Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Psychosocial Work Factors on Headache: Results from the PRISME Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between psychosocial work factors, assessed as work-unit averages, and headache. For comparison, we applied individual exposure measures. METHODS We used questionnaire-data on headache and psychosocial work factors (PWF). In total, 2247 employees were included in the cross-section analyses and 553 in the longitudinal analyses using work-unit averages. The corresponding numbers for the analyses using individual exposure measures were 4261 and 942 employees. RESULTS Low skill discretion and low decision authority were most consistently associated with higher odds of headache across all analyses. Role conflicts, bullying, and effort-reward imbalance were associated with headache in some analyses. All PWF were associated with headache in cross-sectional analyses with individual exposure measures. CONCLUSION This study partly supports the hypothesis of an effect of PWF, as a source of psychological stress, on the risk of headache.
Bending Properties of Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composites with Various Aspect Ratios and Filler Contents

The key characteristics of bending sensors are piezoresistive effect, hysteresis, and durability. In this study, to investigate the influence of the aspect ratio and contents of multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) on the properties of bending sensors, MWNT/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composites were fabricated with various aspect ratios and filler contents. The MWNTs were uniformly dispersed in the composites using the three-roll milling method. By increasing the bending angle gradually, the sensitivity of each composite was analyzed. Furthermore, discontinuous cyclic bending tests were conducted to investigate the piezoresistive effect and hysteresis. In addition, stable repeatability of the composites was confirmed through continuous cyclic bending tests. As a result, optimal aspect ratios and filler contents have been presented for application in bending sensors of MWNT composites.
Environmental cadmium exposure and noncancer mortality in a general Japanese population in cadmium nonpolluted regions

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of environmental cadmium exposure according to urinary cadmium concentration (U‐Cd) on noncancer mortality in a general Japanese population. We conducted a longitudinal study for 19 years in 2804 inhabitants (1107 men and 1697 women) in some cadmium nonpolluted regions in Japan. The participants were classified into quartiles based on U‐Cd (μg/g cre) adjusted for urinary creatinine. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for continuous U‐Cd or the quartiles of U‐Cd were calculated for noncancer mortality. By applying a Fine and Gray competing risk model, continuous U‐Cd (+1 μg/g cre) showed significant HR for cardiocerebrovascular diseases (HR 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00–1.11), cerebrovascular diseases (HR 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01–1.16), and cerebral infarction (HR 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04–1.20) in men. However, notable significant HR for continuous and quartered U‐Cd were not observed in women. In this study, U‐Cd was associated with increased cardiocerebrovascular mortality in a general Japanese population, suggesting that environmental cadmium exposure is detrimental to the life prognosis in cadmium nonpolluted regions in Japan.
Joint disc and cup segmentation based on recurrent fully convolutional network

The optic disc(OD) and the optic cup(OC) segmentation is an key step in fundus medical image analysis. Previously, FCN-based methods have been proposed for medical image segmentation tasks. However, the consecutive convolution and pooling operations usually hinder dense prediction tasks which require detailed spatial information, such as image segmentation. In this paper, we propose a network called Recurrent Fully Convolution Network(RFC-Net) for automatic joint segmentation of the OD and the OC, which can captures more high-level information and subtle edge information. The RFC-Net can minimize the loss of spatial information. It is mainly composed of multi-scale input layer, recurrent fully convolutional network, multiple output layer and polar transformation. In RFC-Net, the multi-scale input layer constructs an image pyramid. We propose four recurrent units, which are respectively applied to RFC-Net. Recurrent convolution layer effectively ensures feature representation for OD and OC segmentation tasks through feature accumulation. For each multiple output image, the multiple output cross entropy loss function is applied. To better balance the cup ratio of the segmented image, the polar transformation is used to transform the fundus image from the cartesian coordinate system to the polar coordinate system. We evaluate the effectiveness and generalization of the proposed method on the DRISHTI-GS1 dataset. Compared with the original FCN method and other state-of-the-art methods, the proposed method achieves better segmentation performance.
Loss of the Mitochondrial Fission GTPase Drp1 Contributes to Neurodegeneration in a Drosophila Model of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

Mitochondrial morphology, distribution and function are maintained by the opposing forces of mitochondrial fission and fusion, the perturbation of which gives rise to several neurodegenerative disorders. The large guanosine triphosphate (GTP)ase dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) is a critical regulator of mitochondrial fission by mediating membrane scission, often at points of mitochondrial constriction at endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondrial contacts. Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) subtype SPG61 is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the ER-shaping protein Arl6IP1. We have previously reported defects in both the ER and mitochondrial networks in a Drosophila model of SPG61. In this study, we report that knockdown of Arl6IP1 lowers Drp1 protein levels, resulting in reduced ER–mitochondrial contacts and impaired mitochondrial load at the distal ends of long motor neurons. Increasing mitochondrial fission, by overexpression of wild-type Drp1 but not a dominant negative Drp1, increases ER–mitochondrial contacts, restores mitochondrial load within axons and partially rescues locomotor deficits. Arl6IP1 knockdown Drosophila also demonstrate impaired autophagic flux and an accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, which occur independent of Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission defects. Together, these findings provide evidence that impaired mitochondrial fission contributes to neurodegeneration in this in vivo model of HSP.
Plasma C-Peptide and Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes in the General Population

C-peptide measurement may represent a better index of pancreatic β-cell function compared to insulin. While insulin is mainly cleared by liver, C-peptide is mainly metabolized by kidneys. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between baseline plasma C-peptide level and the development of type 2 diabetes independent of glucose and insulin levels and to examine potential effect-modification by variables related to kidney function. We included 5176 subjects of the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-Stage Disease study without type 2 diabetes at baseline. C-peptide was measured in plasma with an electrochemiluminescent immunoassay. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the association between C-peptide level and type 2 diabetes development. Median C-peptide was 722 (566–935) pmol/L. During a median follow-up of 7.2 (6.0–7.7) years, 289 individuals developed type 2 diabetes. In multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models, we observed a significant positive association of C-peptide with the risk of type 2 diabetes independent of glucose and insulin levels (hazard ratio (HR): 2.35; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.49–3.70). Moreover, we found significant effect modification by hypertension and albuminuria (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001 for interaction, respectively), with a stronger association in normotensive and normo-albuminuric subjects and absence of an association in subjects with hypertension or albuminuria. In this population-based cohort, elevated C-peptide levels are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes independent of glucose, insulin levels, and clinical risk factors. Elevated C-peptide level was not independently associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in individuals with hypertension or albuminuria.
Abiotic Stress Tolerance Analysis Two Alternatively Spliced Isoforms of LEA3 Gene from Pogonatherum paniceum in Yeast

It was to analyze the sequence of Pogonatherum paniceum group 3 LEA proteins alternatively spliced isoforms,and to detect the abiotic stresses tolerance of PpLEA3 spliced isoforms.The two spliced isoforms of PpLEA3 gene were amplified by PCR reaction using the plasmids pMD19-T-PpLEA3.a and pMD19-T-PpLEA3.b as the templates,respectively.The yeast expression plasmid of pYES2-PpLEA3.a and pYES2-PpLEA3.b was constructed and then transformed into yeast to create recombinant INV-PpLEA3.a and INV-PpLEA3.b. Stress tolerance tests showed that LEA3 yeast transformants exhibited a higher survival rates than the control transformants under salt(NaCl),NaHCO3,freezing,drought and ultraviolet radiation.PpLEA3.a has stronger abiotic stresses tolerance than PpLEA3.b. The nucleic acid sequence of two splicing isoforms have different protein hydrophilicity and structure which leading to differences in the stress tolerance.
Postmitotic expansion of cell nuclei requires nuclear actin filament bundling by α‐actinin 4

The actin cytoskeleton operates in a multitude of cellular processes including cell shape and migration, mechanoregulation, and membrane or organelle dynamics. However, its filamentous properties and functions inside the mammalian cell nucleus are less well explored. We previously described transient actin assembly at mitotic exit that promotes nuclear expansion during chromatin decondensation. Here, we identify non‐muscle α‐actinin 4 (ACTN4) as a critical regulator to facilitate F‐actin reorganization and bundling during postmitotic nuclear expansion. ACTN4 binds to nuclear actin filament structures, and ACTN4 clusters associate with nuclear F‐actin in a highly dynamic fashion. ACTN4 but not ACTN1 is required for proper postmitotic nuclear volume expansion, mediated by its actin‐binding domain. Using super‐resolution imaging to quantify actin filament numbers and widths in individual nuclei, we find that ACTN4 is necessary for postmitotic nuclear actin reorganization and actin filament bundling. Our findings uncover a nuclear cytoskeletal function for ACTN4 to control nuclear size and chromatin organization during mitotic cell division.
Functional morphology, diversity, and evolution of yolk processing specializations in embryonic reptiles and birds

Evolution of the terrestrial, amniotic egg of vertebrates required new mechanisms by which yolk material could be processed for embryonic use. Recent studies on each of the major extant reptile groups have revealed elaborate morphological specializations for yolk processing, features that differ dramatically from those of birds. In the avian pattern, liquid yolk is housed in a yolk sac whose endodermal lining absorbs and digests yolk material and sends resultant nutrients into the blood circulation. In snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodilians, as documented herein, the yolk sac becomes invaded by endodermal cells that proliferate and phagocytose yolk material. Blood vessels then invade, and the endodermal cells become arranged around them, forming elongated “spaghetti‐like” strands that fill the yolk sac cavity. This pattern provides an effective means by which yolk material is cellularized, digested, and transported by vitelline vessels to the developing embryo. Phylogenetically, the (non‐avian) “reptilian” pattern was ancestral for sauropsids and was modified or replaced in ancestors to birds. This review postulates that evolution of the “avian” pattern involved increased reliance on extracellular digestion of yolk, allowing embryonic development to occur more rapidly than in typical reptiles. Comparative studies of yolk processing that draw on morphological, biochemical, molecular approaches are needed to explain how and why the “reptilian” pattern was replaced in birds or their archosaurian ancestors.
Effect of Different Timings of Implant Insertion on the Bone Remodeling Volume around Patients’ Maxillary Single Implants: A 2–3 Years Follow-Up

Background: To investigate the middle-term effect on bone remodeling of different timings for different implant placement (immediate versus delayed). Methods: Patients with an anterior maxillary failing tooth were treated by single-crown supported by dental implant. Subjects were retrospectively analyzed for 3 years and assigned to one of two predictor groups: nine immediate versus 10 delayed implant placement (1–2 months after tooth extraction). The crestal bone loss around dental implants was measured with the cone beam computerized tomography by fusing pre-operative and post-operative data. Results: The percentage of volume loss registered at 1-year follow-up (%ΔV) was of 7.5% for the immediate group, which was significantly lower (p-values ≤ 0.0002) than the loss of 24.2% for the delayed group. At 3 years, there was a significant difference (p-values = 0.0291) between the two groups, respectively, with a volume loss of 14.6% and 27.1%. When different times were compared, the percentage of the volume loss for the immediate group was different (p-value = 0.0366) between the first and third year (7.5% and 14.6%, respectively). For the delayed group, no significant difference was registered between the 1- and 3-year follow-up. Conclusions: The bone loss around dental implant-supported single-crown with different timing of insertion appeared higher for the delayed group than the immediate group.
Objectifying the level of incomplete revascularization by residual SYNTAX score and evaluating the impact of incomplete revascularization on exercise tolerance in patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease treated by percutaneous coronary intervention

Abstract The prognostic impact of incomplete revascularization (ICR) on patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was vague. Our research aimed to objectify the level of ICR by residual SYNTAX score (rSS) and evaluate the impact of ICR on exercise tolerance. We enrolled 87 patients who completed cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) within 12 months after PCI, retrospectively. According to rSS, patients were divided into rSS = 0 group, 0 < rSS ≤ 8 group, and rSS > 8 group. The CPET variables--including peak metabolic equivalent (METpeak), percentages of predicting value of METpeak (METpeak%pred), MET at anaerobic threshold (AT), peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), percentages of predicting value of VO2peak (VO2peak%pred), VO2 at AT--were collected and compared. Among rSS = 0, 0 < rSS ≤ 8 and rSS > 8 groups, patients with higher rSS had progressively lower METpeak, METpeak%pred, VO2peak%pred, VO2 at AT, and MET at AT, which indicate reduced exercise tolerance. And further multiple comparisons showed that there were no statistically significant differences between rSS = 0 and 0 < rSS ≤ 8 groups, while the aforementioned CPET variables were significantly lower in rSS > 8 group compared with rSS = 0 group. Logistic regression analysis showed that rSS was an independent risk factor for reduced exercise tolerance. There was no significant difference in exercise tolerance between rSS = 0 and 0 < rSS ≤ 8 groups. However, the exercise tolerance of patients in rSS = 0 and 0 < rSS ≤ 8 groups was better than that of patients in rSS > 8 group; rSS was an independent risk factors for reduced exercise tolerance.
Effects of body visualization on performance in head-mounted display virtual reality

Although there are many virtual reality (VR) applications in sports, only a handful of studies visualized the whole body. There is still a lack of understanding, how much of the own body must be visualized in the head-mounted display (HMD) based VR, to ensure fidelity and similar performance outcome as in the real-world. In the current study, 20 young and healthy participants completed three tasks in a real and virtual environment: balance task, grasping task, and throwing task with a ball. The aim was to find out the meaning of the visualization of different body parts for the quality of movement execution and to derive future guidelines for virtual body presentation. In addition, a comparison of human performance between reality and VR, with whole-body visualization was made. Focusing on the main goal of the current study, there were differences within the measured parameters due to the visualization of different body parts. In the balance task, the differences within the VR body visualization consisted mainly through no-body visualization (NB) compared to the other visualization types defined as whole-body (WB), WB except feet (NF), as well as WB except feet and legs (NLF). In the grasping task, the different body visualization seemed to have no impact on the participants’ performances. In the throwing task, the whole-body visualization led to higher accuracy compared to the other visualization types. Regarding the comparison between the conditions, we found significant differences between reality and VR, which had a large effect on the parameters time for completion in the balance and grasping task, the number of foot strikes on the beam in the balance task, as well as the subjective estimation of the difficulty for all tasks. However, the number of errors and the quality of the performances did not differ significantly. The current study was the first study comparing sports-related tasks in VR and reality with further manipulations (occlusions of body parts) of the virtual body. For studies analyzing perception and sports performance or for VR sports interventions, we recommend the visualization of the whole body in real-time.
Deep Learning for Diagnosis and Segmentation of Pneumothorax: The Results on the Kaggle Competition and Validation Against Radiologists

Pneumothorax is potentially a life-threatening disease that requires urgent diagnosis and treatment. The chest X-ray is the diagnostic modality of choice when pneumothorax is suspected. The computer-aided diagnosis of pneumothorax has received a dramatic boost in the last few years due to deep learning advances and the first public pneumothorax diagnosis competition with 15257 chest X-rays manually annotated by a team of 19 radiologists. This paper describes one of the top frameworks that participated in the competition. The framework investigates the benefits of combining the Unet convolutional neural network with various backbones, namely ResNet34, SE-ResNext50, SE-ResNext101, and DenseNet121. The paper presents a step-by-step instruction for the framework application, including data augmentation, and different pre- and post-processing steps. The performance of the framework was of 0.8574 measured in terms of the Dice coefficient. The second contribution of the paper is the comparison of the deep learning framework against three experienced radiologists on the pneumothorax detection and segmentation on challenging X-rays. We also evaluated how diagnostic confidence of radiologists affects the accuracy of the diagnosis and observed that the deep learning framework and radiologists find the same X-rays to be easy/difficult to analyze (p-value <1e4). Finally, the methodology of all top-performing teams from the competition leaderboard was analyzed to find the consistent methodological patterns of accurate pneumothorax detection and segmentation.
A Smartphone App to Monitor Mood Symptoms in Bipolar Disorder: Development and Usability Study

Background There is considerable scientific interest in finding new and innovative ways to capture rapid fluctuations in functioning within individuals with bipolar disorder (BD), a severe, recurrent mental disorder associated with frequent shifts in symptoms and functioning. The use of smartphones can provide valid and real-world tools for use in measurement-based care and could be used to inform more personalized treatment options for this group, which can improve standard of care. Objective We examined the feasibility and usability of a smartphone to capture daily fluctuations in mood within BD and to relate daily self-rated mood to smartphone use behaviors indicative of psychomotor activity or symptoms of the illness. Methods Participants were 26 individuals with BD and 12 healthy control individuals who were recruited from the Prechter Longitudinal Study of BD. All were given a smartphone with a custom-built app and prompted twice a day to complete questions of mood for 28 days. The app automatically and unobtrusively collected phone usage data. A poststudy satisfaction survey was also completed. Results Our sample showed a very high adherence rate to the daily momentary assessments (91% of the 58 prompts completed). Multivariate mixed effect models showed that an increase in rapid thoughts over time was associated with a decrease in outgoing text messages (β=–.02; P=.04), and an increase in impulsivity self-ratings was related to a decrease in total call duration (β=–.29; P=.02). Participants generally reported positive experiences using the smartphone and completing daily prompts. Conclusions Use of mobile technology shows promise as a way to collect important clinical information that can be used to inform treatment decision making and monitor outcomes in a manner that is not overly burdensome to the patient or providers, highlighting its potential use in measurement-based care.
In Search for a Planet Better than Earth: Top Contenders for a Superhabitable World

The fact that Earth is teeming with life makes it appear odd to ask whether there could be other planets in our galaxy that may be even more suitable for life. Neglecting this possible class of “superhabitable” planets, however, could be considered anthropocentric and geocentric biases. Most important from the perspective of an observer searching for extrasolar life is that such a search might be executed most effectively with a focus on superhabitable planets instead of Earth-like planets. We argue that there could be regions of astrophysical parameter space of star-planet systems that could allow for planets to be even better for life than our Earth. We aim to identify those parameters and their optimal ranges, some of which are astrophysically motivated, whereas others are based on the varying habitability of the natural history of our planet. Some of these conditions are far from being observationally testable on planets outside the solar system. Still, we can distill a short list of 24 top contenders among the >4000 exoplanets known today that could be candidates for a superhabitable planet. In fact, we argue that, with regard to the search for extrasolar life, potentially superhabitable planets may deserve higher priority for follow-up observations than most Earth-like planets.