Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intermittent Parathyroid Hormone Accelerates Stress Fracture Healing More Effectively Following Cessation of Bisphosphonate Treatment

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and bisphosphonates (BPs), including alendronate (ALN), have opposing effects on bone dynamics. The extent to which PTH remains effective in the treatment of stress fracture (SFx) in the presence of an ongoing BP treatment has not been tested. SFx was induced in 150 female Wistar rats, divided into five equal groups (n = 30). All rats were pretreated with ALN (1 μg/kg−1/day−1) for 14 days prior to SFx induction, followed by ALN cessation or continuation for the duration of the experiment; this was combined with daily PTH (8 μg/100 g−1/day−1) on SFx induction for 14 days, followed by cessation or continuation of ALN after SFx induction or an equivalent vehicle as a control. Ulnas were examined 2 weeks or 6 weeks following SFx. Two toluidine blue‐ and two tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase‐stained sections were examined for histomorphometric analysis using Osteomeasure software. There was a significant interaction between the effects of time and treatment type on the woven bone width and apposition rate, as well as an improvement in the woven bone architecture. However, woven bone variables remained unaffected by the cessation or continuation of ALN. Cessation of ALN increased osteoclast number when compared with the ALN‐PTH continuation group (p = 0.006), and vehicle (p = 0.024) after 2 weeks. There was a significant interaction between the effects of time and treatment type on the number of osteoclasts per unit BMU area and length. The number of osteoclasts per unit BMU area and length was significantly greater in ALN cessation groups. It was concluded that intermittent short‐duration iPTH treatment effectively increased remodeling of SFx with a concurrent BP treatment, provided that BP was ceased at the time of SFx. Our results could help develop shorter iPTH treatment protocols for the clinical management of SFxs and guide clinical decision‐making to cease BP treatment in cases of SFx. © 2020 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Novel Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Made from Glutinous Rice Flour

Successfully pressure-sensitive adhesives have been used by many industrial tape and label applications.This tape widely used in daily life of adhesive bandage. In this work, the novel the adhesive is fabricated from glutinous rice flour, gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, borax, methyl paraben and glycerol. Characteristics of adhesive were then investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and swelling ratios. Mechanical characterization and tissue adhesive bonding test of the final product were also performed.
BDNF Activates Postsynaptic TrkB Receptors to Induce Endocannabinoid Release and Inhibit Presynaptic Calcium Influx at a Calyx-Type Synapse

Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) has been shown to play critical roles in neural development, plasticity, and neurodegenerative diseases. The main function of BDNF in the brain is widely accepted to be synaptic regulation. However, how BDNF modulates synaptic transmission, especially the underlying signaling cascades between presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons, remains controversial. Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) has been shown to play critical roles in neural development, plasticity, and neurodegenerative diseases. The main function of BDNF in the brain is widely accepted to be synaptic regulation. However, how BDNF modulates synaptic transmission, especially the underlying signaling cascades between presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons, remains controversial. In the present study, we investigated the actions of BDNF at rat calyx-type synapses of either sex by measuring the excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) and presynaptic calcium current and capacitance changes. We found that BDNF inhibits the EPSC, presynaptic calcium influx, and exocytosis/endocytosis via activation of the presynaptic cannabinoid Type 1 receptors (CB1Rs). Inhibition of the CB1Rs abolished the BDNF-induced presynaptic inhibition, whereas CB1R agonist mimicked the effect of BDNF. Exploring the underlying signaling cascade, we found that BDNF specifically activates the postsynaptic TrkB receptors, inducing the release of endocannabinoids via the PLCγ/DGL pathway and retrogradely activating presynaptic CB1Rs. We also reported the involvement of AC/PKA in modulating vesicle endocytosis, which may account for the BDNF-induced calcium-dependent and -independent regulation of endocytosis. Thus, our study provides new insights into the BDNF/endocannabinoid-associated modulation of neurotransmission in physiological and pathologic processes. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT BDNF plays critical roles in the modulation of synaptic strength. However, how BDNF regulates synaptic transmission and its underlying signaling cascade(s) remains elusive. By measuring EPSC and the presynaptic calcium current and capacitance changes at rat calyces, we found that BDNF inhibits synaptic transmission via BDNF-TrkB-eCB signaling pathway. Activation of postsynaptic TrkB receptors induces endocannabinoid release via the PLCγ/DGL pathway, retrogradely activating the presynaptic CB1Rs, inhibiting the AC/PKA, and suppressing calcium influx. Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of BDNF/endocannabinoid-associated modulation of neuronal activities.
Continuous decoding of cognitive load from electroencephalography reveals task-general and task-specific correlates

Objective. Algorithms to detect changes in cognitive load using non-invasive biosensors (e.g. electroencephalography (EEG)) have the potential to improve human–computer interactions by adapting systems to an individual’s current information processing capacity, which may enhance performance and mitigate costly errors. However, for algorithms to provide maximal utility, they must be able to detect load across a variety of tasks and contexts. The current study aimed to build models that capture task-general EEG correlates of cognitive load, which would allow for load detection across variable task contexts. Approach. Sliding-window support vector machines (SVM) were trained to predict periods of high versus low cognitive load across three cognitively and perceptually distinct tasks: n-back, mental arithmetic, and multi-object tracking. To determine how well these SVMs could generalize to novel tasks, they were trained on data from two of the three tasks and evaluated on the held-out task. Additionally, to better understand task-general and task-specific correlates of cognitive load, a set of models were trained on subsets of EEG frequency features. Main results. Models achieved reliable performance in classifying periods of high versus low cognitive load both within and across tasks, demonstrating their generalizability. Furthermore, continuous model outputs correlated with subtle differences in self-reported mental effort and they captured predicted changes in load within individual trials of each task. Additionally, alpha or beta frequency features achieved reliable within- and cross-task performance, suggesting that activity in these frequency bands capture task-general signatures of cognitive load. In contrast, delta and theta frequency features performed considerably worse than the full cross-task models, suggesting that delta and theta activity may be reflective of task-specific differences across cognitive load conditions. Significance. EEG data contains task-general signatures of cognitive load. Sliding-window SVMs can capture these signatures and continuously detect load across multiple task contexts.
Physiological Seed Quality of Melon as Affected by Fruit Ripeness

ABSTRACT In order to obtain melon (Cucumis melo L.) seed of high physiological quality, the ideal harvesting time needs to be considered, which could be determined by fruit ripening stage. Seed viability of melon, cv. ‘Rock Cantaloup’, was evaluated based on ripening stage. A completely randomized experiment with fruit harvested at ripening stages based on color appearance and presence, or not, of epidermal reticulation, were classified as follows: I, green fruit with nonreticulated epidermis; II, green fruit with reticulated epidermis; III, yellow fruit and reticulated epidermis, and IV, 10 days after yellow fruit and reticulated epidermis. Seed were taken from fruit and evaluated based on moisture percentage, weight of 1000 seed, percentage germination and number of seed that germinated first, seedling formation, seedling growth rate, seedling length, fresh weight, dry weight, and aging speed. Physiological quality of melon seed increased as ripening advanced. Seed obtained from yellow fruit with reticulated epidermis at stage IV were best in all criteria. The best melon seed for germination and quality standards are from well-ripened fruit. However, seed from less mature fruit are still viable for use in melon cultivation.
Latent Profiles of Burnout, Self-Esteem and Depressive Symptomatology among Teachers

Burnout is a reality in the teaching profession. Specifically, teaching staff usually have higher burnout rates. The present study aims to analyze the different burnout profiles and to verify if there were differences between burnout profiles in depressive symptomatology and in the self-esteem of the teachers at school. The total number of participants was 210 teachers from 30 to 65 years. The first scale was the Maslach burnout inventory, the second scale was the Self-Rating depression scale and the third scale was the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The latent class analysis identified three burnout profiles: the first group with a high level of emotional exhaustion, low personal accomplishment and depersonalization (high burnout); the second group with low emotional exhaustion, low depersonalization and high personal accomplishment (low burnout) and the third group with low depersonalization, low emotional exhaustion and low personal accomplishment (moderate burnout). The results revealed that there were differences in depressive symptomatology (group 1 obtained higher scores than group 2 and group 3) and self-esteem (group 2 obtained higher scores than group 1). The psychological balance and health of teachers depend on preventing the factors that have been associated with this syndrome.
Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cell Depletion after Nonablative Oligofractionated Irradiation Boosts the Abscopal Effects in Murine Malignant Mesothelioma

Key Points Tregs rapidly rise in the tumor microenvironment after nonablative irradiation. Transient Treg depletion increases the efficiency of nonablative irradiation. Treg depletion after three fractions of radiation induces systemic antitumor immunity. Increasing evidence indicates that local hypofractionated radiotherapy (LRT) can elicit both immunogenic and immunosuppressive local and systemic immune responses. We thus hypothesized that blockade of LRT-induced immunosuppressive responses could augment the antitumor effects and induce an abscopal response. In this study, we found that the upregulation of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the mesothelioma tumor microenvironment after nonablative oligofractionated irradiation significantly limited the success of irradiation. Using DEREG mice, which allow conditional and efficient depletion of Foxp3+ Tregs by diphtheria toxin injection, we observed that transient Foxp3+ Treg depletion immediately after nonablative oligofractionated irradiation provided synergistic local control and biased the T cell repertoire toward central and effector memory T cells, resulting in long-term cure. Furthermore, this combination therapy showed significant abscopal effect on the nonirradiated tumors in a concomitant model of mesothelioma through systemic activation of cytotoxic T cells and enhanced production of IFN-γ and granzyme B. Although local control was preserved with one fraction of nonablative irradiation, three fractions were required to generate the abscopal effect. PD-1 and CTLA-4 were upregulated on tumor-infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in irradiated and nonirradiated tumors, suggesting that immune checkpoint inhibitors could be beneficial after LRT and Foxp3+ Treg depletion. Our findings are applicable to the strategy of immuno-radiotherapy for generating optimal antitumor immune responses in the clinical setting. Targeting Tregs immediately after a short course of irradiation could have a major impact on the local response to irradiation and its abscopal effect.
Sialendoscopy increases saliva secretion and reduces xerostomia up to 60 weeks in Sjögren’s syndrome patients: a randomized controlled study

Abstract Objective To assess the effect of sialendoscopy of the major salivary glands on salivary flow and xerostomia in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). Methods Forty-five patients with SS were randomly assigned to a control group (no irrigation, control, n = 15), to irrigation of the major salivary glands with saline (saline, n = 15) or to irrigation with saline followed by corticosteroid application (triamcinolone acetonide in saline, saline/TA, n = 15). Unstimulated whole saliva flow (UWSF), chewing-stimulated whole saliva flow (SWSF), citric acid-stimulated parotid flow, Clinical Oral Dryness Score (CODS), Xerostomia Inventory (XI) and EULAR SS Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI) scores were obtained 1 week before (T0), and 1, 8, 16, 24, 36, 48 and 60 weeks after sialendoscopy. Data were analysed using linear mixed models. Results Irrespective of the irrigation protocol used, sialendoscopy resulted in an increased salivary flow during follow-up up to 60 weeks. Significant between-group differences in the longitudinal course of outcomes were found for UWSF, SWSF, XI and ESSPRI scores (P = 0.028, P = 0.001, P = 0.03, P = 0.021, respectively). UWSF at 60 weeks was higher compared with T0 in the saline group (median: 0.14 vs median: 0.10, P = 0.02) and in the saline/TA group (median: 0.20, vs 0.13, P = 0.035). In the saline/TA group SWSF at 48 weeks was higher compared with T0 (median: 0.74 vs 0.38, P = 0.004). Increase in unstimulated salivary flow was also reflected in improved CODS, XI and ESSPRI scores compared with baseline. Conclusion Irrigation of the major salivary glands in patients with SS increases salivary flow and reduces xerostomia.
Methylated DNA Markers of Esophageal Squamous Cancer and Dysplasia: An International Study

Background: Discovery of methylated DNA markers (MDM) of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has sparked interest in assessing these markers in tissue. We evaluated MDMs in ESCC from three geographically and ethnically distinct populations, and explored the feasibility of assaying MDMs from DNA obtained by swallowed balloon devices. Methods: MDMs were assayed in ESCC and normal tissues obtained from the populations of United States, Iran, and China, and from exfoliative cytology specimens obtained by balloons in a Chinese population. Areas under the receiver operating curve (AUC) of MDMs discriminating ESCC from normal tissues were calculated. Random forest prediction models were built, trained on U.S. cases and controls, and calibrated to U.S.-only controls (model 1) and three-country controls (model 2). Statistical tests were used to assess the relationship between dysplasia and MDM levels in balloons. Results: Extracted DNA from 333 ESCC and 322 normal tissues was analyzed, in addition to archival DNA from 98 balloons. For ESCC, model 1 validated in Iranian and Chinese tissues with AUCs of 0.90 and 0.87, and model 2 yielded AUCs of 0.99, 0.96, and 0.94 in tissues from the United States, Iran, and China, respectively. In Chinese balloons, MDMs showed a statistically significant trend of increasing levels with increasing grades of dysplasia (P < 0.004). Conclusions: MDMs accurately discriminate ESCC from normal esophagus in tissues obtained from high- and low-incidence countries. Preliminary data suggest that levels of MDMs assayed in DNA from swallowed balloon devices increase with dysplasia grade. Larger studies are needed to validate these results. Impact: MDMs coupled with minimally invasive collection methods have the potential for worldwide application in ESCC screening.
Risk of hospitalization and death within 2 years after methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) diagnosis in persons colonized or infected with livestock and non–livestock‐associated MRSA—A nationwide register‐based cohort study

Livestock‐associated methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA‐MRSA) CC398 has emerged in humans throughout Europe and the USA during the last decade and is associated with the spread of LA‐MRSA CC398 in production animals. In this study, we investigated the risk of subsequent hospitalization with an S. aureus‐related diagnosis and death within the first 2 years after MRSA diagnosis. The study included 7,521 carriers of MRSA, an age‐matched reference population of 376,041 individuals and 7,607 patients infected with MRSA. Hazard ratios (HR) for hospitalization with an S. aureus‐related diagnosis were 4.09 (95% CI: 2.78–6.00) and for death 1.21 (95% CI: 0.80–1.83) in LA‐MRSA CC398 carriers compared with the reference population. Comparing carriers of LA‐MRSA CC398 and non‐CC398 MRSA, HR for hospitalization was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.37–0.99) and death 0.25 (95% CI: 0.16–0.40), respectively. Patients initially diagnosed with LA‐MRSA CC398 or non‐CC398 MRSA infection differed from MRSA carriers in terms of older age, higher Charlson comorbidity index score and longer hospital stays. HR for subsequent hospitalization and death was similar regardless having infection with LA‐MRSA CC398 or non‐CC398 MRSA at the time of MRSA diagnosis. We established that MRSA CC398 carriers have a lower risk of hospitalization and death up to 2 years after MRSA diagnosis than non‐CC398 MRSA carriers do. In contrast, MRSA carriage, regardless the MRSA strain is a burden in terms of hospitalization and death when compared to the background reference population. Further, we established that there are no differences in risk of subsequent hospitalization and death in patients initially diagnosed with MRSA CC398 or non‐CC398 MRSA infection. We suggest that public health surveillance of MRSA clearly needs to distinguish between carriage and infection as well as strain type before any inference from number of cases to disease burden is made.
Mechanical Characteristics of Heavy vs. Light Load Ballistic Resistance Training in Older Adults

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Abstract Rodriguez-Lopez, C, Alcazar, J, Sánchez-Martín, C, Ara, I, Csapo, R, and Alegre, LM. Mechanical characteristics in heavy vs. light load ballistic resistance training in older adults. J Strength Cond Res 36(8): 2094–2101, 2022—Although power-oriented resistance training (RT) is strongly recommended to counter age-related neuromuscular function declines, there is still controversy about which intensities of load should be used to elicit optimal training adaptations. Knowledge of the mechanical characteristics of power-oriented RT performed at different intensities might help to better understand the training stimulus that triggers load-dependent adaptations in older adults. Using a cross-over design, 15 well-functioning older volunteers (9 men and 6 women; 73.6 ± 3.8 years) completed 2 volume × load-matched ballistic RT sessions with heavy (HL: 6 × 6 × 80% 1-repetition maximum [1RM]) and light-load (LL: 6 × 12 × 40% 1RM) on a horizontal leg press exercise. Electromyographic (EMG) and mechanical variables (work, force, velocity, and power) as well as intraset neuromuscular fatigue (i.e., relative losses in force, velocity, and power) were analyzed. More concentric mechanical work was performed in the LL training session, compared with HL (36.2 ± 11.2%; p < 0.001). Despite the higher mean EMG activity of the quadriceps femoris muscle (13.2 ± 21.1%; p = 0.038) and greater concentric force (35.2 ± 7.6%; p < 0.001) during HL, higher concentric velocity (41.0 ± 12.7%, p < 0.001) and a trend toward higher concentric power (7.2 ± 18.9%, p = 0.075) were found for LL. Relative velocity losses were similar in both sessions (≈10%); however, relative force losses were only found in LL (7.4 ± 6.5%, p = 0.003). Considering the greater mechanical work performed and concentric power generated, ballistic RT using LL may, therefore, represent a stronger stimulus driving training adaptations as compared with volume × load-matched heavy-load training. Relative losses in force and power should be monitored in addition to velocity losses during ballistic RT.
Application of a Handheld Near-Infrared Spectrometer to Predict Gelatinized Starch, Fiber Fractions, and Mineral Content of Ground and Intact Extruded Dry Dog Food

Simple Summary The pet food industry is interested in performing fast analyses to control the nutritional quality of their products. Despite having some limitations related to the need to modify the production process or to have a laboratory to prepare the samples for analysis through desktop instruments, near-infrared spectroscopy is one of the most used technologies for inexpensive analysis of foodstuffs. Thus, the miniaturization of infrared devices allows a wider industrial applicability of this technique. Information on the use of miniaturized infrared tools in the pet food sector is currently very limited, and the present research is the first attempt to predict the total and gelatinized starch, insoluble fibrous fractions, and mineral content of ground and intact dry pet food using the handheld NIR scanner SCiO™. Results from the current study revealed no significant differences in the predictive ability of the instrument using both ground and intact samples. The instrument offers a potential for screening purposes of both total and gelatinized starch, revealing the potential to monitor their content and ratio in commercial dog food on a large scale. Improvements such as widening the wavelength range is expected to increase prediction models’ accuracy. Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of a handheld near-infrared spectrometer to predict total and gelatinized starch, insoluble fibrous fractions, and mineral content in extruded dry dog food. Intact and ground samples were compared to determine if the homogenization could improve the prediction performance of the instrument. Reference analyses were performed on 81 samples for starch and 99 for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and minerals, and reflectance infrared spectra (740 to 1070 nm) were recorded with a SCiO™ near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer. Prediction models were developed using modified partial least squares regression and both internal (leave-one-out cross-validation) and external validation. The best prediction models in cross-validation using ground samples were obtained for gelatinized starch (residual predictive deviation, RPD = 2.54) and total starch (RPD = 2.33), and S (RPD = 1.92), while the best using intact samples were obtained for gelatinized starch (RPD = 2.45), total starch (RPD = 2.08), and K (RPD = 1.98). Through external validation, the best statistics were obtained for gelatinized starch, with an RPD of 2.55 and 2.03 in ground and intact samples, respectively. Overall, there was no difference in prediction models accuracy using ground or intact samples. In conclusion, the miniaturized NIR instrument offers the potential for screening purposes only for total and gelatinized starch, S, and K, whereas the results do not support its applicability for the other traits.