Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a novel mind-body activity and pain management program for older adults with cognitive decline.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Chronic pain (CP) and cognitive decline (CD) often cooccur in older adults, which can reinforce a "disability spiral". Early interventions teaching pain coping skills and gradual increases in activity (walking) are needed to promote overall wellbeing and potentially delay further decline of cognition and daily functioning. The goal of this mixed-methods study was to guide the development of two mind-body activity programs for CP and CD which focus on increasing walking using time goals (Active Brains) or step-count reinforced by a Fitbit (Active Brains-Fitbit). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Older adults with CP and CD (N = 23) participated in a one-time focus group (four total) and completed measures of physical, emotional, and cognitive functioning. Qualitative analyses identified population-specific needs, preferences, and perceptions of proposed program skills. Quantitative analysis compared clinical characteristics to population norms and explore intercorrelations among treatment targets. RESULTS Thematic analyses revealed six main themes: (1) challenges living with CP and (2) CD, (3) current walking, (4) technology (Fitbit) to increase walking, (5) perceptions of proposed program skills (e.g., mind-body, pain, increased walking), and (6) program barriers and facilitators. Quantitative analyses showed that: (1) participants had physical function below reference values, and (2) higher self-efficacy correlated with higher cognitive, emotional, and physical functioning. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS Focus group participants were enthusiastic about the proposed program skills. Current work includes open pilot testing, qualitative interviews, and a small randomized controlled trial to optimize the programs and methodology in preparation for efficacy testing against an educational control.
Meditation and the Wandering Mind: A Theoretical Framework of Underlying Neurocognitive Mechanisms

During the practice of meditation, the tendency of the mind to wander away from the object of focus is ubiquitous. The occurrence of mind wandering in the context of meditation provides individuals a unique and intimate opportunity to closely examine the nature of the wandering mind by cultivating an awareness of ongoing thought patterns, while simultaneously aiming to cultivate equanimity (evenness of temper or disposition) and compassion toward the content of thoughts, interpretations, and bodily sensations. In this article we provide a theoretical framework that highlights the neurocognitive mechanisms by which contemplative practices influence the neural and phenomenological processes underlying spontaneous thought. Our theoretical model focuses on several converging mechanisms: the role of meta-awareness in facilitating an increased moment-to-moment awareness of spontaneous thought processes, the effects of meditation practice on key structures underlying both the top-down cognitive processes and bottom-up sensory processes implicated in attention and emotion regulation, and the influence of contemplative practice on the neural substrates underlying perception and perceptual decoupling.
Determination and Consideration of Flight Potential in a Laboratory Population of True Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract Flight potential, a poorly understood phenomenon in the migratory true armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth), was investigated in a laboratory population using tethered-flight techniques. True armyworm exhibited strong flight potential relative to other known migratory noctuids whose flight potentials were previously determined by similar techniques. Flight potential was generally low for 1-d-old moths and increased with age to day 5 of adult life. Flight speed and distance flown decreased for female moths from day 5 to day 10 as their reproductive system developed. The greatest average flight speed, total flight duration, and distance flown was exhibited by 5-d-old females and 10-d-old males, suggesting that flight potential may differ by sex. Ten-day-old moths had the longest flight duration. Factor analysis showed that total flight distance, total flight duration, and average flight speed are strongly correlated to the factor variable, but the correlation for longest flight duration was weaker. The significance of these findings to migratory flight and reproductive behavior of P. unipuncta is discussed in the light of published findings.
Experimental Strategies to Explore Drug Action and Resistance in Kinetoplastid Parasites

Kinetoplastids are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, human African trypanosomiasis, and American trypanosomiasis. They are responsible for high mortality and morbidity in (sub)tropical regions. Adequate treatment options are limited and have several drawbacks, such as toxicity, need for parenteral administration, and occurrence of treatment failure and drug resistance. Therefore, there is an urgency for the development of new drugs. Phenotypic screening already allowed the identification of promising new chemical entities with anti-kinetoplastid activity potential, but knowledge on their mode-of-action (MoA) is lacking due to the generally applied whole-cell based approach. However, identification of the drug target is essential to steer further drug discovery and development. Multiple complementary techniques have indeed been used for MoA elucidation. In this review, the different ‘omics’ approaches employed to define the MoA or mode-of-resistance of current reference drugs and some new anti-kinetoplastid compounds are discussed.
Daily cycles of suspended sand at coral reefs: A biological control

Sediment resuspension has a major ecological role in many coastal habitats, lakes, and marine environments. Waves and currents are generally thought to be the major control on sediment resuspension. In this study, the temporal and spatial distributions of suspended sand concentrations (SSAC) were measured at five coral reefs in the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, by directly filtering seawater through 100‐ цm mesh nets. Levels of nearbottom SSAC were twice as high during the day (4.8–9.7 mg m-3) than at night (2.3–5.2 mg m-3). Vertical profiles showed a sharp increase of SSAC (2–6‐fold) toward the bottom during the daytime but not at night. The contributions of wind, waves, and currents to variations in SSAC were nonsignificant except during rare southern storms. Temporal and spatial changes in the level of SSAC during the day corresponded with the abundance of benthivorous fish and their activity pattern. Resuspension activities by fish numbered ›1.5 resuspension events m2 h-1 and were confined to daytime. An in situ experiment in which fish were excluded from a large section (250 m2) of the reef resulted in elimination of the day‐night differences and a significant decrease in daytime SSAC over the treated reef section in comparison to the open, control sites. This study is the first report of a daily pattern of suspended sediment at coral reefs with fish activity as its causative agent.
Body mass index and the risk of COVID‐19 across ethnic groups: Analysis of UK Biobank

To the Editor: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus), has devastated global economies and put unprecedented strain on clinical services. Emerging evidence has suggested that black and minority ethnic (BME) groups, particularly South Asian (SA) and black African or Caribbean (BAC) populations, are at an increased risk of COVID-19 and resulting complications. Obesity is also associated with a higher risk of testing positive for, and dying from, COVID19. However, the interaction between ethnicity and obesity on the risk of COVID-19 has not been tested. As ethnicity is known to modify the association between body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic health, we hypothesise that BMI also acts to modify the relative risk of COVID-19 across ethnic groups. We used UK Biobank, a large prospective cohort of 502 543 individuals with baseline assessments conducted from March 2006 to July 2010. UK Biobank data were linked to national COVID-19 laboratory test data through Public Health England. Data were available for the period from 16 March to 14 June 2020. We undertook an adjusted logistic regression to (a) quantify the association of BMI with the risk of a positive test for COVID-19, stratified by ethnic group, and (b) investigate whether the odds of COVID19 in BME (SA and BAC) individuals relative to white Europeans (WEs) varied by BMI level. Non-linear interactions were investigated using restricted cubic splines with knots placed at the 33th and 66th centile of BMI distribution. Models were adjusted for potential confounders (Figure 1) and the interaction was formally assessed using the likelihood ratio test. There were 5623 unique test results available (WE: 5352; BME: 271), of which 1087 (19.3%) were positive (WE: 1000 [18.7%]; BME: 87 [32.1%]). WE individuals with test data had a median (IQR) age of 71.3 (62.3, 76.1) years, a BMI of 27.6 (24.8, 30.9) kg/m and 2650 (49.5%) were women. Comparatively, BME individuals were 64.8 (57.9, 73.2) years old, had a BMI of 28.2 (25.2, 33.1) kg/m and 136 (50.2%) were women. The majority of the BME population (83%) were first-generation migrants to the UK. BMI was associated with the risk of a positive test for COVID-19 in both BME and WE individuals. However, the dose response association
Green ear yield and grain yield of maize cultivars in competition with weeds.

The reduction in herbicide use is one of the greatest interests for modern agriculture and several alternatives are being investigated with this objective, including the adoption of cultivars that suppress weeds. The objective of this study was to verify if maize cultivars develop differently, in competition with weeds, to produce green ears and grain. Randomized complete block design was used, with split-plots and five replications. Cultivars DKB 390, DKB 466, DKB 350, AG 7000, AG 7575 and Master, were evaluated in the plots, without weeding and two weedings (at 22 and 41 days after sowing) in sub plots. Twenty-one species were identified in the experimental area, the most frequent being Gramineae (Poaceae), Euphorbiaceae, Leguminosae (Fabaceae) and Convolvulaceae species. There was no difference in the dry biomass above-ground part of the weeds in the plots of the evaluated cultivars. The cultivars behaved similarly in treatments with or without hoeing, except for plant height and ear height evaluations. Without hoeing, plant height increased in cultivar DKB 390, while plant height and ear height decreased in cultivar AG 7575. In the other cultivars, these traits did not change under weed control. The presence of weeds decreased the values of all traits employed to assess green corn yield, with the exception of the total number of green ears and grain yield.
Phenol glycosides extract of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi attenuated depressive‐like behaviors by suppressing neuroinflammation in hypothalamus of mice

Depression is partially caused by inflammation in central nervous system. This study investigated the ameliorative effects of phenol glycosides (PG) from Ligustrum lucidum Ait. (Oleaceae) on neuroinflammation and depressive‐like behavior in mice hypothalamus as well as the molecular mechanism. Mice were administered with PG extract for 2 weeks prior to treatment with LPS. The mice treated with PG extract showed resistance to LPS‐induced reduction in body weight and LPS‐induced depressive‐like behaviors shown by sucrose preference, tail suspension test, forced swimming test and open field test. LPS‐induced activation of microglial cells and elevation in protein expression of inflammatory cytokines including IL‐1β, RANTES and MCP‐1 in hypothalamus of mice were abrogated by pre‐treatment with PG extract. This extract down‐regulated expression of TLR4, MyD88, NLRP3, renin and angiotensin II and decreased proportional area of Iba‐1+ microglias in hypothalamus. Pre‐treatment with PG extract inhibited LPS‐triggered activation of CaSR/Gα11 signaling, stimulated 1‐OHase expression in hypothalamus, and enhanced circulating 1,25(OH)2D3 level. Overall, pre‐treatment with PG extract ameliorated LPS‐induced depressive‐like behaviors by repressing neuroinflammation in mice hypothalamus which was attributed to its suppression on activation of microglia and production of inflammatory cytokines via acting on TLR4 pathway, CaSR and RAS cascade associated with improving vitamin D metabolism.
Microbiological and physiochemical analysis of drinking water in Georgetown, Guyana

To determine microbial and physio-chemical analysis of water samples and biofilm samples taken from residential and GWI sites of Georgetown, Guyana. Physio- chemical analysis includes analysis of pH, total chlorine, and turbidity, COD, BOD and total Iron. Microbial analysis includes the presence of different microbes in biofilm as well as water samples within sites. Overall the most prevalent species in biofilm and water samples within the study was Lactobacillus sp. while the least prevalent species was Salmonella sp. (Nature and Science 2010;8(8):261-265). (ISSN: 1545-0740).
The Cost of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Management Matches with Clinical Course: A Single Outpatient Centre Analysis

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have a large economic burden on health systems. Our single-centre observational retrospective study aimed to assess an economic evaluation in two IBD outpatient cohorts (biological and conventional therapy) in relation to disease activity within a three-year follow-up. Four hundred and seventeen consecutive IBD patients referred to our tertiary gastroenterology unit (Bari-Puglia-Southern Italy) on January 2014–December 2016 were included. For each group (conventional/biological), we assessed direct/indirect costs and clinical/endoscopic activity within the first year and along the three-year follow-up. Statistical analyses: Wilcoxon signed-rank test (continuous variables), chi-square and Fisher’s test (categorical variables), Spearman ranks (single outcome) and ANOVA (detection time, clinical/endoscopic scores) were used. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and range and/or median, interquartile range and range; categorical variables were expressed as proportions with 95% confidence interval. Direct and indirect cost items of 2014 and 2014–2016 were higher in patients treated with biological than conventional therapy. Subjects on biological therapy were younger and showed clinical and endoscopic moderate-to-severe disease activity. After three years, they reached a significant improvement from baseline. Conversely, disease activity was mild when conventional treatment had a beneficial effect. In conclusion, overall IBD management cost matches with clinical course and needs long-term evaluation in critical patients.
Increased Neural Reward Responsivity in Adolescents with ASD after Social Skills Intervention

The reward system has been implicated as a potential neural mechanism underlying social-communication deficits in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it remains unclear whether the neural reward system in ASD is sensitive to behavioral interventions. The current study measured the reward positivity (RewP) in response to social and nonsocial stimuli in seven adolescents with ASD before and after participation in the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) intervention. This study also included seven neurotypical adolescents who were tested at two time points but did not receive intervention. We examined the RewP across the course of a task by comparing brain activity during the first versus second half of trials to understand patterns of responsivity over time. Improvements in social skills and decreased social-communication impairments for teens with ASD were observed after PEERS®. Event-related potential (ERP) results suggested increased reward sensitivity during the first half of trials in the ASD group after intervention. Adolescents with ASD who exhibited less reward-related brain activity before intervention demonstrated the greatest behavioral benefits from the intervention. These findings have implications for how neuroscience can be used as an objective outcome measure before and after intervention in ASD.
Association between Mixing Ability of Masticatory Functions Measured Using Color-Changing Chewing Gum and Frailty among Japanese Older Adults: The Kyoto–Kameoka Study

The relationship between mixing ability of masticatory functions and frailty has not been well evaluated. This study investigated the prevalence of physical and comprehensive frailty and its association with mixing ability in 1106 older adults aged ≥65 years who underwent physical examination as part of the Japanese Kyoto–Kameoka Study. Mixing ability was assessed using color-changing chewing gum (1–5 points, 5 representing the best mixing ability). Participants were divided into four groups (5 points, 4 points, 3 points, and 1 or 2 points). The modified Japanese versions of the Cardiovascular Health Study (mJ-CHS) criteria and the validated Kihon Checklist (KCL) were used to assess physical and comprehensive frailty, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between frailty and mixing ability. The prevalence of physical and comprehensive frailty was 11.8% and 27.9%, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, the odds ratios of physical and comprehensive frailty comparing the highest to the lowest chewing gum score groups were 3.64 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.62 to 8.18; p for trend = 0.001) and 2.09 (95% CI: 1.09 to 4.03; p for trend = 0.009), respectively. Mixing-ability tests involving chewing gum may be an indicator associated with both physical and comprehensive frailty.
Perioperative cardiovascular complications rate and activity of coagulation and fibrinolysis among patients undergoing vascular surgery for peripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm

Objectives To compare preoperative coagulation and fibrinolysis activity and incidence of perioperative complications between patients undergoing vascular procedures for peripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods This is a substudy of a prospective observational cohort study (VISION; NCT00512109) in which we recruited patients aged ≥45 years, undergoing surgery for peripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Blood samples were obtained 24 h preoperatively to measure platelet count, concentrations of coagulation coagulation (fibrinogen, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor:Ristocetin cofactor, antithrombin III), fibrinolysis (dimer D, plasmin–antiplasmin complexes, tissue plasminogen activator) markers and level of soluble CD40 ligand. Incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and death (composite endpoint) was assessed in 30-day follow-up. Results The study group included 131 patients at the mean age of 68.3 years among whom reason for surgery was peripheral artery disease in 77 patients (58.8%) and abdominal aortic aneurysm in 54 patients (41.2%). Peripheral artery disease group was characterized by higher platelet count (250.5 versus 209.5 (×10 3 /µl), p = 0.001), concentrations of fibrinogen (5.4 versus 4.1 (g/l), p < 0.001), factor VIII (176.9 versus 141.9 (%), p < 0.001), von Willebrand factor:Ristocetin cofactor (188.9 versus 152.3 (%), p = 0.009), and soluble CD40 ligand (9016.0 versus 7936.6 (pg/ml), p = 0.005). The dimer D level was higher (808.0 versus 2590.5 (ng/ml), p < 0.001) in the abdominal aortic aneurysm group. Incidence of major cardiovascular events (death, myocardial infarction, stroke) within 30 days from surgery did not differ between the groups (39.0% versus 29.6%, p = 0.27). Conclusions The study suggests higher activation of coagulation and relatively lower fibrinolytic activity in peripheral artery disease group compared to patients undergoing surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm without a significant difference in cardiovascular outcomes.
Genetic constraints at the metamorphic boundary: Morphological development in the wood frog, Rana sylvatica

Organisms with complex life‐cycles often experience very different environments in different phases of their life. Genes expressed in more than one phase could potentially create a conflict or constraint on evolutionary change if the pattern of selection on those genes were different in the different phases. The potential importance of this type of constraint across metamorphosis in frogs was assessed by measuring the genetic correlation between several morphological traits in both larval and juvenile Rana sylvatica. Genetic correlations within a stage tended to be moderately high and significant whereas correlations across stages were low and not significant. Errors on the genetic parameters make it impossible to prove that there are no genetic constraints across metamorphosis in this population of frogs, but the results are consistent with the hypothesis that gene expression and developmental regulation are partitioned separately before and after metamorphosis.
Impact of the APE1 Redox Function Inhibitor E3330 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Exposed to Cisplatin: Increased Cytotoxicity and Impairment of Cell Migration and Invasion

Elevated expression levels of the apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) have been correlated with the more aggressive phenotypes and poor prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to assess the impact of the inhibition of the redox function of APE1 with E3330 either alone or in combination with cisplatin in NSCLC cells. For this purpose, complementary endpoints focusing on cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and migration/invasion were studied. Cisplatin decreased the viability of H1975 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 9.6 µM for crystal violet assay and 15.9 µM for 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay. E3330 was clearly cytotoxic for concentrations above 30 µM. The co-incubation of E3330 and cisplatin significantly decreased cell viability compared to cisplatin alone. Regarding cell cycle distribution, cisplatin led to an increase in sub-G1, whereas the co-treatment with E3330 did not change this profile, which was then confirmed in terms of % apoptotic cells. In addition, the combination of E3330 and cisplatin at low concentrations decreased collective and chemotactic migration, and also chemoinvasion, by reducing these capabilities up to 20%. Overall, these results point to E3330 as a promising compound to boost cisplatin therapy that warrants further investigation in NSCLC.
Connectivity as a Mediating Mechanism in the Cybervictimization Process

This paper explores the relationship between social connectivity and cybervictimization as it is mediated by psychosocial variables such as social identity and self-esteem. Likewise, it analyses the moderating role in that relationship played by adolescents’ perception of cyberbullying. The sample consisted of 2072 adolescents (48.7% girls) aged between 14 and 18 (Mean = 15.78, Standard Deviation = 1.02) years. Through the use of five questionnaires, an explanatory model is constructed that shows the direct and indirect relationships between the factors analysed, the predictive values that social connectivity can reach when applied to the virtual environment, and the perception of cyberbullying in the victimization processes. The results indicate that self-esteem and social identity are protective factors in the establishment of healthy virtual relationships and avoidance of cybervictimization situations. Moreover, the equation of cyberbullying with aggressive or maladaptive styles of humour has an indirect influence on the link between connectivity and cybervictimization.