzheimer’s disease

ABSTRACT Autobiographical memory impairments are prominent in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Yet, life narratives of AD patients are scarcely examined. Here, twenty-one older adults diagnosed with probably AD and 22 age-matched healthy controls told their life story, and dated the events mentioned in these narratives. AD patients provided significantly fewer life story memories overall, but the proportion of memories with reference to specific events did not differ between groups. Patients included fewer negative events in their life story, while the emotional tone of narratives was similar across groups. Impairments were found on most structural aspects, with patients’ narratives being less coherent and ending somewhere in the past, while no differences were seen for life story beginnings. Both groups showed a peak in remembered events dated to young adulthood, consistent with a reminiscence bump. However, in contrast to controls, patients displayed a steep drop in life story memories after the age of 30. For both groups, a high proportion of memories within the bump period were of life script events, consistent with the idea that the life script helps to structure the recall of personal life story memories, thus suggesting that AD patients still benefit from the retrieval support of this semantic structure.
The effect of a modified elastic band orthosis on gait and balance in stroke survivors

Background: Gait is crucial for independent living for stroke survivors and assistive devices have been developed to support gait performance. Ankle foot orthosis (AFOs) are commonly provided to stroke survivors to prevent foot drop during walking. However, previous studies have reported limitations of AFOs including them being too heavy, creating skin irritation, and being a stigma of disability. Objective: The purpose was to compare the gait and balance improvement between elastic band orthosis (EBOs) and AFOs. Study Design: Experimental study design. Methods: The AFOs and EBOs were provided to 17 stroke survivors, and changes in gait and balance were assessed compared to barefoot (control). Gait spatiotemporal parameters were measured using the zebris-FDM-Rehawalk® system, and balance ability was evaluated using the time up and go test (TUG). Satisfaction with the EBOs was determined using the Quebec user evaluation of satisfaction with assistive technology (QUEST2.0) questionnaire. Results: The EBO showed significant differences in; gait speed, cadence, stride length, stride time, step length unaffected side, stance phase and swing phase on the affected side, and pre-swing on the unaffected side, and balance performance (TUG) (p<0.05) when compared to the AFO and control conditions. The participants were quite satisfied with the EBOs with QUEST2.0 scores greater than 4 out of 5. Conclusions: EBOs could be provided to stroke survivors given their acceptability and properties to improve gait and balance. The EBO used in this study offered clinically important improvements in gait and balance when compare to AFO and control conditions, and could mitigate against some of the limitations reported in the use of AFOs in stroke survivors.
Fall detection from a manual wheelchair: preliminary findings based on accelerometers using machine learning techniques

ABSTRACT Automated fall detection devices for individuals who use wheelchairs to minimize the consequences of falls are lacking. This study aimed to develop and train a fall detection algorithm to differentiate falls from wheelchair mobility activities using machine learning techniques. Thirty, healthy, ambulatory, young adults simulated falls from a wheelchair and performed other wheelchair-related mobility activities in a laboratory. Neural Network classifiers were used to train the algorithm developed based on data retrieved from accelerometers mounted at the participant’s wrist, chest, and head. Results indicate excellent accuracy to differentiate between falls and wheelchair mobility activities. The sensors mounted at the wrist, chest, and head presented with an accuracy of 100%, 96.9%, and 94.8%, respectively, using data from 258 falls and 220 wheelchair mobility activities. This pilot study indicates that a fall detection algorithm developed in a laboratory setting based on fall accelerometer patterns can accurately differentiate wheelchair-related falls and wheelchair mobility activities. This algorithm should be integrated into a wrist-worn devices and tested among individuals who use a wheelchair in the community.
Platelet-Rich Fibrin–Augmented Gap-Bridging Strategy in Rabbit Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair

Background: We assessed the efficacy of a novel platelet-rich fibrin (PRF)–augmented repair strategy for promoting biological healing of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) midsubstance tear in a rabbit model. The biological gap-bridging effect of a PRF scaffold alone or in combination with rabbit ligamentocytes on primary ACL healing was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Hypothesis: A PRF matrix can be implanted as a provisional fibrin-platelet bridging scaffold at an ACL defect to facilitate functional healing. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: The biological effects of PRF on primary rabbit ligamentocyte proliferation, tenogenic differentiation, migration, and tendon-specific matrix production were investigated for treatment of cells with PRF-conditioned medium (PRFM). Three-dimensional (3D) lyophilized PRF (LPRF)–cell composite was fabricated by culturing ligamentocytes on an LPRF patch for 14 days. Cell-scaffold interactions were investigated under a scanning electron microscope and through histological analysis. An ACL midsubstance tear model was established in 3 rabbit groups: a ruptured ACL was treated with isolated suture repair in group A, whereas the primary repair was augmented with LPRF and LPRF-cell composite to bridge the gap between ruptured ends of ligaments in groups B and C, respectively. Outcomes—gross appearance, magnetic resonance imaging, and histological analysis—were evaluated in postoperative weeks 8 and 12. Results: PRFM promoted cultured ligamentocyte proliferation, migration, and expression of tenogenic genes (type I and III collagen and tenascin). PRF was noted to upregulate cell tenogenic differentiation in terms of matrix production. In the 3D culture, viable cells formed layers at high density on the LPRF scaffold surface, with notable cell ingrowth and abundant collagenous matrix depositions. Moreover, ACL repair tissue and less articular cartilage damage were observed in knee joints in groups B and C, implying the existence of a chondroprotective phenomenon associated with PRF-augmented treatment. Conclusion: Our PRF-augmented strategy can facilitate the formation of stable repair tissue and thus provide gap-bridging in ACL repair. Clinical Relevance: From the translational viewpoint, effective primary repair of the ACL may enable considerable advancement in therapeutic strategy for ACL injuries, particularly allowing for proprioception retention and thus improved physiological joint kinematics.
Energy stability of thermocapillary convection in a model of the float-zone crystal-growth process

Energy stability theory has been applied to a basic state of thermocapillary convection occurring in a cylindrical half-zone of finite length to determine conditions under which the flow will be stable. Because of the finite length of the zone, the basic state must be determined numerically. Instead of obtaining stability criteria by solving the related Euler–Lagrange equations, the variational problem is attacked directly by discretization of the integrals in the energy identity using finite differences. Results of the analysis are values of the Marangoni number, MaE, below which axisymmetric disturbances to the basic state will decay, for various values of the other parameters governing the problem.
Life's Essential 8 and the risk of cardiovascular disease death and all-cause mortality in Finnish men.

AIM To examine the association between Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. METHODS The LE8 was computed for 1662 men, aged 42 to 60 years, without pre-existing history of CVD at baseline in the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease study. The LE8 factors include diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose and lipids. Each LE8 factor was scored between 0 to 100 points. The summation of all points generated the total LE8 score, which was categorized into quartiles - ≤ 420; > 420 to 485; > 485 to 550; and >550. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of LE8 scores for the outcomes. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 30 years, 402 and 987 men died from CVD and any cause, respectively. The total LE8 score among participants ranged from 185 to 750. The higher the LE8 scores, the lower the risk of dying from CVD and all-cause. Following adjustment for age, alcohol consumption and socioeconomic status, every 50-unit increase in LE8 score was associated with 17% and 14% lower risk of CVD and all-cause deaths, respectively. Men within LE8 top quartile had 60% lower risk of CVD mortality when compared with those within the bottom quartile. CONCLUSION Life's Essential 8 was strongly and inversely associated with the risk of CVD death and all-cause mortality among ageing men. Measures that promote optimal LE8 scores should be encouraged among the general population.
Coronavirus disease 2019 and severe asthma

Purpose of review The relationship between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the most severe forms of asthma has been an object of discussion. Indeed, it is not clear whether asthma is among the risk factors for the occurrence of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease, or rather it plays a protective role against the worsening of the respiratory involvement in the SARS-CoV-2 infection. On the other hand, the extent to which coronavirus infection may trigger asthma attacks is still partly unknown. The current investigation aims at reviewing the available literature on the topic to address factors influencing this relationship. Recent findings Based on recent observations, it is likely that type 2 inflammation plays a protective role against SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease. In particular, asthmatics show different expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme2 (ACE2) and Transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2) that are responsible for a reduced risk of infection as well as lower risk of hospitalization. Interestingly, studies showed a safe profile of inhaled corticosteroids and biological drugs in SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, inhaled corticosteroid could play a protective role against worsening of asthma. Summary The current findings suggest that current treatment for asthma should be maintained to avoid severe exacerbations. Severe asthmatics under biological treatment should continue their medications, and be encouraged to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
Surface layer proteins in species of the family Lactobacillaceae

The S‐layer or surface layer protein (SLP) is the most ancient biological envelope, highly conserved in several Bacteria and Archaea. In lactic acid bacteria (LAB), SLP is only found in species belonging to the Lactobacillaceae family, many of them considered probiotic microorganisms. New reclassification of members within the Lactobacillaceae family (International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2020, 70, 2782) and newly sequenced genomes demands an updated revision on SLP genes and domain organization. There is growing information concerning SLP occurrence, molecular biology, biophysical properties, and applications. Here, we focus on the prediction of slp genes within the Lactobacillaceae family, and specifically, on the neat interconnection between the two different modular SLP domain organizations and the new reclassified genera. We summarize the results in a concise tabulated manner to review the present knowledge on SLPs and discuss the most relevant and updated concepts regarding SLP sequence clustering. Our assessment is based on sequence alignments considering the new genera classification and protein domain definition with post‐translational modifications. We analyse the difficulties encountered to resolve the SLPs 3D structure, describing the need for structure prediction approaches and the relation between protein structure and its anchorage mechanism to the cell wall. Finally, we enumerate new SLP applications regarding heterologous display, pathogen exclusion, immunostimulation, and metal binding.
Increased Paired Stimuli Enhances Corticospinal-Motoneuronal Plasticity in Humans with Spinal Cord Injury.

Paired corticospinal-motoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) has been used to enhance corticospinal excitability and functional outcomes in humans with spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we examined the effect of increasing the number of paired-pulses on PCMS-induced plasticity. During PCMS, corticospinal volleys evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the hand motor cortex were timed to arrive at corticospinal-motoneuronal synapses of the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle ~1-2 ms before the arrival of antidromic potentials elicited in motoneurons by electrical stimulation of the ulnar nerve. We tested motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by TMS over the hand motor cortex and electrical stimulation at the cervicomedullary junction (CMEPs) in the FDI muscle before and after 180 paired-pulses (PCMS-180) followed-up by another 180 paired-pulses (PCMS-360) in humans with and without chronic cervical SCI. The nine-hole-peg-test (9HPT) was measured before and after paired-pulses in individuals with SCI. We found that the size of MEPs and CMEPs increased to a similar extent after PCMS-180 in both groups compared with baseline and further increased after PCMS-360 in SCI participants, suggesting a spinal origin for these effects. Notably, in people with SCI, the time to complete the 9HPT decreased after PCMS-180 and further decreased after PCMS-360 compared with baseline but not when the 9HPT was repeated overtime. Our findings demonstrate that increasing the number of PCMS paired-pulses potentiates corticospinal excitability and voluntary motor output after SCI, likely through spinal plasticity. This proof-of-principle study suggests that increasing the PCMS dose represents a strategy to boost voluntary motor output after SCI.
ATM orchestrates ferritinophagy and ferroptosis by phosphorylating NCOA4

ABSTRACT Ferroptosis is a newly characterized form of programmed cell death, which is driven by the lethal accumulation of lipid peroxides catalyzed by the intracellular bioactive iron. Targeted induction of ferroptotic cell death holds great promise for therapeutic design against other therapy-resistant cancers. To date, multiple post-translational modifications have been elucidated to impinge on the ferroptotic sensitivity. Here we report that the Ser/Thr protein kinase ATM, the major sensor of DNA double-strand break damage, is indispensable for ferroptosis execution. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of ATM significantly antagonizes ferroptosis. Besides, ATM ablation-induced ferroptotic resistance is largely independent of its downstream target TRP53, as cells defective in both Trp53 and Atm are still more insensitive to ferroptotic inducers than the trp53 single knockout cells. Mechanistically, ATM dominates the intracellular labile free iron by phosphorylating NCOA4, facilitating NCOA4-ferritin interaction and therefore sustaining ferritinophagy, a selective type of macroautophagy/autophagy specifically degrading ferritin for iron recycling. Our results thus uncover a novel regulatory circuit of ferroptosis comprising ATM-NCOA4 in orchestrating ferritinophagy and iron bioavailability. Abbreviations: AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase; ATM: ataxia telangiectasia mutated; BSO: buthionine sulphoximine; CDKN1A: cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (P21); CQ: chloroquine; DFO: deferoxamine; DFP: deferiprone; Fer: ferrostatin-1; FTH1: ferritin heavy polypeptide 1; GPX4: glutathione peroxidase 4; GSH: glutathione; MEF: mouse embryonic fibroblast; NCOA4: nuclear receptor coactivator 4; PFTα: pifithrin-α; PTGS2: prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2; Slc7a11: solute carrier family 7 member 11; Sul: sulfasalazine; TFRC: transferrin receptor; TRP53: transformation related protein 53.
Asymmetric supercapacitors based on SnNiCoS ternary metal sulfide electrodes

While metal sulfides have extensively investigated as electrode materials for supercapacitors, the further optimization of their material system is still necessary to achieve satisfied performance. In this work, we reported the synthesis of ternary metal sulfide SnNiCoS and its application as electrode material of asymmetric supercapacitors, in which active carbon is used as the other electrode. For control experiments, asymmetric supercapacitors based on single metal sulfide CoS and binary metal sulfide NiCoS are also fabricated and investigated. The results show that the nanospherical SnNiCoS achieves the best performance. Ternary sulphide materials offer more redox than corresponding single-metal sulphides due to the synergy among various transition metal elements. The specific capacitance is 18.6 F cm−2 at current density of 5 mA·cm−2. An energy density of 937.2 μWh cm−2 is achieved at a power density of 4000 μW·cm−2. After 8000 cycles, the capacity retention rate is 82.9%. Present work indicates that SnNiCoS ternary metal sulfide could be a promising composite for high performance supercapacitors.
Clinical summary of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients complicated with asparaginase-associated pancreatitis in SCCLG-ALL-2016 protocol

ABSTRACT Asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP) is a common and fatal complication after ASNase treatment in acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL). Here, a total of 1063 pediatric ALL patients treated with SCCLG-ALL-2016 regimen were collected since October 2016 to June 2020, including 35 patients with AAP. The clinical characteristics of AAP and non-AAP patients were compared. In AAP patients, the possible factors that affected the recurrence of AAP were analyzed, and the possible risk factors related to ALL-relapse were discussed. The results showed that age was a risk factor (P = .017) that affect the occurrence of AAP. In AAP patients, AAP tended to develop after the second use of PEG-ASNase (25.71%). In the follow-up chemotherapy, 17 patients re-exposed to ASNase and 7 cases developed AAP again with a percentage was 41.2%. There were no special factors that related with the recurrence of AAP. This study also found no association between the occurrence of AAP and prognosis of ALL, with the 4-year incidence of ALL relapse in AAP and non-AAP patients were 15.9% v.s. 11.7% (HR: 1.009, 95% CI:0.370–2.752, P = .986), and there were no special factors that related with the ALL relapse among AAP patients. Based on the above results, the occurrence of AAP is related to age and should be vigilant after the second use of PEG-ASNase after use in pediatric ALL patients. Moreover, AAP is not associated with ALL relapse, but there is a high AAP recurrence rate when re-exposure to ASNase.
Martingale representation in continuous trading

For every consumption rate process c there is a portfolio process /spl pi/ such that (/spl pi/, c) is admissible. The proof of this result involves the stochastic integral representation of a martingale related to c. In the Markov case the authors give a simple formula for the integrand in the martingale representation under an equivalent measure. In turn, this gives an explicit expression for the portfolio process /spl pi/. <<ETX>>
The intercultural communication motivation scale: An instrument to assess motivational training needs of candidates for international assignments

The Intercultural Communication Motivation Scale (ICMS) is a tool to assess the intercultural communication motivation of candidates for international assignments. The ICMS performed well in four studies conducted with undergraduate students in New Zealand, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Germany. Generally showing a stable five-factor structure, high test-retest correlations, very high Cronbach's alphas, and almost no social desirability bias in self and peer evaluations, the ICMS is sensitive enough to detect test-retest differences. Thus, socially responsible strategic international HR programs can use this scale to reliably evaluate employees and their families for specific international locations.
Physical and mental health status of former smokers and non‐smokers patients with bipolar disorder

Up to 70% individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) are lifetime tobacco smokers, a major modifiable risk factor for morbidity. However, quitting smoking is rarely proposed to individuals with BD, mainly because of fear of unfavorable metabolic or psychiatric changes. Evaluating the physical and mental impact of tobacco cessation is primordial. The aim of this study was to characterize the psychiatric and nonpsychiatric correlates of tobacco smoking status (never‐ vs. current vs. former smokers) in individuals with BD.