Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Restorative effects of probiotics on memory impairment in sleep-deprived mice

ABSTRACT Background Insufficient sleep is a serious public health epidemic in modern society, impairing memory and other cognitive functions. In this study, partial sleep deprivation (SD) was used to induce cognitive impairment in mice to determine the effects of probiotics on subsequent cognitive deficits. Methods Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp-115 (Lp-115), Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Lpc-37 (Lpc-37), Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis 420 (B420) and their combination were administered to mice subjected to partial SD and compared with non-SD and SD vehicle groups. Mice were administered a daily oral gavage containing either 1 × 109 colony forming units (CFU) of single-strain, 1.5 × 109 CFU of multi-strain (5 × 108 CFU/strain), or vehicle for thirty days prior to and for nine days during a behavioural test paradigm. The novel object recognition (NOR) test, spontaneous alternation Y-maze (Y-maze), and the step-through passive avoidance (STPA) task were applied to evaluate learning and memory performance following partial SD. Results Partial SD had a significant impact on cognitive function in vehicle mice. Intervention with Lpc-37 significantly improved recognition memory deficits in the NOR test, spatial working memory deficits in the Y-maze, and contextual long-term memory impairments in the STPA task, in mice subjected to partial SD compared to the SD vehicle group. The multi-strain significantly improved recognition memory deficits in the NOR test and spatial working memory deficits in the Y-maze in mice subjected to partial SD compared to the SD vehicle group. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that Lpc-37 and the multi-strain may play a role in alleviating memory impairments and improve cognitive function in partially sleep-deprived mice.
Global prevalence of autism: A systematic review update

Prevalence estimates of autism are essential for informing public policy, raising awareness, and developing research priorities. Using a systematic review, we synthesized estimates of the prevalence of autism worldwide. We examined factors accounting for variability in estimates and critically reviewed evidence relevant for hypotheses about biological or social determinants (viz., biological sex, sociodemographic status, ethnicity/race, and nativity) potentially modifying prevalence estimates of autism. We performed the search in November 2021 within Medline for studies estimating autism prevalence, published since our last systematic review in 2012. Data were extracted by two independent researchers. Since 2012, 99 estimates from 71 studies were published indicating a global autism prevalence that ranges within and across regions, with a median prevalence of 100/10,000 (range: 1.09/10,000 to 436.0/10,000). The median male‐to‐female ratio was 4.2. The median percentage of autism cases with co‐occurring intellectual disability was 33.0%. Estimates varied, likely reflecting complex and dynamic interactions between patterns of community awareness, service capacity, help seeking, and sociodemographic factors. A limitation of this review is that synthesizing methodological features precludes a quality appraisal of studies. Our findings reveal an increase in measured autism prevalence globally, reflecting the combined effects of multiple factors including the increase in community awareness and public health response globally, progress in case identification and definition, and an increase in community capacity. Hypotheses linking factors that increase the likelihood of developing autism with variations in prevalence will require research with large, representative samples and comparable autism diagnostic criteria and case‐finding methods in diverse world regions over time.
Trends in Prevalence and Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema and Vision-Threatening Diabetic Retinopathy Among Medicare Part B Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries.

Importance While diabetes prevalence among US adults has increased in recent decades, few studies document trends in diabetes-related eye disease. Objective To examine 10-year trends (2009-2018) in annual prevalence of Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes with a diagnosis of diabetic macular edema (DME) or vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy (VTDR) and trends in treatment. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cross-sectional study using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services research identifiable files, data for patients 65 years and older were analyzed from claims. Beneficiaries were continuously enrolled in Medicare Part B fee-for-service (FFS) insurance for the calendar year and had a diagnosis of diabetes on 1 or more inpatient claims or 2 or more outpatient claims during the calendar year or a 1-year look-back period. Main Outcomes and Measures Using diagnosis and procedure codes, annual prevalence was determined for beneficiaries with 1 or more claims for (1) any DME, (2) either DME or VTDR, and (3) anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections, laser photocoagulation, or vitrectomy, stratified by any DME, VTDR with DME, and VTDR without DME. Racial and ethnic disparities in diagnosis and treatment are presented for 2018. Results In 2018, 6 960 823 beneficiaries (27.4%) had diabetes; half were aged 65 to 74 years (49.7%), half (52.7%) were women, and 75.7% were non-Hispanic White. From 2009 to 2018, there was an increase in the annual prevalence of beneficiaries with diabetes who had 1 or more claims for any DME (1.0% to 3.3%) and DME/VTDR (2.8% to 4.3%). Annual prevalence of anti-VEGF increased, particularly among patients with any DME (15.7% to 35.2%) or VTDR with DME (20.2% to 47.6%). Annual prevalence of laser photocoagulation decreased among those with any DME (45.5% to 12.5%), VTDR with DME (54.0% to 20.3%), and VTDR without DME (22.5% to 5.8%). Among all 3 groups, prevalence of vitrectomy in 2018 was less than half that in 2009. Prevalence of any DME and DME/VTDR was highest among Hispanic beneficiaries (5.0% and 7.0%, respectively) and Black beneficiaries (4.5% and 6.2%, respectively) and lowest among non-Hispanic White beneficiaries (3.0% and 3.8%, respectively). Among those with DME/VTDR, anti-VEGF was most prevalent among non-Hispanic White beneficiaries (30.3%). Conclusions and Relevance From 2009 to 2018, prevalence of DME or VTDR increased among Medicare Part B FFS beneficiaries alongside an increase in anti-VEGF treatment and a decline in laser photocoagulation and vitrectomy.
Selective impairment of circuits between prefrontal cortex glutamatergic neurons and basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in a tauopathy mouse model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder linked to cognitive decline. To understand how specific neuronal circuits are impaired in AD, we have used optogenetic and electrophysiological approaches to reveal the functional changes between prefrontal cortex (PFC) and basal forebrain (BF), 2 key regions controlling cognitive processes, in a tauopathy mouse model. We found that the glutamatergic synaptic responses in BF cholinergic neurons from P301S Tau mice (6-8 months old) were markedly diminished. The attenuated long-range PFC to BF pathway in the AD model significantly increased the failure rate of action potential firing of BF cholinergic neurons triggered by optogenetic stimulations of glutamatergic terminals from PFC. In contrast, the projection from PFC to other regions, such as amygdala and striatum, was largely unaltered. On the other hand, optogenetic stimulation of cholinergic terminals from BF induced a persistent reduction of the excitability of PFC pyramidal neurons from Tau mice, instead of the transient reduction exhibited in wild-type mice. Taken together, these data have revealed a selective aberration of the pathway between PFC pyramidal neurons and BF cholinergic neurons in a tauopathy mouse model. This circuit deficit may underlie the loss of attention and executive function in AD.
Are there associations between daily multitasking experience and multitasking performance?

Research showed mixed findings regarding the relationships between daily multitasking experience and laboratory multitasking performance. One measurement issue was the low reliability and validity of using a single measurement for daily multitasking experience. Another measurement issue was the popular use of simple laboratory paradigms that may or may not capture well cognitive processes underlying real-life multitasking. The current study revisited the relationship between daily multitasking experience and multitasking performance with a better design. Multiple measurements were used to ensure good reliability and validity. This included a mobile phone task switching measurement—an arguably better proxy for daily multitasking experience and three realistic multitasking paradigms that mimic real life multitasking situations. The results showed that (1) phone switching was not significantly associated with the media multitasking index, suggesting that they were measuring different aspects of multitasking experience; (2) indicators of the multitasking performance were moderately correlated among themselves, suggesting that different realistic multitasking paradigms were measuring overlapping multitasking abilities; and, intriguingly, (3) no significant association between multitasking experience and performance indicators was found. One possibility is that people can only benefit from daily multitasking practice when they engaged in daily multitasking activities with an intention to improve the performance. Other possibilities and implications were also discussed.
Situational uncertainty interacts with anxiety sensitivity and distress intolerance to predict anticipated worry and preparation for a hurricane

ABSTRACT Background There is evidence for the impact of emotional intolerance on reactivity to stressors, but it is unknown whether the level of situational uncertainty may moderate this relationship. We examined whether situational uncertainty moderated the relationship between emotional intolerance and anticipated anxious responding to hurricane forecasts, considering three aspects of emotional tolerance: anxiety sensitivity, distress intolerance, and hurricane-specific distress intolerance. Methods Participants (N = 358) were Florida residents who experienced Hurricane Irma. Participants were presented with two hypothetical storm forecasts that varied in level of uncertainty: 5-day forecast (high uncertainty) and 3-day forecast (low uncertainty). Participants rated their anticipated worry and preparation for each forecast. Results Significant interactions between forecast uncertainty and both anxiety sensitivity and hurricane-specific distress intolerance emerged on anticipated worry, such that there was a stronger relationship in the high uncertainty condition. Forecast uncertainty also moderated the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and anticipated preparation in the same direction. There were no significant interactions between forecast uncertainty and distress intolerance on either anticipated worry or preparation. Conclusions Specific aspects of emotional intolerance appear to have a stronger influence on anticipated worry and preparatory behavior in high uncertainty situations. These findings suggest that distinct emotional tolerance factors may influence these responses.
Hospitalization Rates and Direct Medical Costs for Fever in a Pediatric Cohort in South India

Abstract Background Primary data on causes and costs of hospitalization are necessary for costing and cost-effectiveness analysis. Data on incidence and causes of hospitalization and consequent expenses among Indian children are limited. Methods A cohort of 6000 children aged 0.5–15 years residing in urban Vellore was followed for 3 years, under the Vellore Typhoid Study, 2016–2017, and later under the Surveillance for Enteric Fever project, 2017–2019. Data on hospitalization events and associated antibiotic use, and direct medical costs for fever-related hospitalization of study children were obtained from caregivers through weekly follow-up by study field workers. Results The incidence of hospitalization was 33 per 1000 child-years of observation. Children aged 0.5–5 years had the highest incidence of hospitalization. The top 5 infectious causes for hospitalization were acute undifferentiated fevers, respiratory tract infections, acute gastroenteritis, enteric fever, and dengue. The overall median cost of hospitalization for fever was 4243 (interquartile range, 2502–7215) Indian rupees (INR). An episode of dengue had a median cost of 5627 INR, followed by acute undifferentiated fevers and enteric fever with median costs of 3860 and 3507 INR, respectively. Conclusions Hospitalization for fever is common in young children and impacts household finances in low-income Indian households.
The human vestibular cortex: functional anatomy of OP2, its connectivity and the effect of vestibular disease

Abstract Area OP2 in the posterior peri-sylvian cortex has been proposed to be the core human vestibular cortex. We investigated the functional anatomy of OP2 and adjacent areas (OP2+) using spatially constrained independent component analysis (ICA) of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from the Human Connectome Project. Ten ICA-derived subregions were identified. OP2+ responses to vestibular and visual motion were analyzed in 17 controls and 17 right-sided vestibular neuritis patients who had previously undergone caloric and optokinetic stimulation during fMRI. In controls, a posterior part of right OP2+ showed: (i) direction-selective responses to visual motion and (ii) activation during caloric stimulation that correlated positively with perceived self-motion, and negatively with visual dependence and peak slow-phase nystagmus velocity. Patients showed abnormal OP2+ activity, with an absence of visual or caloric activation of the healthy ear and no correlations with vertigo or visual dependence—despite normal slow-phase nystagmus responses to caloric stimulation. Activity in a lateral part of right OP2+ correlated with chronic visually induced dizziness in patients. In summary, distinct functional subregions of right OP2+ show strong connectivity to other vestibular areas and a profile of caloric and visual responses, suggesting a central role for vestibular function in health and disease.
Is sacral neuromodulation effective in patients with Parkinson's disease? A retrospective review

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second‐most common degenerative neurologic disease worldwide. Overactive bladder (OAB) is prevalent in this population but can be challenging to treat. Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is an attractive option but remains understudied. We have utilized SNM in PD patients and herein describe our outcomes.
On the stratospheric chemistry of midlatitude wildfire smoke

Significance Large wildfires have been observed to inject smoke into the stratosphere, raising questions about their potential to affect the stratospheric ozone layer that protects life on Earth from biologically damaging ultraviolet radiation. Multiple observations of aerosol and NO2 concentrations from three independent satellite instruments are used here together with model calculations to identify decreases in stratospheric NO2 concentrations following major Australian 2019 through 2020 wildfires. The data confirm that important chemistry did occur on the smoke particle surfaces. The observed behavior in NO2 with increasing particle concentrations is a marker for surface chemistry that contributes to midlatitude ozone depletion. The results indicate that increasing wildfire activity in a warming world may slow the recovery of the ozone layer.
Electroporation-Mediated Delivery of Cas9 Ribonucleoproteins Results in High Levels of Gene Editing in Primary Hepatocytes

Adeno-associated virus vectors are the most used delivery method for liver-directed gene editing. Still, they are associated with significant disadvantages that can compromise the safety and efficacy of therapies. Here, we investigate the effects of electroporating CRISPR-Cas9 as mRNA and ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) into primary hepatocytes regarding on-target activity, specificity, and cell viability. We observed a transfection efficiency of >60% and on-target insertions/deletions (indels) of up to 95% in primary mouse hepatocytes electroporated with Cas9 RNPs targeting Hpd, the gene encoding hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase. In primary human hepatocytes, we observed on-target indels of 52.4% with Cas9 RNPs and >65% viability after electroporation. These results establish the impact of using electroporation to deliver Cas9 RNPs into primary hepatocytes as a highly efficient and potentially safe approach for therapeutic liver-directed gene editing and the production of liver disease models.
Increasing dietary levels of the n-3 long-chain PUFA, EPA and DHA, improves the growth, welfare, robustness and fillet quality of Atlantic salmon in sea cages

Abstract The present study evaluated the effects of increasing the dietary levels of EPA and DHA in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) reared in sea cages, in terms of growth performance, welfare, robustness and overall quality. Fish with an average starting weight of 275 g were fed one of four different diets containing 10, 13, 16 and 35 g/kg of EPA and DHA (designated as 1·0, 1·3, 1·6 and 3·5 % EPA and DHA) until they reached approximately 5 kg. The 3·5 % EPA and DHA diet showed a significantly beneficial effect on growth performance and fillet quality compared with all other diets, particularly the 1 % EPA and DHA diet. Fish fed the diet containing 3·5 % EPA and DHA showed 400–600 g higher final weights, improved internal organ health scores and external welfare indicators, better fillet quality in terms of higher visual colour score and lower occurrence of dark spots and higher EPA and DHA content in tissues at the end of the feeding trial. Moreover, fish fed the 3·5 % EPA and DHA diet showed lower mortality during a naturally occurring cardiomyopathy syndrome outbreak, although this did not reach statistical significance. Altogether, our findings emphasise the importance of dietary EPA and DHA to maintain good growth, robustness, welfare and fillet quality of Atlantic salmon reared in sea cages.
Dexamethasone for Pediatric Critical Asthma: A Multicenter Descriptive Study

Background Systemic corticosteroids are vital to critical asthma management. While intravenous methylprednisolone is routinely used in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) setting, recent data supports dexamethasone as an alternative. Using the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) registry, we assessed trends and variation in corticosteroid prescribing among children hospitalized for critical asthma. Methods We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study using PHIS data among children 3-17 years of age admitted for critical asthma from 2011 through 2019. Primary outcomes were corticosteroid prescribing rates by year and participating sites. Exploratory outcomes were corticosteroid-related adverse effects, rates of adjunctive pharmaceutical and respiratory interventions, mortality and length of stay. Results Of the 49 children's hospitals assessed, 26 907 encounters were included for study. Mean dexamethasone exposure rates were 18.1 ± 2.4% where 2.4 ± 1.2% represented dexamethasone-alone prescribing. Dexamethasone alone prescribing exhibited a linear trend (annual increase of 0.5 ± 0.1% annually R2 = 0.845) without correlation to cumulative site critical asthma admission rates. Compared to encounters prescribed solely methylprednisolone or a combination of dexamethasone and methylprednisolone, subjects provided dexamethasone alone had reduced asthma severity indices, length of stay, and exposure rates to adjunctive asthma interventions. Adverse events were rare and the dexamethasone-alone group less frequently experienced gastritis and hyperglycemia. Conclusions In this multicenter retrospective study from 49 children's hospitals, dexamethasone prescribing rates appear increasing for pediatric critical asthma. Observed variability in corticosteroid prescribing implies a continued need for controlled prospective comparative analyses to define ideal corticosteroid regimens for pediatric critical asthma.
Evaluation of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile in Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A: Presenting the Current Scenario in India and Strategy for Future Management

Abstract Background Systematic studies to estimate the disease burden of typhoid and paratyphoid in India are limited. Therefore, a multicenter study on the Surveillance of Enteric Fever in India was carried out to estimate the incidence, clinical presentation, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) trend. The data presented here represent the national burden of AMR in Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A. Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A (n = 2373) isolates collected prospectively during a 2-year period from November 2017 to January 2020. Results Of 2373 Salmonella isolates, 2032 (85.6%) were identified as S. Typhi and 341 (14.4%) were S. Paratyphi A. Approximately 2% of S. Typhi were multidrug-resistant (MDR), whereas all 341 (100%) of S. Paratyphi A isolates were sensitive to the first-line antimicrobials. Among 98% of ciprofloxacin nonsusceptible isolates, resistance (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] >0.5 µg/mL) was higher in S. Typhi (37%) compared with S. Paratyphi A (20%). Azithromycin susceptibility was 99.9% and 100% with a mean MIC of 4.98 μg/mL for S. Typhi and 7.39 μg/mL for S. Paratyphi A respectively. Ceftriaxone was the only agent that retained 100% susceptibility. Moreover, beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors showed potent in vitro activity against the study isolates. Conclusions Data obtained from this systematic surveillance study confirms the declining trend of MDR Salmonella isolates from India. The higher prevalence of ciprofloxacin nonsusceptibility enforces to limit its use and adhere to the judicious usage of azithromycin and ceftriaxone for enteric fever management.
A new static p‐y approach for piles with arbitrary dimensions in sand

When it comes to the general design of laterally loaded piles in offshore environments, bedding resistance is usually modelled by the p‐y method recommended in the offshore guidelines (OGL). Several investigations presented in the literature indicate that the head displacements of large‐diameter monopiles are underestimated for extreme loads but overestimated for small operational loads. An extensive evaluation of the OGL method is presented here using three‐dimensional numerical simulations. The evaluation has shown that the OGL method is not applicable for the design of large‐diameter piles. Moreover, modified p‐y formulations presented in the literature accounting for the effect of the pile diameter are also not generally suitable for piles with arbitrary dimensions and load levels. Therefore, the derivation of a new p‐y approach is presented in detail. The new approach consists of “basic p‐y curves” that are valid for a pile of infinite length exhibiting a constant horizontal deflection. In an iterative scheme, these basic curves are adapted depending on the pile deflection line and the pile length to account for a more realistic bedding resistance along the pile shaft. A comprehensive parametric study with 250 pile‐soil systems reveals that the new p‐y approach is able to predict the horizontal loadbearing behaviour as well as the local pile‐soil interaction quite realistically.