Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perceived roughness of glossy objects: The influence of Fresnel effects and correlated image statistics

Abstract The roughness of a shiny surface determines how sharp the reflected image of the surroundings is, and thus whether the surface appears highly glossy or more or less matte. In a matching experiment, subjects were asked to reproduce the perceived roughness of a given surface (standard) in a comparison stimulus (match), where the standard and the match could differ in both shape and illumination. To compare the effect of the reflection model on the accuracy of the settings, this was done for two different reflectance models (bidirectional reflectance distribution function [BRDF]). The matching errors were smaller, that is, the constancy under shape and illumination changes higher, when Fresnel effects were physically correctly reproduced in the reflectance model (Fresnel-BRDF) than when this was not the case (Ward-BRDF). The subjects’ settings in the experiment can be predicted very well by two image statistics, one of which is based on the mean edge strength and the other on a local discrete cosine transform. In particular, these predictions also reflect the empirically observed advantage of the Fresnel-BRDF. These results show that the constancy of perceived roughness across context changes may depend on the BRDF used, with Fresnel effects playing a significant role. The good prediction of subjects’ settings using the two image statistics suggests that local brightness variance, which affects both image statistics, can be used as a valid cue for surface roughness.
Female sexual function six months after sexual assault: post-traumatic stress disorder strongest risk factor for impaired function

Abstract In this study, we investigate the effect of sexual assault on sexual function in adult women. Participants consisted of 136 women recruited from the Emergency Clinic for Rape Victims in Stockholm. Seventy-three women returned for follow-up six months after the assault and completed the Female Sexual Function Index, assessing their current sexual function compared to that before the assault. A majority (44/73) reported impaired function, which was associated with a simultaneous diagnosis of PTSD (OR 5.7; 95% CI 1.7–19.1, p = .005) or moderate-severe depressive symptoms (OR 4.6; 95% CI 1.6–13.7, p = .006). 27% of women reported improved function.
Membrane-Facilitated Receptor Access and Binding Mechanisms of Long-Acting β2-Adrenergic Receptor Agonists

The drugs salmeterol, formoterol, and salbutamol constitute the frontline treatment of asthma and other chronic pulmonary diseases. These drugs activate the β2-adrenergic receptors (β2-AR), a class A G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR), and differ significantly in their clinical onset and duration of actions. According to the microkinetic model, the long duration of action of salmeterol and formoterol compared with salbutamol were attributed, at least in part, to their high lipophilicity and increased local concentrations in the membrane near the receptor. However, the structural and molecular bases of how the lipophilic drugs reach the binding site of the receptor from the surrounding membrane remain unknown. Using a variety of classic and enhanced molecular dynamics simulation techniques, we investigated the membrane partitioning characteristics, binding, and unbinding mechanisms of the ligands. The obtained results offer remarkable insight into the functional role of membrane lipids in the ligand association process. Strikingly, salmeterol entered the binding site from the bilayer through transmembrane helices 1 and 7. The entry was preceded by membrane-facilitated rearrangement and presentation of its phenyl-alkoxy-alkyl tail as a passkey to an access route gated by F193, a residue known to be critical for salmeterol’s affinity. Formoterol’s access is through the aqueous path shared by other β2-AR agents. We observed a novel secondary path for salbutamol that is distinct from its primary route. Our study offers a mechanistic description for the membrane-facilitated access and binding of ligands to a membrane protein and establishes a groundwork for recognizing membrane lipids as an integral component in the molecular recognition process. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The cell membrane’s functional role behind the duration of action of long-acting β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) agonists such as salmeterol has been a subject of debate for a long time. This study investigated the binding and unbinding mechanisms of the three commonly used β2-AR agonists, salmeterol, formoterol, and salbutamol, using advanced simulation techniques. The obtained results offer unprecedented insights into the active role of membrane lipids in facilitating access and binding of the ligands, affecting the molecular recognition process and thus their pharmacology.
Sense of Stress and Posttraumatic Growth in Mothers of Children with Cystic Fibrosis—The Moderating Role of Resilience

ABSTRACT: Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the moderating role of resilience in the relationship between sense of stress and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in mothers of children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a group of 139 mothers of children with CF. A diagnostic survey with Polish versions of the inventories was used. Results: Over half of the mothers (52.89%) reported average and 26.11% high levels of general sense of stress. Mothers also experienced high (37.68%) and average (34.06%) PTG. Generally, mothers of children with CF manifested low general resilience. Sense of stress and PTG were significantly and positively correlated in this group of mothers. Positive correlations were revealed between resilience (total and individual dimensions), total PTG, and 1 dimension of PTG: changes in self-perception. Moreover, resilience was found to correlate with sense of stress. The obtained results indicate that resilience manifested as an optimistic life attitude and the ability to mobilize in difficult situations, and tolerance of failures and treating life as a challenge is a moderator in the relationship between sense of stress and PTG. Conclusion: The relationship between sense of stress and PTG in mothers of children with CF depends on the level of resilience.
Results of an International Survey on Feeding Management in Infants With Short Bowel Syndrome-Associated Intestinal Failure

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text ABSTRACT Objectives: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a complex and rare condition (incidence 1200/100,000 live births) that requires a multidisciplinary team approach to management. In January 2019, the first European Reference Network on Rare and Inherited Congenital Anomalies (ERNICA) Intestinal Failure (IF) workshop was held. Several questions about the strategies used in managing IF associated with SBS were devised. The aim of our study was to collect data on the enteral feeding strategies adopted by the ERNICA centres. Methods: A questionnaire (36 questions) about strategies used to introduce enteral nutrition post-operatively and start complementary food/solids in infants with SBS associated IF was developed and sent to 24 centres in 15 countries that participated in the ERNICA-IF workshop. The answers were collated and compared with the literature. Results: There was a 100% response rate. In infants, enteral nutrition was introduced as soon as possible, ideally within 24–48 hours post-small intestinal surgical resection. In 10 of 24 centres, bolus feeding was used, in nine continuous, and in five a combination of both. Twenty-three centres used mothers’ own milk as the first choice of feed with extensively hydrolysed feed, amino acid-based feed, donor human milk or standard preterm/term formula as the second choice. Although 22 centres introduced complementary/solid food by 6 months of age, food choice varied greatly between centres and appeared to be culturally based. Conclusions: There is diversity in post-surgical enteral feeding strategies among centres in Europe. Further multi-centre studies could help to increase evidence-based medicine and management on this topic.
Food Waste and the Sharing Economy

Wasting food is one of the rare problems that a¤ects our ability to achieve economic goals in terms of food security, environmental sustainability, and farm- nancial security. Most of the ideas proposed to this point involve either behavioral nudges or administrative regulations that are either too paternalistic or piecemeal to represent viable solutions. In this study, we investigate the potential for commerical peer-to-peer mutualization systems (CPMSs), or sharing-economy rms, to emerge as market platforms for the exchange of surplus food. If a system of CPMSs is able to develop in a self-sustaining way, then the market prices they create will generate su¢ cient incentives for all actors to manage surplus food more e¢ ciently. We develop an empirical model of a CPMS operating as a platform in a two-sided market, and examine its viability using data from one of the rst CPMS rms in the surplus-harvest industry, Imperfect Produce, Inc. Empirical estimates of a two-sided network-demand model show that user-demand rises in the number of growers shipping to the platform, and grower demand for distribution rises in the number of users. Our ndings indicate that secondary markets have the key elements needed for CPMS success, and that policy tools designed to facilitate transactions in secondary markets can be highly e¤ective in reducing food waste. Richards is Professor and Morrison Chair of Agribusiness, Morrison School of Agribusiness, W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University; Hamilton is Professor and Department Head, Economics Department, Orfalea College of Business, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, CA. Contact author: Richards, Address: 7231 E Sonoran Arroyo Mall, Mesa, AZ, 85212. Ph. 480-727-1488, email: trichards@asu.edu. Copyright 2017. Users may copy with permission. Funding from Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (National Instittue for Food and Agriculture, USDA) grant no. 2016-09900 is gratefully acknowledged.
PCSK9 and inflammatory biomarkers in the early post kidney transplantation period.

OBJECTIVE Various biomarkers have been studied in the early post-kidney transplantation (post-KTx) period in order to identify potential therapeutic targets for improving long-term graft survival. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a biomarker that has recently gained interest in cardiovascular disease but its role still remains to be defined post-KTx. PATIENTS AND METHODS We prospectively evaluated the levels of PCSK9, interleukin (IL)-6, WBC and C-reactive protein in seventy-three hemodialysis patients undergoing KTx, at 3 time-points; pre-transplantation (day 0) and at 1 and 6-months post-KTx. All data were also analyzed according to donor-type (living or deceased) and compared with hemodialysis patients on transplant waiting list. RESULTS At Day 0 there was no difference in WBC, CRP, IL-6 and PCSK9 levels between patients scheduled for transplantation and those who remained on hemodialysis. In transplanted patients WBC, CRP and IL-6 levels were significantly reduced early post-KTx [logIL-6 Day 0: 0.68 (0.33, 0.85) vs. 1-month: 0.57 (0.37, 0.75) vs. 6-months: 0.50 (0.32, 0.69) pg/ml, p=0.01], while PCSK9 levels were significantly increased (Day 0: 199.8±63.0 vs. 1-month: 276.2±79.4 vs. 6-months: 245.9±62.5 ng/ml, p<0.001). In contrast, no change of WBC, CRP, IL-6 and PCSK9 levels was observed in hemodialysis patients on follow-up (p=NS for all). Between living-donor and deceased-donor recipients, analysis showed reduced CRP and increased PCSK9 levels in both groups (p<0.05 for all), while IL-6 levels were reduced in living-donor and increased in deceased-donor recipients 1-month post-KTx. PCSK9 levels were not correlated with renal function, delayed graft function, rejection episodes or inflammatory biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS PCSK9 levels were increased post-KTx independently from renal function and inflammatory biomarkers, in both living and deceased-donor recipients.
Atmospheric Rivers in CMIP5 climate ensembles downscaled with a high resolution regional climate model

Abstract. Atmospheric rivers (AR) are important drivers of heavy precipitation events in western and central Europe and often associated with intense floods. So far, the ARs response to climate change in Europe has been investigated by global climate models within the CMIP5 framework. However, their spatial resolution between 1 and 3° is too coarse for an adequate assessment of local to regional precipitation patterns. Using a regional climate model with 0.22° resolution we downscale an ensemble of 24 global climate simulations following the greenhouse gas scenarios RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP8.5. The performance of the model was tested against ER-I reanalysis data. The downscaled simulation notably better represents small-scale spatial characteristics which is most obvious over the terrain of the Iberian Peninsula where the AR induced precipitation pattern clearly reflect eat-west striking topographical elements resulting in zonal bands of high and low AR impact. Over central Europe the model simulates a less far propagation of ARs toward eastern Europe compared to ERA-I but a higher share of AR forced heavy precipitation events especially Norway where 60 % of annual precipitation maxima are related to ARs. We find ARs more frequent and more intense in a future warmer climate especially in the higher emission scenarios whereas the changes are mostly mitigated under the assumption of RCP2.6. They also propagate further inland to eastern Europe in a warmer climate. In the high emission scenario RCP8.5 AR induced precipitation rates increase between 20 and 40 % in western central Europe while mean precipitation rates increase by maximal 12 %. Over the Iberian Peninsula AR induced precipitation rates slightly decrease around −6 % but mean rates decrease around −15 %. The result of these changes is an overall increased contribution of ARs to heavy precipitation with greatest impact over Iberia (15–30 %). Over Norway average AR precipitation rates decline between −5 to −30 %. These reductions most likely the originate from regional dynamical changes. In fact, over Norway we find ARs originating from > 60° N are reduced by up to 20 % while those originating south of 45° N are increased. Also, no clear climate change signal is seen for AR related heavy precipitation and annual maximum precipitation over Norway where the uncertainty of the ensemble is quite large.
Using a Person-Centered Approach to Identify Patterns of Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Child Abuse in Women: Associations With Mental Health

Patterns of exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse (CA) were explored in 467 women seeking psychological assistance following IPV. Using latent class analysis, three classes were obtained: women who had experienced physical, sexual, and psychological IPV, along with childhood physical and sexual abuse (IPV + CA; 38.5%); women who had experienced physical, sexual, and psychological IPV only (IPV/no CA; 52.9%); and women who had experienced psychological IPV only (Psych IPV only; 8.6%). Associations of class membership with severity of specific mental health conditions were examined, along with the number of diagnosed conditions. Significant between-class differences were noted on severity of IPV-related posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive disorders, alcohol and substance use disorders, and social phobia. Classes also differed significantly on the number of mental health conditions. Understanding patterns of betrayal-based trauma (e.g., IPV and CA) can inform care within agencies that serve IPV survivors by highlighting individuals at-risk for mental health conditions.
Blockade of the interaction between BMP9 and endoglin on erythroid progenitors promotes erythropoiesis in mice

Bone morphogenetic protein‐9 (BMP9), a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily, plays important roles in the development and maintenance of various cell lineages via complexes of type I and type II TGFβ receptors. Endoglin is a coreceptor for several TGFβ family members, including BMP9, which is highly expressed in a particular stage of differentiation in erythroid cells as well as in endothelial cells. Although the importance of the interaction between BMP9 and endoglin for endothelial development has been reported, the contribution of BMP9 to endoglin‐expressing erythroid cells remains to be clarified. To address this point, we prepared an anti‐BMP9 antibody that blocks the BMP9‐endoglin interaction. Of note, challenge with the antibody promotes erythropoiesis in wild‐type mice but not in a mouse model of renal anemia in which erythropoietin (EPO) production in the kidneys is genetically ablated. While endoglin‐positive erythroid progenitors are mainly maintained as progenitors when bone marrow‐derived lineage‐negative and cKit‐positive cells are cultured in the presence of EPO and stem cell factor, the erythroid‐biased accumulation of progenitors is impeded by the presence of BMP9. Our findings uncover an unrecognized role for BMP9 in attenuating erythroid differentiation via its interaction with endoglin on erythroid progenitors.
Electrocardiographic predictors of early recurrence of atrial fibrillation

Electrical cardioversion (ECV) is an effective method for restoring sinus rhythm after atrial fibrillation (AF). However, early recurrence of AF occurs in a significant number of patients after ECV. This study aimed to identify electrocardiographic (ECG) predictors of early AF recurrence after ECV.
Detecting mechanical breakpoints during treadmill-based graded exercise test: Relationships to ventilatory thresholds

ABSTRACT Background: While changes in cardio-respiratory variables during graded exercise tests (GXTs) are well described, less is known about running mechanical alterations. Purpose: We determined mechanical breakpoints during GXT and compared their temporal location with thresholds in ventilation. Methods: Thirty-one recreational male runners completed continuous GXT on an instrumented treadmill, starting at 2.5 m.s−1 with velocity increases of +0.14 m.s−1 every 30 s. Subsequently, the first and second ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2) were determined from expired gases. Spatio-temporal and antero-posterior force variables, and spring-mass model characteristics were averaged for each stage. Mechanical breakpoints were detected using a linear fit process that partitioned the timeseries into two regions and minimised the error sum of squares. All measurements were normalised to % GXT duration for subsequent comparisons. Results: Fifteen out of 16 mechanical variables (all except leg stiffness) displayed breakpoints occurring between 61.9% and 82.3% of GXT duration; these occurred significantly later than VT1 (46.9 ± 6.4% of GXT duration, p < .05). Mechanical breakpoints for eight variables (step frequency, aerial time, step length, peak push-off force, braking impulse, peak vertical force, maximal downward vertical displacement and leg compression) occurred at a time point not different to VT2 (75.3 ± 6.2% of GXT duration; all p > .05). Relationships between mechanical breakpoints and either VT1 or VT2 were weak (all r < 0.25). Conclusion: During treadmill GXT, breakpoints can be detected for the vast majority of mechanical variables (except leg stiffness), yet these are not related with ventilatory thresholds.
Protective effects of sinapic acid against cyclophosphamide‐induced testicular toxicity via inhibiting oxidative stress, caspase‐3 and NF‐kB activity in BALB/c mice

Cyclophosphamide (CP), as a chemotherapeutic agent, with the generation of oxidative stress leads to testicular toxicity. Sinapic acid (SA), as a phenylpropanoid compound has therapeutic activities. This research was planned to evaluate the improving effects of SA versus testicular injury induced by CP. Forty‐eight mice were distributed into six groups: untreated, SA (5 and 10 mg/kg), CP (200 mg/kg) and CP + SA (5 and 10 mg/kg). SA was administrated for 7 successive days and CP was administered intraperitoneally on the 3rd day of study. On the 10th day of research, testicular toxicity was evaluated by sperm parameters test, tissue (oxidative stress parameters) and serum (testosterone) biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical (Caspase‐3 and NF‐kB) assays. The findings illustrated that CP induces atypical appearance in tissue structure, disorder of sperm parameters dysfunction, decrease of testosterone, oxidative stress (an increase of MDA and decrease of GSH), apoptosis and inflammation in testicular tissue. SA administration protected testis from oxidative stress and improves testosterone level and structure. Moreover, immunohistochemical findings also showed that SA can inhibit Caspase‐3 and NF‐kB activity. Data have confirmed that SA could protect testis structure and its functions against CP‐induced injury through antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic activities.
Lifestyle Interventions in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders: A Systematic Review

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. ABSTRACT Objective Lifestyle medicine is increasingly important in psychiatry for its efficacy as a transdiagnostic treatment, its preventative potential, and its increased tolerability compared with first-line strategies. Although the impact of lifestyle medicine is strong across many psychiatric illnesses, our understanding of the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in treating obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) is minimal. We aimed to conduct a systematic review examining the effect of lifestyle interventions (targeting diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, and tobacco/alcohol use) on OCRD symptoms. Methods We systematically searched four electronic databases for published randomized controlled trials reporting on lifestyle interventions for OCRDs. We qualitatively synthesized results of eligible studies and calculated mean changes in symptom severity from baseline to end point and standardized between-group effect sizes. Results We identified 33 eligible studies. Poor efficacy was noted across a number of rigorous dietary supplement interventions with some promising data in four (of six) studies regarding N-acetylcysteine for trichotillomania, skin picking, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Stress management interventions, generally characterized by high risk of bias, reported mild effectiveness with greater effects noted for mind-body exercises (yoga) for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Greater improvements may be achieved when lifestyle intervention is adjunct to first-line treatments and delivered by facilitators. Conclusions Diet (particularly N-acetylcysteine) and stress management interventions seem promising avenues for OCRDs treatment. We present an action plan to move the lifestyle interventions for OCRDs field forward. Further high-quality lifestyle interventions are required to improve the certainty of findings and to inform clinical treatment guidelines. Review Registration Number: CRD42020151407.