Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Helping Hispanic Dementia Caregivers Cope with Stress Using Technology-based Resources

ABSTRACT Objectives: The objectives of this study were to develop and evaluate a culturally appropriate intervention for Hispanic/Latino caregivers of individuals with dementia, using a structured online program without professional involvement to improve well-being, decrease stress, and reduce depression. Methods: The Webnovela Mirela, an online Spanish-language telenovela, was designed specifically to teach caregivers how to cope with dementia caregiving. A prototype of Webnovela Mirela was tested in a pilot study with 25 Hispanic/Latino dementia caregivers, 19 of whom completed the study. Results: Data were analyzed using paired-samples t-tests. Results indicated a significant decrease from pre- to post-treatment in levels of stress and symptoms of depression (p = .045). Conclusions: The pilot study indicated high potential of the Webnovela Mirela to help the target population and demonstrated that the telenovela format is acceptable and helpful for Hispanic dementia caregivers. Clinical Implications: Study outcomes suggested that self-paced approaches with culturally relevant content in an appealing format for the target population have the potential to implement effective interventions. Furthermore, technology enables support programs to reach a broader audience in a cost-effective manner. Of note is the fact that minimal professional and/or personal assistance was required for caregivers to complete this intervention.
R Graphics The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

The present R graphics system was originally written as a placeholder, whic h could be replaced when a better alternative became available. This temporary solution has now become so entrenched that it is probably no longer possible to remove it. In this paper we will look at some of what is possible in the R graphics system, how it could be improved, and what might not be xable. We will also look at how the existing system might be augmented and see what tradeos might be involved in adding an additional graphics system.
Biological and Structural Characterization of a Host-Adapting Amino Acid in Influenza Virus

Two amino acids (lysine at position 627 or asparagine at position 701) in the polymerase subunit PB2 protein are considered critical for the adaptation of avian influenza A viruses to mammals. However, the recently emerged pandemic H1N1 viruses lack these amino acids. Here, we report that a basic amino acid at position 591 of PB2 can compensate for the lack of lysine at position 627 and confers efficient viral replication to pandemic H1N1 viruses in mammals. Moreover, a basic amino acid at position 591 of PB2 substantially increased the lethality of an avian H5N1 virus in mice. We also present the X-ray crystallographic structure of the C-terminus of a pandemic H1N1 virus PB2 protein. Arginine at position 591 fills the cleft found in H5N1 PB2 proteins in this area, resulting in differences in surface shape and charge for H1N1 PB2 proteins. These differences may affect the protein's interaction with viral and/or cellular factors, and hence its ability to support virus replication in mammals.
Zinc Protects Articular Chondrocytes through Changes in Nrf2-Mediated Antioxidants, Cytokines and Matrix Metalloproteinases

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related degenerative joint disease characterized by high oxidative stress, chondrocyte death and cartilage damage. Zinc has been implicated in the antioxidant capacity of the cell, and its deficiency might inhibit chondrocyte proliferation. The present study examined the potential of zinc as a preventive supplement against OA using the in vitro chondrosarcoma cell line SW1353 and an in vivo Wistar rat model to mimic OA progress induced by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA). The results demonstrated that, in SW1353 cells, 5 μM MIA exposure increased oxidative stress and decreased the expression of GPx1 and Mn-SOD but still increased GSH levels and HO-1 expression and enhanced the expression of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-1β, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13. Zinc addition could block these changes. Besides, the expression of Nrf2 and phosphorylated (p)-Akt was dramatically increased, implicating the p-Akt/Nrf2 pathway in the effects of zinc on MIA-treated cells. A rat model achieved similar results as those of cell culture, and 1.6 mg/kg/day of zinc supplementation is sufficient to prevent OA progress, while 8.0 mg/kg/day of zinc supplementation does not have a better effect. These findings indicate that zinc supplementation exerts a preventive effect with respect to MIA-induced OA progress.
Bioactive compounds in whole grain wheat

Bread can be healthier! Consuming whole-grain foods can prevent cardiovascular diseases, type-2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. This is due to bioactive compounds in whole grain, such as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. We found that the different fractions of a wheat grain vary much in their content. The external fractions of the grain, the bran and specially the aleurone, are the richest. We observed that processing the bran in whole-grain breads increased three times the levels of bioactive compounds in blood and urine in humans. This thesis shows that a daily consumed food like bread can be improved to deliver beneficial compounds.
Closely-Packed UWB MIMO/Diversity Antenna With Different Patterns and Polarizations for USB Dongle Applications

A closely-packed ultrawideband (UWB) multiple- input multiple-output (MIMO)/diversity antenna (of two elements) with a size of 25 mm by 40 mm is proposed for USB dongle applications. Wideband isolation can be achieved through the different patterns and polarizations of the two antenna elements. Moreover, the slot that is formed between the monopole and the ground plane of the half slot antenna is conveniently used to further enhance the isolation at the lower frequencies and to provide an additional resonance at one antenna element in order to increase its bandwidth. The underlying mechanisms of the antenna's wide impedance bandwidth and low mutual coupling are analyzed in detail. Based on the measurement results, the proposed antenna can cover the lower UWB band of 3.1-5.15 GHz, and within the required band, the isolation exceeds 26 dB. The gains and total efficiencies of the two antenna elements are also measured. Furthermore, a chassis mode can be excited when a physical connection is required between the ground planes of the two antenna elements. Without affecting the performance of the half slot element, the monopole can now cover the band of 1.78-3 GHz, apart from the UWB band. The proposed antenna structure is found to provide good MIMO/diversity performance, with very low envelope correlation of less than 0.1 across the UWB band.
A Family of Module-Integrated High Step-Up Converters With Dual Coupled Inductors

In order to overcome the defect of low output voltage of the renewable energy-based generators, such as the photovoltaic array and fuel cells, a family of high step-up integrated dc/dc converters with dual coupled inductors is proposed based on combination of the modified quadratic boost converters and the voltage-multiplier modules (VMM). The high voltage gain can be achieved by adjusting the duty cycle and turn ratios of the coupled inductor of VMM. In particular, quite low voltage stress on the power switch can be obtained since the switch is no longer directly excited by the high output voltage, which is useful for enlarging the power efficiency. In addition, the two inductors in MQBC are integrated by using one magnetic core to decrease the size of the magnetic components. Very small ripples of the input current can be realized by ripple suppress abilities of the coupled inductors. Two experimental prototypes with rated-power of 200W are selectively constructed for comparative analysis, and experimental results verify the correctness and practicability of the proposed converters.
Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Estimation from ECG Using Machine Learning Techniques

Background: Blood pressure (BP) measurements have been used widely in clinical and private environments. Recently, the use of ECG monitors has proliferated; however, they are not enabled with BP estimation. We have developed a method for BP estimation using only electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. Methods: Raw ECG data are filtered and segmented, and, following this, a complexity analysis is performed for feature extraction. Then, a machine-learning method is applied, combining a stacking-based classification module and a regression module for building systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) predictive models. In addition, the method allows a probability distribution-based calibration to adapt the models to a particular user. Results: Using ECG recordings from 51 different subjects, 3129 30-s ECG segments are constructed, and seven features are extracted. Using a train-validation-test evaluation, the method achieves a mean absolute error (MAE) of 8.64 mmHg for SBP, 18.20 mmHg for DBP, and 13.52 mmHg for the MAP prediction. When models are calibrated, the MAE decreases to 7.72 mmHg for SBP, 9.45 mmHg for DBP and 8.13 mmHg for MAP. Conclusion: The experimental results indicate that, when a probability distribution-based calibration is used, the proposed method can achieve results close to those of a certified medical device for BP estimation.
An experimental evaluation of a de-biasing intervention for professional software developers

Context: The role of expert judgement is essential in our quest to improve software project planning and execution. However, its accuracy is dependent on many factors, not least the avoidance of judgement biases, such as the anchoring bias, arising from being influenced by initial information, even when it's misleading or irrelevant. This strong effect is widely documented. Objective: We aimed to replicate this anchoring bias using professionals and, novel in a software engineering context, explore de-biasing interventions through increasing knowledge and awareness of judgement biases. Method: We ran two series of experiments in company settings with a total of 410 software developers. Some developers took part in a workshop to heighten their awareness of a range of cognitive biases, including anchoring. Later, the anchoring bias was induced by presenting low or high productivity values, followed by the participants' estimates of their own project productivity. Our hypothesis was that the workshop would lead to reduced bias, i.e., work as a de-biasing intervention. Results: The anchors had a large effect (robust Cohen's d = 1.19) in influencing estimates. This was substantially reduced in those participants who attended the workshop (robust Cohen's d = 0.72). The reduced bias related mainly to the high anchor. The de-biasing intervention also led to a threefold reduction in estimate variance. Conclusion: The impact of anchors upon judgement was substantial. Learning about judgement biases does appear capable of mitigating, although not removing, the anchoring bias. The positive effect of de-biasing through learning about biases suggests that it has value.
Parathyroid hormone controls paracellular Ca2+ transport in the thick ascending limb by regulating the tight-junction protein Claudin14

Significance Renal calcium reabsorption is a critical process for maintaining systemic calcium homeostasis. Although the role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the regulation of transcellular Ca2+ reabsorption in distal convoluted tubules is well understood, its potential role in controlling the paracellular Ca2+ transport in the thick ascending limb of Henle (TAL) has not been investigated. We now present data demonstrating that PTH/PTHrP receptor (PTH1R) signaling directly and indirectly controls the levels of Claudin14 (CLDN14), a tight-junction protein responsible for paracellular Ca2+ transport in the TAL. Our findings suggest that down-regulation of Claudin14 could provide a potential treatment option to correct urinary Ca2+ loss, particularly in patients with hypoparathyroidism. Renal Ca2+ reabsorption is essential for maintaining systemic Ca2+ homeostasis and is tightly regulated through the parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTHrP receptor (PTH1R) signaling pathway. We investigated the role of PTH1R in the kidney by generating a mouse model with targeted deletion of PTH1R in the thick ascending limb of Henle (TAL) and in distal convoluted tubules (DCTs): Ksp-cre;Pth1rfl/fl. Mutant mice exhibited hypercalciuria and had lower serum calcium and markedly increased serum PTH levels. Unexpectedly, proteins involved in transcellular Ca2+ reabsorption in DCTs were not decreased. However, claudin14 (Cldn14), an inhibitory factor of the paracellular Ca2+ transport in the TAL, was significantly increased. Analyses by flow cytometry as well as the use of Cldn14-lacZ knock-in reporter mice confirmed increased Cldn14 expression and promoter activity in the TAL of Ksp-cre;Pth1rfl/fl mice. Moreover, PTH treatment of HEK293 cells stably transfected with CLDN14-GFP, together with PTH1R, induced cytosolic translocation of CLDN14 from the tight junction. Furthermore, mice with high serum PTH levels, regardless of high or low serum calcium, demonstrated that PTH/PTH1R signaling exerts a suppressive effect on Cldn14. We therefore conclude that PTH1R signaling directly and indirectly regulates the paracellular Ca2+ transport pathway by modulating Cldn14 expression in the TAL. Finally, systemic deletion of Cldn14 completely rescued the hypercalciuric and lower serum calcium phenotype in Ksp-cre;Pth1rfl/fl mice, emphasizing the importance of PTH in inhibiting Cldn14. Consequently, suppressing CLDN14 could provide a potential treatment to correct urinary Ca2+ loss, particularly in patients with hypoparathyroidism.
Three-Dimensional Thermo-Elastic-Plastic Finite Element Method Modeling for Predicting Weld-Induced Residual Stresses and Distortions in Steel Stiffened-Plate Structures

The objective of the present paper is to develop nonlinear finite element method models for predicting the weld-induced initial deflection and residual stress of plating in steel stiffened-plate structures. For this purpose, three-dimensional thermo-elastic-plastic finite element method computations are performed with varying plate thickness and weld bead length (leg length) in welded plate panels, the latter being associated with weld heat input. The finite element models are verified by a comparison with experimental database which was obtained by the authors in separate studies with full scale measurements. It is concluded that the nonlinear finite element method models developed in the present paper are very accurate in terms of predicting the weld-induced initial imperfections of steel stiffened plate structures. Details of the numerical computations together with test database are documented.
Path planning in belief space with pose SLAM

The probabilistic belief networks that result from standard feature-based simultaneous localization and map building cannot be directly used to plan trajectories. The reason is that they produce a sparse graph of landmark estimates and their probabilistic relations, which is of little value to find collision free paths for navigation. In contrast, we argue in this paper that Pose SLAM graphs can be directly used as belief roadmaps. We present a method that devises optimal navigation strategies by searching for the path in the pose graph with lowest accumulated robot pose uncertainty, independently of the map reference frame. The method shows improved navigation results when compared to shortest paths both over synthetic data and real datasets.
Learning from wireless: A prospective approach to Human-Centered Computing

One of the most important topics in Human-Centered Computing (HCC) is to recognise human's activities. In this paper, the technology of wireless-based activity recognition is introduced. By using wireless signals, one can achieve Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) recognition without carrying any devices. Also, it is easy to deploy a wireless-based recognition system due to the ubiquity of wireless communication systems. The basic idea is to detect different characteristics of signal propagation that correspond to the distinct human behaviors. As a result, action recognition is performed by analyzing the distinguishable features of signal propagation. This paper introduces the basic principles and applications of wireless-based activity recognition, and discusses the challenges and related performance metrics. Finally, open problems are discussed to point out the future research trends.
Industry Ideals Barriers in Using Alternative Privacy Policies

While privacy policies were developed with the aim of helping users understand their participation in the data economy, they often fail to serve this purpose. Highly complex and extensively lengthy policies have resulted in extremely low levels of user interest and engagement, leading to the users being unaware of the personal data exchange they are involved in. There is an increasing interest in industry to shift from this pattern and move towards alternative models of privacy policies that are more engaging and less intimidating to the average user. In this paper, we outline the results of an industry workshop that explores service provider views, ideals and challenges associated with the move towards alternative models of privacy policies. The results show that providing accountability and maintaining a sustainable and trustworthy customer relationship are the key drivers for this move and focusing on user-centered data practices that enables more active user participation in this scenario is the prescribed method for this shift. The call for interdisciplinary involvement to help cater to the technological, legal, regulatory and ethical demands of this move are also highlighted.
2-ethylpyridine, a cigarette smoke component, causes mitochondrial damage in human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro

Purpose: Our goal was to identify the cellular and molecular effects of 2-ethylpyridine (2-EP, a component of cigarette smoke) on human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) in vitro. Materials and Methods: ARPE-19 cells were exposed to varying concentrations of 2-EP. Cell viability (CV) was measured by a trypan blue dye exclusion assay. Caspase-3/7 and caspase-9 activities were measured by fluorochrome assays. The production of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) was detected with a 2’,7’-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate dye assay. The JC-1 assay was used to measure mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Mitochondrial redox potential was measured using a RedoxSensor Red kit and mitochondria were evaluated with Mitotracker dye. Results: After 2-EP exposure, ARPE-19 cells showed significantly decreased CV, increased caspase-3/7 and caspase-9 activities, elevated ROS/RNS levels, decreased ΔΨm value and decreased redox fluorescence when compared with control samples. Conclusions: These results show that 2-EP treatment induced cell death by caspase-dependent apoptosis associated with an oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. These data represent a possible mechanism by which smoking contributes to age-related macular degeneration and other retinal diseases and identify mitochondria as a target for future therapeutic interventions.
Cellular / Molecular Activation of Adenosine A 2 A Receptors Induces TrkB Translocation and Increases BDNF-Mediated Phospho-TrkB Localization in Lipid Rafts : Implications for Neuromodulation

Natália Assaife-Lopes,1,2 Vasco C. Sousa,1,2 Daniela B. Pereira,3 Joaquim A. Ribeiro,1,2 Moses V. Chao,3 and Ana M. Sebastião1,2 1Institute of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, and 2Unit of Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1649 – 028 Lisbon, Portugal, and 3Molecular Neurobiology Program, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016
Increasing Clinical Severity during a Dengue Virus Type 3 Cuban Epidemic: Deep Sequencing of Evolving Viral Populations

ABSTRACT During the dengue virus type 3 (DENV-3) epidemic that occurred in Havana in 2001 to 2002, severe disease was associated with the infection sequence DENV-1 followed by DENV-3 (DENV-1/DENV-3), while the sequence DENV-2/DENV-3 was associated with mild/asymptomatic infections. To determine the role of the virus in the increasing severity demonstrated during the epidemic, serum samples collected at different time points were studied. A total of 22 full-length sequences were obtained using a deep-sequencing approach. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of consensus sequences revealed that two DENV-3 lineages were circulating in Havana at that time, both grouped within genotype III. The predominant lineage is closely related to Peruvian and Ecuadorian strains, while the minor lineage is related to Venezuelan strains. According to consensus sequences, relatively few nonsynonymous mutations were observed; only one was fixed during the epidemic at position 4380 in the NS2B gene. Intrahost genetic analysis indicated that a significant minor population was selected and became predominant toward the end of the epidemic. In conclusion, greater variability was detected during the epidemic's progression in terms of significant minority variants, particularly in the nonstructural genes. An increasing trend of genetic diversity toward the end of the epidemic was observed only for synonymous variant allele rates, with higher variability in secondary cases. Remarkably, significant intrahost genetic variation was demonstrated within the same patient during the course of secondary infection with DENV-1/DENV-3, including changes in the structural proteins premembrane (PrM) and envelope (E). Therefore, the dynamic of evolving viral populations in the context of heterotypic antibodies could be related to the increasing clinical severity observed during the epidemic. IMPORTANCE Based on the evidence that DENV fitness is context dependent, our research has focused on the study of viral factors associated with intraepidemic increasing severity in a unique epidemiological setting. Here, we investigated the intrahost genetic diversity in acute human samples collected at different time points during the DENV-3 epidemic that occurred in Cuba in 2001 to 2002 using a deep-sequencing approach. We concluded that greater variability in significant minor populations occurred as the epidemic progressed, particularly in the nonstructural genes, with higher variability observed in secondary infection cases. Remarkably, for the first time significant intrahost genetic variation was demonstrated within the same patient during the course of secondary infection with DENV-1/DENV-3, including changes in structural proteins. These findings indicate that high-resolution approaches are needed to unravel molecular mechanisms involved in dengue pathogenesis.
Prosocial deficits in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia relate to reward network atrophy

Empathy and shared feelings of reward motivate individuals to share resources with others when material gain is not at stake. Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects emotion‐ and reward‐relevant neural systems. Although there is diminished empathy and altered reward processing in bvFTD, how the disease impacts prosocial behavior is less well understood.