Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic In-Flight Shifts of Working Memory Resources Across Saccades

Little is known about how memory resources are allocated in natural vision across sequential eye movements and fixations, as people actively extract information from the visual environment. Here, we used gaze-contingent eye tracking to examine how such resources are dynamically reallocated from old to new information entering working memory. As participants looked sequentially at items, we interrupted the process at different times by extinguishing the display as a saccade was initiated. After a brief interval, participants were probed on one of the items that had been presented. Paradoxically, across all experiments, the final (unfixated) saccade target was recalled more precisely when more items had previously been fixated, that is, with longer rather than shorter saccade sequences. This result is difficult to explain on current models of working memory because recall error, even for the final item, is typically higher as memory load increases. The findings could however be accounted for by a model that describes how resources are dynamically reallocated on a moment-by-moment basis. During each saccade, the target is encoded by consuming a proportion of currently available resources from a limited working memory, as well as by reallocating resources away from previously encoded items. These findings reveal how working memory resources are shifted across memoranda in active vision.
Transcriptome Analysis of Long-Term Exposure to Blue Light in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a type of progressive blindness that is primarily due to dysfunction and the loss of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The accumulation of N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E), a by-product of the visual cycle, causes RPE and photoreceptor degeneration that impairs vision. Genes associated with dry AMD have been identified using a blue light model of A2E accumulation in the retinal pigment epithelium and transcriptomic studies of retinal tissue from patients with AMD. However, dry macular degeneration progresses slowly, and current approaches cannot reveal changes in gene transcription according to stages of AMD progression. Thus, they are limited in terms of identifying genes responsible for pathogenesis. Here, we created a model of long-term exposure to identify temporally-dependent changes in gene expression induced in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) exposed to blue light and a non-cytotoxic dose of A2E for 120 days. We identified stage-specific genes at 40, 100, and 120 days, respectively. The expression of genes corresponding to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during the early stage, glycolysis and angiogenesis during the middle stage, and apoptosis and inflammation pathways during the late stage was significantly altered by A2E and blue light. Changes in the expression of genes at the late stages of the EMT were similar to those found in human eyes with late-stage AMD. Our results provide further insight into the pathogenesis of dry AMD induced by blue light and a novel model in vitro with which relevant genes can be identified in the future.
Evolution of static allometry and constraint on evolutionary allometry in a fossil stickleback

Allometric scaling describes the relationship of trait size to body size within and among taxa. The slope of the population‐level regression of trait size against body size (i.e. static allometry) is typically invariant among closely related populations and species. Such invariance is commonly interpreted to reflect a combination of developmental and selective constraints that delimit a phenotypic space into which evolution could proceed most easily. Thus, understanding how allometric relationships do eventually evolve is important to understanding phenotypic diversification. In a lineage of fossil Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus doryssus), we investigated the evolvability of static allometric slopes for nine traits (five armour and four non‐armour) that evolved significant trait differences across 10 samples over 8500 years. The armour traits showed weak static allometric relationships and a mismatch between those slopes and observed evolution. This suggests that observed evolution in these traits was not constrained by relationships with body size, perhaps because prior, repeated adaptation to freshwater habitats by Threespine Stickleback had generated strong selection to break constraint. In contrast, for non‐armour traits, we found stronger allometric relationships. Those allometric slopes did evolve on short time scales. However, those changes were small and fluctuating and the slopes remained strong predictors of the evolutionary trajectory of trait means over time (i.e. evolutionary allometry), supporting the hypothesis of allometry as constraint.
Disease consequences of higher adiposity uncoupled from its adverse metabolic effects using Mendelian randomisation

Background: Some individuals living with obesity may be relatively metabolically healthy, whilst others suffer from multiple conditions that may be linked to adverse metabolic effects or other factors. The extent to which the adverse metabolic component of obesity contributes to disease compared to the non-metabolic components is often uncertain. We aimed to use Mendelian randomisation (MR) and specific genetic variants to separately test the causal roles of higher adiposity with and without its adverse metabolic effects on diseases. Methods: We selected 37 chronic diseases associated with obesity and genetic variants associated with different aspects of excess weight. These genetic variants included those associated with metabolically ‘favourable adiposity’ (FA) and ‘unfavourable adiposity’ (UFA) that are both associated with higher adiposity but with opposite effects on metabolic risk. We used these variants and two sample MR to test the effects on the chronic diseases. Results: MR identified two sets of diseases. First, 11 conditions where the metabolic effect of higher adiposity is the likely primary cause of the disease. Here, MR with the FA and UFA genetics showed opposing effects on risk of disease: coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, renal cancer, and gout. Second, 9 conditions where the non-metabolic effects of excess weight (e.g. mechanical effect) are likely a cause. Here, MR with the FA genetics, despite leading to lower metabolic risk, and MR with the UFA genetics, both indicated higher disease risk: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, gallstones, adult-onset asthma, psoriasis, deep vein thrombosis, and venous thromboembolism. Conclusions: Our results assist in understanding the consequences of higher adiposity uncoupled from its adverse metabolic effects, including the risks to individuals with high body mass index who may be relatively metabolically healthy. Funding: Diabetes UK, UK Medical Research Council, World Cancer Research Fund, National Cancer Institute.
Linear-branched poly(β-amino esters)/DNA nano-polyplexes for effective gene transfection and neural stem cell differentiation

Controllable regulation of stem cell differentiation is a critical concern in stem cell-based regenerative medicine. In particular, there are still great challenges in controlling the directional differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) into neurons. Herein, we developed a novel linear-branched poly(β-amino esters) (S4-TMPTA-BDA-DT, STBD) through a two-step reaction. The synthesized linear-branched polymers possess multiple positively charged amine terminus and degradable intermolecular ester bonds, thus endowing them with excellent properties such as high gene load, efficient gene delivery, and effective gene release and transcription in cells. In the mCherry transfection test, a high transfection efficiency of approximately 70% was achieved in primary NSCs after a single transfection. Moreover, STBD also showed high biocompatibility to NSCs without disturbing their viability and neural differentiation. With the high gene delivery property, STBD is capable of delivering siRNA (shSOX9) expression plasmid into NSCs to significantly interfere with the expression of SOX9, thus enhancing the neuronal differentiation and maturation of NSCs. The STBD/DNA nano-polyplex represents a powerful non-viral approach of gene delivery for manipulating the differentiation of stem cells, showing broad application prospects in NSC-based regenerative therapy for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Neural oscillations track recovery of consciousness in acute traumatic brain injury patients

Electroencephalography (EEG), easily deployed at the bedside, is an attractive modality for deriving quantitative biomarkers of prognosis and differential diagnosis in severe brain injury and disorders of consciousness (DOC). Prior work by Schiff has identified four dynamic regimes of progressive recovery of consciousness defined by the presence or absence of thalamically‐driven EEG oscillations. These four predefined categories (ABCD model) relate, on a theoretical level, to thalamocortical integrity and, on an empirical level, to behavioral outcome in patients with cardiac arrest coma etiologies. However, whether this theory‐based stratification of patients might be useful as a diagnostic biomarker in DOC and measurably linked to thalamocortical dysfunction remains unknown. In this work, we relate the reemergence of thalamically‐driven EEG oscillations to behavioral recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a cohort of N = 38 acute patients with moderate‐to‐severe TBI and an average of 1 week of EEG recorded per patient. We analyzed an average of 3.4 hr of EEG per patient, sampled to coincide with 30‐min periods of maximal behavioral arousal. Our work tests and supports the ABCD model, showing that it outperforms a data‐driven clustering approach and may perform equally well compared to a more parsimonious categorization. Additionally, in a subset of patients (N = 11), we correlated EEG findings with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) connectivity between nodes in the mesocircuit—which has been theoretically implicated by Schiff in DOC—and report a trend‐level relationship that warrants further investigation in larger studies.
Atomistic mechanism of leptin and leptin-receptor association

Abstract The leptin-leptin receptor complex is at the very core of energy homeostasis and immune system regulation, among many other functions. In this work, we built homology models of leptin and the leptin binding domain (LBD) of the receptor from humans and mice. Docking analyses were used to obtain the coordinates of the native leptin-LBD complexes and a mixed heterodimer formed by human leptin and mouse LBD. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed using all models (monomers and heterodimers) as initial coordinates and the GROMACS program. The overall structural and dynamical behaviors are similar for the three complexes. Upon MD simulations, several new interactions appear. In particular, hydrophobic interactions, with more than 90% persistence, seem to be the most relevant for the stability of the dimers, as well as the pair formed by Asp85Lep and Arg468LBD. This in silico analysis provides structural and dynamical information, at the atomistic level, about the mechanism of leptin-LBD complex formation and leptin receptor activation. This knowledge might be used in the rational drug design of therapeutics to modulate leptin signaling. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Bioinspired Granular Media Friction Pad: A Universal System for Friction Enhancement on Variety of Substrates

The granular media friction pad (GMFP) inspired by the biological smooth attachment pads of cockroaches and grasshoppers employs passive jamming, to create high friction forces on a large variety of substrates. The granular medium inside the pad is encased by a flexible membrane which at contact formation greatly adapts to the substrate profile. Upon applying load, the granular medium undergoes the jamming transition and changes from fluid-like to solid-like properties. The jammed granular medium, in combination with the deformation of the encasing elastic membrane, results in high friction forces on a multitude of substrate topographies. Here we explore the effect of elasticity variation on the generation of friction by varying granular media filling quantity as well as membrane modulus and thickness. We systematically investigate contact area and robustness against substrate contamination, and we also determine friction coefficients for various loading forces and substrates. Depending on the substrate topography and loading forces, a low filling quantity and a thin, elastic membrane can be favorable, in order to generate the highest friction forces.
Pesticides in fruits and vegetables from the Souss Massa region, Morocco

ABSTRACT This survey reports the monitoring of multi-pesticide residues of some fruits and vegetables sold in the local markets, sampled in 2018–2019, in the Souss Massa region in Morocco. A QuEChERS-LC-MS/MS method for 202 pesticides, belonging to different classes (carbamates, organophosphorus and organonitrogen pesticides) was applied and 51 samples were randomly bought from the local market, belonging to different products (tomato, cucumber, coriander, apricot, parsley, potato, zucchini, green bean, lettuce, strawberry and orange) and analysed for pesticide residues, which were detected in 69% of the samples, below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for some pesticides which represent 14% of the targeted compounds. The most frequently detected compounds were acetamiprid, acibenzolar-s-methyl, abamectin, azoxystrobin, bifenazate, bitertanol, bromuconazole, butoxycarboxim, cyromazine, difenoconazole, epoxiconazole, fenbuconazole, fluometuron, linuron, metaflumizone, metconazole, metribuzin, myclobutanil, pirimicarb, pyraclostrobin, propamocarb, rotenone, trichlorfon, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, thiamethoxam and thiophanate-methyl. The obtained results provide a value to the situation of pesticide residues in Morocco.
Systematic review of social determinants of childhood immunisation in low- and middle-income countries and equity impact analysis of childhood vaccination coverage in Nigeria

Background: Nigeria has a high proportion of underimmunised children in the world. We estimated the inequities in childhood immunisation coverage associated with socioeconomic, geographic, maternal, child, and healthcare characteristics among children aged 12-23 months in Nigeria using a social determinants of health perspective. Methods: We conducted a systematic review focused on inequities in childhood immunisation in low- and middle-income countries to identify the social determinants of childhood immunisation. Using these determinants, we analysed basic vaccination coverage in Nigeria (1-dose BCG, 3-dose DTP-HepB-Hib (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B), 3-dose polio, and 1-dose measles) of 6,059 children aged 12-23 months using the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Results: We identified social determinants of immunisation - household wealth, religion, and ethnicity (socioeconomic characteristics); region and place of residence (geographic characteristics); maternal age at birth, maternal education, and maternal household head status (maternal characteristics); sex of child, and birth order (child characteristics); antenatal care and birth setting (healthcare characteristics). While basic vaccination coverage was 31% (95% CI: 29-33), 19% (18-21) of children aged 12-23 months had received none of the basic vaccines. After controlling for background characteristics, there was a significant increase in the odds of basic vaccination by household wealth, living in an urban area, antenatal care, delivery in a health facility, maternal age and maternal education. Children of Fulani ethnicity in comparison to children of Igbo ethnicity had lower odds of receiving basic vaccinations. Discussion: Children of Fulani ethnicity, living in rural areas, born in home settings, with young mothers living in the poorest households with no formal education and no antenatal care visits were associated with lower rates of basic vaccination in Nigeria. We recommend a proportionate universalism approach with targeted vaccination programmes proportionate to the level of disadvantage for addressing the immunisation barriers.
Brain Tumor Detection Using Deep Learning

A brain tumor is understood by the scientific community as the growth of abnormal cells in the brain, some of which can lead to cancer. The traditional method to detect brain tumors is nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI). Having the MRI images, information about the uncontrolled growth of tissue in the brain is identified. In several research articles, brain tumor detection is done through the application of Machine Learning and Deep Learning algorithms. When these systems are applied to MRI images, brain tumor prediction is done very quickly and greater accuracy helps to deliver treatment to patients. These predictions also help the radiologist to make quick decisions. In the proposed work, a set of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are applied in the detection of the presence of brain tumor, and its performance is analyzed through different metrics.
1599 CJHS 23.3_03_McKay 159..166

This study examined the opinions and attitudes of Ontario parents regarding school-based sexual health education (SHE). Results are based on surveys from 1002 parents with children attending publically funded elementary or secondary schools in Ontario, Canada. A large majority (87%) of parents strongly agreed or agreed that SHE should be provided in school and 84% believed that SHE should start by middle school. All 13 sexual health topics posed to parents were rated as important or very important to teach. These topics included puberty, abstinence, methods of contraception, sexually transmitted infections, skills for healthy relationships, communication skills, sexual orientation, and media literacy. Parents rated themselves, doctors and nurses, and the school system as the most competent sources of SHE. Parents also indicated that it is important for their children to learn from an up-to-date SHE curriculum. There were some small differences in the attitudes of mothers and fathers; however, parents with children in public and separate Catholic schools did not significantly differ in their support for SHE in the schools. This study confirms past research from across Canada indicating that there is strong and sustained parental support for broadly-based SHE in the schools.
TJ 53.2_05_Gligor-Holcomb.indd

Although current literature acknowledges the importance of integrated logistics capabilities, little empirical research exists on the antecedents and outcomes of this capability. The current study addresses this gap by examining how fi rms can develop integrated logistics capabilities and how this capability impacts fi rm performance. Specifi cally, the study identifi es and empirically establishes the link between the behavioral elements of cooperation, coordination, and communication, and the achievement of integrated logistics capabilities. The results suggest that all three behavioral elements contribute directly to the integration of logistics capabilities across members of the supply chain. Further, it was found that the integration of logistics capabilities does impact operational and relational performance. The integration of logistics capabilities has the potential to lower the overall fi rm costs, and lead to better relationships with customers and the delivery of superior customer value.
Leisure reading experience promoting prenatal attachment among pregnant women: A moderated mediation model

Abstract While leisure activities have been illustrated to enhance women’s psychological health, the study of leisure reading experiences and their impact on prenatal attachment has not been investigated to date. Addressing this research gap, a moderated mediation model is built to explain the indirect effects of leisure reading experiences on prenatal attachment through subjective vitality conditioned by the moderating role of optimism. 494 valid responses from pregnant women were obtained from obstetrical centers for testing the hypothesized model. The results indicated that subjective vitality fully mediates the relationship between hedonic experience and prenatal attachment, and also partially mediates the relationship between other leisure reading experiences (flow and transcendent) and prenatal attachment. In addition, the mediating effect was observed to be significant at higher levels of optimism. The proposed framework signifies novel contributions to the understanding of pregnant women’s mental health and their bond with the baby through leisure reading experiences.
An overview of chemo- and site-selectivity aspects in the chemical conjugation of proteins

The bioconjugation of proteins—that is, the creation of a covalent link between a protein and any other molecule—has been studied for decades, partly because of the numerous applications of protein conjugates, but also due to the technical challenge it represents. Indeed, proteins possess inner physico-chemical properties—they are sensitive and polynucleophilic macromolecules—that make them complex substrates in conjugation reactions. This complexity arises from the mild conditions imposed by their sensitivity but also from selectivity issues, viz the precise control of the conjugation site on the protein. After decades of research, strategies and reagents have been developed to address two aspects of this selectivity: chemoselectivity—harnessing the reacting chemical functionality—and site-selectivity—controlling the reacting amino acid residue—most notably thanks to the participation of synthetic chemistry in this effort. This review offers an overview of these chemical bioconjugation strategies, insisting on those employing native proteins as substrates, and shows that the field is active and exciting, especially for synthetic chemists seeking new challenges.
Functional insight into LOAD-associated microglial response genes

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), neuronal and synaptic loss and inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS). The majority of AD research has been dedicated to the understanding of two major AD hallmarks (i.e. Aβ and NFTs); however, recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data indicate neuroinflammation as having a critical role in late-onset AD (LOAD) development, thus unveiling a novel avenue for AD therapeutics. Recent evidence has provided much support to the innate immune system's involvement with AD progression; however, much remains to be uncovered regarding the role of glial cells, specifically microglia, in AD. Moreover, numerous variants in immune and/or microglia-related genes have been identified in whole-genome sequencing and GWAS analyses, including such genes as TREM2, CD33, APOE, API1, MS4A, ABCA7, BIN1, CLU, CR1, INPP5D, PICALM and PLCG2. In this review, we aim to provide an insight into the function of the major LOAD-associated microglia response genes.