Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional anatomy of the frontal aslant tract and surgical perspectives.

The frontal aslant tract (FAT) is an intralobar white matter fasciculus providing dense connections between the medial part of the superior frontal gyrus, in particular the pre-supplementary motor area (SMA) and the SMA proper, and the lateral part of the frontal lobe, especially the inferior frontal gyrus. Although this tract has been characterized belatedly, it has received important attention in recent years due notably to its increasingly evidenced role in the speech and language networks. As cerebral tumors frequently affect the frontal lobe, an improved knowledge of the functional anatomy of the FAT is mandatory to refine the way neurosurgeries are performed and to give the patients the best opportunities to recover after surgery. In this work, we first describe the spatial arrangement of the FAT and detail its cortical projections. We then provide a comprehensive review of the functions supposedly mediated by this transverse frontal connectivity. It is structured following a tripartite organization where the linguistic (i.e. speech and language), supralinguistic (i.e. functions that interact with speech and language: executive functions, working memory, and social communication) and extralinguistic implications (i.e. functions outside the linguistic domain: visuospatial processing, praxis and motor skills) are successively addressed. We lastly discussed this knowledge in the context of wide-awake neurosurgeries for brain tumors. We emphasize the need to evaluate thoroughly the functions conveyed by FAT by means of longitudinally-designed studies to first estimate its plasticity potential and then to determine which tasks should be selected to avoid lasting impairments due to its disconnective breakdown.
Intercalation driven porosity effects on the electro-chemo-thermo-mechanical response in continuum models for battery material electrodes

We present a coupled continuum formulation for the electrostatic, chemical, thermal and mechanical processes in battery materials. Our treatment applies on the macroscopic scale, at which electrodes can be modelled as porous materials made up of active particles held together by binders and perfused by the electrolyte. Starting with the description common to the field, in terms of reaction-transport partial differential equations for ions, variants of the classical Poisson equation for electrostatics, and the heat equation, we add mechanics to the problem. Our main contribution is to model the evolution of porosity as a consequence of strains induced by intercalation, thermal expansion and mechanical stresses. Recognizing the potential for large local deformations, we have settled on the finite strain framework. In this first communication we have carried out a detailed computational study on the influence of the dynamically evolving porosity, via the electrostatic and reaction-transport coefficients, upon ion distribution, electrostatic potential fields, and charge-discharge cycles.
Kinetic Analysis Suggests Evolution of Ribosome Specificity in Modern Elongation Factor-Tus from “Generalist” Ancestors

Abstract It has been hypothesized that early enzymes are more promiscuous than their extant orthologs. Whether or not this hypothesis applies to the translation machinery, the oldest molecular machine of life, is not known. Efficient protein synthesis relies on a cascade of specific interactions between the ribosome and the translation factors. Here, using elongation factor-Tu (EF-Tu) as a model system, we have explored the evolution of ribosome specificity in translation factors. Employing presteady state fast kinetics using quench flow, we have quantitatively characterized the specificity of two sequence-reconstructed 1.3- to 3.3-Gy-old ancestral EF-Tus toward two unrelated bacterial ribosomes, mesophilic Escherichia coli and thermophilic Thermus thermophilus. Although the modern EF-Tus show clear preference for their respective ribosomes, the ancestral EF-Tus show similar specificity for diverse ribosomes. In addition, despite increase in the catalytic activity with temperature, the ribosome specificity of the thermophilic EF-Tus remains virtually unchanged. Our kinetic analysis thus suggests that EF-Tu proteins likely evolved from the catalytically promiscuous, “generalist” ancestors. Furthermore, compatibility of diverse ribosomes with the modern and ancestral EF-Tus suggests that the ribosomal core probably evolved before the diversification of the EF-Tus. This study thus provides important insights regarding the evolution of modern translation machinery.
Validity and reliability of an electromyography-based upper limb assessment quantifying selective voluntary motor control in children with upper motor neuron lesions

Current clinical assessments evaluating selective voluntary motor control are measured on an ordinal scale. We combined the Selective Control of the Upper Extremity Scale (SCUES) with surface electromyography to develop a more objective and interval-scaled assessment of selective voluntary motor control. The resulting Similarity Index (SI) quantifies the similarity of muscle activation patterns. We aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of this new assessment named SISCUES (Similarity Index of the SCUES) in children with upper motor neuron lesions. Thirty-three patients (12.2 years [8.8;14.9]) affected by upper motor neuron lesions with mild to moderate impairments and 31 typically developing children (11.6 years [8.5;13.9]) participated. We calculated reference muscle activation patterns for the SISCUES using data of 33 neurologically healthy adults (median [1st; 3rd quantile]: 32.5 [27.9; 38.3]). We calculated Spearman correlations (ρ) between the SISCUES and the SCUES and the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) to establish concurrent validity. Discriminative validity was tested by comparing scores of patients and healthy peers with a robust ANCOVA. Intraclass correlation coefficients2,1 and minimal detectable changes indicated relative and absolute reliability. The SISCUES correlates strongly with SCUES (ρ = 0.76, p < 0.001) and moderately with the MACS (ρ = −0.58, p < 0.001). The average SISCUES can discriminate between patients and peers. The intraclass correlation coefficient2,1 was 0.90 and the minimal detectable change was 0.07 (8% of patients’ median score). Concurrent validity, discriminative validity, and reliability of the SISCUES were established. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether it is responsive enough to detect changes from therapeutic interventions.
Perioperative prehabilitation

INTRODUCTION The basic concept of prehabilitation is enhancement of an individual’s functional capacity in order to withstand an anticipated injury. It embodies the novel idea of being proactive versus the prevailing approach of rehabilitation, which is reactive. Although rehabilitation has been shown to augment fitness recovery post‐surgery, the notion that deconditioning supersedes recovery[1] makes perioperative prehabilitation an interesting premise to consider. Whilst the initial prehabilitation model was confined to physical training, it has now evolved into a multimodal entity that comprises nutritional optimisation, psychosocial preparedness and smoking cessation, in addition to exercise programmes. In the last decade, there has been a heightened drive for prehabilitation to be contemporaneous with surgery, as surgery is rightfully perceived as a stressor to the human structural and physiological functions. Although in theory, the application of perioperative prehabilitation is advantageous, with studies affirming this, we must be wary in implementing it for our patients, as there have been studies showing null to nominal outcomes. We present a review of the literature on the various entities of prehabilitation, focusing on the outcomes and challenges in implementation.
Bilateral regional extracranial blood flow regulation to hypoxia and unilateral duplex ultrasound measurement error

What is the central question of this study? Is blood flow regulation to hypoxia different between the internal carotid arteries (ICAs) and vertebral arteries (VAs), and what is the measurement error in unilateral extracranial artery assessments compared to bilateral? What is the main finding and its importance? ICA and VA blood flow regulation to hypoxia is comparable when factoring for vessel type and vessel side. Compared to bilateral assessment, vessels assessed unilaterally had individual measurement errors of up to 37%. Assessing the vessel with the larger resting blood flow, not the left or right vessel, reduces unilateral measurement error.
Influence of vitamin D treatment on functional expression of drug disposition pathways in human kidney proximal tubule cells during simulated uremia

Abstract Effects of cholecalciferol (VitD3) and calcitriol (1,25-VitD3), on the expression and function of major vitamin D metabolizing enzymes (cytochrome P450 [CYP]2R1, CYP24A1) and select drug transport pathways (ABCB1/P-gp, SLCO4C1/OATP4C1) were evaluated in human kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells (hPTECs) under normal and uraemic serum conditions. hPTECs were incubated with 10% normal or uraemic serum for 24 h followed by treatment with 2% ethanol vehicle, or 100 and 240 nM doses of VitD3, or 1,25-VitD3 for 6 days. The effects of treatment on mRNA and protein expression and functional activity of select CYP enzymes and transporters were assessed Under uraemic serum, treatment with 1,25-VitD3 resulted in increased mRNA but decreased protein expression of CYP2R1. Activity of CYP2R1 was not influenced by serum or VitD analogues. CYP24A1 expression was increased with 1,25-VitD3 under normal as well as uraemic serum, although to a lesser extent. ABCB1/P-gp mRNA expression increased under normal and uraemic serum, with exposure to 1,25-VitD3. SLCO4C1/OATP4C1 exhibited increased mRNA but decreased protein expression, under uraemic serum + 1,25-VitD3. Functional assessments of transport showed no changes regardless of exposure to serum or 1,25-VitD3. Key findings indicate that uraemic serum and VitD treatment led to differential effects on the functional expression of CYPs and transporters in hPTECs.
Role of Sea Fog Over the Yellow Sea on Air Quality With the Direct Effect of Aerosols

In this study, we investigate the impact of sea fog over the Yellow Sea on air quality with the direct effect of aerosols for the entire year of 2016. Using the WRF‐CMAQ two‐way coupled model, we perform four model simulations with the up‐to‐date emission inventory over East Asia and dynamic chemical boundary conditions provided by hemispheric model simulations. During the spring of 2016, prevailing west‐southwesterly winds and anticyclones caused the formation of a temperature inversion over the Yellow Sea, providing favorable conditions for the formation of fog. The inclusion of the direct effect of aerosols enhanced its strength. On foggy days, we find dominant changes of aerosols at an altitude of 150–200 m over the Yellow Sea resulted by the production through aqueous chemistry (∼12.36% and ∼3.08% increases in sulfate and ammonium) and loss via the wet deposition process (∼‐3.79% decrease in nitrate); we also find stronger wet deposition of all species occurring in PBL. Stagnant conditions associated with reduced air temperature caused by the direct effect of aerosols enhanced aerosol chemistry, especially in coastal regions, and it exceeded the loss of nitrate. The transport of air pollutants affected by sea fog extended to a much broader region. Our findings show that the Yellow Sea acts as not only a path of long‐range transport but also as a sink and source of air pollutants. Further study should investigate changes in the impact of sea fog on air quality in conjunction with changes in the concentrations of aerosols and the climate.
County-level predictors of retention in care status among people living with HIV in South Carolina from 2010 to 2016: a data-driven approach

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the geospatial variation of retention in care (RIC) across the counties in South Carolina (SC) from 2010 to 2016 and identify the relevant county-level predictors. Design: Aggregated data on county-level RIC among HIV patients from 2010 to 2016 were retrieved from an electronic HIV/AIDS reporting system in SC Department of Health and Environmental Control. Sociological framework of health was used to select potential county-level predictors from multiple public datasets. Methods: Geospatial mapping was used to display the spatial heterogeneity of county-level RIC rate in SC. Generalized linear mixed effect regression with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was employed to identify county-level predictors related to the change of RIC status over time. Confusion matrix and area under the curve statistics were used to evaluate model performance. Results: More than half of the counties had their RIC rates lower than the national average. The change of county-level RIC rate from 2010 to 2016 was not significant, and spatial heterogeneity in RIC rate was identified. A total of 22 of the 31 county-level predictors were selected by LASSO for predicting county-level RIC status. Counties with lower collective efficacy, larger proportions of men and/or persons with high education were more likely to have their RIC rates lower than the national average. In contrast, numbers of accessible mental health centres were positively related to county-level RIC status. Conclusion: Spatial variation in RIC could be identified, and county-level factors associated with accessible healthcare facilities and social capital significantly contributed to these variations. Structural and individual interventions targeting these factors are needed to improve the county-level RIC and reduce the spatial variation in HIV care.
Estimation of breeding probability can make monitoring data more revealing: a case study of amphibians.

Monitoring programmes serve to detect trends in the distribution and abundance of species. To do so, monitoring programmes often use static state variables. Dynamic state variables which describe population dynamics might be more valuable because they allow for a mechanistic understanding of the processes which lead to population trends. We fit multistate occupancy models to data from a country-wide multispecies amphibian occupancy monitoring programme and estimated occupancy and breeding probabilities. If breeding probabilities are determinants of occupancy dynamics, then they may serve in monitoring programmes as state variables which describe dynamic processes. The results showed that breeding probabilities were low and that a large proportion of the populations had to be considered to be non-breeding populations (i.e., populations where adults are present but no breeding occurs). For some species, the majority of populations were non-breeding populations. We found that non-breeding populations have lower persistence probabilities than populations where breeding occurs. Breeding probabilities may thus explain trends in occupancy but they might also explain other ecological phenomena, such as the success of invasive species, which had high breeding probabilities. Signs of breeding, i.e., the presence of eggs and larvae, were often hard to detect. Importantly, non-breeding populations also had low detection probabilities, perhaps because they had lower abundances. We suggest that monitoring programmes should invest more into the detection of life history stages indicative of breeding, and also into the detection of non-breeding populations. We conclude that breeding probability should be used as a state variable in monitoring programmes because it can lead to deeper insights into the processes driving occupancy dynamics.
Metal-assisted chemical etching of silicon with different metal films and clusters: a review

In this work we provided a review of the study of MACE (metal-assisted chemical etching) of Si with Ag, Pt, Ni and Au films and clusters. Type and shape of the metal mask play an important role in determination of morphology of the nanostructured layer. It is possible to form both wide range of porous layer and nanowires array. The basic features of the MACE with various types and shape of the metal were revealed.
Luftwechselraten in Wohn- und Arbeitsräumen

Because of the energy saving constructions and the use of pollutants containing construction materials is the natural air exchange rate of new or redecorated buildings often underneath 0.5 h -1 which is to low from the hygienic point of view. It is demanded an air exchange rate between 0.8 and 1 h -1 in used rooms. We are giving an overview about air exchanging rates and we are presenting a method for measuring air exchange rates which we further developed. Through a thermostabilisated tracergas source the tracergas is emitting continuously into the room. The evaluation is made by GC/ECD. It is possible to detect air exchange rates until 0.01 h -1 . Some results are presented too.
Effectiveness of five soil reclamation and reforestation techniques on oil and gas well sites in northeastern British Columbia

McConkey, T. , Bulmer, C. and Sanborn, P. 2012. Effectiveness of five soil reclamation and reforestation techniques on oil and gas well sites in northeastern British Columbia. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 165-177. Techniques developed for forestry landing reclamation were applied to five oil and gas well sites in northeastern British Columbia to ameliorate soil and facilitate reforestation. Treatments implemented in fall 2003 and spring 2004 were tillage, wood chip mulch, tillage+wood chip mulch, tillage+incorporated wood chips, brush mats and a control. Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) and white spruce (Picea glauca) seedlings were planted. Soil and vegetation were assessed (bulk density, soil mechanical resistance, water content, air filled porosity, water retention, least limiting water range, nutrient availability, seedling survival and growth) throughout 2004 and 2005 growing seasons. Tillage improved soil physical condition, reducing soil mechanical resistance and bulk density; treatments did not affect soil chemical properties. Treatments did not significantly affect species survival; after 6 yr, spruce height and root collar diameter improved with tillage but treatments did not affect pine. Brush mats led to increased spruce growth. Regression relationships between tree performance and soil condition were significant, but generally did not explain large variability. More elaborate soil physical condition measures were no better than bulk density for predicting seedling performance, but relative bulk density and least limiting water range may be useful for evaluating soil productivity.
Adolescent HIV-related behavioural prediction using machine learning: a foundation for precision HIV prevention

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Background: Precision prevention is increasingly important in HIV prevention research to move beyond universal interventions to those tailored for high-risk individuals. The current study was designed to develop machine learning algorithms for predicting adolescent HIV risk behaviours. Methods: Comprehensive longitudinal data on adolescent risk behaviours, perceptions, peer and family influence, and neighbourhood risk factors were collected from 2564 grade-10 students at baseline followed for 24 months over 2008–2012. Machine learning techniques [support vector machine (SVM) and random forests] were applied to innovatively leverage longitudinal data for robust HIV risk behaviour prediction. In this study, we focused on two adolescent risk behaviours: had ever had sex and had multiple sex partners. Twenty percent of the data were withheld for model testing. Results: The SVM model with cost-sensitive learning achieved the highest sensitivity, at 79.1%, specificity of 75.4% with AUC of 0.86 in predicting multiple sex partners on the training data (10-fold cross-validation), and sensitivity of 79.7%, specificity of 76.5% with AUC of 0.86 on the testing data. The random forest model obtained the best performance in predicting had ever had sex, yielding the sensitivity of 78.5%, specificity of 73.1% with AUC of 0.84 on the training data and sensitivity of 82.7%, specificity of 75.3% with AUC of 0.87 on the testing data. Conclusion: Machine learning methods can be used to build effective prediction model(s) to identify adolescents who are likely to engage in HIV risk behaviours. This study builds a foundation for targeted intervention strategies and informs precision prevention efforts in school-setting.
Risk factors for stress among police officers: A systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND Stress is common among police personnel leading to several negative consequences. OBJECTIVE We performed a systematic literature review to identify risk factors for stress among police officers. METHODS We searched PubMed and Scopus electronic databases through to July 2018 and we conducted this review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used for studies quality assessment. RESULTS After selection, 29 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria and included in the review. The average quality of studies was low since no study was rated as having low risk of bias, three studies (10.3%) as moderate risk and 26 studies (89.7%) were rated as having high risk of bias. Stress risk factors were summarized in the following categories: demographic characteristics; job characteristics; lifestyle factors; negative coping strategies and negative personality traits. CONCLUSIONS Identification of stress risk factors is the first step to create and adopt the appropriate interventions to decrease stress among police personnel. The early identification of police officers at higher risk and the appropriate screening for mental health disorders is crucial to prevent disease and promote quality of life.