Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spectroscopic methodologies and computational simulation studies on the characterization of the interaction between human serum albumin and astragalin

Abstract In the present work, the interactions of astragalin (AST) with human serum albumin (HSA) were studied systematically thought fluorescence spectra, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra, circular dichroism (CD), molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Fluorescence spectra elaborated that AST reduced the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA through static quenching and non-radiative energy transfer with moderate binding constants in the order of 104 mol/L. Thermodynamic parameters and computational simulations elaborated that hydrogen bond, van der Walls force and hydrophobic interaction played a major role in the binding process of AST to HSA. UV-vis absorption, synchronous fluorescence, three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence and CD spectra illustrated that AST disturbed slightly the microenvironment of tryptophan (Trp) and tyrosine (Tyr) residues and decreased α-helical structure content. The effect of some biologically significant metal ions, such as Mg2+, Cu2+ and Fe3+, on the binding of AST to HSA was also investigated in detail. Binding displacement and docking studies revealed that AST was located in the binding site I of subdomain IIA in HSA. Finally, MD simulations evaluated the binding stability of the HSA-AST system in a simulated environment. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Confinement of Vibrotactile Stimuli in Narrow Plates: Principle and Effect of Finger Loading

On a touch surface, providing a local vibrotactile feedback enables multiuser and multitouch interactions. While the vibration propagation usually impedes this localization, we show in this article that narrow strip-shaped plates constitute waveguides in which bending waves below a cut-off frequency do not propagate. We provide a theoretical explanation of the phenomenon and experimental validations. We thus show that vibrations up to a few kHz are well confined on top of the actuated area with vibration amplitude over 1 micrometer. The principle was validated with piezoelectric actuators of various shapes and a linear resonant actuator (LRA). Investigation of the effect of a fingertip load on the system through theory and experimentation was conducted and revealed that almost no attenuation was brought by the fingertip when using low frequency evanescent waves. Finally, a perceptual validation was conducted and showed dynamic stimuli with a large frequency spectrum could be felt and distinguished.
Addressing cognitive health in coordinated specialty care for early psychosis: Real‐world perspectives

Addressing cognitive health during the early phase of psychosis has the potential to enhance recovery outcomes, yet methods to assess and treat cognitive problems are not a systematic part of Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) in the United States. We sought to understand how CSC providers perceive cognitive health and gauge the acceptability and appropriateness of cognitive interventions to inform the development and implementation of a cognitive health toolkit for OnTrackNY, a CSC program.
Phylodynamics of sunflower chlorotic mottle virus, a re-emerging pathosystem

Distribution and epidemiological patterns of sunflower chlorotic mottle virus (SCMoV) in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) growing areas in Argentina were studied from 2006 to 2017. The virus was detected exclusively in the Pampas region (Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Córdoba, La Pampa and Buenos Aires provinces). Phylodynamic analyses performed using the coat protein gene of SCMoV isolates from sunflower and weeds dated the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) back to 1887 (HPD95% = 1572-1971), which coincides with the dates of sunflower introduction in Argentina. The MRCA was located in the south of Buenos Aires province and was associated with sunflower host (posterior probability for the ancestral host, ppah= 0.98). The Bayesian phylodynamic analyses revealed the dispersal patterns of SCMoV, suggesting a link between natural host diversity, crop displacement by human activities and virus spread.
Concerns of quality, utility, and reliability of laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer in public video sharing platform

Background The rapid expansion of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for gastric cancer has generated interest among surgeons. The adequate dissemination of correct information about such advanced laparoscopic surgery can certainly be useful for surgeons and trainees. Online video resources such as YouTube are frequently used for education. This study aimed to evaluate the quality, utility, and completeness of LG videos for gastric cancer on the video website YouTube. Methods The terms “laparoscopic gastrectomy” and “gastric cancer” were searched on YouTube on August 16, 2019. The first 100 videos in three sorting categories (website’s default setting, view count, and length of duration) were checked by two experienced surgeons. The popularity was evaluated with the video power index (VPI). The reliability was measured using the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria. The educational value and completeness were evaluated with a checklist developed by the researchers. Results A total of 102 videos were analyzed. Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) and laparoscopic total gastrectomy were the most frequently recorded techniques. Lymph node (LN) dissection was the most frequently covered topic (89.2%), followed in descending order by GI reconstruction (87.3%). The mean VPI, JAMA benchmark score and completeness score of all videos were 2.63, 1.94 and 8.53, respectively. The types of sources were as follows: private users, 73 (71.6%); academic institutions, 20 (19.6%); and others, 9 (8%). A total of 97 videos with an identifiable primary surgeon originated from eighteen different countries. Conclusions Laparoscopic videos represented by YouTube represent a useful and appropriate educational tool. However, the quality of videos varied, and the level of information incompleteness was fairly high due to insufficient reviews. The role of private uploaders and academic institutions in surgical education cannot be overestimated. It is necessary that surgeon trainers and surgical educators critically analyze the quality of video content and exercise responsibility in directing trainee surgeons. In the current era, it is best for trainees to search for peer-reviewed content.
Evaluating Semantic Knowledge Through a Semantic Association Task in Individuals With Dementia

Conceptual knowledge is supported by multiple semantic systems that are specialized for the analysis of different properties associated with object concepts. Various types of semantic association between concrete concepts—categorical (CA), encyclopedic (EA), functional (FA), and visual-encyclopedic (VEA) associations—were tested through a new picture-to-picture matching task (semantic association task, SAT). Forty individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), 13 with behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bv-FTD), 6 with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), and 37 healthy participants were tested with the SAT. Within-group comparisons highlighted a global impairment of all types of semantic association in bv-FTD individuals but a disproportionate impairment of EA and FA, with relative sparing of CA and VEA, in AD individuals. Single-case analyses detected dissociations in all dementia groups. Conceptual knowledge can be selectively impaired in various types of neurodegenerative disease on the basis of the specific cognitive process that is disrupted.
Mortality Rates and Mortality Risk Factors in Older Adults with Dementia from Low- and Middle-Income Countries: The 10/66 Dementia Research Group Population-Based Cohort Study

Background: Dementia is the main cause of disability in older people living in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Monitoring mortality rates and mortality risk factors in people with dementia (PwD) may contribute to improving care provision. Objective: We aimed to estimate mortality rates and mortality predictors in PwD from eight LMICs. Methods: This 3–5-year prospective cohort study involved a sample of 1,488 older people with dementia from eight LMIC. Total, age- and gender-specific mortality rates per 1,000 person-years at risk, as well as the total, age- and gender-adjusted mortality rates were estimated for each country’s sub-sample. Cox’s regressions were used to establish the predictors of mortality. Results: At follow-up, vital status of 1,304 individuals (87.6%) was established, of which 593 (45.5%) were deceased. Mortality rate was higher in China (65.9%) and lower in Mexico (26.9%). Mortality risk was higher in males (HR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.32,1.87) and increased with age (HR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.03,1.06). Neuropsychiatric symptoms (HR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01,1.05), cognitive decline (HR 1.04; 95% CI: 1.03,1.05), undernutrition (HR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.19, 2.02), physical impairments (HR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.03,1.29), and disease severity (HR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.22,1.63) predicted higher mortality risk. Conclusion: Several factors predicted higher mortality risk in PwD in LMICs. Males, those with higher age, higher severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms, higher number of physical impairments, higher disease severity, lower cognitive performance, and undernutrition had higher mortality risk. Addressing these indicators of long-term adverse outcomes may potentially contribute to improved advanced care planning, reducing the burden of disease in low-resourced settings.
Fragment Exchange Potential for Realizing Pauli Deformation of Inter-Fragment Interactions.

In fragment-based methods, the lack of explicit short-range exchange interactions between monomers can result in unphysical deformation in charge density. In this study, we describe a fragment exchange potential (XFP) to explicitly account for inter-fragmental Pauli deformation. In the present implementation, a Kohn-Sham exchange potential is adopted along with the Yukawa potential. The method has been validated by comparison of the computed exchange energies using the XFP potential with results obtained from antisymmetrized fragmental orbitals on the S66×8 dataset containing 528 bimolecular interactions of equilibrium and arbitrary geometries. It was also found that it is only necessary to deploy numerical grids on atoms within their van der Waals contacts, significantly reducing the small, albeit extra, computational cost. We anticipate that the present XFP may be applied to molecular dynamics simulations of macromolecules using a fragment-based quantum mechanical potential with improved SCF convergence and computational accuracy.
Enhanced Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cells Proliferation by Carboxymethyl-Chitosan Functionalized Polycaprolactone Nanofiber

Background: Through combining two synthetic and natural polymers, scaffolds can be developed for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine purposes. Methods: In this work, CMC (20%) was grafted to PCL nanofibers using the cold atmospheric plasma of helium. The PCL scaffolds were exposed to CAP, and functional groups were developed on the PCL surface. Results: The results of FTIR confirmed CMC (20%) graft on PCL scaffold. The MTT assay showed a significant enhancement (p < 0.05) in the cell affinity and proliferation of ADSCs to CMC20%-graft-PCL scaffolds. After 14 days, bone differentiation was affirmed through alizarin red and calcium depositions. Conclusion: Based on the results, the CMC20%-graft-PCL can support the proliferation of ADSCs and induce the differentiation into bone with longer culture time.
Car Driver's Sympathetic Reaction Detection Through Electrodermal Activity and Electrocardiogram Measurements

Objective: in this paper we propose a system to detect a subject's sympathetic reaction, which is related to unexpected or challenging events during a car drive. Methods: we use the Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal and the Skin Potential Response (SPR) signal, which has several advantages with respect to other Electrodermal (EDA) signals. We record one SPR signal for each hand, and use an algorithm that, selecting the smoother signal, is able to remove motion artifacts. We extract statistical features from the ECG and SPR signals in order to classify signal segments and identify the presence or absence of emotional events via a Supervised Learning Algorithm. The experiments were carried out in a company which specializes in driving simulator equipment, using a motorized platform and a driving simulator. Different subjects were tested with this setup, with different challenging events happening on predetermined locations on the track. Results: we obtain an Accuracy as high as 79.10% for signal blocks and as high as 91.27% for events. Conclusion: results demonstrate the good performance of the presented system in detecting sympathetic reactions, and the effectiveness of the motion artifact removal procedure. Significance: our work demonstrates the possibility to classify the emotional state of the driver, using the ECG and EDA signals and a slightly invasive setup. In particular, the proposed use of SPR and of the motion artifact removal procedure are crucial for the effectiveness of the system.
Alpha Frequency Intervention by Electrical Stimulation to Improve Performance in Mu-Based BCI

The accuracy of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) is important for effective communication and control. The mu-based BCI is one of the most widely used systems, of which the related methods to improve users’ accuracy are still poorly studied, especially for the BCI illiteracy. Here, we examined a way to enhance mu-based BCI performance by electrically stimulating the ulnar nerve of the contralateral wrist at the alpha frequency (10 Hz) during left- and right-hand motor imagination in two BCI groups (literate and illiterate). We demonstrate that this alpha frequency intervention enhances the classification accuracy between left- and right-hand motor imagery from 66.41% to 81.57% immediately after intervention and to 75.28% two days after intervention in the BCI illiteracy group, while classification accuracy improves from 82.12% to 91.84% immediately after intervention and to 89.03% two days after intervention in the BCI literacy group. However, the classification accuracy did not change before and after the sham intervention (no electrical stimulation). Furthermore, the ERD on the primary sensorimotor cortex during left- or right-hand motor imagery tasks was more visible at the mu-rhythm (8-13 Hz) after alpha frequency intervention. Alpha frequency intervention increases the mu-rhythm power difference between left- and right-hand motor imagery tasks. These results provide evidence that alpha frequency intervention is an effective way to improve BCI performance by regulating the mu-rhythm which might provide a way to reduce BCI illiteracy.
Perception of family sense of coherence during parental transition: A qualitative study

This study described the perspectives and interplay of factors affecting the family sense of coherence of Chinese couples during the perinatal period. We adopted a grounded theory approach and conducted semi-structured interviews with 36 Chinese couples during pregnancy and at 2–3 months postpartum. Four major themes emerged involving meaningfulness, comprehensibility, and manageability of new parenthood and factors affecting the family sense of coherence. The strong sense of family unity and harmony embedded in the Confucian philosophy and the collective coping, in particular the strong social support network, seemed to contribute to couple’s experience of new parenthood as meaningful, comprehensible, and manageable.
Engaging Pharmacists to Crowdsource a Fine-grained Medication Risk Scale: An Initial Measurement Study Using Paired Comparisons of Medications

A coarse classification of medications into two risk categories, one for high-risk medications and one for all others, allows people to focus safety improvement work on medications that carry the highest risks of harm. However, such coarse categorization does not distinguish the relative risk of harm for the majority of medications. To begin to develop a more fine-grained measurement scale for the relative risk of harm spanning many medications, we performed an experiment with 18 practicing pharmacists. Each pharmacist-participant made 210 paired comparisons of 21 commonly prescribed medications to reveal a subjective scale of perceived medication worrisomeness (PMW). Statistical analyses of their collective judgments of medication pairs differentiated five levels of PMW. This study illuminates one path towards a fine-grained medication risk scale based on PMW. It also shows how the method of paired comparisons can be used to remotely crowdsource expert knowledge in support of learning health systems.
Implementation of Real-Time Electronic Clinical Decision Support for Emergency Department Patients with Pneumonia Across a Healthcare System

A real-time electronic CDS for pneumonia (ePNa) identifies possible pneumonia patients, measures severity and antimicrobial resistance risk, and then recommends disposition, antibiotics, and microbiology studies. Use is voluntary, and clinicians may modify treatment recommendations. ePNa was associated with lower mortality in emergency department (ED) patients versus usual care (Annals EM 66:511). We adapted ePNa for the Cerner EHR, and implemented it across Intermountain Healthcare EDs (Utah, USA) throughout 2018. We introduced ePNa through didactic, interactive presentations to ED clinicians; follow-up visits identified barriers and facilitators to use. Email reminded clinicians and answered questions. Hospital admitting clinicians encouraged ePNa use to smooth care transitions. Audit-and-feedback measured utilization, showing variations from best practice when ePNa and associated electronic order sets were not used. Use was initially low, but gradually increased especially at larger hospitals. A user-friendly interface, frequent reminders, audit-and- feedback, a user survey, a nurse educator, and local physician champions are additive towards implementation success.
POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH IN ADULT CANCER PATIENTS: AN UPDATED SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

: The current systematic review is an updated analysis of studies with adult cancer patients, regarding factors associated with posttraumatic growth (PTG), which is defined as perceived positive changes after traumatic event, such as cancer. A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA Statement guidelines. Seven electronic databases were searched. Quantitative studies with or without psychosocial group intervention that assessed PTG or similar construct (benefit finding [BF], positive life changes, stress-related growth, growth) as main outcome were included. The initial systematic search yielded 659 papers, published between 2006 and 2015. From those, 81 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria: 73 studies without intervention and 8 entailing an intervention program. The results suggested that socio-demographic (e.g. age, educational level, household income), clinical (e.g. stage of cancer), cognitive (e.g. intrusiveness, challenge to core beliefs), coping-related (e.g. positive reframing, religious coping) and other psychosocial variables (e.g. social support, optimism, spirituality) are positively associated with PTG. BF is associated with gender, marital status, cancer stage, both cancer and treatment type, positive active coping, positive reappraisal, social support and optimism. Psychosocial group interventions with cancer patients show significant effect on the increase of growth reported (PTG or BF). As conclusion, Growth following a cancer experience is an effect of several variables which might be targeted and promoted in the context of multidisciplinary teams, in hospital and clinical settings. Group interventions are a favorable context to the development of PTG after cancer, but interventions that assess PTG as primary outcome are still needed to evaluate the effect of group on PTG’ facilitation.
Chromosome‐level genome assembly of an important pine defoliator, Dendrolimus punctatus (Lepidoptera; Lasiocampidae)

Dendrolimus spp. are important destructive pests of conifer forests, and Dendrolimus punctatus Walker (Lepidoptera; Lasiocampidae) is the most widely distributed Dendrolimus species. During periodic outbreaks, this species is said to make “fire without smoke” because large areas of pine forest can be quickly and heavily damaged. Yet, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underlie the unique ecological characteristics of this forest insect. Here, we combined Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) RSII single‐molecule long reads and high‐throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi‐C) genomics‐linked reads to produce a high‐quality, chromosome‐level reference genome for D. punctatus. The final assembly was 614 Mb with contig and scaffold N50 values of 1.39 and 22.15 Mb, respectively, and 96.96% of the contigs anchored onto 30 chromosomes. Based on the prediction, this genome contained 17,593 protein‐coding genes and 56.16% repetitive sequences. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that D. punctatus diverged from the common ancestor of Hyphantria cunea, Spodoptera litura and Thaumetopoea pityocampa ~ 108.91 million years ago. Many gene families that were expanded in the D. punctatus genome were significantly enriched for the xenobiotic biodegradation system, especially the cytochrome P450 gene family. This high‐quality, chromosome‐level reference genome will be a valuable resource for understanding mechanisms of D. punctatus outbreak and host resistance adaption. Because this is the first Lasiocampidae insect genome to be sequenced, it also will serve as a reference for further comparative genomics.
Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors with Cerebral Perfusion in Whites and African Americans.

BACKGROUND Midlife cardiovascular risk factors increase risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite disproportionately high cardiovascular disease and dementia rates, African Americans are under-represented in studies of AD risk and research-based guidance on targeting vascular risk factors is lacking. OBJECTIVE This study investigated relationships between specific cardiovascular risk factors and cerebral perfusion in White and African American adults enriched for AD risk. METHODS Participants included 397 cognitively unimpaired White (n = 330) and African American (n = 67) adults enrolled in the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center who underwent pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling MRI. Multiple linear regression models examined independent relationships between cardiovascular risk factors and mean cerebral perfusion. Subsequent interaction and stratified models assessed the role for APOE genotype and race. RESULTS When risk factor p-values were FDR-adjusted, diastolic blood pressure was significantly associated with mean perfusion. Tobacco use, triglycerides, waist-to-hip ratio, and a composite risk score were not associated with perfusion. Without FDR adjustment, a relationship was also observed between perfusion and obesity, cholesterol, and fasting glucose. Neither APOE genotype nor race moderated relationships between risk factors and perfusion. CONCLUSION Higher diastolic blood pressure predicted lower perfusion more strongly than other cardiovascular risk factors. This relationship did not vary by racial group or genetic risk for AD, although the African American sample had greater vascular risk burden and lower perfusion rates. Our findings highlight the need to prioritize inclusion of underrepresented groups in neuroimaging studies and to continue exploring the link between modifiable risk factors, cerebrovascular health, and AD risk in underrepresented populations.