Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Acknowledge–Normalize–Partner (ANP) Framework: A novel empathic communication tool for oncology nurses

Abstract Objective To describe the development and implementation of a novel tool designed to enhance nurse–patient communication in a major academic cancer center, which nurses can learn quickly, incorporate into their primary palliative care practice, and broadly disseminate in order to improve the patient experience. Method An evidence-based empathic communication tool and educational program were designed to provide essential skills to oncology nurses in having discussions with patients about their personal values. Evaluation included nurse focus groups, pre- and post-course evaluations and interviews, and patient questionnaires. Results Nurses were satisfied with the educational program and found the communication tool effective in a variety of clinical situations including discussions about personal values. Patients reported increased occurrences of these discussions when nurses utilized the framework (97% vs. 58%, p < 0.0001) and a higher quality of clinician communication (mean [SD] from 0 = very worst to 10 = very best: 7.18 [2.3] vs. 5.04 [2.9], p = 0.001). Significance of results Skilled, empathic communication is an essential component of high-quality primary palliative care. Oncology nurses are well suited to lead communication and provide this care as part of an interprofessional team. The training and tool described here are targeted and efficient, and prepare nurses to respond skillfully to emotion while facilitating important discussions about patient values.
Genetics and Brain Transcriptomics of Completed Suicide.

OBJECTIVE The authors sought to study the transcriptomic and genomic features of completed suicide by parsing the method chosen, to capture molecular correlates of the distinctive frame of mind of individuals who die by suicide, while reducing heterogeneity. METHODS The authors analyzed gene expression (RNA sequencing) from postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of patients who died by suicide with violent compared with nonviolent means, nonsuicide patients with the same psychiatric disorders, and a neurotypical group (total N=329). They then examined genomic risk scores (GRSs) for each psychiatric disorder included, and GRSs for cognition (IQ) and for suicide attempt, testing how they predict diagnosis or traits (total N=888). RESULTS Patients who died by suicide by violent means showed a transcriptomic pattern remarkably divergent from each of the other patient groups but less from the neurotypical group; consistently, their genomic profile of risk was relatively low for their diagnosed illness as well as for suicide attempt, and relatively high for IQ: they were more similar to the neurotypical group than to other patients. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with patients who died by suicide by violent means pointed to purinergic signaling in microglia, showing similarities to a genome-wide association study of Drosophila aggression. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis revealed that these DEGs were coexpressed in a context of mitochondrial metabolic activation unique to suicide by violent means. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that patients who die by suicide by violent means are in part biologically separable from other patients with the same diagnoses, and their behavioral outcome may be less dependent on genetic risk for conventional psychiatric disorders and be associated with an alteration of purinergic signaling and mitochondrial metabolism.
Clinical magnetic hyperthermia requires integrated magnetic particle imaging

Abstract Magnetic nanomaterials that respond to clinical magnetic devices have significant potential as cancer nanotheranostics. The complexities of their physics, however, introduce challenges for these applications. Hyperthermia is a heat‐based cancer therapy that improves treatment outcomes and patient survival when controlled energy delivery is combined with accurate thermometry. To date, few technologies have achieved the needed evolution for the demands of the clinic. Magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) offers this potential, but to be successful it requires particle‐imaging technology that provides real‐time thermometry. Presently, the only technology having the potential to meet these requirements is magnetic particle imaging (MPI), for which a proof‐of‐principle demonstration with MFH has been achieved. Successful clinical translation and adoption of integrated MPI/MFH technology will depend on successful resolution of the technological challenges discussed. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging
DNMT1 is a negative regulator of osteogenesis

ABSTRACT The role and underlying mechanisms of DNA methylation in osteogenesis/chondrogenesis remain poorly understood. We here reveal DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), which is responsible for copying DNA methylation onto the newly synthesized DNA strand after DNA replication, is overexpressed in sponge bone of people and mice with senile osteoporosis and required for suppression of osteoblast (OB) differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and osteoprogenitors. Depletion of DNMT1 results in demethylation at the promoters of key osteogenic genes such as RORA and Fgfr2, and consequent upregulation of their transcription in vitro. Mechanistically, DNMT1 binds exactly to the promoters of these genes and are responsible for their 5-mc methylation. Conversely, simultaneous depletion of RORA or Fgfr2 blunts the effects of DNMT1 silencing on OB differentiation, suggesting RORA or Fgfr2 may be crucial for modulating osteogenic differentiation downstream of DNMT1. Collectively, these results reveal DNMT1 as a key repressor of OB differentiation and bone formation while providing us a new rationale for specific inhibition of DNMT1 as a potential therapeutic strategy to treat age-related bone loss.
Treatment de‐escalation for HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) related oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) carries a better prognosis compared with HPV‐counterparts, thereby pushing the adoption of de‐intensification treatment approaches as new strategies to preserve superior oncologic outcomes while minimizing toxicity. We evaluated the effect of treatment de‐intensification in terms of overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), locoregional and distant control (LRC and DM) by selecting prospective or retrospective studies, providing outcome data with reduced intensification versus standard curative treatment in HPV+ OPC patients, with a systematic analysis till September 2020. The primary outcome of interest was OS. Secondary endpoints were PFS, LRC, and DM expressed as HR. A total of 55 studies (from 1393 screened references) were employed for quantitative synthesis for 38 929 patients. Among n = 48 studies with data available, de‐intensified treatments reduced OS in HPV+ OPCs (HR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.17–1.52; p < 0.01). In de‐escalated treatments, PFS was also decreased (HR = 2.11, 95% CI 1.65–2.69; p < 0.01). Compared with standard treatments, reduced intensity approaches were associated with reduced locoregional and distant disease control (HR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.75–3.59; p < 0.01; and HR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.25–2.9; p < 0.01). Chemoradiation improved survival in a definitive curative setting compared with radiotherapy alone (HR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.16–1.75; p < 0.01). When adjuvant treatments were compared, standard and de‐escalation strategies provided similar OS. In conclusion, in patients with HPV+ OPC, de‐escalation treatments should not be widely and agnostically adopted in clinical practice, as therein lies a concrete risk of offering a sub‐optimal treatment to patients.
Multiple Sources Underlie ERP Indices of Task-Switching

Previous investigations of task-switching have reported that cue-related processes are indexed by a differential switch positivity (D-Pos) and that stimulus-related processes are indexed by a differential switch-negativity (D-Neg). The aim of the current study was to use low resolution electromagnetic tomography to localize the sources of DPos and D-Neg. Participants switched randomly between simple tasks and showed an increase in reaction time (RT) for switch relative to repeat trials, i.e., an RT switch cost. ERP waveforms showed a D-Pos in the cue-related interval and a D-Neg in the stimulus-related interval. D-Pos was localized to the superior parietal cortex, supporting arguments that D-Pos is associated with activating task rules during anticipatory reconfiguration. D-Neg was localized to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, implicating D-Neg in post-stimulus control.
First-trimester exposure to benzodiazepines and risk of congenital malformations in offspring: A population-based cohort study in South Korea

Background Benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed during pregnancy; however, evidence about possible teratogenicity is equivocal. We aimed to evaluate the association between first-trimester benzodiazepine use and the risk of major congenital malformations. Methods and findings Using Korea’s nationwide healthcare database, we conducted a population-based cohort study of women who gave birth during 2011 to 2018 and their live-born infants. The exposure was defined as one or more benzodiazepine prescriptions during the first trimester. We determined the relative risks (RRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) of overall congenital malformations and 12 types of organ-specific malformations. Infants were followed from birth to death or 31 December 2019, whichever came first (up to 8 years of age). Propensity score fine stratification was employed to control for 45 potential confounders. Among a total of 3,094,227 pregnancies, 40,846 (1.3%) were exposed to benzodiazepines during the first trimester (mean [SD] age, 32.4 [4.1] years). The absolute risk of overall malformations was 65.3 per 1,000 pregnancies exposed to benzodiazepines versus 51.4 per 1,000 unexposed pregnancies. The adjusted RR was 1.09 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.13, p < 0.001) for overall malformations and 1.15 (1.10 to 1.21, p < 0.001) for heart defects. Based on mean daily lorazepam-equivalent doses, the adjusted RRs for overall malformations and heart defects were 1.05 (0.99 to 1.12, p = 0.077) and 1.12 (1.04 to 1.21, p = 0.004) for <1 mg/day and 1.26 (1.17 to 1.36, p < 0.001) and 1.31 (1.19 to 1.45, p < 0.001) for >2.5 mg/day doses, respectively, suggesting a dose–response relationship. A small but significant increase in risk for overall and heart defects was detected with several specific agents (range of adjusted RRs: 1.08 to 2.43). The findings were robust across all sensitivity analyses, and negative control analyses revealed a null association. Study limitations include possible exposure misclassification, residual confounding, and restriction to live births. Conclusions In this large nationwide cohort study, we found that first-trimester benzodiazepine exposure was associated with a small increased risk of overall malformations and heart defects, particularly at the higher daily dose. The absolute risks and population attributable fractions were modest. The benefits of benzodiazepines for their major indications must be considered despite the potential risks; if their use is necessary, the lowest effective dosage should be prescribed to minimize the risk. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04856436.
Design of a Fuzzy Logic Sliding mode Model Following Controller for a Brushless DC Servomotor Drivers

Problem statement: A brushless DC servomotor position control system using a fuzzy logic sliding mode model following controller or FLSMFC is presented. Approach: The FLSMFC structure consists of an integrator and variable structure system. Results: The integrator ensures the elimination of steady state error due to step and ramp command inputs, while the fuzzy control would maintain the insensitivity to parameter variation and disturbances. The FLSMFC strategy is implemented and applied to a position control of a brushless DC servomotor. Conclusion/Recommendations: Experimental results indicated that FLSMFC system performance with respect to the sensitivity to parameter variations is greatly reduced. Also, its can achieve a rather accurate servo tracking and avoids the chattering phenomenon.
Circulating microRNA biomarkers in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer

ABSTRACT Introduction Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and is classified in melanoma and non-melanoma cancers, which include basal cell, squamous cell, and Merkel cell carcinoma. Specific microRNAs are dysregulated in each skin cancer type. MicroRNAs act as oncogene or tumor suppressor gene regulators and are actively released from tumor cells in the circulation. Cell-free microRNAs serve many, and possibly yet unexplored, functional roles, but their presence and abundance in the blood has been investigated as disease biomarker. Indeed, specific microRNAs can be isolated and quantified in the blood, usually in serum or plasma fractions, where they are uncommonly stable. MicroRNA levels reflect underlying conditions and have been associated with skin cancer presence, stage, evolution, or therapy efficacy. Areas covered In this review, we summarize the state of the art on circulating microRNAs detectable in skin cancer patients including all the studies that performed microRNA identification and quantification in the circulation using appropriate sample size and statistics and providing detailed methodology, with a specific focus on diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Expert Opinion Circulating microRNAs display a relevant biomarker potential. We expect the development of methodological guidelines and standardized protocols for circulating miRNA quantification in clinical settings.
Ancient DNA analysis reveals temporal and geographical patterns of mitochondrial diversity in pre‐Hispanic populations from Central Argentina

The study of the ancient populations of Central Argentina has a crucial importance for our understanding of the evolutionary processes in the Southern Cone of South America, given its geographic position as a crossroads. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the temporal and geographical patterns of genetic variation among the groups that inhabited the current territory of Córdoba Province during the Middle and Late Holocene.
Tractable planning under uncertainty: exploiting structure

The problem of planning under uncertainty has received significant attention in the scientific community over the past few years. It is now well-recognized that considering uncertainty during planning and decision-making is imperative to the design of robust computer systems. This is particularly crucial in robotics, where the ability to interact effectively with real-world environments is a prerequisite for success. The Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) provides a rich framework for planning under uncertainty. The POMDP model can optimize sequences of actions which are robust to sensor noise, missing information, occlusion, as well as imprecise actuators. While the model is sufficiently rich to address most robotic planning problems, exact solutions are generally intractable for all but the smallest problems. This thesis argues that large POMDP problems can be solved by exploiting natural structural constraints. In support of this, we propose two distinct but complementary algorithms which overcome tractability issues in POMDP planning. PBVI is a sample-based approach which approximates a value function solution by planning over a small number of salient information states. PolCA+ is a hierarchical approach which leverages structural properties of a problem to decompose it into a set of smaller, easy-to-solve, problems. These techniques improve the tractability of POMDP planning to the point where POMDP-based robot controllers are a reality. This is demonstrated through the successful deployment of a nursing assistant robot.
Comparison of Four Classroom-Based Strategies for Middle School Students With ADHD: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Middle school students with ADHD often experience negative academic outcomes. To intervene, schools frequently provide services through special education or section 504. These services include strategies, such as breaks, prompting, and sensory proprioception to remove the impact of construct-irrelevant variance. Student plans rarely include strategies, such as selfmanagement, designed to teach students skills to increase independent functioning. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of four strategies on engagement, disruptive behavior, and time to initiate tasks. Fifteen sixth and seventh grade students were randomized daily to one of four conditions. Results indicated large statistically significant differences. Social validity data indicated that students found prompting and self-management helpful, but preferred breaks and sensory proprioception. This study builds on a growing empirical base that supports the prioritization of strategies to teach skills over strategies to remove the impact of ADHD on performance.
Effects of the thermal denaturation degree of a whey protein isolate on the strength of acid milk gels and the dissociation of κ-casein

Abstract In this study, the effects of the degree of thermal denaturation of whey protein (WP) added to milk on the dissociation of κ-casein from casein micelles were investigated, since they are related to the strength of acid milk gel and its factors. Acid milk gels were prepared by heating thermally denatured WP isolate (WPI) and undenatured milk mixtures and treating them with glucono-δ-lactone as a coagulant. The strength of these gels was negatively correlated with the WPI denaturation degree and strongly positively correlated with the extent of κ-casein dissociation from casein micelles. This behavior was ascribed to the fact that α-lactalbumin (α-La) and β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) contained in WPI denatured after heating and engaged in disulfide bond formation with each other. With an increase in the degree of denaturation and disulfide bond formation, the bonding between β-lactoglobulin and κ-casein was suppressed to decrease the amount of κ-casein–WPI complexes. When β-Lg forms SS bonds with α-La, the number of highly reactive, free SH groups decreases, which complicates the formation of SS bridges between β-Lg and κ-casein. Thus, the denaturation degree of WPI largely determined the degree of κ-casein dissociation from casein micelles and, consequently, the strength of acid milk gels. Adding WP to milk increases the strength of acid milk gel, and it can be controlled by changing the degree of thermal denaturation of the WP. Furthermore, it was clarified for the first time that the dissociation of κ-casein from casein micelles influences this effect. Further studies are needed to elucidate the structural features of κ-casein-dissociated micelles.
Is Modified Del Nido Cardioplegia as Effective as Del Nido Cardioplegia in Patients With Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery?

OBJECTIVE Is modified del Nido cardioplegia superior to del Nido cardioplegia in coronary artery bypass patients? MATERIAL AND METHODS All patients underwent cardiopulmonary bypass and retrospectively were analyzed. A total of 70 patients were included in the study. Thirty-four patients who were given cold (+ 4-8C ') modified del Nido cardioplegia antegrade were evaluated. Other patients received classical del Nido cardioplegia. Hot shot warm blood cardioplegia was given to all patients before the cross-clamp was removed. The results of both groups were compared. RESULTS There was no significant difference between cardiac arrest times in both groups. A statistically significant difference was found in the modified del Nido cardioplegia group in the working of the heart. Less fibrillation was observed in the modified del Nido cardioplegia group. No difference found between the groups, regarding myocardial preservation. No decrease in hemoglobin was observed in the modified del Nido group on the postoperative first day. CONCLUSIONS We know that return to spontaneous sinus rhythm and fibrillation reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury. At the same time, we can see that epicardial edema was less in the modified del Nido group. We think that less anemia is an advantage of modified del Nido cardioplegia.
Sonodynamical reversion of immunosuppressive microenvironment in prostate cancer via engineered exosomes

Abstract Prostate cancer (PCa) responds poorly to routine immunotherapy due to the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. Here, we describe an ultrasound-based drug delivery strategy to stimulate potent anti-tumor immunity via exosomes encapsulated with sonosensitizers Chlorin e6 (Ce6) and immune adjuvant R848, namely ExoCe6+R848. ExoCe6+R848 was constructed by simple co-incubation of Ce6 and R848 with HEK 293T cell-derived exosomes. The properties of exosomes were not affected after loading Ce6 and R848, and the exosomes were accumulated in the tumor site after intratumoral injection. In vitro and in vivo assays showed that ultrasonic irradiation enhanced R848-mediated DCs maturation when ExoCe6+R848 was engulfed by DCs, as demonstrated by the upregulated expression of CD80 and CD86. Furthermore, these engineered exosomes together with ultrasound irradiation could synergistically reprogram macrophages from an immunosuppressive M2-like phenotype to an anti-tumor M1-like phenotype, further activating effector T cells and reverting the immunosuppressive microenvironment. The exosome delivery strategy not only supplies a paradigm for overcoming side effects of systemic delivery of Ce6 and R848, but also offers an effective combination regimen of cancer immunotherapy.
Book Recommendation System using Data Mining for the University of Hong Kong Libraries

This paper describes the theoretical design of a Library Recommendation System, employing k-means clustering Data Mining algorithm, with subject headings of borrowed items as the basis for generating pertinent recommendations. Sample data from the University of Hong Kong Libraries (HKUL) has been used in a Quantitative approach to study the existing Library Information System, Innopac. Data Warehousing and Data Mining (k-means clustering) techniques are discussed. The primary benefit of the system is higher quality of academic research ensuing from better search results. Personalization improves individual effectiveness of learners and overall in better utilizing library resources
Interfacing neurons with nanoelectronics : from silicon nanowires to carbon devices

In line with the technological progress of last decades a variety of adapted bioelectrical interfaces was developed to record electrical activity from the nervous system reaching from whole brain activity to single neuron signaling. Although neural interfaces have reached clinical utility and are commonly used in fundamental neuroscience, their performance is still limited. In this work we investigated alternative materials and techniques, which could improve the monitoring of neuronal activity of cultured networks, and the long-term performance of prospective neuroprosthetics. While silicon nanowire transistor arrays and diamond based microelectrodes are proposed for improving the spatial resolution and the electrode stability in biological environment respectively, the main focus of this thesis is set on the evaluation of graphene based field effect transistor arrays for bioelectronics. Due to its outstanding electrical, mechanical and chemical properties graphene appears as a promising candidate for the realization of chemically stable flexible electronics required for long-term neural interfacing. Here we demonstrate the outstanding neural affinity of pristine graphene and the realization of highly sensitive fast graphene transistors for neural interfaces.