Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Moderating Role of Resilience Between Depression and Stress Response of Vocational Middle School Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Object In this study, we aimed to explore the influences of stress responses and psychological resilience on depression of vocational middle school students during the initial COVID-19 outbreak in China. Methods An online questionnaire survey on the students of a medical school in Jiangxi Province, China, and obtained 3,532 valid questionnaires. A self-compiled general situation questionnaire, Stress Response of COVID-19 Questionnaire, the Resilience Scale for Chinese Adolescents and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) were used. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to explore the regulatory role of psychological resilience between stress response and depression. Results (1) There were significant differences in gender between vocational middle school students' evaluation (t = 3.07, P = 0.002) and defense (t = 3.28, P = 0.001) of the pandemic. Males had higher cognitive evaluation of the pandemic than females, and females had more defense against the pandemic than males. (2) There is a significant difference between vocational middle school students from different grades in depression level (F = 3.62, P = 0.03), pneumonia defense (F = 13.65, P < 0.001) and pneumonia panic (F = 3.10, P = 0.045). (3) Depression level (F = 7.17, P < 0.001), pneumonia evaluation (F = 2.78, P = 0.04) and pneumonia panic (F = 3.32, P = 0.02) of the students concerning the spatial distance of the pandemic. (4) The severity of urban pandemic affects the evaluation of pneumonia among vocational middle school students. (5) Depression was negatively correlated with psychological resilience and pneumonia evaluation, and positively correlated with pneumonia panic. Psychological resilience was positively correlated with pneumonia evaluation and pneumonia defense, and negatively correlated with pneumonia panic. (6) Psychological resilience could reduce the level of depression caused by pneumonia evaluation and pneumonia panic. Conclusion There were significant differences in depression level and stress responses in grades, gender and spatial distance of pandemic. Resilience has a significant negative moderator effect on the relationship between pandemic panic and depression. Resilience has a significant positive moderator effect on the relationship between pandemic evaluation and depression.
Resistance Training Attenuates Activation of STAT3 and Muscle Atrophy in Tumor-Bearing Mice

Purpose Although the role of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT3) in cachexia due to the association of circulating IL-6 and muscle wasting has been extensively demonstrated, the effect of resistance training on STAT3 in mediating muscle atrophy in tumor-bearing mice is unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of resistance exercise training on inflammatory cytokines and oxidative-mediated STAT3 activation and muscle loss prevention in tumor-bearing mice. Methods Male Swiss mice were inoculated with Ehrlich tumor cells and exposed or not exposed to resistance exercise protocol of ladder climbing. Skeletal muscle STAT3 protein content was measured, compared between groups, and tested for possible association with plasma interleukins and local oxidative stress markers. Components of the ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagy pathways were assessed by real-time PCR or immunoblotting. Results Resistance training prevented STAT3 excessive activation in skeletal muscle mediated by the overabundance of plasma IL-6 and muscle oxidative stress. These mechanisms contributed to preventing the increased key genes and proteins of ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagy pathways in tumor-bearing mice, such as Atrogin-1, LC3B-II, and Beclin-1. Beyond preventing muscle atrophy, RT also prevented strength loss and impaired locomotor capacity, hallmarks of sarcopenia. Conclusion Our results suggest that STAT3 inhibition is central in resistance exercise protective effects against cancer-induced muscle atrophy and strength loss.
Misleading Robot Signals in a Classification Task Induce Cognitive Load as Measured by Theta Synchronization Between Frontal and Temporo-parietal Brain Regions

As technological advances progress, we find ourselves in situations where we need to collaborate with artificial agents (e.g., robots, autonomous machines and virtual agents). For example, autonomous machines will be part of search and rescue missions, space exploration and decision aids during monitoring tasks (e.g., baggage-screening at the airport). Efficient communication in these scenarios would be crucial to interact fluently. While studies examined the positive and engaging effect of social signals (i.e., gaze communication) on human-robot interaction, little is known about the effects of conflicting robot signals on the human actor's cognitive load. Moreover, it is unclear from a social neuroergonomics perspective how different brain regions synchronize or communicate with one another to deal with the cognitive load induced by conflicting signals in social situations with robots. The present study asked if neural oscillations that correlate with conflict processing are observed between brain regions when participants view conflicting robot signals. Participants classified different objects based on their color after a robot (i.e., iCub), presented on a screen, simulated handing over the object to them. The robot proceeded to cue participants (with a head shift) to the correct or incorrect target location. Since prior work has shown that unexpected cues can interfere with oculomotor planning and induces conflict, we expected that conflicting robot social signals which would interfere with the execution of actions. Indeed, we found that conflicting social signals elicited neural correlates of cognitive conflict as measured by mid-brain theta oscillations. More importantly, we found higher coherence values between mid-frontal electrode locations and posterior occipital electrode locations in the theta-frequency band for incongruent vs. congruent cues, which suggests that theta-band synchronization between these two regions allows for communication between cognitive control systems and gaze-related attentional mechanisms. We also find correlations between coherence values and behavioral performance (Reaction Times), which are moderated by the congruency of the robot signal. In sum, the influence of irrelevant social signals during goal-oriented tasks can be indexed by behavioral, neural oscillation and brain connectivity patterns. These data provide insights about a new measure for cognitive load, which can also be used in predicting human interaction with autonomous machines.
Risk Factors of Relapse After Smoking Cessation: Results in China Family Panel Studies From 2010 to 2018

Background Tobacco use is still highly prevalent globally in spite of the tobacco control efforts made by the governments. In view of the harm of smoking and relapse after smoking cessation, the purpose of this study is to establish a competitive risk model to determine potential risk factors for smoking relapse. Methods The population-based cohort of ex-smokers over the age of 18 years was obtained from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) database from 2010 to 2018. Competing risk models were conducted to identify the risk factors for relapse. Results A total of 1,019 subjects were included in this study, of which 311 (30.52%) subjects relapsed during the follow-up period. A multivariate analysis indicated that age < 40 years [hazard ratio (HR) 19.142; 95% CI: 10.641–34.434, p < 0.01], cohabitation (HR: 1.422; 95% CI: 1.081–1.87, p = 0.01), and often depression [HR 1.422; 95% CI, (1.081–1.87), p = 0.01] were associated with a great risk of relapse while the age of quitting smoking < 60 years (HR: 0. 436; 95% CI: 0.229–0.831, p < 0.01) and joining the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) (HR 0.611; 95% CI: 0.397–0.939, p = 0.03) were reduced risk factors for relapse. Conclusions Approximately 3 in 10 ex-smokers were observed to relapse. There are various risk factors for relapse as well. In the face of such a serious situation, it is urgent to take action to control smoking.
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Objectives This study aims to explore the benefits and harms of Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods Electronic searching was conducted in two English and four Chinese databases till 2021 December. Randomized clinical trials on CHM compared to no intervention, placebo or other therapies for MCI were included. Results Forty-nine RCTs (48 finished trials and 1 protocol) were identified. The overall methodological quality of included trials was relatively low. This review found that compared to no intervention or placebo, CHM can significantly decrease the number of patients who progressed to dementia (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.22–0.58) and increase the cognitive function assessed by MMSE (MD 1.96, 95% CI 1.41–2.50) and MoCA (MD 2.44, 95% CI 1.57–3.31). The subgroup analysis of different CHM showed that Ginko leaf tablets can significantly improve the cognitive function compared to no intervention or placebo when assessed by MMSE (MD 2.03, 95% CI 1.18–2.88) and MoCA (MD 3.11, 95% CI 1.90–4.33). Compared to western medicine, CHM can significantly increase the score of MMSE (MD 0.88 95% CI 0.46–1.30) and MoCA (MD 0.87, 95% CI 0.33–1.41), but there was no significant difference on the score of ADL (SMD −0.61, 95% CI −1.49 to 0.27). None of the RCTs reported on the quality of life. Of 22 RCTs that reported adverse events, there was no statistical difference between the CHM and the control group. Conclusions CHM, Ginko leaf extracts in particular, could help to prevent progression into dementia and to improve cognitive function and ability of daily living activities. More qualified RCTs were needed to confirm the conclusion due to the low quality of current trials. Systematic Review Registration Unique Identifier: CRD42020157148.
Characterising the Gut Microbiomes in Wild and Captive Short-Beaked Echidnas Reveals Diet-Associated Changes

The gut microbiome plays a vital role in health and wellbeing of animals, and an increasing number of studies are investigating microbiome changes in wild and managed populations to improve conservation and welfare. The short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is an iconic Australian species, the most widespread native mammal, and commonly held in zoos. Echidnas are cryptic animals, and much is still unknown about many aspects of their biology. Furthermore, some wild echidna populations are under threat, while echidnas held in captivity can have severe gastric health problems. Here, we used citizen science and zoos to collect echidna scats from across Australia to perform the largest gut microbiome study on any native Australian animal. Using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding of scat samples, we characterised and compared the gut microbiomes of echidnas in wild (n = 159) and managed (n = 44) populations, which were fed four different diets. Wild echidna samples were highly variable, yet commonly dominated by soil and plant-fermenting bacteria, while echidnas in captivity were dominated by gut commensals and plant-fermenting bacteria, suggesting plant matter may play a significant role in echidna diet. This work demonstrates significant differences between zoo held and wild echidnas, as well as managed animals on different diets, revealing that diet is important in shaping the gut microbiomes in echidnas. This first analysis of echidna gut microbiome highlights extensive microbial diversity in wild echidnas and changes in microbiome composition in managed populations. This is a first step towards using microbiome analysis to better understand diet, gastrointestinal biology, and improve management in these iconic animals.
Gaz Alafi: A Traditional Dessert in the Middle East With Anticancer, Immunomodulatory, and Antimicrobial Activities

Background From the earliest times, manna has been widely used as a tasty local sweet or folk medicine. The type of manna being investigated in the present study is called Gaz-alafi, a mixture of insect and Quercus brantii leaves secretions from oak forests in the north of Iraq and west of Iran. Methods Aqueous and ethanol extracts were prepared as decoction. Various phytochemical tests were conducted to analyze manna composition, including total phenolic contents using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and LC-MS. Gallic acid and catechin were detected in both extracts, in addition to tiliroside presence in ethanol extract, which added more value to the phenolic content of ethanol extract. Cytotoxic activities of Gaz alafi were evaluated against breast cancer cell lines and compared to normal cell lines and doxorubicin using the MTT assay. Antimicrobial properties were assessed against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans using the dilution method of the micro-titer plate. Serum levels of IFN-γ, interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured using ELISA. The effect of extracts on splenocyte proliferation was evaluated using the lymphocytes proliferation assay. Macrophage function was evaluated using the nitro blue tetrazolium assay, whereas pinocytosis was evaluated using the neutral red uptake assay. Ten days after tumor inoculation, changes in tumor size, survival rates, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and creatinine were measured. Results The growth of cancer cells was inhibited by Gaz alafi ethanol extract. An alteration in IFN- γ, IL-2, and IL-4 levels toward antiproliferation immune response were reported for both extracts. The aqueous extract efficiently stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, phagocytosis, and pinocytosis, followed by the ethanol extracts with moderate activity. After treating the mice with ethanol extracts, a significant reduction in tumor size and several undetected tumors were recorded. Conclusions Gaz alafi extracts (aqueous and ethanol) are promising sources for anticancer and immunostimulatory agents. Further studies are needed to fully identify the chemical composition of Gaz alafi extracts.
Alterations in White Matter Fiber Tracts Characterized by Automated Fiber-Tract Quantification and Their Correlations With Cognitive Impairment in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Patients

Objectives To investigate whether patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have tract-specific alterations in the white matter (WM) and the correlations between the alterations and cognitive impairment. Materials and Methods In total, 40 patients with NMOSD and 20 healthy controls (HCs) who underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scan and neuropsychological scale assessments were enrolled. Automated fiber-tract quantification (AFQ) was applied to identify and quantify 100 equally spaced nodes of 18 specific WM fiber tracts for each participant. Then the group comparisons in DTI metrics and correlations between different DTI metrics and neuropsychological scales were performed. Results Regardless of the entire or pointwise level in WM fiber tracts, patients with NMOSD exhibited a decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (L_IFOF) and widespread increased mean diffusion (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD), especially for the thalamic radiation (TR), corticospinal tract (CST), IFOF, inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) [p < 0.05, false discovery rate (FDR) correction], and the pointwise analyses performed more sensitive. Furthermore, the negative correlations among MD, AD, RD, and symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) scores in the left TR (L_TR) were found in NMOSD. Conclusion Patients with NMOSD exhibited the specific nodes of WM fiber tract damage, which can enhance our understanding of WM microstructural abnormalities in NMOSD. In addition, the altered DTI metrics were correlated with cognitive impairment, which can be used as imaging markers for the early identification of NMOSD cognitive impairment.
Human vs. Machine Learning Based Detection of Facial Weakness Using Video Analysis

Background Current EMS stroke screening tools facilitate early detection and triage, but the tools' accuracy and reliability are limited and highly variable. An automated stroke screening tool could improve stroke outcomes by facilitating more accurate prehospital diagnosis and delivery. We hypothesize that a machine learning algorithm using video analysis can detect common signs of stroke. As a proof-of-concept study, we trained a computer algorithm to detect presence and laterality of facial weakness in publically available videos with comparable accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity to paramedics. Methods and Results We curated videos of people with unilateral facial weakness (n = 93) and with a normal smile (n = 96) from publicly available web-based sources. Three board certified vascular neurologists categorized the videos according to the presence or absence of weakness and laterality. Three paramedics independently analyzed each video with a mean accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 92.6% [95% CI 90.1–94.7%], 87.8% [95% CI 83.9–91.7%] and 99.3% [95% CI 98.2–100%]. Using a 5-fold cross validation scheme, we trained a computer vision algorithm to analyze the same videos producing an accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 88.9% [95% CI 83.5–93%], 90.3% [95% CI 82.4–95.5%] and 87.5 [95% CI 79.2–93.4%]. Conclusions These preliminary results suggest that a machine learning algorithm using computer vision analysis can detect unilateral facial weakness in pre-recorded videos with an accuracy and sensitivity comparable to trained paramedics. Further research is warranted to pursue the concept of augmented facial weakness detection and external validation of this algorithm in independent data sets and prospective patient encounters.
Alterations of Gut Microbiome and Fecal Fatty Acids in Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Central China

Objective The purpose of this study was to elucidate the characteristics of the gut microbiome in patients with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and analyze the alterations of fecal fatty acid metabolism, so as to further provide the pathogenesis of PCOS. Methods Fecal samples from the PCOS group (n = 31) and healthy control group (n = 27) were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. Peripheral venous blood was collected to measure serum inflammation and intestinal permeability. Finally, the correlation analysis of intestinal flora, fecal metabolites, and laboratory indicators was carried out. Results Serum D-lactate content in the PCOS group was higher than that in the control group. There was no significant difference in microbial α diversity and β diversity between PCOS patients and healthy controls. Peptostreptococcaceae and Bacteroidales S24-7 group existed significant differences between PCOS patients and healthy controls. Based on linear discriminant analysis selection, 14 genera including Klebsiella, Enterobacteriaceae, and Gammaproteobacteria were dominant in patients with PCOS, while 4 genera, including rumenococcus (Ruminocaccaceae UCG 013), prewortella (Prevotellaceae UCG 001), and erysipelas (Erysipelatoclostridium), were dominant in healthy controls. Compared with PCOS with Body mass index (BMI) < 24, patients with BMI ≥ 24 have multiple dominant genera including Abiotrophia and Peptostreptococcaceae. Moreover, serum levels of free testosterone and androstenedione were positively correlated with Megamonas, while total testosterone was negatively correlated with Alistipes. Additionally, fecal contents of acetic acid and propionic acid in patients with PCOS were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group and Alistipes were positively correlated with 6 kinds of fatty acids. Conclusion Specific intestinal flora fecal fatty acids and serum metabolites may mediate the occurrence and development of PCOS. PCOS patients with different body sizes have specific intestinal flora.
Microstructure and filtration performance of konjac glucomannan-based aerogels strengthened by wheat straw

This study presents the preparation and measurement of a novel environmentally friendly konjac glucomannan (KGM)-based composite aerogels enhanced with wheat straw (WS) via a sol–gel and freeze-drying progress. With the addition of WS, the porosity of aerogels could be increased from 50 to 88.13%, the filtration resistance of aerogels could be reduced from 500 to 205 Pa, and the filtration efficiency could be improved to 90.38%. The addition of WS also enhances the mechanical properties of composite aerogels with compression modulus of 2000.66 Pa, compressive strength of 501.56 Pa and elasticity of 0.603. The results demonstrate the high potential of KGM-based composite aerogels enhanced with WS for applications in air filtering.
Prognostic Value of Left Atrial Strain in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Heart failure (HF) is a global health problem with high morbidity and mortality. Recently, the association between peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) and clinical outcomes of HF has gained increasing attention. Our aim was to systematically assess the prognostic value of PALS for adverse events in HF. Methods PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were systematically searched from inception to 30 April 2022. Studies in which PALS was assessed to predict adverse outcomes in adult patients with HF were included. Study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction were performed independently by two authors. The primary endpoints were all-cause death and cardiac hospitalization. Results Among 7,787 patients in 17 included studies, 3,029 (38.9%) experienced the primary endpoint. Patients with events had lower PALS than those without events [weighted mean difference (WMD) 6.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.09–9.26, p < 0.001]. Each unit increment of PALS was independently associated with decreased risk for the primary endpoint [hazard ratio (HR) 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.98, p < 0.001]. The addition of PALS significantly improved the predictive power of conventional risk models [net reclassification index (NRI) 0.22, 95% CI 0.06–0.39, p = 0.008]. Conclusion Peak atrial longitudinal strain was an independent predictor for all-cause mortality and cardiac hospitalization in patients with HF, highlighting the clinical importance of left atrial (LA) deformation in the prognosis of HF. Systematic Review Registration [www.crd. york.ac. uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42020185034].