Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Palynological, Physicochemical, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of Romanian Honey Varieties for Biomedical Applications

The aim of this study was to investigate the melissopalynology, physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of seven honey samples harvested from different geographical regions and climates of Romania. The melissopalynological analysis revealed that monofloral and multifloral samples contained a wide diversity of minor pollen types from Romanian flora. The moisture, pH and free acidity values were within international limit. HPLC analysis indicated high content of fructose and glucose and low content of sucrose. Bioactive compounds including proteins, phenolics, flavonoids and ascorbic acid were present in variable quantities, according to the botanical origin and geographical area. The highest phenolics and ascorbic acid content was in multifloral honeys from Crisana mountain and meadow and the extrafloral honeydew honey. The same honey samples have exerted free radical scavenging and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The free radical scavenging activity was strongly correlated to phenolics and ascorbic acid content, while the antimicrobial activity was medium correlated only to phenolics content. In conclusion, the selected Romanian honey samples with best antioxidant and antimicrobial activity could be further tested for the development of novel biomedical products.
Exploring the impact of community-based choral participation on cognitive function and well-being for persons with dementia: evidence from the Voices in Motion project

Abstract Objectives Music-based interventions are postulated to mitigate cognitive decline in individuals with dementia. However, the mechanisms underlying why music-based interventions facilitate cognitive benefits remain unknown. The present study examines whether a choral intervention can modulate patterns of cognitive change in persons with dementia and whether within-person variation in affect is associated with this change. Methods Thirty-three older adults with dementia engaged weekly in the Voices in Motion (ViM) study consisting of 3 choral seasons spanning 18-months. Performance on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule was assessed monthly within each choral season using a longitudinal intensive repeated-measures design. Three-level multilevel models were employed to disaggregate between- and within-person effects across short- (month-to-month) and long-term (season-to-season) intervals. Results ViM participants exhibited an annual MMSE decline of 1.8 units, notably less than the clinically meaningful 3.3 units indicated by non-intervention literature. Further, variability in negative affect shared a within-person time-varying association with MMSE performance; decreases in negative affect, relative to one’s personal average, were linked to corresponding improvements in cognitive function. Conclusion Engagement in the ViM choral intervention may attenuate cognitive decline for persons with dementia via a reduction of psychological comorbidities such as elevated negative affect.
An asymmetric wettable PCL/chitosan composite scaffold loaded with IGF-2 for wound dressing

An effective dressing is essential for wound healing. In fact, the wettability performance is one of the most important factors of a wound dressing. The fundamental functions of a wound dressing involve the absorption of excess exudates and maintenance of optimal moisture at the wound by controlling water evaporation. Here, we designed a type of chitosan (CS) sponge and PCL nanofibrous membrane composite dressing with asymmetric wettability surfaces as wound healing materials for biomedical applications. The hydrophobic surfaces of the composite dressing were waterproof and could efficiently control the water vapor transmission rate, whereas the hydrophilic surface of the CS sponge had good cytocompatibility and water-absorbing capability. Insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) was added to the CS sponge, and exhibited a stimulatory effect on fibroblasts migration and proliferation. Therefore, the fabricated CS sponge and PCL membrane composite dressing had excellent cytocompatibility, vapor transmission rate, and liquid absorption and asymmetric wettability, suggesting its potential as a promising alternative to traditional wound dressing.
The use of social robots with children and young people on the autism spectrum: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Robot-mediated interventions show promise in supporting the development of children on the autism spectrum. Objectives In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we summarize key features of available evidence on robot-interventions for children and young people on the autism spectrum aged up to 18 years old, as well as consider their efficacy for specific domains of learning. Data sources PubMed, Scopus, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, ACM Digital Library, and IEEE Xplore. Grey literature was also searched using PsycExtra, OpenGrey, British Library EThOS, and the British Library Catalogue. Databases were searched from inception until April (6th) 2021. Synthesis methods Searches undertaken across seven databases yielded 2145 articles. Forty studies met our review inclusion criteria of which 17 were randomized control trials. The methodological quality of studies was conducted with the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. A narrative synthesis summarised the findings. A meta-analysis was conducted with 12 RCTs. Results Most interventions used humanoid (67%) robotic platforms, were predominantly based in clinics (37%) followed home, schools and laboratory (17% respectively) environments and targeted at improving social and communication skills (77%). Focusing on the most common outcomes, a random effects meta-analysis of RCTs showed that robot-mediated interventions significantly improved social functioning (g = 0.35 [95%CI 0.09 to 0.61; k = 7). By contrast, robots did not improve emotional (g = 0.63 [95%CI -1.43 to 2.69]; k = 2) or motor outcomes (g = -0.10 [95%CI -1.08 to 0.89]; k = 3), but the numbers of trials were very small. Meta-regression revealed that age accounted for almost one-third of the variance in effect sizes, with greater benefits being found in younger children. Conclusions Overall, our findings support the use of robot-mediated interventions for autistic children and youth, and we propose several recommendations for future research to aid learning and enhance implementation in everyday settings. PROSPERO registration Our methods were preregistered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42019148981).
Genome sequencing reveals underdiagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia in bronchiectasis

Background Bronchiectasis can result from infectious, genetic, immunological and allergic causes. 60–80% of cases are idiopathic, but a well-recognised genetic cause is the motile ciliopathy, primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Diagnosis of PCD has management implications including addressing comorbidities, implementing genetic and fertility counselling and future access to PCD-specific treatments. Diagnostic testing can be complex; however, PCD genetic testing is moving rapidly from research into clinical diagnostics and would confirm the cause of bronchiectasis. Methods This observational study used genetic data from severe bronchiectasis patients recruited to the UK 100,000 Genomes Project and patients referred for gene panel testing within a tertiary respiratory hospital. Patients referred for genetic testing due to clinical suspicion of PCD were excluded from both analyses. Data were accessed from the British Thoracic Society audit, to investigate whether motile ciliopathies are underdiagnosed in people with bronchiectasis in the UK. Results Pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were identified in motile ciliopathy genes in 17 (12%) out of 142 individuals by whole-genome sequencing. Similarly, in a single centre with access to pathological diagnostic facilities, 5–10% of patients received a PCD diagnosis by gene panel, often linked to normal/inconclusive nasal nitric oxide and cilia functional test results. In 4898 audited patients with bronchiectasis, <2% were tested for PCD and <1% received genetic testing. Conclusions PCD is underdiagnosed as a cause of bronchiectasis. Increased uptake of genetic testing may help to identify bronchiectasis due to motile ciliopathies and ensure appropriate management. Primary ciliary dyskinesia is underdiagnosed as a cause of idiopathic bronchiectasis. Whole-genome sequencing reveals variants in motile ciliopathy genes. https://bit.ly/3yKoBko
Distributed State Estimation Over Wireless Sensor Networks With Energy Harvesting Sensors

This article is concerned with the distributed state estimation problem over wireless sensor networks (WSNs), where each smart sensor is capable of harvesting energy from the external environment with a certain probability. The data transmission between neighboring nodes is dependent on the energy level of each sensor, and the internode communication is deemed as a failure when the current energy level is inadequate to guarantee the normal data transmission. Considering the intermittent information exchange over WSNs, a novel distributed state estimator is first constructed via introducing a set of indicator functions, and then the evolution of the probability distribution of energy level and its steady-state distribution is systematically discussed by resorting to the eigenvalue analysis approach and the mathematical induction. Furthermore, the optimal estimator gain is derived by minimizing the trace of the estimation error covariance under known communication sequences. In addition, the convergence of the minimized upper bound of the expected estimation error covariance is analyzed under any initial condition. Finally, an illustrative example regarding the target tracking problem is provided to verify the validity of the obtained theoretical results.
Comparative Study of Cytokeratin Immunostaining of Parotid Gland Parenchyma in Normal, Diabetic, and Excretory Duct Ligation of Mongrel Dogs

Abstract Objectives The present study aimed to give a glimpse of the normal distribution of intermediate filaments within the parotid gland parenchyma of mongrel dogs and to reveal the pathological changes that may occur as a result of the effects of diabetes mellitus or atrophy of the gland caused by the ligation of the excretory duct to discover whether there is a similarity in these pathological behaviors. Materials and Methods Twelve healthy mongrel dogs were used in the experiment and were divided into three groups: group I (the control group), group II (dogs with alloxan-induced diabetes), and group III (dogs with the right-side duct-ligated parotid gland). The dogs were sacrificed 45 days after the parotid excretory duct were tied. The right parotid gland of all groups was dissected and prepared for histological and immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratin 17 assay. Results Histological findings confirmed that the parotid gland parenchyma of the diabetic group had glandular atrophy characterized by the loss of gland structure, degenerated acini, and dilatation of the duct system. Moreover, there is a predominance of the fibrous component with the presence of fat cells within the gland compartments. On the contrary, the excretory duct-ligated group undergoes severe glandular atrophy of the previous character with the presence of duct-like structure as well as extravasation and vasodilatation. Immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratin 17 in control parotid using an immunoperoxidase technique showed that cytokeratin expression varies from negative to mild in all ducts and some serous acinar cells. The gland parenchyma of the diabetic group showed mild to strong cytokeratin expression of duct cells more concentrated in the apical part with moderate to strong expression of diffuse type in some serous acini. The intensity of cytokeratin 17 in gland compartments of the excretory duct-ligated group revealed a variation in expression that ranged from negative to strong diffuse staining throughout the gland. Conclusion The severity and prevalence of cytokeratin 17 in our results are predictive of the pathological influence of both diabetes mellitus and duct ligation on the cytokeratin intracellular filaments of the salivary gland parenchyma in a different way that interferes with saliva production and/or secretion leading to xerostomia.
MEG Activity in Visual and Auditory Cortices Represents Acoustic Speech-Related Information during Silent Lip Reading

Abstract Speech is an intrinsically multisensory signal, and seeing the speaker’s lips forms a cornerstone of communication in acoustically impoverished environments. Still, it remains unclear how the brain exploits visual speech for comprehension. Previous work debated whether lip signals are mainly processed along the auditory pathways or whether the visual system directly implements speech-related processes. To probe this, we systematically characterized dynamic representations of multiple acoustic and visual speech-derived features in source localized MEG recordings that were obtained while participants listened to speech or viewed silent speech. Using a mutual-information framework we provide a comprehensive assessment of how well temporal and occipital cortices reflect the physically presented signals and unique aspects of acoustic features that were physically absent but may be critical for comprehension. Our results demonstrate that both cortices feature a functionally specific form of multisensory restoration: during lip reading, they reflect unheard acoustic features, independent of co-existing representations of the visible lip movements. This restoration emphasizes the unheard pitch signature in occipital cortex and the speech envelope in temporal cortex and is predictive of lip-reading performance. These findings suggest that when seeing the speaker’s lips, the brain engages both visual and auditory pathways to support comprehension by exploiting multisensory correspondences between lip movements and spectro-temporal acoustic cues.
Vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate variability and change across different agro-ecological Zones in Oromo Nationality Administration (ONA), North east Ethiopia

Ethiopia is frequently identified as a country that is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change. The study was aimed to examine agro-ecological based smallholder farmers’ livelihood vulnerability to climate variability and change in Oromo Nationality Administration (ONA), North East Ethiopia. Data were collected from a survey of 335 sampled households, focus group discussion, and interview from three different agro-ecologies in the study area and secondary sources. Count, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test (test of independence), ANOVA, Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) and LVI-IPCC were used for analysis. LVI and LVI-IPCC results revealed that Kolla is the most vulnerable (0.18) because of its highest exposure (0.74) and sensitivity (0.71) values and lowest adaptive capacity (0.49) while Daga is least vulnerable (0.08) because of its lowest exposure (0.61) and sensitivity (0.42). Overall, results suggest that the two methods resulted in similar degrees of vulnerability and identified Kolla agro-ecological zone as the most vulnerable while the Dega agro-ecological zone is the least vulnerable of the three agro-ecological zones. The researchers conclude that development strategies and plans should be prepared considering local-specific issues and/or situation.
Impact of Intermittent Presumptive Treatment for Malaria in Pregnancy on Hospital Birth Outcomes on the Kenyan Coast

Abstract Background Intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) for pregnant women with sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (SP) is widely implemented for the prevention of malaria in pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes. The efficacy of SP is declining, and there are concerns that IPTp may have reduced impact in areas of high resistance. We sought to determine the protection afforded by SP as part of IPTp against adverse birth outcomes in an area with high levels of SP resistance on the Kenyan coast. Methods A secondary analysis of surveillance data on deliveries at the Kilifi County Hospital between 2015 and 2021 was undertaken in an area of low malaria transmission and high parasite mutations associated with SP resistance. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to estimate the effect of SP doses on the risk of low birthweight (LBW) deliveries and stillbirths. Results Among 27 786 deliveries, 3 or more doses of IPTp-SP were associated with a 27% reduction in the risk of LBW (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], .64–.83; P < .001) compared with no dose. A dose-response association was observed with increasing doses of SP from the second trimester linked to increasing protection against LBW deliveries. Three or more doses of IPTp-SP were also associated with a 21% reduction in stillbirth deliveries (aOR, 0.79; 95% CI, .65–.97; P = .044) compared with women who did not take any dose of IPTp-SP. Conclusions The continued significant association of SP on LBW deliveries suggests that the intervention may have a non-malaria impact on pregnancy outcomes.
Image-free ultrasound for local and regional vascular stiffness assessment: the ARTSENS Plus

Objective: The combined assessment of vascular health markers is crucial for identifying the cumulative burden of vascular risk factors early on, as well as the extent of vascular aging for effective prediction of future cardiovascular events. This work addresses the need for a currently nonexistent device or system that facilitates such combined assessment in clinical practice and large-scale screening settings. We report an image-free ultrasound device – ARTSENS Plus – developed for the measurement of local and regional arterial stiffness, central and peripheral blood pressure (BP), and vessel dimensions, all in one examination. Methods: A preclinical study on 90 asymptomatic individuals verified the device's functionality under ARTERY Society guidelines. The device's accuracy of stiffness measures was validated against the reference measures. Results: The interoperator and intraoperator variability was less than 7%. Carotid artery's lumen diameter and local stiffness indices and carotid–femoral regional pulse wave velocity showed excellent agreement with the references (absolute errors were less than 4.1, 9, and 4.1%, respectively). The carotid SBP was 10.02% lower than that of the brachial artery, as expected. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the device's ability to perform an effortless and reliable evaluation of the local and regional vascular stiffness and central BP with an accuracy that meets clinical standards.
Contextual cues about reciprocity impact ratings of smile sincerity

ABSTRACT Research has shown that context influences how sincere a smile appears to observers. That said, most studies on this topic have focused exclusively on situational cues (e.g. smiling while at a party versus smiling during a job interview) and few have examined other elements of context. One important element concerns any knowledge an observer might have about the smiler as an individual (e.g. their habitual behaviours, traits or attitudes). In this manuscript, we present three experiments that explored the influence of such knowledge on ratings of smile sincerity. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants rated the sincerity of Duchenne and non-Duchenne smiles after having been exposed to cues about the smiler’s tendency to reciprocate (this person always, never or occasionally returns favours). In Experiment 3 they performed the same task but with cues about the smiler’s love of learning (this person always, never or occasionally enjoys learning new tasks). The results show that cues about the smiler’s reciprocity tendency influenced participants’ ratings of smile sincerity and did so in a stronger manner than cues about the smiler’s love of learning. Overall, these results both strengthen and broaden the literature on the role of context on judgements of smile sincerity.
Medical laboratory staff satisfaction and their perspective on the role of health institutions to combat COVID-19 pandemic

Objective To assess the facilities and challenges encountered in the clinical laboratories, satisfaction of the medical laboratory staff (MLS) toward their profession and their views on the role of related health institutions during the first wave of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Nepal. Methods A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among registered MLS in Nepal. Data were collected using a structured self-reported questionnaire on the Google Docs platform. Results A total of 301 respondents were enrolled in the study; of which 180 were male and 121 were female. Of the 301 respondents, a lack of infrastructure was reported by 241 (80.1%), a lack of skill development training by 204 (67.8%), limited availability of diagnostics kits by 151 (50.2%), overburdened by the workload by 142 (47.2%) and difficulty in sample management by 129 (42.9%). A total of 244 of 301 respondents (81.1%) believed that stakeholder institutions should collaborate with the government during the pandemic. The level of satisfaction during the pandemic (130 of 301; 43.19%) was found to have decreased compared with before the pandemic (203 of 301; 67.4%). Conclusion MLS were not fully satisfied with the available resources during the pandemic.
The Transcriptome Profile of Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Müller Cell Lines Protected by Risuteganib Against Hydrogen Peroxide Stress

Purpose: Oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of vision-impairing diseases. In the retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Müller cells support neuronal homeostasis, but also contribute to pathological development under stressed conditions. Recent studies found that the investigational drug risuteganib (RSG) has a good safety profile, provided protection in experimental models, and improved visual acuity in patients. The present in vitro study evaluated the effects of RSG in RPE and Müller cell lines stressed with the oxidant hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Methods: Human RPE (ARPE-19) and Müller (MIO-M1) cell lines were treated with various combinations of RSG and H2O2. Trypan blue assay was used to investigate the effect of compounds on cell viability. Gene expression was measured using RNA sequencing to identify regulated genes and the biological processes and pathways involved. Results: Trypan blue assay found RSG pre-treatment significantly protected against H2O2-induced cell death in ARPE-19 and MIO-M1 cells. Transcriptome analysis found H2O2 regulated genes in several disease-relevant biological processes, including cell adhesion, migration, death, and proliferation; ECM organization; angiogenesis; metabolism; and immune system processes. RSG pre-treatment modulated these gene expression profiles in the opposite direction of H2O2. Pathway analysis found genes in integrin, AP-1, and syndecan signaling pathways were regulated. Expression of selected RSG-regulated genes was validated using qRT-PCR. Conclusions: RSG protected cultured human RPE and Müller cell lines against H2O2-induced cell death and mitigated the associated transcriptome changes in biological processes and pathways relevant to the pathogenesis of retinal diseases. These results demonstrate RSG reduced oxidative stress-induced toxicity in two retinal cell lines with potential relevance to the treatment of human diseases.