Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Moving singing for lung health online in response to COVID-19: experience from a randomised controlled trial

Introduction Singing for lung health (SLH) is a popular arts-in-health activity for people with long-term respiratory conditions. Participants report biopsychosocial benefits, however, research on impact is limited. The ‘SLH: Improving Experiences of Lung Disease trial’, a randomised controlled, single (assessor) blind, trial of 12 weeks SLH versus usual care for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n=120) was setup to help to address this. The first group (n=18, nine singing and nine controls) started face-to-face (five sessions) before changing to online delivery (seven sessions) due to COVID-19-related physical distancing measures. As such, the experience of this group is here reported as a pilot study to inform further research in this area. Methods We conducted semistructured interviews and thematic analysis regarding barriers, facilitators and key considerations for transitioning from face-to-face to online delivery. Pilot quantitative outcomes include attendance, premeasures and postmeasures of quality of life and disease impact (Short Form 36 Health Survey, COPD Assessment Test score), breathlessness (Medical Research Council breathlessness scale, Dyspnoea-12), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7), balance confidence (Activity specific Balance Confidence, ABC scale) and physical activity (clinical visit PROactive physical activity in COPD tool, combining subjective rating and actigraphy). Results Attendance was 69% overall, (90% of the face-to-face sessions, 53% online sessions). Analysis of semistructured interviews identified three themes regarding participation in SLH delivered face to face and online, these where (1) perceived benefits; (2) digital barriers (online) and (3) digital facilitators (online). Findings were summarised into key considerations for optimising transitioning singing groups from face-to-face to online delivery. Pilot quantitative data suggested possible improvements in depression (treatment effect −4.78 PHQ-9 points, p<0.05, MCID 5) and balance confidence (treatment effect +17.21 ABC scale points, p=0.04, MCID 14.2). Discussion This study identifies key considerations regarding the adaptation of SLH from face-to-face to online delivery. Pilot data suggest online group singing for people with COPD may deliver benefits related to reducing depression and improved balance confidence.
Chinese Women’s Acceptance and Uptake of Referral after Screening for Perinatal Depression

China recently issued a national plan on perinatal depression (PND) screening. Previous studies elsewhere suggested that uptake of referral after screening for PND is suboptimal, but little is known in China. In this cohort study including 1126 women in Hunan, we identified women at a high risk of PND using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) over multiple time points. We texted them and offered free consultations with a psychiatrist/psychologist. Among 248 screen-positive women, only three expressed interest and one attended the appointment. We surveyed the women about their reasons for declining referrals and preferred means of care. Of the 161 respondents, 128 (79.5%) indicated that they could cope with the condition without professional assistance and 142 (88.2%) chose their families as the preferred source of help. Only 15 (9.3%) chose professionals as their first option. Implementing a referral policy for screen-positive women would mean approximately one-third of women who gave birth in China would be eligible. Our result argues against referring all screen-positive women for professional services at this time. Interventions should instead build upon the tradition of family support in a more engaged response. These considerations are relevant for the implementation of national screening for PND in China.
Childhood Malnutrition and Association of Lean Mass with Metabolome and Hormone Profile in Later Life

This study aimed to determine the associations of targeted metabolomics and hormone profiles data with lean mass index (LMI), which were estimated using bioelectrical impedance, in survivors of child severe malnutrition (SM) (n = 69) and controls (n = 77) in Malawi 7 years after being treated. Linear associations between individual metabolite or hormone and LMI were determined, including their interaction with nutrition status 7 years prior. Path analysis was performed to determine structural associations. Lastly, predictive models for LMI were developed using the metabolome and hormone profile by elastic net regularized regression (EN). Metabolites including several lipids, amino acids, and hormones were individually associated (p < 0.05 after false discovery rate correction) with LMI. However, plasma FGF21 (Control: β = −0.02, p = 0.59; Case: β = −0.14, p < 0.001) and tryptophan (Control: β = 0.15, p = 0.26; Case: β = 0.70, p < 0.001) were associated with LMI among cases but not among controls (both interaction p-values < 0.01). Moreover, path analysis revealed that tryptophan mediates the association between child SM and LMI. EN revealed that most predictors of LMI differed between groups, further indicating altered metabolic mechanisms driving lean mass accretion among SM survivors later in life.
Relationships Between Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Plasma Clinical-Chemical Parameters in Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard, Norway.

In the present study, clinical-chemical parameters in relationship to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were investigated in plasma samples from polar bears (Ursus maritimus) captured at Svalbard in 2007. The clinical-chemical parameters examined were: hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HB), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), creatine kinase (CK), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (CHOL), high-density lipoprotein (HDLP), creatinine (CREA), urea, and potassium (K). Altered homeostasis of clinical-chemical parameters in plasma may indicate impact on liver, kidney, heart, muscle, bone, metabolism or the endocrine system. Of the twelve clinical-chemical parameters examined in this study, significant association to POPs were found in seven parameters in female polar bears, whereas eight parameters were found in male polar bears. The results indicate that different POPs may exhibit toxic effect to different organs of polar bears. Liver toxicity was indicated by a decrease of hematologic parameters (HCT and HB), a decrease of liver enzymes (ASAT and GGT), and an elevation of metabolites (TG, CHOL, and HDLP) in relation to contaminant concentrations. Further, kidney toxicity was indicated by a decrease of CREA concentrations in relation to contaminant-concentrations, and muscle toxicity by a decrease in CK concentrations in relation to contaminant-concentrations. Continuous exposure to contaminants may therefore result in decreased renal, hepatic, and muscular functions. It is possible that these POP-associated effects may reduce the fitness and survival of polar bears. The results also indicate that clinical-chemical parameters in plasma can be applied as a non-invasive biomarker for toxicity to organs and metabolic homeostasis caused by exposure to POPs in polar bear. Because of the fast response to environmental factors, including POPs, these biomarkers can be used to measure an effect at an early stage, as well as at low exposure concentrations. However, the present study was not designed to evaluate the relationship between cause and effect, and it is important to take into consideration other factors that can affect clinical-chemical parameters when interpreting the results.
Directed induction of alveolar type I cells derived from pluripotent stem cells via Wnt signaling inhibition

Alveologenesis is a developmental step involving the expansion of the lung surface area which is essential for gas exchange. The gas exchange process is mediated by alveolar type I (AT1) cells, which are known to be differentiated from alveolar type II (AT2) or bipotent cells. Due to the difficulty of isolating and culturing primary AT1 cells, the mechanism underlying their differentiation is not completely understood. We performed single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) of fibroblast‐dependent alveolar organoids (FD‐AOs), including human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)‐derived epithelial cells and fetal lung fibroblasts, and identified hiPSC‐derived AT1 (iAT1) cells. A comparison of the FD‐AOs and fibroblast‐free alveolar organoids showed that iAT1 cells were mainly present in the FD‐AOs. Importantly, the transcriptomes of iAT1 cells were remarkably similar to those of primary AT1 cells. Additionally, XAV‐939, a tankyrase inhibitor, increased iAT1 cells in passaged FD‐AOs, suggesting that these cells were differentiated from hiPSC‐derived AT2 (iAT2) cells through the inhibition of canonical Wnt signaling. Consequently, our scRNA‐seq data allowed us to define iAT1 cells and identify FD‐AOs as a useful model for investigating the mechanism underlying human AT1 cell differentiation from AT2 cells in vitro.
Nanoparticles Engineering by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids: Concepts and Applications

Laser synthesis emerges as a suitable technique to produce ligand-free nanoparticles, alloys and functionalized nanomaterials for catalysis, imaging, biomedicine, energy and environmental applications. In the last decade, laser ablation and nanoparticle generation in liquids has proven to be a unique and efficient technique to generate, excite, fragment and conjugate a large variety of nanostructures in a scalable and clean way. In this work, we give an overview on the fundamentals of pulsed laser synthesis of nanocolloids and new information about its scalability towards selected applications. Biomedicine, catalysis and sensing are the application areas mainly discussed in this review, highlighting advantages of laser-synthesized nanoparticles for these types of applications and, once partially resolved, the limitations to the technique for large-scale applications.
COVID-19-Induced Acute Bilateral Optic Neuritis

A 44-year-old male patient with no past medical history presented 2 weeks after seropositive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection with vision problems suggestive of optic neuritis. Radiological testing showed findings suspicious for acute bilateral optic neuritis. The patient had also anti-MOG antibodies. Whether this was an optic neuritis due to COVID-19, MOG antibody disease, or an activation of MOG antibody disease by COVID-19 is discussed in this case.
Supercritical fluids : molecular interactions, physical properties, and new applications

1 Solution Structure in Supercritical Fluids. - 2 Phase Equilibria and Static Properties. - 3 Transport Properties of Supercritical Fluids. - 4 Extraction and Separation Using Supercritical Fluidss. - 5 Material Processing Using Supercritical Fluids. - 6 Reactions in Supercritical Fluids. - Appendices.
The Impact of Bilingualism on the Executive Functions of Autistic Children: A Study of English–Arabic Children

There is evidence to suggest that certain executive functions are impaired in autistic children, contributing to many daily challenges. Regular use of two languages has the potential to positively influence executive functions, though evidence is mixed. Little is known about the impact of bilingualism on the executive functions of autistic children, with only a handful of studies published worldwide to date. This study investigated the impact of bilingualism on sustained attention, interference control, flexible switching and working memory, in Arabic–English autistic children (n = 27) and their typically developing peers (n = 66), aged 5–12 years old. Groups were matched on age, nonverbal IQ and socioeconomic status, and completed a battery of computerized tests. Results showed an advantage for bilingual autistic children relative to their monolingual peers in sustained attention, and equivalent performance between bilingual and monolingual autistic children on all other executive functions. There were no generalized positive effects of bilingualism, and typically‐developing children performed better than autistic children on all measures. The findings indicate that bilingualism does not negatively impact the executive function skills of autistic children, and that it might mitigate difficulties in sustained attention.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Treating Chronic Pain A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Chronic pain is a significant public health problem with emotional and disabling factors, which may not completely respond to current medical treatments such as opioids. The systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effectiveness and safety of MBCT for patients with chronic pain. Database searches of PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and CINAHL up to 15 October 2019. Included studies assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Eight RCTs involved 433 patients, including chronic low back pain, fibromyalgia, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis and mix etiology. MBCT intervention demonstrated a short-term improvement on depression mood [standardized mean difference −0.72; 95% confidence interval = −1.22 to −0.22, p = 0.005] compared with usual care and was associated with short-term improvement in mindfulness compared with non-MBCT [SMD 0.51; 95% CI = 0.01 to 1.01, p = 0.04]. Between-group differences in pain intensity, pain inference and pain acceptance were not signiﬁcant at short- or long-term follow-up. Compared to active treatments, MBCT intervention not found significant differences in either short- or long-term outcomes. MBCT showed short-term efficacious on depressed mood and mindfulness of chronic pain patients. Longer follow-ups, large sample and rigorous RCTs that can be best understand remaining uncertainties needed.
Review of the Mechanical Behavior of Different Implant–Abutment Connections

Introduction: Different implant–abutment connections have been developed to reduce mechanical and biological failure. The most frequent complications are loss of preload, screw loosening, abutment or implant fracture, deformations at the different interfaces, and bacterial microleakage. Aim: To review the evidence indicating whether the implant–abutment connection type is significant regarding the following issues: (1) maintenance of the preload in static and dynamic in vitro studies; (2) assessment of possible deformations at the implant–abutment interfaces, after repeated application of the tightening torque; (3) evaluation of the sealing capability of different implant connections against microleakage. Materials and Methods: In June 2020, an electronic literature search was performed in Medline, EBSCO host, and PubMed databases. The search was focused on the ability of different implant connections to maintain preload, resist deformation after tightening and retightening, and prevent microleakage. The related titles and abstracts available in English were screened, and the articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected for full-text reading. Results: The literature search conducted for this review initially resulted in 68 articles, among which 19 articles and 1 systematic review fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. The studies were divided according to the three proposed objectives, with some studies falling into more than one category (maintenance of preload, surface abutment–implant deformation, and resistance to microleakage). Conclusions: Conical abutment appears to result in fewer mechanical complications, such as screw loosening or fractures, and higher torque preservation. After SEM evaluation, damage was observed in the threads of the abutment screws, before and after loading in internal and external connections. Internal hexagon implants and predominantly internal conical (Morse taper) implants showed less microleakage in dynamic loading conditions. We suggest further studies to guarantee excellence in methodological quality.
Down stair walking: A simple method to increase muscle mass and performance in 65+ year healthy people

Abstract Exercise is important for prevention of sarcopenia in the elderly population. We tested two training modalities, ascending or descending stair walking, representing concentric (CON) and eccentric (ECC) exercise, respectively. We also tested the effects of additional weight during eccentric exercise (ECC+). Thirty-two healthy men and women (70 ± 3 [mean ± SE] yrs.) were randomly assigned to CON, ECC, or ECC+ (carrying +15% of body weight in a vest) in a 3 (n = 32) or 6 (n = 21) week intervention (3 sessions/week). Data was analysed by mixed models approach. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE; Borg scale 6-20; mean values from 3 and 6 weeks) during training did not differ between CON (12.3 ± 0.4), ECC (11.5 ± 0.3), and ECC+ (11.7 ± 0.4). After 6 weeks, leg muscle mass increased more in ECC+ (+0.29 ± 0.09 kg) vs CON (+0.08 ± 0.05 kg) (P<0.05) but not different from ECC (+0.16 ± 0.06 kg). 6-minute walk test (6MWT) increased after 6 weeks more (P<0.05) in ECC+ (+85 ± 23 m) compared with ECC (+37 ± 13 m) and CON (+27 ± 12 m). Intramyocellular glycogen content increased from 359 ± 19 nmol/mg d.w. in CON (to 511 ± 65 and 471 ± 44 after 3 and 6 wks, respectfully (P<0.05)), but not in ECC (to 344 ± 28 after 6 weeks) or in ECC+ (to 389 ± 20 after 6 weeks). Conclusion: carrying extra weight while descending stair walking do not increase RPE, but the ECC+ training resulted in greater muscle responses compared with CON, but glycogen synthesis was stimulated only in CON. Descending stairs is a simple model for prevention and treatment of sarcopenia and the stimulus is enhanced by carrying extra weights.
Community health worker case‐detection of asthma or reactive airways disease in a resource‐poor community in Nicaragua

Asthma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide, but many cases may remain undiagnosed. Community health worker (CHW) programs have improved detection of other diseases such as childhood pneumonia, but none have been validated for detection of asthma in resource‐poor settings. We hypothesized that a CHW administered questionnaire would be effective in case‐detection of asthma in a poor Nicaraguan community.
The stem/progenitor landscape is reshaped in a mouse model of essential thrombocythemia and causes excess megakaryocyte production

Mutant CALR drives ET at multiple stages of hematopoiesis. Frameshift mutations in CALR (calreticulin) are associated with essential thrombocythemia (ET), but the stages at and mechanisms by which mutant CALR drives transformation remain incompletely defined. Here, we use single-cell approaches to examine the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell landscape in a mouse model of mutant CALR-driven ET. We identify a trajectory linking hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with megakaryocytes and prospectively identify a previously unknown intermediate population that is overrepresented in the disease state. We also show that mutant CALR drives transformation primarily from the earliest stem cell compartment, with some contribution from megakaryocyte progenitors. Last, relative to wild-type HSCs, mutant CALR HSCs show increases in JAK-STAT signaling, the unfolded protein response, cell cycle, and a previously undescribed up-regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis. Overall, we have identified a novel megakaryocyte-biased cell population that is increased in a mouse model of ET and described transcriptomic changes linking CALR mutations to increased HSC proliferation and megakaryopoiesis.
An Outbreak of Hepatitis A among Young Adult Men in Cyprus

Background: Outbreaks of acute hepatitis A (AHA) have recently been reported in Europe among men who have sex with men (MSM). The aim of this work was to evaluate, for the first time, trends in the reported cases of AHA in Cyprus over the last seven years. Methods: We retrospectively studied all people reported with AHA in Cyprus between January 2013 and December 2019. Demographic data, type of transmission, vaccination status for HAV, laboratory and clinical data were analyzed. Results: The asnalysis involved 33 AHA cases (age 32.7 ± 17.4 years, 78.8% males). An increase in AHA reports was observed between July 2017 and June 2018 when more than a third (n = 13) of the cases of the period 2013–2019 were reported. The reporting rate of AHA doubled from 0.52 cases per 100,000 population (before July 2017) to 1.12 cases per 100,000 population (July 2017–June 2018). The male/female (M/F) ratio increased from one in 2013 to eight in 2018. Conclusion: An increase in AHA reports occurred in Cyprus between July 2017 and June 2018. Many cases with AHA in that period were MSM. Enhanced surveillance and timely public health interventions, like vaccination and awareness promotion, are important for preventing future outbreaks.
Age-associated changes in the transcriptomes of non-cultured adipose-derived stem cells from young and old mice assessed via single-cell transcriptome analysis

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) exhibit self-renewal and pluripotency. The differentiation potency of ASCs has been reported to deteriorate with aging; however, relevant studies used ASCs that were isolated and subcultured several times. It is still unclear whether subcultured ASCs accurately reflect the in vivo state. To address this question, we used freshly isolated stromal vascular fractions (SVFs) and performed comprehensive single-cell transcriptome analysis. In this study, we identified three cell populations as putative ASC candidates in SVFs and three novel ASC-related genes: Adamts7, Snai2, and Tgfbr1, that are reported to be negative regulators of cell differentiation. Moreover, we identified age-associated high gene expression levels of Adamts7, Egfr, and Igfbp4 in the earliest differentiation stage of ASCs. These results suggest that aging may make it impossible to maintain the stringency of the regulation of the expression of some genes related to ASC differentiation.
Fundamentals of Thermodynamics and Applications: With Historical Annotations and Many Citations from Avogadro to Zermelo

Prologue on ideal gases and incompressible fluids. - Objectives of thermodynamics and its equations of balance. - Constitutive equations. - Reversible processes and cycles. "p dV thermodynamics" for the calculation of thermodynamic engines. - Entropy. - Entropy as S=k lnW. - Steam engines and refrigerators. - Heat Transfer. - Mixtures, solutions, and alloys. - Chemically reacting mixtures. - Moist air. - Selected problems in thermodynamics. - Thermodynamics of irreversible processes.
A fungal effector targets a heat shock–dynamin protein complex to modulate mitochondrial dynamics and reduce plant immunity

A fungal effector targets a heat shock–dynamin protein complex to modulate mitochondrial dynamics and reduce plant immunity. Mitochondria are essential for animal and plant immunity. Here, we report that the effector MoCDIP4 of the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae targets the mitochondria-associated OsDjA9-OsDRP1E protein complex to reduce rice immunity. The DnaJ protein OsDjA9 interacts with the dynamin-related protein OsDRP1E and promotes the degradation of OsDRP1E, which functions in mitochondrial fission. By contrast, MoCDIP4 binds OsDjA9 to compete with OsDRP1E, resulting in OsDRP1E accumulation. Knockout of OsDjA9 or overexpression of OsDRP1E or MoCDIP4 in transgenic rice results in shortened mitochondria and enhanced susceptibility to M. oryzae. Overexpression of OsDjA9 or knockout of OsDRP1E in transgenic rice, in contrast, leads to elongated mitochondria and enhanced resistance to M. oryzae. Our study therefore reveals a previously unidentified pathogen-infection strategy in which the pathogen delivers an effector into plant cells to target an HSP40-DRP complex; the targeting leads to the perturbation of mitochondrial dynamics, thereby inhibiting mitochondria-mediated plant immunity.