Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biomarkers of lung alveolarization and microvascular maturation in response to intermittent hypoxia and/or early antioxidant/fish oil supplementation in neonatal rats

Extremely preterm infants experience frequent intermittent hypoxia (IH) episodes during oxygen therapy which causes significant damage to the lungs and curtails important signaling pathways that regulate normal lung alveolarization and microvascular maturation. We tested the hypothesis that early supplementation with fish oil and/or antioxidants in rats exposed to neonatal IH improves expression of lung biomarkers of alveolarization and microvascular maturation, and reduces IH‐induced lung injury.
Propagation and reflection of diffusionless torsional waves in a sphere

S U M M A R Y We consider an inviscid and perfectly conducting fluid sphere in rapid rotation and permeated by a background magnetic field. Such a system admits normal modes in the form of torsional oscillations, namely azimuthal motions of cylinders coaxial with the rotation axis. We analyse this system for a particular background magnetic field that provides a new closed form normal mode solution. We derive Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin–Jeffreys (WKBJ) approximations to the normal modes, and focus particularly on the reflections that take place on the rotation axis and at the equator. We propose a procedure to calculate the reflection coefficients and we discuss the analogy of our findings with well-known seismological results. Our analytical results are tested against numerical calculations and show good agreement.
Aptamer-modified atomically precise gold nanoclusters as targeted nanozymes to scavenge reactive oxygen species in white adipocytes

Oxidative stress caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to the dysfunction of white adipocytes and white fat, and also promotes triglyceride storage by inhibiting the respiration of adipocytes directly. Nanozymes, as a new generation of artificial enzymes, have exhibited attractive potential in scavenging ROS and treatment of ROS-related diseases. Herein, aptamer-modified atomically precise gold Au25 nanoclusters (Apt-Au25 NCs), are employed as targeted nanozymes to scavenge ROS in white adipocytes. Our results show that Apt-Au25 NCs have high targeting capability toward white adipocytes with low cytotoxicity. Furthermore, Apt-Au25 NCs show high superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like and catalase (CAT)-like activity in a concentration-dependent manner, and also good thermal and pH stability compared with natural SOD and CAT. Finally, the efficiency of ROS scavenging by Apt-Au25 NCs in white adipocytes is evaluated. This work demonstrates that Apt-Au25 NCs, as targeted nanozymes, are efficient in scavenging ROS in white adipocytes, exhibiting promising potential for the treatment of obesity and related diseases.
Effect of axial compression on stiffness and deformation of human lumbar spine in flexion-extension

Abstract Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of axial compression, employed with a follower-load mechanism, on the response of the lumbar spine in flexion and extension bending. Additional goals include measurement of both the kinetic (stiffness) and kinematic (deformation distribution) responses, evaluating how the responses vary across specimens, and to develop response corridors that can be used to evaluate human body models (HBMs) and anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs). Methods Seven mid-sized male adult lumbar spines (T12-S1) from postmortem human surrogates were tested in subinjurious flexion and extension bending with 0, 900, and 1800 N of superimposed axial compression. Tests were performed in load-control with a 6-DOF robotic test system that applied pure flexion and extension moments to the specimens, and axial compression was directed along the spine’s curvature via a follower load mechanism powered by force-controlled linear actuators. Load-deformation response data were captured and used to characterize the kinetic response of the lumbar spine in flexion/extension, and how it varies with axial compression. Individual vertebral kinematics were captured using 3D motion capture and the data was used to illustrate the distribution of bending deformation across each intervertebral joint of the spine, as well has how that distribution changes with axial compression. These response data were used to develop elliptical path-length parameterized response corridors for surrogate biofidelity evaluation. Results The lumbar spine was found to be generally stiffer in extension than in flexion, but this difference decreased with increasing axial compression. The lumbar spine exhibited a nonlinear kinetic (moment vs. angle) response in flexion that became more linear and stiffer with the addition of axial compression. In flexion without axial load, the majority of the bending deformation occurred at the L5-S1 joint, whereas in extension, deformation was more evenly distributed across the different intervertebral levels, but the locus of deformation was located in the mid-proximal lumbar at L2-L3. Conclusions The superposition of axial compression in the lumbar spine affects the kinetic and kinematic response of the lumbar spine in flexion and extension. The response data and approach detailed in this study permit better assessment of ATD and HBM biofidelity.
SARS-CoV-2 IgG Spike antibody levels and avidity in natural infection or following vaccination with mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2 vaccines

ABSTRACT Certain aspects of the immunogenicity and effectiveness of the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines (mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2) developed in response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic are still uncharacterized. Serum or plasma samples from healthy donor recipients of either vaccine (BNT162b2 n = 53, mRNA-1273 n = 49; age 23–67), and individuals naturally infected with SARS-CoV-2 (n = 106; age 18–82) were collected 0–2 months post-infection or 1- and 4 months after second dose of vaccination. Anti-Spike antibody levels and avidity were measured via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Overall, vaccination induced higher circulating anti-Spike protein immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels and avidity compared to infection at similar time intervals. Both vaccines produced similar anti-Spike IgG concentrations at 1 month, while mRNA-1273 demonstrated significantly higher circulating antibody concentrations after 4 months. mRNA-1273 induced significantly higher avidity at month 1 compared to BNT162b2 across all age groups. However, the 23–34 age group was the only group to maintain statistical significance by 4 months. Male BNT162b2 recipients were approaching statistically significant lower anti-Spike IgG avidity compared to females by month 4. These findings demonstrate enhanced anti-Spike IgG levels and avidity following vaccination compared to natural infection. In addition, the mRNA-1273 vaccine induced higher antibody levels by 4 months compared to BNT162b2.
Solar pulsational stability – II. Pulsation frequencies

The processes that damp solar pulsations also influence pulsation frequencies. This creates deviations from frequencies computed assuming adiabatic motion without turbulent stress and is one possible reason why the observed frequencies of the five-minute oscillations do not agree with theoretical eigenfrequencies. Another possible cause is that the commonly used local mixing-length theory fails to reproduce the mean structure of the Sun in the turbulent surface boundary layer. The computational machinery developed for linear stability analysis in an earlier paper is used to gauge the degree of error incurred in employing these two standard approximations. The results indicate that the assumption of adiabatic stress-free motion is less severe than errors likely to occur in modelling the solar superadiabatic boundary layer by conventional formulations of mixing-length theory
Impact of COVID-19 on Lifestyle: A Sample of Iranian Older Adults

The COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged quarantine affect the health behaviors of older adults. We investigated the changes in older adults’ lifestyles during the pandemic in a sample of 1020 people aged 60 years old and over in Tehran. The results revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on nutritional behaviors and social support while having a negative impact on physical activity and anxiety in older adults. Due to the greater deterioration of health behaviors among unmarried older adults, low socio-economic status, and COVID-19 inpatients, policymakers must pay attention to interventions to promote healthy lifestyles.
Characterizing neck and spinal response in booster seated reclined children in frontal impacts

Abstract Objective Belt-positioning booster seats (BPB) and pre-pretensioner (PPT) belts may be effective in preventing injuries from submarining and head excursion in reclined children. It is unknown if injuries at the neck and spine could still occur. This study’s goal is to characterize neck and spine responses in reclined children with and without the BPB and the PPT. Methods Eleven frontal impact sled tests were performed (56 kph) with the Large Omnidirectional Child (LODC) dummy on a production vehicle seat. A 3-point simulated seat-integrated-belt was used with a load-limiter (∼4.5 kN). Testing was conducted with and without the BPB with the seatback at ∼25°, ∼45° and repeated once. One test was conducted at ∼60° with the BPB. 100 mm of belt-slack was removed to simulate PPT in two 45° BPB tests and the BPB 60° test. The LODC peak thoracic spine accelerations and angular rotations, and peak neck and lumbar force/moment loads were compared between conditions. Results Neck shear forces were the highest in the 60° BPB & PPT (−1.9 kN) and 45° noBPB (−1.3 kN) than all other BPB conditions (−0.5 to −0.8 kN). The highest peak neck moments were found in the 45° noBPB (−40.5 N-m), and in the 60° BPB & PPT (−34.2 N-m) conditions compared to all others (−20.8 to −27.9 N-m.). The 60° BPB and PPT condition demonstrated thoracic forward rotation similar to the 25° noBPB condition (25° noBPB −24.8 to −35.0 deg, 60° BPB&PPT −27.5 to −43.2 deg.). Thoracic spine peak resultant accelerations (T1, T6, T12) were higher in the 25° and 45° noBPB conditions (53 g to 71 g) and in the 60° BPB & PPT (T6: 61.8 g) compared to all other BPB conditions (48.4 g to 53.1 g). The lumbar peak shear forces and moments were the highest in the 45° noBPB (4.9 kN, −296 N-m) and the 60° BPB & PPT condition (1.7 kN, −146 N-m). Conclusion These findings show similarities in neck, spine, and lumbar responses between the 60° reclined condition with BPB and PPT and the 25° and 45° conditions without the same countermeasures. This study highlights the need for future restraint developments to protect moderate and severe reclined BPB-seated child occupants.
Artificial womb: a paradigm shift for saving extremely premature infants

To the Editor: Approximately 15 million preterm babies, i.e., those delivered at <37 weeks of gestational age (GA), are born globally every year, and of them, 0.4% are extremely premature infants (EPIs), i.e., those delivered at <28 weeks of GA. [1] Iterations of neonatal care have significantly extended the viability of preterm babies. However, improved viability is accompanied by an increased risk of unreversed injuries, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and intraventricular hemorrhage. Therefore, a more physiological simulating in utero status is needed to protect EPIs’ immature organs during the transitional period and ensure that they develop in the same manner that they would have in the womb.
Motivators and Barriers to COVID-19 Vaccination in Young Adults Living in the USA

High rates of COVID-19 infection and lower vaccination rates among young adults aged 18 to 26 in the United States prompted this study to examine motivating factors and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination and identify preferences in COVID-19 vaccine education. Three focus group discussions were completed. Transcribed data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three key themes were identified including (1) motivating factors to vaccination, (2) barriers to vaccination, and (3) COVID-19 vaccination educational intervention design recommendations. Motivating factors included five relevant subthemes: civic duty, fear related to the disease process; fear related to emerging variants and breakthroughs; fear regarding the suffering of others; and freedom. Barriers included four subthemes: lack of trust, misinformation, politics, and pressure. Attempts to further educate young adults about the COVID-19 vaccine should consider strategies that target motivating factors and barriers while also making accurate information accessible through social media.
HPLC‐TBARS‐EVSC (high‐performance liquid chromatography–thiobarbituric acid reactive substances–ex vivo stratum corneum) protocol: Selection of the subjects and approach to present the results

Nowadays, it is recognized the need for improved safety and efficacy protocols to evaluate the human stratum corneum (SC) and its interaction with topical and cosmetic formulations by minimally or non‐invasive methodologies. The aim of our research work was to streamline the HPLC‐TBARS‐EVSC (high‐performance liquid chromatography–thiobarbituric acid reactive substances–ex vivo stratum corneum) methodology, by exploring the results of a group of 18 subjects.
Wavelength dependence of Verdet constant of Tb3+:Y2O3 ceramics

Samples of the magneto-active material—Tb3+:Y2O3ceramics with Tb3+ion concentrations of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 100% (Tb2O3)—were prepared and studied. The wavelength dependence of Verdet constant in the 380 nm–1750 nm range was approximated for all investigated ceramic samples and was predicted for a pure Tb2O3material. Tb2O3ceramics demonstrates a more than three times higher Verdet constant in comparison with terbium gallium garnet crystal or ceramics. The linear dependence of the Verdet constant on Tb3+ion concentration in the Tb3+:Y2O3ceramics was demonstrated. The obtained data will be useful for fabricating magneto-optical elements of Faraday devices based on Tb3+:Y2O3 with arbitrary Tb3+ion concentration operating at room temperature in the wavelength range of 380 nm–1750 nm.
Psychological factors of pregnant women associated with inadequate maternal weight gain in Japan

Abstract Objectives Inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) has been associated with low birth weight (LBW). However, factors associated with inadequate GWG in Japan remain unclear. Here, we aimed to determine the factors associated with inadequate GWG and the characteristics of inadequate GWG based on the pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) among pregnant women in Japan. Methods This observational study included pregnant women at ≥16 weeks of gestation. The study was conducted at two general hospitals in Tokyo, Japan. The participants were requested to complete a questionnaire during the antenatal checkup visit and a mail survey after childbirth. Data were also collected from medical records. The GWG level and associated factors were assessed using the chi-square test or t-test. Results In total, 252 pregnant women were recruited and completed the questionnaires. Data from 128 pregnant women were analyzed. Overall, 23 (18.0%) women were classified as having inadequate GWG. The factors associated with inadequate GWG were as follows: pre-pregnancy underweight, hospital admission owing to hyperemesis, low body esteem, high Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score, low target GWG, more significant weight loss during pregnancy when compared with that pre-pregnancy, high maximum weight loss during pregnancy, delay in return to pre-pregnancy weight, lower birth weight, and inadequate GWG perception. Pregnant women with inadequate weight gain did not receive any medical advice to avoid being overweight but were rather advised to gain additional weight. Conclusion Target GWG and low body esteem were associated with inadequate GWG and other factors that could be modified. Medical staff should focus on achieving the target GWG and improving the body appreciation level among pregnant women.
Singularity Analysis of 5-RPRRR Parallel Mechanisms via Grassmann Line Geometry

This paper investigates the singular configurations of five-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanisms generating the 3T2R motion and comprising five identical legs of the RP UR type. The general mechanism was recently revealed by performing the type synthesis for symmetrical 5-DOF parallel mechanisms. In this study, some simplified designs are proposed for which the singular configurations can be predicted by means of the so-called Grassmann line geometry. This technique can be regarded as a powerful tool for analyzing the degeneration of the Plucker screw set. The main focus of this contribution is to predict the actuation singularity, for a general and simplified design, without expanding the determinant of the inverse Jacobian matrix (actuated constraints system) which is highly nonlinear and difficult to analyze.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Bidirectional understanding and cooperation: interbrain neural synchronization during social navigation

Abstract The complexity of the environment requires humans to solve problems collaboratively. The aim of this study was to investigate the neural mechanism of social navigation in group problem-solving situations. A novel cooperative task was designed in which dyadic participants assumed the role of an operator or a navigator with different skills and knowledge and worked together to complete the task. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy–based hyperscanning, we found stronger interbrain neural synchronization of the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) between dyads when the operator received instructions from the navigator rather than from a computer. The functional connections between the rTPJ and the other brain areas indicated the involvement of the mirror neural system during the task. Further directional analysis using Granger causality analysis revealed a flow of information from the temporal to the parietal and then to the pre-motor cortex in the operator’s brain. These findings provide empirical evidence for the neural mechanism of social navigation and highlight the importance of the rTPJ for communication and joint attention in uncertain group problem-solving situations.
Predictors of individual mental health and psychological resilience after Australia’s 2019–2020 bushfires

Aims: We assessed the mental health effects of Australia’s 2019–2020 bushfires 12–18 months later, predicting psychological distress and positive psychological outcomes from bushfire exposure and a range of demographic variables, and seeking insights to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience planning for different profiles of people. Methods: We surveyed 3083 bushfire-affected and non-affected Australian residents about their experiences of bushfire, COVID-19, psychological distress (depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder) and positive psychological outcomes (resilient coping, wellbeing). Results: We found high rates of distress across all participants, exacerbated by severity of bushfire exposure. For people who were bushfire-affected, being older, having less financial stress, and having no or fewer pre-existing mental disorders predicted both lower distress and higher positive outcomes. Being male or having less income loss also predicted positive outcomes. Severity of exposure, higher education and higher COVID-19-related stressors predicted both higher distress and higher positive outcomes. Pre-existing physical health diagnosis and previous bushfire experience did not significantly predict distress or positive outcomes. Recommendations: To promote disaster resilience, we recommend investment in mental health, particularly for younger adults and for those in rural and remote areas. We also recommend investment in mechanisms to protect against financial distress and the development of a broader definition of bushfire-related impacts than is currently used to capture brushfires’ far-reaching effects.
Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale in Fathers

Background: Research gaps exist with regard to paternal attitudes towards breastfeeding and the association between fathers’ attitudes and the type of breastfeeding. Research Aims: (1) To analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale in fathers, and (2) to examine the association between fathers’ attitudes and type of breastfeeding. Method: We used a cross-sectional study design to analyze the scale’s psychometric properties and performance. Results: A total of 639 fathers participated in the study. The mean age was 35.83 years (SD = 4.65) and 67.3% (n = 430) were married or in a civil partnership. We observed an adequate fit in the confirmatory factor analysis: TLI = 0.96, CFI = 0.97 and RMSEA = 0.05. The overall internal consistency was 0.76. Between 1–6 months, 48% (n = 307) of participants’ babies were exclusively breastfed, 35.2% (n = 225) were partially breastfed, and 16.7% (n = 107) were exclusively formula fed. Statistically significant differences were shown in attitudes towards breastfeeding, depending on the type of breastfeeding, between 1 and 6 months (F = 54.67; p < .001). Fathers who reported that their baby had been exclusively breastfed scored higher on attitudes towards breastfeeding. Statistically significant differences were also found between partial breastfeeding and formula feeding. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring paternal attitudes towards breastfeeding.
Stimulus Design for Visual Evoked Potential Based Brain-Computer Interfaces

Visual stimuli design plays an important role in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) based on visual evoked potentials (VEPs). Variations in stimulus parameters have been shown to affect both decoding accuracy and subjective perception experience, implying the need for a trade-off in design. In this study, we comprehensively and systematically compared various combinations of amplitude contrast and spectral content parameters in the stimulus design to quantify their impact on decoding performance and subject comfort. Specifically, three parameters were investigated: 1) contrast level, 2) temporal pattern (periodic steady-state or pseudo-random code-modulated), and 3) frequency range. We collected electroencephalogram (EEG) data and subjective perception ratings from ten subjects and evaluated the decoding accuracy and subject comfort rating for different combinations of the stimulus parameters. Our results indicate that while high-frequency steady-state VEP (SSVEP) stimuli were rated the most comfortable, they also had the lowest decoding accuracy. Conversely, low-frequency SSVEP stimuli were rated the least comfortable but had the highest decoding accuracy. Standard and high-frequency M-sequence code-modulated VEPs (c-VEPs) produced intermediates between the two. We observed a consistent trade-off relationship between decoding accuracy and subjective comfort level across all parameters. Based on our findings, we offer c-VEP as a preferable stimulus for achieving reliable decoding accuracy while maintaining a reasonable level of comfortability.