Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of frailty screening among patients with advanced heart failure

Background Frailty is common among patients with advanced heart failure (HF), and screening for frailty to guide care is recommended. Although multiple tools are available to screen for frailty, the feasibility of routinely incorporating frailty screening into daily clinical practice among hospitalised advanced HF patients has not been rigorously tested. Methods This was a prospective, single-centre, quality improvement study. Two brief frailty screening tools were incorporated into palliative care consultations for all patients ≥50 years from August 2021 to October 2022. In the first phase, the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) was implemented, followed by the Study of Osteoporotic Fracture (SOF) tool or a modified SOF (mSOF) version in the second phase. The primary outcome was feasibility (%) of performing frailty screenings for this high-risk population. Results A total of 212 patients (mean age 69±10 years, 69% male, 79% white, 30% with ischaemic HF) were referred for palliative care consultation during the study period. Overall, frailty screens were completed in 86% (n=183) of patients. CFS and mSOF reached >80% of adoption, while SOF adoption was 54%. Altogether, 52% of the population screened frail by use of CFS and 52% also by mSOF. All clinicians (n=6) participating in the study reported that frailty screening tools were useful and acceptable, and 83% reported plans for continued utilisation in future clinical practice. Conclusions Frailty screening with CFS or mSOF tools was feasible in hospitalised patients with advanced HF. Tools that require physical assessment were more challenging to implement. These data support the feasibility of incorporating questionnaire-based frailty screening in a busy hospital setting.
Watch Your Language: Using Smartwatches to Support Communication

With an ageing population and increased prevalence of people living with complex communication needs there is a growing need to design scalable high-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) apps to support agency and social participation. For end-users it is currently difficult to regulate the prominence of most mainstream high-tech AAC devices and tablet-based apps – they are socially conspicuous, offer poor portability, are aesthetically unconsidered, and obstruct vital non-verbal communication pathways. In response to this, we leverage participatory design techniques to design and evaluate two discreet and inconspicuous AAC smartwatch apps. We engage with a community of people living with the language impairment aphasia, to collaboratively build and iterate both a smartwatch app for ‘public’ communication: Watch Out and ‘private’ cognitive support: Watch In. Following this, we evaluate both apps during an experience prototyping workshop with an actor and subsequent focus group. We report results from communication interactions with both apps, interviews and feedback responses. Participants were not only successful in using both AAC smartwatch apps but, critically, the wearable and discreet intervention did not restrict users’ agency and non-verbal communication.
An exploratory study of work-leisure relationships during the Covid-19 lockdown

ABSTRACT This study explored the attitudes towards work-leisure relationships (WLR) among Chinese during the Covid-19 lockdown. The lockdown creates a ‘quasi-experiment’ situation to investigate people’s views of WLR since they are obligated to stay home for weeks or months instead of commuting to workplaces. Eighty-two Chinese were interviewed, and the qualitative data were analysed using NVivo 12.0. The results suggest a model of ‘BRIS’ depicting four types of WLR: (a) ‘B’ for Balance, i.e. a dynamic equilibrium; (b) ‘R’ for Reciprocity, i.e. mutual beneficial; (c) ‘I’ for Integration, i.e. work and leisure could be each other; (d) ‘S’ for Separation, i.e. totally different from each other. The study contributes theoretically to developing this BRIS model to interpret the WLR in the context of the Covid-19 lockdown. Practical implications for employee management and satisfaction enhancement in companies, leisure policies, as well as future prospects for telework are also provided, particularly the importance of ‘balance’ in WLR is called for.
Winter Atmospheric Buoyancy Forcing and Oceanic Response during Strong Wind Events around Southeastern Greenland in the Regional Arctic System Model (RASM) for 1990–2010*

Strong, mesoscale tip jets and barrier winds that occur along the southeastern Greenland coast have the potential to impact deep convection in the Irminger Sea. The self-organizing map (SOM) training algorithm was used to identify 12 wind patterns that represent the range of winter [November–March (NDJFM)] wind regimes identified in the fully coupled Regional Arctic System Model (RASM) during 1990–2010. For all wind patterns, the ocean loses buoyancy, primarily through the turbulent sensible and latent heat fluxes; haline contributions to buoyancy change were found to be insignificant compared to the thermal contributions. Patterns with westerly winds at the Cape Farewell area had the largest buoyancy loss over the Irminger and Labrador Seas due to large turbulent fluxes from strong winds and the advection of anomalously cold, dry air over the warmer ocean. Similar to observations, RASM simulated typical ocean mixed layer depths (MLD) of approximately 400 m throughout the Irminger basin, with individual years experiencing MLDs of 800 m or greater. The ocean mixed layer deepens over most of the Irminger Sea following wind events with northerly flow, and the deepening is greater for patterns of longer duration. Seasonal deepest MLD is strongly and positively correlated to the frequency of westerly tip jets with northerly flow.
Force-field perturbations and muscle vibration strengthen stability-related foot placement responses during steady-state gait

Mediolateral gait stability can be maintained by coordinating our foot placement with respect to the center-of-mass (CoM) kinematic state. Neurological impairments can reduce the degree of foot placement control. For individuals with such impairments, interventions that could improve foot placement control could thus contribute to improved gait stability. In this study we aimed to better understand two potential interventions, by investigating their effect in neurologically intact individuals. The degree of foot placement control can be quantified based on a foot placement model, in which the CoM position and velocity during swing predict subsequent foot placement. Previously, perturbing foot placement with a force-field resulted in an enhanced degree of foot placement control as an after-effect. Moreover, muscle vibration enhanced the degree of foot placement control through sensory augmentation whilst the vibration was applied. Here, we replicated these two findings and further investigated whether Q1) sensory augmentation leads to an after-effect and Q2) whether combining sensory augmentation with force-field perturbations leads to a larger after-effect, as compared to force-field perturbations only. In addition, we evaluated several potential contributors to the degree of foot placement control, by considering foot placement errors, CoM variability and the CoM position gain (βpos) of the foot placement model, next to the R2 measure as the degree of foot placement control. Sensory augmentation led to a higher degree of foot placement control as an after-effect (Q1). However, combining sensory augmentation and force-field perturbations did not lead to a larger after-effect, as compared to following force-field perturbations only (Q2). Furthermore, we showed that, the improved degree of foot placement control following force-field perturbations and during/following muscle vibration, did not reflect diminished foot placement errors. Rather, participants demonstrated a stronger active response (higher βpos) as well as higher CoM variability.
Edge Community Entropy is a Novel Neural Correlate of Aging and Moderator of Fluid Cognition

Decreased neuronal specificity of the brain in response to cognitive demands (i.e., neural dedifferentiation) has been implicated in age-related cognitive decline. Investigations into functional connectivity analogues of these processes have focused primarily on measuring segregation of nonoverlapping networks at rest. Here, we used an edge-centric network approach to derive entropy, a measure of nodal specialization, from spatially overlapping communities during cognitive task fMRI. Using Human Connectome Project Lifespan data (713 participants, 36-100 years old), we characterized a pattern of nodal despecialization differentially affecting the medial temporal lobe and limbic, visual, and subcortical systems. Global entropy uniquely covaried with age when controlling for network segregation. Importantly, relationships between both metrics and fluid cognition were age-dependent, although entropy’s relationship with cognition was specific to older adults. These results suggest entropy is a potentially important metric for examining how neurological processes in aging affect functional specialization at the nodal, network, and whole-brain level.
Distinct neural mechanisms underlying perceptual and attentional impairments of conscious access

This study investigates failures in conscious access resulting from either weak sensory input (perceptual blindness) or unattended input (attentional blindness). Participants viewed a Kanizsa stimulus with or without an illusory triangle within a rapid serial visual presentation of distractor stimuli. We designed a novel Kanizsa stimulus that contained additional ancillary features of different complexity (local contrast and collinearity) that were independently manipulated. Perceptual performance on the Kanizsa stimulus (presence vs. absence of an illusion) was equated between the perceptual (masking) and attentional (attentional blink) manipulation to circumvent common confounds related to conditional differences in task performance. We trained and tested classifiers on electroencephalogram (EEG) data to reflect the processing of specific stimulus features, with increasing levels of complexity. We show that late stages of processing (∼200-250 ms), reflecting the integration of complex stimulus features (collinearity, illusory triangle), were impaired by masking but spared by the attentional blink. In contrast, decoding of local contrast (the spatial arrangement of stimulus features) was observed early in time (∼80 ms) and was left largely unaffected by either manipulation. These results replicate previous work showing that feedforward processing is largely preserved under both perceptual and attentional blindness. Crucially however, under matched levels of performance, only attentional blindness left the processing of more complex visual features relatively intact, likely related to spared lateral and local feedback processes during inattention. These findings reveal distinct neural mechanisms associated with perceptual and attentional blindness and thus contribute to a comprehensive understanding of distinct neural stages leading to conscious access.
Iterative convergent computation may not be a useful inductive bias for residual neural networks

Recent work has suggested that feedforward residual neural networks (ResNets) approximate iterative recurrent computations. Iterative computations are useful in many domains, so they might provide good solutions for neural networks to learn. Here we quantify the degree to which ResNets learn iterative solutions and introduce a regularization approach that encourages learning of iterative solutions. Iterative methods are characterized by two properties: iteration and convergence. To quantify these properties, we define three indices of iterative convergence. Consistent with previous work, we show that, even though ResNets can express iterative solutions, they do not learn them when trained conventionally on computer vision tasks. We then introduce regularizations to encourage iterative convergent computation and test whether this provides a useful inductive bias. To make the networks more iterative, we manipulate the degree of weight sharing across layers using soft gradient coupling. This new method provides a form of recurrence regularization and can interpolate smoothly between an ordinary ResNet and a “recurrent” ResNet (i.e., one that uses identical weights across layers and thus could be physically implemented with a recurrent network computing the successive stages iteratively across time). To make the networks more convergent we impose a Lipschitz constraint on the residual functions using spectral normalization. The three indices of iterative convergence reveal that the gradient coupling and the Lipschitz constraint succeed at making the networks iterative and convergent, respectively. However, neither recurrence regularization nor spectral normalization improve classification accuracy on standard visual recognition tasks (MNIST, CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100) or on challenging recognition tasks with partial occlusions (Digitclutter). Iterative convergent computation, in these tasks, does not provide a useful inductive bias for ResNets.
Susceptibility to multitasking in chronic stroke is associated to damage of the multiple demand system and leads to lateralized visuospatial deficits

Functional impairment after stroke is related to the amount of brain damage but there is no strict correspondence between lesion and magnitude of the deficit or its recovery. Theoretical constructs such as cognitive or brain reserve have been invoked as unspecific protective factors to explain this mismatch. Here, we consider the opposite point of view, that is the instances in which this protection is lost or overturned. Several studies have shown – in domains encompassing sensory, motor, and cognitive deficits – that paradigms in which the inherent processing limits of the brain are stressed (e.g., by introducing multitasking and attentional load), are indeed capable to unveil the presence of deficits that are otherwise missed. We administered a computerized multitasking paradigm to a sample of 46 consecutive patients with first-ever unilateral subacute to chronic stroke and no sign of lateralized spatial-attentional disorders according to established diagnostic tests. We then used cluster analysis to classify patients, in a purely data-driven manner, according to their multivariate pattern of performance across different conditions (e.g., single- vs dual-tasking, ipsi- vs. contra-lesional stimuli). This enabled us to identify, within a group of putatively spared patients, a cluster of individuals presenting with stark contralesional biases of spatial awareness exclusively in conditions of concurrent attentional load, i.e. a phenotype characterised by high susceptibility to multitasking. This construct was also captured by a latent factor obtained from principal component analysis, providing a continuous susceptibility index across the whole sample. In spite of similar lesion volume, patients in the high susceptibility cluster presented worse performance in activities of daily living and neuropsychological tests evaluating domain-general abilities spanning attention, executive functions, and reasoning. Multivariate predictive modeling based on lesions location and structural disconnections revealed distinctive correlates of high sensitivity to multitasking in the Multiple-Demand (MD) System, a network of frontal and fronto-parietal areas subserving domain general processes. Damage in these areas may critically interact with domain-specific ones (e.g., devoted to spatial attention), resulting in subtle, but significant difficulties for patients in everyday life situations. In conclusion, the construct of susceptibility to multitasking has the promising potential to provide us a better understanding of what marks the passage, after brain damage, to clinically visible deficits. Graphical Abstract
Prevalence of Stunting and Associated Factors among Under Five Children in Wondo Genet Woreda, Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Background: Stunting is a serious health problem and deep rooted in southern Ethiopia of poor diet, in adequate food intake, disease burden, population growth, poor health service delivery and repeated drought. Objective: to assess the prevalence of stunting and associated factors among under five year’s old children in the study area. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Wondo Genet Woreda from February, 25 to March 15, 2011. The sample size was determined using formula for estimating single population proportion. The sample size was determined using formula for estimating single population proportion. Three Kebele’s were selected by stratified two stage cluster sampling method and study households were identified by simple random sampling technique from each ‘Kebele. The data was analyzed using SPSS v.16. 0 statistical software version16.0. For all statistical significance tests, the cut- off value set will be p
Diffusion MRS tracks distinct trajectories of neuronal development in the cerebellum and thalamus of rat neonates

It is currently impossible to non-invasively assess cerebellar cell structure during early development. Here we propose a novel approach to non-invasively and longitudinally track cell-specific development using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy in combination with microstructural modelling. Tracking metabolite diffusion allows us to probe cell-specific developmental trajectories in the cerebellum and thalamus of healthy rat neonates from post-natal day (P) 5 to P30. Additionally, by comparing different analytical and biophysical microstructural models we can follow the differential contribution of cell bodies and neurites during development. The thalamus serves as a control region to assess the sensitivity of our method to microstructural differences between the regions. We found significant differences between cerebellar and thalamic metabolites diffusion properties. For most metabolites, the signal attenuation is stronger in the thalamus, suggesting less restricted diffusion compared to the cerebellum. There is also a trend for lower signal attenuation and lower ADCs with increasing age, suggesting increasing restriction of metabolite diffusion. This is particularly striking for taurine in the thalamus. We use biophysical modelling to interpret these differences. We report a decreased sphere fraction (or an increased neurite fraction) with age for taurine and total creatine in the cerebellum, marking dendritic growth. Surprisingly, we also report a U-shape trend for segment length (the distance between two embranchments in a dendritic tree) in the cerebellum agreeing with age-matching morphometry of openly available 3D-Purkinje reconstructions. Results demonstrate that diffusion-weighted MRS probes early cerebellar neuronal development non-invasively.
Rho GTPase signaling and mDia facilitate endocytosis via presynaptic actin

Neurotransmission at synapses is mediated by the fusion and subsequent endocytosis of synaptic vesicle membranes. Actin has been suggested to be required for presynaptic endocytosis but the mechanisms that control actin polymerization and its mode of action within presynaptic nerve terminals remain poorly understood. We combine optical recordings of presynaptic membrane dynamics and ultrastructural analysis with genetic and pharmacological manipulations to demonstrate that presynaptic endocytosis is controlled by actin regulatory diaphanous-related formins mDia1/3 and Rho family GTPase signaling. We show that impaired presynaptic actin assembly in the near absence of mDia1/3 and reduced RhoA activity is partly compensated by hyperactivation of Rac1. Inhibition of Rac1 signaling further aggravates impaired presynaptic endocytosis elicited by loss of mDia1/3. Our data suggest that interdependent mDia1/3-Rho and Rac1 signaling pathways cooperatively act to facilitate synaptic vesicle endocytosis by controlling presynaptic F-actin.
Enhancing Mental Well-being: Efficacy and Neural Mechanisms of Leyi Training in Emotional and Cognitive Intervention

Leyi mental training comprises physical and mental cultivation methods, such as relaxation, breathing, meditation, koan, and cognitive regulation, with the ultimate goal of achieving enlightenment. Over a decade of practical experience has demonstrated its potential to enhance individuals’ mental well-being. In our study, we employed EEG and psychological scales to investigate the efficacy of Leyi training in emotional and cognitive intervention, as well as its underlying neural mechanisms. The results revealed significant improvements in both emotion and cognition following the intervention. We propose that the effectiveness of Leyi training in emotional regulation may stem from the heightened sensitivity to present experiences and the robust cognitive control ability cultivated through the practice, which enables practitioners to allocate equal, non-reactive attention to all stimuli, regardless of their emotional valence. Moreover, this training facilitates more effective allocation of cognitive resources to deal with current tasks, thus improving cognitive abilities.
Transertion and cell geometry organize the Escherichia coli nucleoid during rapid growth

Bacterial chromosomes are spatiotemporally organized and sensitive to environmental changes. However, the mechanisms underlying chromosome configuration and reorganization are currently not fully understood. Using 3D single-molecule localization microscopy and live-cell imaging, we show that the Escherichia coli nucleoid adopts a condensed, membrane-associated configuration during rapid growth. To study the influence of different biosynthetic processes on nucleoid morphology and positioning, we recorded multi-colour super-resolution images during drug treatment. After developing analysis routines for confocal and super-resolution images, we captured highly resolved snapshots which revealed the complete loss of the membrane-bound state of the nucleoid within 10 minutes of halting transcription and translation. This indicates an active role of transertion (coupled transcription, translation and membrane insertion) in nucleoid organization. In contrast, cell wall synthesis inhibition only affects nucleoid organization during morphological changes. Further, we provide evidence that the E. coli nucleoid spatially correlates with MreB in unperturbed E. coli cells, while this correlation diminishes in cells with changed cell geometry or upon inhibition of protein biosynthesis. Replication inhibition experiments, as well as multi-drug treatments highlight the role of entropic effects and transcription in nucleoid condensation and positioning. In summary, we provide experimental evidence for transertion as a principal organiser of the bacterial nucleoid, and show that an altered metabolic state and antibiotic treatment both lead to major changes in the degree of transertion and overall spatial organization of the nucleoid. Our high-resolution characterization reveals dynamics of antibiotic action and provides tools to quantify bacterial chromosome organization. This does not only provide valuable insights into the role of transertion, but can also be applied to study other cell-biological processes.