Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reliability and validity of the Upper Limb Functional Test (ULIFT) for women after breast cancer surgery

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the reliability and convergent validity of the Upper Limb Functional Test (ULIFT) in women after breast cancer surgery. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study with 25 women (mean age 50 ± 7.3 years) with breast cancer submitted to a surgery intervention within a minimum period of three years. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to assess the test–retest reliability. A Bland–Altman plot examined the agreement between the times to complete two tests. Validity was established by correlating the ULIFT and DASH total score. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the cut-off point for ULIFT in order to discriminate patients with some level of upper limb dysfunction. Results The ULIFT showed high reproducibility (ICC = 0.89; p < 0.001), learning effect of 7.21%, and a moderate correlation with the DASH total score (r = 0.536; R 2 = 0.28; p = 0.006). The standard error of measurement was 6.9 s and the smallest real difference was 19.1 s. The ROC curve indicated a cut-off point of 109.2 s (sensitivity = 68.7%; specificity = 77.8%; area under ROC curve = 0.77). Conclusions The ULIFT could be a valid and reliable test to assess upper limb functionality in patients submitted to breast cancer surgery. Implications for rehabilitation The ULIFT is a reliable and valid test to assess upper limb function in women after breast cancer surgery, considering specifically the lifting and range of motion construct of unilateral upper limb function. The ULIFT could help identify those most at risk of developing upper limb dysfunction after breast cancer surgery and could benefit the follow-up of a postoperative rehabilitation program. Two ULIFTs should be performed in order to achieve patient’s best performance.
Sol‐Gel Process for the Preparation of Ba2Ti9O20 and BaTi5O11

Barium titanate precursors with Ba/Ti ratio 2:9 and 1:5 were prepared by first hydrolyzing titanium alkoxide and then mixing the resulting titania sol with a barium alkoxide-methanol solution. After drying, the xerogels of the precursors of barium titanates were sintered at temperatures from 700°C (4 h) to 1200°C (110 h or longer). Characterization of the product was performed using X-ray diffraction and laser Raman spectroscopy. At 700°C, BaTi5O11 was formed from the 1:5 precursor and a two-phase mixture of BaTi2O5 and BaTi5O11 was formed from the 2:9 precursor. After prolonged heating at 1200°C, the latter mixture converted to a single-phase material, Ba2Ti9O20.
The moderation of socio-demographics in physical and mental health disparities among Israeli gay and heterosexual middle-aged and older men

Abstract Objectives Physical and mental health disparities were explored among Israeli middle-aged and older gay and heterosexual men alongside the moderating role of age, relationship status, and place of birth. Method 173 middle-aged and older gay men were individually matched with 173 middle-aged and older heterosexual men at the age range of 50–86 (M = 60.56, SD = 8.42). All participants completed measures of doctor visits, physical health comorbidity, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Results Israeli middle-aged and older gay and heterosexual men did not significantly differ on physical or mental health indicators. However, a more differential analysis revealed that older age and relationship status had a moderating role, such that older gay men reported more physical health comorbidity in comparison to older heterosexual men. Similarly, gay men who were not in a steady relationship reported more frequent visits to the doctor and more anxiety in comparison to heterosexual men who were not in a steady relationship. Additionally, immigration history appeared as a potential resiliency factor, such that gay men who were not born in Israel reported less frequent doctor visits and less anxiety in comparison to heterosexual men who were not born in Israel. Conclusions This study presents a pioneering examination of physical and mental health disparities in an Israeli sample of middle-aged and older gay and heterosexual men. These results may call the attention of clinicians and policymakers to both vulnerabilities and strengths of middle-aged and older gay men.
Prognostic Value of Learning and Retention Measures from the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test to Identify Incident Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract Objective: To compare the predictive validity of learning and retention measures from the picture version of the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test with Immediate Recall (pFCSRT + IR) for identifying incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Learning was defined by the sum of free recall (FR) and retention by delayed free recall (DFR) tested 15–20 min later. Totally, 1422 Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) participants (mean age 69.6 years, 54% male, mean 16.7 years of education) without dementia or MCI received the pFCSRT + IR at baseline and were followed longitudinally. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the effect of baseline learning and retention on risk of MCI. Results: In total, 187 participants developed MCI over a median of 8.1 years of follow-up. FR and DFR each predicted incident MCI adjusting for age, sex, and education. Also, each independently predicted incident MCI in the presence of the other with similar effect sizes: around 20% decrease in the hazard of MCI corresponding to one standard deviation increase in FR or DFR. Conclusion: The practice of preferring retention over learning to predict incident MCI should be reconsidered. The decision to include retention should be guided by time constraints and patient burden.
Metabolic and nutritional responses of Nile tilapia juveniles to dietary methionine sources

Abstract Commercial diets for tilapia juveniles contain high levels of plant protein sources. Soybean meal has been utilised due to its high protein content; however, soy-based diets are limited in methionine (Met) and require its supplementation to fulfil fish requirements. dl-Methinone (dl-Met) and Ca bis-methionine hydroxyl analogue (MHA-Ca) are synthetic Met sources supplemented in aquafeeds, which may differ in biological efficiency due to structural differences. The present study evaluated the effect of both methionine sources on metabolism and growth of Nile tilapia. A growth trial was performed using three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets, containing plant ingredients as protein sources: DLM and MHA diets were supplemented on equimolar levels of Met, while REF diet was not supplemented. Hepatic free Met and one-carbon metabolites were determined in fish fed for 57 d. Metabolism of dl-Met and MHA was analysed by an in vivo time-course trial using 14C-labelled tracers. Only dl-Met supplementation significantly increased final body weight and improved feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios compared with the REF diet. Our findings indicate that Met in DLM fed fish follows the transsulphuration pathway, while in fish fed MHA and REF diets it is remethylated. The in vivo trial revealed that 14C-dl-Met is absorbed faster and more retained than 14C-MHA, resulting in a greater availability of free Met in the tissues when fish is fed with DLM diet. Our study indicates that dietary dl-Met supplementation improves growth performance and N retention, and that Met absorption and utilisation are influenced by the dietary source in tilapia juveniles.
Deficiency of intellectual disability-related gene Brpf1 reduced inhibitory neurotransmission in MGE-derived GABAergic interneurons

Abstract Intellectual disability is closely related to impaired GABA neurotransmission. Brpf1 was specifically expressed in medial ganglionic eminence (MGE), a developmental niche of GABAergic interneurons, and patients with BRPF1 mutations showed intellectual disability. To test its role in the development and function of MGE-derived GABAergic interneurons, we performed immunofluorescence staining, whole-cell patch-clamp, MGE transplantation, and mRNA-Seq to understand its effect on neuronal differentiation, dendritic morphology, electrophysiology, migration, and gene regulation, using mouse MGE-derived GABAergic interneurons infected with AAV-shBrpf1. The results showed that Brpf1 knockdown had a decreasing trend, although not significant, on the differentiation of GABAergic interneurons into parvalbumin+ interneurons. Moreover, increased firing threshold, decreased number of evoked action potentials, and a reduced amplitude of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents were observed before any significant change of MAP2+ dendritic morphology and in vivo migration ability appeared. Finally, mRNA-Seq analysis revealed that genes related to neurodevelopment and synaptic transmission such as Map2k7 were dysregulated. Our results demonstrated a key role of Brpf1 in inhibitory neurotransmission and related gene expression of GABAergic interneurons.
Effects of Communicating Prevalence Information about Two Common Health Conditions

ABSTRACT Obesity and diabetes are widespread health conditions with rising prevalence rates in the United States. News stories and health campaign messages frequently feature prevalence rates of obesity and diabetes, at times under the expectation that such messages will increase readers’ disease awareness, health behaviors, and policy support. At the same time, American adults overestimate the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the absence of prevalence information, raising important questions about the implications of communicating accurate prevalence information that may be lower than baseline estimates. The current study examines the effects of communicating information about the prevalence of obesity and diabetes, varying the format of this information (using qualitative terms, raw frequencies, or percentages). Results from two pre-registered, web-based randomized experiments suggest that only prevalence statistics in percentage formats shift readers’ prevalence estimates, though in some percentage formats these estimates were lower than observed in a no-message control group. Prevalence estimates, in turn, were positively associated with perceived social causes of obesity/diabetes, intensions for healthy behaviors, and support for policy-level solutions. These findings offer guidance for health communication campaigns that seek to increase healthy behavior and support for policies to address health conditions.
Rotationally inelastic and hyperfine resolved cross sections for OH–H2 collisions. Calculations using a new ab initio potential surface

Cross sections and rate constants are presented for the rotational excitation of OH in collision with ortho and para‐H2, using a new ab initio interaction potential [Offer and Van Hemert, J. Chem. Phys. 99, 3836 (1993)]. The cross sections are given at a number of energies and are compared with those calculated using an earlier potential energy surface, and with the available experimental results. A strong oscillatory behavior is found in the cross sections for collisions with ground state para‐H2 which was not apparent in earlier calculations. The oscillatory behavior is very much reduced in collisions with ortho‐H2. Rate constants obtained by averaging the cross sections over a Maxwell–Boltzmann velocity distribution are given at a temperature of 300 K. Expressions for calculating the hyperfine resolved cross sections by transforming the S‐matrices are discussed for the case where H2 is no longer constrained to its rotational ground state, and cross sections for transitions between the hyperfine resolved levels are given for collisions with both para and ortho‐H2.
Herbivore‐induced plant volatiles mediate defense regulation in maize leaves but not in maize roots

Abstract Plant leaves that are exposed to herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) respond by increasing their defenses, a phenomenon referred to as priming. Whether this phenomenon also occurs in the roots is unknown. Using maize plants, Zea mays, whose leaves respond strongly to leaf HIPVs, we measured the impact of belowground HIPVs, emanating from roots infested by the banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata, on constitutive and herbivore‐induced levels of defense‐related gene expression, phytohormones, volatile and non‐volatile primary and secondary metabolites, growth and herbivore resistance in roots of neighbouring plants. HIPV exposure did not increase constitutive or induced levels of any of the measured root traits. Furthermore, HIPV exposure did not reduce the performance or survival of D. balteata on maize or its ancestor teosinte. Cross‐exposure experiments between HIPVs from roots and leaves revealed that maize roots, in contrast to maize leaves, neither emit nor respond strongly to defense‐regulating HIPVs. Together, these results demonstrate that volatile‐mediated defense regulation is restricted to the leaves of maize. This finding is in line with the lower diffusibility of volatiles in the soil and the availability of other, potentially more efficient, information conduits below ground.
Burden of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) on Patients and Caregivers in Canada

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive muscular weakness, which occurs in one in 6,000 to 10,000 live births. The burden of SMA on Canadian patients and caregivers is not known. Objective: To characterize the burden of SMA in Canada as reported by patients and caregivers, including disease and treatment impacts, indirect costs, and caregiver burden. Methods: Surveys were distributed by Cure SMA Canada and Muscular Dystrophy Canada to individuals with SMA and their caregivers. The online surveys were anonymous and completed between January 28 and February 21, 2020. Results: 965 patient and 962 caregiver responses met the eligibility criteria. Patients reported SMA subtypes as: type I (25.0%), type II (41.3%), type III (29.3%). Using the EQ-5D, patients were shown to have impaired quality of life with an average health utility index of 0.49 (SD: 0.26). The median expenditure was $4,500 CAD (IQR: $1,587 – $11,000) for assistive devices; $6,800 CAD (IQR: $3,900–$13,000) on health professional services; and $1,200 CAD (IQR: $600 –$3,100) on SMA-related travel and accommodation in the past 12 months. Caregivers reported needing respite care (45.7%), physiotherapy for an injury from a lift/transfer (45.7%), or other health impacts (63.3%). Caregivers reported changes to personal plans, sleep disturbances, and work adjustments, with a mean Caregiver Strain Index score of 7.5 [SD: 3.3]. Conclusion: SMA in Canada is associated with a significant burden for patients and their caregivers.
The effect of alloy scattering on the mobility of holes in a quantum well

The effect of alloy scattering on the mobility of holes in a quantum well is considered from a theoretical perspective. Issues relating to the definition and value of the alloy potential are discussed, and results are presented showing how the alloy scattering component of the overall mobility varies with temperature, carrier density and alloy concentration. Screening is allowed for and found to be important at low temperatures. By considering other scattering mechanisms such as interface impurities, surface roughness and acoustic phonons, we argue that alloy scattering is not a significant limiting factor as regards device applications, contrary to recent claims.
Modified MYOMI‐14 Korean herbal formulations have protective effects against cyclophosphamide‐induced male infertility in mice

Korean herbal formulation, MYOMI‐14, has been reported to improve the idiopathic male infertility condition with poor semen. In this study, four MYOMI formulations were modified from MYOMI‐14 by reducing the number of constituents. We investigated the therapeutic effect of MYOMI formulations on cyclophosphamide‐induced male infertility using mice model. Cyclophosphamide treatment significantly decreased body weight, testicular weight, sperm count, normal‐shaped sperm rate and sperm motility compared to untreated control group, whereas MYOMI formulations restore the cyclophosphamide‐induced dysfunction, as determined by increased sperm count and motility, and decreased abnormally shaped spermatozoa. In addition, treatment with MYOMI formulations reduced cyclophosphamide‐induced apoptosis of germ cells and oxidative stress. MYOMI‐treated mice also showed improved spermatogenesis as shown by the increased expression of spermatogenesis‐related genes, as cAMP‐responsive element modulator (CREM) and cAMP response element‐binding (CREB) protein. Among the MYOMI formulations, MYOMI‐7 showed better results in terms of recovering CP‐induced damages to testis and improving the fertility. Taken together, this study is expected to make significant contribution to the literature by exploring various formulations that reduced constituents of MYOMI‐14, a Korean herbal medicine, in treating CP‐induced male infertility.
Collisional Energy Transfer. Thermal Unimolecular Systems in the Low‐Pressure Region

Collisional activation—deactivation efficiencies, β, for thermal unimolecular reactions in the second‐order region were computed on a stochastic model by use of an iterative procedure. Four assumed collisional transition probability models were used: stepladder, Gaussian, Poisson, and exponential; detailed balance and completeness were observed. The collisional efficiencies increase with increase of average energy removed per collision, 〈ΔE〉, and with decrease in the average excess energy of the molecules, 〈E+〉, above the critical energy for reaction. Efficiency is defined as a product, β=γNγP, and varies with inert gas dilution.Calculations were made for the nitrous oxide, nitryl chloride, methyl isocyanide, cyclopropane, and 1,2‐dimethylcyclopropane systems over a range of temperatures. This provides a large variation in the internal vibrational‐energy densities and critical energies in question. For a particular transition probability model, β may be expressed as a quasiuniversal function of the reduce.
Cerebral blood flow changes during aging process and in cognitive disorders: A review

We aimed to summarize the available evidence on cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes in normal aging and common cognitive disorders. We searched PubMed for studies on CBF changes in normal aging and cognitive disorders up to 1 January 2019. We summarized the milestones in the history of CBF assessment and reviewed the current evidence on the association between CBF and cognitive changes in normal aging, vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). There is promising evidence regarding the utility of CBF studies in cognition research. Age-related CBF changes could be related to a progressive neuronal loss or diminished activity and synaptic density of neurons in the brain. While a similar cause or outcome theory applies to VCI and AD, it is possible that CBF reduction might precede cognitive decline. Despite the diversity of CBF research findings, its measurement could help early detection of cognitive disorders and also understanding their underlying etiology.
Functional and Adaptive Significance of Promoter Mutations That Affect Divergent Myocardial Expressions of TRIM72 in Primates

Abstract Cis-regulatory elements play important roles in tissue-specific gene expression and in the evolution of various phenotypes, and mutations in promoters and enhancers may be responsible for adaptations of species to environments. TRIM72 is a highly conserved protein that is involved in energy metabolism. Its expression in the heart varies considerably in primates, with high levels of expression in Old World monkeys and near absence in hominids. Here, we combine phylogenetic hypothesis testing and experimentation to demonstrate that mutations in promoter are responsible for the differences among primate species in the heart-specific expression of TRIM72. Maximum likelihood estimates of lineage-specific substitution rates under local-clock models show that relative to the evolutionary rate of introns, the rate of promoter was accelerated by 78% in the common ancestor of Old World monkeys, suggesting a role for positive selection in the evolution of the TRIM72 promoter, possibly driven by selective pressure due to changes in cardiac physiology after species divergence. We demonstrate that mutations in the TRIM72 promoter account for the differential myocardial TRIM72 expression of the human and the rhesus macaque. Furthermore, changes in TRIM72 expression alter the expression of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, which in turn affects mitochondrial respiration and cardiac energy capacity. On a broader timescale, phylogenetic regression analyses of data from 29 mammalian species show that mammals with high cardiac expression of TRIM72 have high heart rate, suggesting that the expression changes of TRIM72 may be related to differences in the heart physiology of those species.
Phenotype Variability in Czech Patients Carrying PAX6 Disease-Causing Variants.

The aim of this study was to report PAX6 disease-causing variants in six Czech families, to describe the associated phenotypes, and to perform functional assessment of the splice site variants. Detailed ophthalmic examination was performed. The PAX6 coding region was directly sequenced in three probands. Two probands were analysed by exome sequencing and one by genome sequencing. The effect of two variants on pre-mRNA splicing was evaluated using an exon trapping assay. Six different heterozygous PAX6 variants were identified, with c. 111_120del and c.1183+1G˃T being novel. Both c.1183+1G˃T and c.1032+1G>A were proved to cause aberrant splicing with exon skipping and subsequent frameshift. The phenotypic features were variable between and within families. One individual, aged 31 years, presented with mild unilateral ptosis accompanied by aniridia in the right eye, partial aniridia in the left eye, and bilateral congenital cataracts, without marked foveal hypoplasia. Bilateral microcornea, partial aniridia, congenital cataracts, and a large posterior segment coloboma were found in another proband, aged 32 years. One child, aged 8 years, had bilateral high myopia, optic nerve colobomas, anterior polar cataracts, but no iris defects. Another individual, aged 46 years, had bilateral congenital ptosis, iris hypoplasia, keratopathy with marked fibrovascular pannus, anterior polar cataract, and foveal hypoplasia combined with impaired glucose tolerance. However, his daughter, aged 11 years, showed classical features of aniridia. Our study extends the genetic spectrum of PAX6 disease-causing variants and confirms that the associated phenotypic features may be very broad and different to the 'classical' aniridia.
Tracing evolutionary history and admixture in mixed‐ploidy systems

Polyploidy, resulting from whole genome duplication, is a widespread phenomenon throughout Eukaryotic kingdoms. It is estimated that 15% of speciation events in plants is due to polyploidization and 16% of plant species encompass ploidy variation. In spite of the evolutionary and economic significance of polyploidy, there is a limited set of tools that would allow routine population genetic and genomic analysis of polyploid systems, in particular for the inference of population diversity and differentiation from large genome‐wide data sets (Dufresne et al., 2014; Meirmans, 2020). Such a shortage is striking especially when compared to the rapid development of such tools in diploid systems over the last decade. Consequently, population genomic research in polyploids is still lagging behind diploids, especially in autopolyploids, for example, polyploids with multiple (>2) similar genome copies. In this issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, Shastry et al. (2021) develops the first software specifically designed to infer population structure and ancestry in large genome‐wide mixed‐ploidy data sets, opening novel opportunities for polyploid population genomic analysis.