Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Engagement With a Trauma Recovery Internet Intervention Explained With the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA): Longitudinal Study

Background There has been a growing trend in the delivery of mental health treatment via technology (ie, electronic health, eHealth). However, engagement with eHealth interventions is a concern, and theoretically based research in this area is sparse. Factors that influence engagement are poorly understood, especially in trauma survivors with symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Objective The aim of this study was to examine engagement with a trauma recovery eHealth intervention using the Health Action Process Approach theoretical model. Outcome expectancy, perceived need, pretreatment self-efficacy, and trauma symptoms influence the formation of intentions (motivational phase), followed by planning, which mediates the translation of intentions into engagement (volitional phase). We hypothesized the mediational effect of planning would be moderated by level of treatment self-efficacy. Methods Trauma survivors from around the United States used the eHealth intervention for 2 weeks. We collected baseline demographic, social cognitive predictors, and distress symptoms and measured engagement subjectively and objectively throughout the intervention. Results The motivational phase model explained 48% of the variance, and outcome expectations (beta=.36), perceived need (beta=.32), pretreatment self-efficacy (beta=.13), and trauma symptoms (beta=.21) were significant predictors of intention (N=440). In the volitional phase, results of the moderated mediation model indicated for low levels of treatment self-efficacy, planning mediated the effects of intention on levels of engagement (B=0.89, 95% CI 0.143-2.605; N=115). Conclusions Though many factors can affect engagement, these results offer a theoretical framework for understanding engagement with an eHealth intervention. This study highlighted the importance of perceived need, outcome expectations, self-efficacy, and baseline distress symptoms in the formation of intentions to use the intervention. For those low in treatment self-efficacy, planning may play an important role in the translation of intentions into engagement. Results of this study may help bring some clarification to the question of what makes eHealth interventions work.
Open issues in probing interiors of solar-like oscillating main sequence stars: 2. Diversity in the HR diagram

We review some major open issues in the current modelling of low and intermediate mass, main sequence stars based on seismological studies. The solar case was discussed in a companion paper, here several issues specific to other stars than the Sun are illustrated with a few stars observed with CoRoT and expectations from Kepler data.
Tantalum silicide sputtering target material for amorphous Ta-Si-N diffusion barrier for Cu metallization

Amorphous Ta-Si-N films of about 500 nm thickness were reactively sputter deposited on Si substrates using DC magnetron sputtering from TaSi/sub 0.1/, TaSi/sub 0.4/ and TaSi/sub 0.6/ targets. The film properties were characterized by sheet resistance measurement and X-ray diffraction. With increasing amounts of nitrogen in the sputtering gas, the film resistivity increased. Surface erosion of the multiphase target material was analyzed by SEM. Particulate emission is minimized with increasing density and refined microstructure of the target material.
Pilot Study of an Open-source Image Analysis Software for Automated Screening of Conventional Cervical Smears

Introduction: The Pap stained cervical smear is a screening tool for cervical cancer. Commercial systems are used for automated screening of liquid based cervical smears. However, there is no image analysis software used for conventional cervical smears. The aim of this study was to develop and test the diagnostic accuracy of a software for analysis of conventional smears. Materials and Methods: The software was developed using Python programming language and open source libraries. It was standardized with images from Bethesda Interobserver Reproducibility Project. One hundred and thirty images from smears which were reported Negative for Intraepithelial Lesion or Malignancy (NILM), and 45 images where some abnormality has been reported, were collected from the archives of the hospital. The software was then tested on the images. Results: The software was able to segregate images based on overall nuclear: cytoplasmic ratio, coefficient of variation (CV) in nuclear size, nuclear membrane irregularity, and clustering. 68.88% of abnormal images were flagged by the software, as well as 19.23% of NILM images. The major difficulties faced were segmentation of overlapping cell clusters and separation of neutrophils. Conclusion: The software shows potential as a screening tool for conventional cervical smears; however, further refinement in technique is required.
Genome-wide admixture and association study of subclinical atherosclerosis in the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS)

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major comorbidity among HIV-infected individuals. Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (cCIMT) is a valid and reliable subclinical measure of atherosclerosis and is known to predict CVD. We performed genome-wide association (GWA) and admixture analysis among 682 HIV-positive and 288 HIV-negative Black, non-Hispanic women from the Women’s Interagency HIV study (WIHS) cohort using a combined and stratified analysis approach. We found some suggestive associations but none of the SNPs reached genome-wide statistical significance in our GWAS analysis. The top GWAS SNPs were rs2280828 in the region intergenic to mediator complex subunit 30 and exostosin glycosyltransferase 1 (MED30 | EXT1) among all women, rs2907092 in the catenin delta 2 (CTNND2) gene among HIV-positive women, and rs7529733 in the region intergenic to family with sequence similarity 5, member C and regulator of G-protein signaling 18 (FAM5C | RGS18) genes among HIV-negative women. The most significant local European ancestry associations were in the region intergenic to the zinc finger and SCAN domain containing 5D gene and NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex assembly factor 1 (ZSCAN5D | NDUF1) pseudogene on chromosome 19 among all women, in the region intergenic to vomeronasal 1 receptor 6 pseudogene and zinc finger protein 845 (VN1R6P | ZNF845) gene on chromosome 19 among HIV-positive women, and in the region intergenic to the SEC23-interacting protein and phosphatidic acid phosphatase type 2 domain containing 1A (SEC23IP | PPAPDC1A) genes located on chromosome 10 among HIV-negative women. A number of previously identified SNP associations with cCIMT were also observed and included rs2572204 in the ryanodine receptor 3 (RYR3) and an admixture region in the secretion-regulating guanine nucleotide exchange factor (SERGEF) gene. We report several SNPs and gene regions in the GWAS and admixture analysis, some of which are common across HIV-positive and HIV-negative women as demonstrated using meta-analysis, and also across the two analytic approaches (i.e., GWA and admixture). These findings suggest that local European ancestry plays an important role in genetic associations of cCIMT among black women from WIHS along with other environmental factors that are related to CVD and may also be triggered by HIV. These findings warrant confirmation in independent samples.
Association between trajectories of maternal depression and subsequent psychological functioning in youth with and without chronic physical illness.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine if the presence of youth chronic illness moderates the association between trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms and psychological functioning in youths. METHODS Data came from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (N = 11,813). Using the 12-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), symptom trajectories were estimated by latent class growth modeling over 3 measurement occasions (when their children were 10-11, 12-13, and 14-15 years). The moderating effect of youth chronic illness on the association between maternal depression and youth psychological functioning at 16-19 years was tested using multiple regression. Three measures of psychological functioning were assessed: anger regulation (Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory), self-concept (Self-Determination Questionnaire), and depressive symptoms (CES-D). RESULTS Four trajectories (low, decreasing, increasing, high) of maternal depression were identified. The association of maternal depressive symptoms on youth psychological functioning was modified by chronic illness; less favorable trajectories of maternal depression had a more pronounced detrimental association on youths with chronic illness compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Youths with chronic illness are particularly vulnerable to the negative psychological exposure of maternal depressive symptoms during the transition to adulthood. Family-centered transition of care programs in the medical setting may be beneficial in reducing the association between symptoms of maternal depression and youth psychological functioning.
The spectrum of structural and functional network alterations in malformations of cortical development

Neuroimaging studies of malformations of cortical development have mainly focused on the characterization of the primary lesional substrate, while whole-brain investigations remain scarce. Our purpose was to assess large-scale brain organization in prevalent cortical malformations. Based on experimental evidence suggesting that distributed effects of focal insults are modulated by stages of brain development, we postulated differential patterns of network anomalies across subtypes of malformations. We studied a cohort of patients with focal cortical dysplasia type II (n = 63), subcortical nodular heterotopia (n = 44), and polymicrogyria (n = 34), and compared them to 82 age- and sex-matched controls. Graph theoretical analysis of structural covariance networks indicated a consistent rearrangement towards a regularized architecture characterized by increased path length and clustering, as well as disrupted rich-club topology, overall suggestive of inefficient global and excessive local connectivity. Notably, we observed a gradual shift in network reconfigurations across subgroups, with only subtle changes in focal cortical dysplasia type II, moderate effects in heterotopia and maximal effects in polymicrogyria. Analysis of resting state functional connectivity also revealed gradual network changes, with most marked rearrangement in polymicrogyria; contrary to findings in the structural domain, however, functional architecture was characterized by decreases in both local and global parameters. Diverging results in the structural and functional domain were supported by formal structure-function coupling analysis. Our findings support the concept that time of insult during corticogenesis impacts the severity of topological network reconfiguration. Specifically, late-stage malformations, typified by polymicrogyria, may selectively disrupt the formation of large-scale cortico-cortical networks and thus lead to a more profound impact on whole-brain organization than early stage disturbances of predominantly radial migration patterns observed in cortical dysplasia type II, which likely affect a relatively confined cortical territory.
Real Time Analysis of Bioanalytes in Healthcare, Food, Zoology and Botany

The growing demand for real time analysis of bioanalytes has spurred development in the field of wearable technology to offer non-invasive data collection at a low cost. The manufacturing processes for creating these sensing systems vary significantly by the material used, the type of sensors needed and the subject of study as well. The methods predominantly involve stretchable electronic sensors to monitor targets and transmit data mainly through flexible wires or short-range wireless communication devices. Capable of conformal contact, the application of wearable technology goes beyond the healthcare to fields of food, zoology and botany. With a brief review of wearable technology and its applications to various fields, we believe this mini review would be of interest to the reader in broad fields of materials, sensor development and areas where wearable sensors can provide data that are not available elsewhere.
Dietary and Endocrine Regulation of Endogenous Hydrogen Sulfide Production: Implications for Longevity.

SIGNIFICANCE Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) at the right concentration is associated with numerous health benefits in experimental organisms, ranging from protection from ischemia/reperfusion injury to life span extension. Given the considerable translation potential, two major strategies have emerged: supplementation of exogenous H2S and modulation of endogenous H2S metabolism. Recent Advances: Recently, it was reported that hepatic H2S production capacity is increased in two of the best-characterized mammalian models of life span extension, dietary restriction, and hypopituitary dwarfism, leading to new insights into dietary and hormonal regulation of endogenous H2S production together with broader changes in sulfur amino acid (SAA) metabolism with implications for DNA methylation and redox status. CRITICAL ISSUES Here, we discuss the role of dietary SAAs and growth hormone (GH)/thyroid hormone (TH) signaling in regulation of endogenous H2S production largely via repression of H2S generating enzymes cystathionine γ-lyase (CGL) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) on the level of gene transcription, as well as reciprocal regulation of GH and TH signaling by H2S itself. We also discuss plasticity of CGL and CBS gene expression in response to environmental stimuli and the potential of the microbiome to impact overall H2S levels. FUTURE DIRECTIONS The relative contribution of increased H2S to health span or lifespan benefits in models of extended longevity remains to be determined, as does the mechanism by which such benefits occur. Nonetheless, our ability to control H2S levels using exogenous H2S donors or by modifying the endogenous H2S production/consumption equilibrium has the potential to improve health and increase "shelf-life" across evolutionary boundaries, including our own. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 28, 1483-1502.
Effect of KCNQ1 G229D mutation on cardiac pumping efficacy and reentrant dynamics in ventricles: Computational study

There is growing interest in genetic arrhythmia since mutations in gene which encodes the ion channel underlie numerous arrhythmias. Hasegawa et al reported that G229D mutation in KCNQ1 underlies atrial fibrillation due to significant shortening of action potential duration (APD) in atrial cells. Here, we predicted whether KCNQ1 G229D mutation affects ventricular fibrillation generation, although it shortens APD slightly compared with the atrial cell. We analyzed the effects of G229D mutation on electrical and mechanical ventricle behaviors (not considered in previous studies). We compared action potential shapes under wild‐type and mutant conditions. Electrical wave propagations through ventricles were analyzed during sinus rhythm and reentrant conditions. IKs enhancement due to G229D mutation shortened the APD in the ventricular cells (6%, 0.3%, and 8% for endo, M, and epi‐cells, respectively). The shortened APD contributed to 7% shortening of QT intervals, 29% shortening of wavelengths, 20% decrease in intraventricular pressure, and increase in end‐systolic volume 17%, end‐diastolic volume 7%, and end‐diastolic pressure 11%, which further resulted in reduction in stroke volume as well as cardiac output (28%), ejection fraction 33% stroke work 44%, and ATP consumption 28%. In short, using computational model of the ventricle, we predicted that G229D mutation decreased cardiac pumping efficacy and increased the vulnerability of ventricular fibrillation.
Modeling intrinsic electrophysiology of AII amacrine cells: Preliminary results

In patients who have lost their photoreceptors due to retinal degenerative diseases, it is possible to restore rudimentary vision by electrically stimulating surviving neurons. AII amacrine cells, which reside in the inner plexiform layer, split the signal from rod bipolar cells into ON and OFF cone pathways. As a result, it is of interest to develop a computational model to aid in the understanding of how these cells respond to the electrical stimulation delivered by a prosthetic implant. The aim of this work is to develop and constrain parameters in a single-compartment model of an AII amacrine cell using data from whole-cell patch clamp recordings. This model will be used to explore responses of AII amacrine cells to electrical stimulation. Single-compartment Hodgkin-Huxley-type neural models are simulated in the NEURON environment. Simulations showed successful reproduction of the potassium currentvoltage relationship and some of the spiking properties observed in vitro.
Age-related similarities and differences in monitoring spatial cognition

ABSTRACT Spatial cognitive performance is impaired in later adulthood but it is unclear whether the metacognitive processes involved in monitoring spatial cognitive performance are also compromised. Inaccurate monitoring could affect whether people choose to engage in tasks that require spatial thinking and also the strategies they use in spatial domains such as navigation. The current experiment examined potential age differences in monitoring spatial cognitive performance in a variety of spatial domains including visual–spatial working memory, spatial orientation, spatial visualization, navigation, and place learning. Younger and older adults completed a 2D mental rotation test, 3D mental rotation test, paper folding test, spatial memory span test, two virtual navigation tasks, and a cognitive mapping test. Participants also made metacognitive judgments of performance (confidence judgments, judgments of learning, or navigation time estimates) on each trial for all spatial tasks. Preference for allocentric or egocentric navigation strategies was also measured. Overall, performance was poorer and confidence in performance was lower for older adults than younger adults. In most spatial domains, the absolute and relative accuracy of metacognitive judgments was equivalent for both age groups. However, age differences in monitoring accuracy (specifically relative accuracy) emerged in spatial tasks involving navigation. Confidence in navigating for a target location also mediated age differences in allocentric navigation strategy use. These findings suggest that with the possible exception of navigation monitoring, spatial cognition may be spared from age-related decline even though spatial cognition itself is impaired in older age.
Data Aggregation Scheduling in Uncoordinated Duty-Cycled Wireless Sensor Networks under Protocol Interference Model

Data aggregation is a critical and widely-used operation in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Data aggregation scheduling (DAS) aims to find an interference-free scheduling for data aggregation with the minimum latency. Most existing algorithms for the DAS problem, unfortunately, assume that nodes are always active, and hence are not suitable for dutycycled scenarios. In this paper, we investigate the DAS problem in uncoordinated duty-cycledWSNs (DAS-UDC problem) under protocol interference model and prove its NP-hardness. To solve this problem, we propose two novel approximation algorithms called SDAS and CDAS with the data aggregation latency of at most O(Rs + ∆) and O(R + ∆) respectively, where Rs, ∆ and R are the maximum depth of the breadthfirst-search tree rooted at the sink node s, the maximum node degree and the graph-theoretic radius of the network respectively. We conduct extensive simulations to evaluate the performance of our algorithms and report their average performance.
Primary Results of the Multicenter ARISE II Study (Analysis of Revascularization in Ischemic Stroke With EmboTrap)

Background and Purpose— EmboTrap is a novel stent retriever designed to achieve rapid and substantial flow restoration in acute ischemic stroke secondary to large-vessel occlusions. Here, we evaluated EmboTrap’s safety and efficacy compared with established stent retrievers. Methods— ARISE II (Analysis of Revascularization in Ischemic Stroke With EmboTrap) was a single-arm, prospective, multicenter study, comparing the EmboTrap device to a composite performance goal criterion derived using a Bayesian meta-analysis from the pivotal SWIFT (Solitaire device) and TREVO 2 (Trevo device) trials. Patients at 11 US and 8 European sites were eligible for inclusion if they had large-vessel occlusions and moderate-to-severe neurological deficits within 8 hours of symptom onset. The primary efficacy end point was achievement of modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia (mTICI) reperfusion scores of ≥2b within 3 EmboTrap passes as adjudicated by the core laboratory. The primary safety end point was a composite of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and serious adverse device effects. Secondary end points included functional independence (modified Rankin Scale, 0–2) and all-cause mortality at 90 days. Results— Between October 2015 and February 2017, 227 patients were enrolled and treated with the EmboTrap device. The primary efficacy end point (mTICI ≥2b within 3 passes) was achieved in 80.2% (95% confidence interval, 74%–85% versus 56% performance goal criterion; P value, <0.0001), and mTICI 2c/3 was 65%. After all interventions, mTICI 2c/3 was achieved in 76%, and mTICI ≥2b was 92.5%. The rate of first pass (mTICI ≥2b following a single pass) was 51.5%. The primary safety end point composite rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage or serious adverse device effects was 5.3%. Functional independence and all-cause mortality at 90 days were 67% and 9%, respectively. Conclusions— The EmboTrap stent-retriever mechanical thrombectomy device demonstrated high rates of substantial reperfusion and functional independence in patients with acute ischemic stroke secondary to large-vessel occlusions. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT02488915.
Diagnostic evaluation in steroid-induced myopathy: case report suggesting clinical utility of quantitative muscle ultrasonography

ABSTRACT Purpose: We present a patient with adrenal Cushing’s syndrome causing steroid myopathy. The purpose of the case report is to illustrate the clinical usefulness of quantitative muscle ultrasonography for the assessment of glucocorticoid-induced changes in muscle mass (MM) and structure. Methods: Assessments of physical performance, muscle strength, MM (i.e., total body skeletal MM, appendicular skeletal MM, and thickness of lower limb muscles), and muscle structure (i.e., echo intensity of lower limb muscles) were performed in the patient both in the active phase of the disease (preoperatively) and 6 months after surgical intervention (postoperatively). Results: Muscle strength, physical performance, and MM were low both preoperatively and postoperatively. We also found preoperatively an increased echo intensity that normalized postoperatively. Conclusions: Clinical implications of these findings are double-fold. First, although the muscle structure can recover quickly in steroid myopathy patients, the recovery of MM may take months to years. Second, we show that muscle echo intensity can be useful to track the progression of steroid myopathy overtime and may help to indicate early response to therapeutic interventions. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the value of muscle echo intensity in patients with endogenous or exogenous Cushing’s syndrome presenting with steroid myopathy.