Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diet Composition, Glucose Homeostasis, and Weight Regain in the YoYo Study

Based on several randomized clinical trials, it has been suggested that baseline glucose homeostasis interacts with the influence of diet composition on weight loss and weight loss maintenance. In this secondary analysis of the YoYo study, a study investigating predictors of weight loss maintenance, we tested the hypothesis that (self-selected) dietary carbohydrate and/or fibre intake interact with the glucose homeostasis parameters for weight loss maintenance. Sixty-one overweight or obese individuals lost around 10 kg of body weight on an energy-restricted diet and were then followed for 9 months. During this period, participants were advised to maintain their body weight and eat a healthy diet without further recommendations on calorie intake or diet composition. Contrary to our hypothesis, carbohydrate intake showed no positive association with weight regain after weight loss, and no interaction with baseline fasting glucose concentration was found. There was a non-significant negative association between fibre intake and weight regain (B = −0.274, standard error (SE) 0.158, p = 0.090), but again, no interaction with fasting plasma glucose was found. In conclusion, the data from the YoYo study do not support a role for baseline glucose homeostasis in determining the association between self-reported carbohydrate and/or fibre intake and weight regain after weight loss.
On the risk of abrupt changes in the North Atlantic subpolar gyre in CMIP6 models

CMIP5 models have been shown to exhibit rapid cooling events in their projections of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre. Here, we analyze the CMIP6 archive, searching for such rapid cooling events in the new generation of models. Four models out of 35 exhibit such instabilities. The climatic impacts of these events are large on decadal timescales, with a substantial effect on surface temperature over Europe, precipitation pattern in the tropics—most notably the Sahel and Amazon regions—and a possible impact on the mean atmospheric circulation. The mechanisms leading to these events are related to the collapse of deep convection in the subpolar gyre, modifying profoundly the oceanic circulation. Analysis of stratification in the subpolar gyre as compared with observations highlights that the biases of the models explain relatively well the spread in their projections of surface temperature trends: models showing the smallest stratification biases over the recent period also show the weakest warming trends. The models exhibiting abrupt cooling rank among the 11 best models for this stratification indicator, leading to a risk of encountering an abrupt cooling event of up to 36.4%, slightly lower than the 45.5% estimated in CMIP5 models.
Participation of L-Lactate and Its Receptor HCAR1/GPR81 in Neurovisual Development

During the development of the retina and the nervous system, high levels of energy are required by the axons of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) to grow towards their brain targets. This energy demand leads to an increase of glycolysis and L-lactate concentrations in the retina. L-lactate is known to be the endogenous ligand of the GPR81 receptor. However, the role of L-lactate and its receptor in the development of the nervous system has not been studied in depth. In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry to show that GPR81 is localized in different retinal layers during development, but is predominantly expressed in the RGC of the adult rodent. Treatment of retinal explants with L-lactate or the exogenous GPR81 agonist 3,5-DHBA altered RGC growth cone (GC) morphology (increasing in size and number of filopodia) and promoted RGC axon growth. These GPR81-mediated modifications of GC morphology and axon growth were mediated by protein kinases A and C, but were absent in explants from gpr81−/− transgenic mice. Living gpr81−/− mice showed a decrease in ipsilateral projections of RGCs to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN). In conclusion, present results suggest that L-lactate and its receptor GPR81 play an important role in the development of the visual nervous system.
Noninvasive Estimation of Hydration Status in Athletes Using Wearable Sensors and a Data-Driven Approach Based on Orthostatic Changes

Dehydration beyond 2% bodyweight loss should be monitored to reduce the risk of heat-related injuries during exercise. However, assessments of hydration in athletic settings can be limited in their accuracy and accessibility. In this study, we sought to develop a data-driven noninvasive approach to measure hydration status, leveraging wearable sensors and normal orthostatic movements. Twenty participants (10 males, 25.0 ± 6.6 years; 10 females, 27.8 ± 4.3 years) completed two exercise sessions in a heated environment: one session was completed without fluid replacement. Before and after exercise, participants performed 12 postural movements that varied in length (up to 2 min). Logistic regression models were trained to estimate dehydration status given their heart rate responses to these postural movements. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to parameterize the model’s discriminative ability. Models achieved an AUROC of 0.79 (IQR: 0.75, 0.91) when discriminating 2% bodyweight loss. The AUROC for the longer supine-to-stand postural movements and shorter toe-touches were similar (0.89, IQR: 0.89, 1.00). Shorter orthostatic tests achieved similar accuracy to clinical tests. The findings suggest that data from wearable sensors can be used to accurately estimate mild dehydration in athletes. In practice, this method may provide an additional measurement for early intervention of severe dehydration.
A dynamical model for generating synthetic data to quantify active tactile sensing behavior in the rat

Significance In recent years, increasing effort has been made to study sensorimotor integration within the context of the animal’s body and the environment. However, it is challenging to collect neurophysiological data under naturalistic conditions, and simulations have become an important part of neuroscience research. We developed a simulation framework, WHISKiT Physics, to model the dynamics of a complete sensorimotor system—the rodent vibrissal array—operating under ethologically relevant conditions. The tight link between sensing and motor control and the discrete somatotopy throughout the sensory pathway make the vibrissal array ideal to study sensorimotor circuits. WHISKiT Physics makes this widely used model system accessible to sensory research as well as to other disciplines including information theory, reinforcement learning, and artificial intelligence. As it becomes possible to simulate increasingly complex neural networks, it becomes correspondingly important to model the sensory information that animals actively acquire: the biomechanics of sensory acquisition directly determines the sensory input and therefore neural processing. Here, we exploit the tractable mechanics of the well-studied rodent vibrissal (“whisker”) system to present a model that can simulate the signals acquired by a full sensor array actively sampling the environment. Rodents actively “whisk” ∼60 vibrissae (whiskers) to obtain tactile information, and this system is therefore ideal to study closed-loop sensorimotor processing. The simulation framework presented here, WHISKiT Physics, incorporates realistic morphology of the rat whisker array to predict the time-varying mechanical signals generated at each whisker base during sensory acquisition. Single-whisker dynamics were optimized based on experimental data and then validated against free tip oscillations and dynamic responses to collisions. The model is then extrapolated to include all whiskers in the array, incorporating each whisker’s individual geometry. Simulation examples in laboratory and natural environments demonstrate that WHISKiT Physics can predict input signals during various behaviors, currently impossible in the biological animal. In one exemplary use of the model, the results suggest that active whisking increases in-plane whisker bending compared to passive stimulation and that principal component analysis can reveal the relative contributions of whisker identity and mechanics at each whisker base to the vibrissotactile response. These results highlight how interactions between array morphology and individual whisker geometry and dynamics shape the signals that the brain must process.
Comparison between Multiple Doses and Single-Dose Steroids in Preventing the Incidence of Reintubation after Extubation among Critically Ill Patients: A Network Meta-Analysis

This study aimed to determine the frequency of prophylactic steroid administration to prevent reintubation after extubation in critically ill patients. We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library for studies regarding the preventive use of multiple doses or single-dose steroids prior to extubation on July 2020 and conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare these interventions. To assess the risk of bias of each included study, version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials was used. Nine randomized control trials comprising 2098 patients with comparisons of the three interventions were included. Use of multiple doses and single doses of intravenous steroids administration showed a significantly lower rate of reintubation compared with placebo (odds ratio [OR]: 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.25–0.72; OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.14–0.69). However, the comparison between multiple doses and single doses showed no significant differences (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.32–4.74). According to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve statistic, the treatments should be ranked as follows: single dose (87.1%), high dose (62.8%) and placebo (0.1%). This NMA showed that the multiple doses were not statistically superior to the single dose in lowering the incidence of reintubation after extubation in critically ill patients. Therefore, use of a single-dose steroid can reduce the incidence of reintubation.
Accompanying Patients Aged 65 or Over: How Companions’ Health Literacy Affects Value Co-Creation During Medical Encounters

Objectives: The recent health crisis has led to a tightening of visitor policies during medical consultations. This work studies the relationship between the companion’s health literacy (functional, interactive, and critical) and the companion’s co-creation of value (co-production and value in use). Methods: Six hypotheses are tested by means of a sample of companions of chronically ill patients over the age of 65, using structural equation modeling. Results: Functional literacy does not predict the co-creation of value through either of its dimensions (co-production and value in use). Interactive literacy has a positive influence on co-production and a negative influence on value in use. Critical literacy only positively influences value in use. Discussion: Merely understanding the health information is not sufficient for the companion to be recognized as a collaborator or “ally” of the doctor. It is necessary to encourage the companion’s communication and critical evaluation skills.
Cobalt Phthalocyanine-Ionic Liquid Composite Modified Electrodes for the Voltammetric Detection of DNA Hybridization Related to Hepatitis B Virus

In this study, cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) and ionic liquid (IL) modified pencil graphite electrodes (PGEs) were designed and implemented to detect sequence-selective DNA hybridization related to the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). The surface characterization of CoPc-IL-PGEs was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the electrochemical behavior of electrodes were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. The voltammetric detection of hybridization was investigated by evaluating the guanine oxidation signal, measured by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique. The implementation of our biosensor to serum samples was also examined using fetal bovine serum (FBS). The detection limit was established as 0.19 µg/mL in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (pH 7.40) and 2.48 µg/mL in FBS medium. The selectivity of our assay regarding HBV DNA hybridization in FBS medium was tested in the presence of other DNA sequences. With this aim, the hybridization of DNA probe with non-complementary (NC) or mismatched DNA sequence (MM), or in the presence of mixture samples containing DNA target NC (1:1) or DNA target MM (1:1), was studied based on the changes in guanine signal.
Effects of Maternal Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy and Lactation on Infant Acute Respiratory Infections: Follow-up of a Randomized Trial in Bangladesh

Abstract Background We examined the effect of maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on risk of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in infants up to 6 months of age in Bangladesh. Methods This study was nested in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 5-arm dose-ranging trial of prenatal and postpartum vitamin D supplementation. One group of women received 0 IU vitamin D per week during pregnancy and for 26 weeks post delivery (“placebo” group), one group received high-dose prenatal vitamin D supplementation of 28 000 IU per week and 26 weeks post delivery, and there were 3 additional dose-ranging groups receiving vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy only (4200, 16 800, and 28 000 IU per week, respectively). Episodes of ARI were identified by active and passive surveillance. The primary outcome was microbiologically confirmed ARI, and the primary analysis compared the high-dose prenatal plus postpartum vitamin D vs placebo groups. Results In total, 1174 mother-infant pairs were included. Among infants born to mothers in the placebo group, 98% had a venous umbilical cord 25(OH)D level below 30 nmol/L compared with none in the high-dose prenatal plus postdelivery vitamin D group. Incidence of microbiologically confirmed ARI in the high-dose prenatal plus postpartum vitamin D (1.21 episodes per 6 person-months; N = 235) and placebo groups (1.07 episodes per 6 person-months; N = 234) was not significantly different (hazard ratio of 1.12 [95% confidence intervals: 0.90-1.40]). There were no differences in the incidence of microbiologically confirmed or clinical ARI, upper, lower, or hospitalized lower respiratory tract infection between high-dose prenatal plus postpartum vitamin D and placebo groups. Conclusions Despite a high prevalence of maternal baseline vitamin D deficiency and significant effects of maternal vitamin D supplementation on infant vitamin D status, the intervention did not reduce the risk of microbiologically confirmed ARI in infants up to 6 months of age.
Compromised Lung Volume and Hemostatic Abnormalities in COVID-19 Pneumonia: Results from an Observational Study on 510 Consecutive Patients

Abstract Background: Hemostatic abnormalities have been described in COVID-19, and pulmonary microthrombosis was consistently found at autopsy with concomitant severe lung damage. Methods: This is a retrospective observational cross-sectional study including consecutive patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who underwent unenhanced chest CT upon admittance at the emergency room (ER) in one large academic hospital. QCT was used for the calculation of compromised lung volume (%CL). Clinical data were retrieved from patients’ files. Laboratory data were obtained upon presentation at the ER. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between hemostatic abnormalities and lung involvement in patients affected by COVID-19 pneumonia as described using computer-aided quantitative evaluation of chest CT (quantitative CT (QCT)). Results: A total of 510 consecutive patients (68% males), aged 67 years in median, diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia, who underwent unenhanced CT scan upon admission to the ER, were included. In all, 115 patients had %CL > 23%; compared to those with %CL < 23%, they showed higher levels of D-dimer, fibrinogen, and CRP, greater platelet count, and longer PT ratio. Via multivariate regression analysis, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, D-dimer levels > 500 ng/mL, CRP > 5.0 ng/mL and PT ratio > 1.2 were found to be independent predictors of a %CL > 23% (adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals): 2.1 (1.1–4.0), 3.1 (1.6–5.8), 2.4 (1.3–4.5), and 3.4 (1.4–8.5), respectively). Conclusions: Hemostatic abnormalities in patients affected by COVID-19 correlate with the severity of lung injury as measured by %CL. Our results underline the pathogenetic role of hemostasis in COVID-19 pneumonia beyond the presence of clinically evident thromboembolic complications.
Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Properties of Non-Centrifugal Cane Sugar and Other Sugarcane Derivatives in an In Vitro Induced Parkinson’s Model

Non-centrifugal cane sugar (NCS) is a traditional sweetener in most sugarcane regions of the world. In Colombia, this product has a socio-economic importance due to the extensive cultivation area and the high consumption rate per capita. NCS traditional processing involves consecutive stages of thermal processing that begin with juice extraction, clarification, evaporation, and finish with syrup crystallization into a solid commercial product, identified as NCS. Sugarcane is known to have a natural content of polyphenols, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and complex sugars, some of which are reported as antioxidant and antiproliferative agents thought to be responsible for the product’s bioactive profile. There is evidence to suggest that traditional thermal processing to obtain NCS leads to a considerable decrease in the contents of these bioactive compounds, mainly due to uncontrolled process variables such as temperature. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to assess and compare the bioactivity of sugarcane (SC) derivatives produced under controlled thermal conditions versus the traditional method. To achieve this goal, we evaluated the cytotoxic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects of varying concentrations of SC derivatives in an in vitro induced Parkinson’s model. Results demonstrate non-cytotoxic activity on the cellular model by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and LDH assays, even at the highest tested concentration of 8 mg/mL, for all SC derivatives. The effect of SC derivatives on the induced oxidative stress model showed a biological reversion and recovering effect of the mitochondrial membrane potential and a halting of the progress into the early apoptosis phase. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the bioactive compounds present in SC derivatives obtained by a process under controlled temperature conditions are largely preserved, and even their biological activities are enhanced compared with SC derivatives obtained by the traditional thermal evaporation of SC-juice.
Bone Regeneration Improves with Mesenchymal Stem Cell Derived Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) Combined with Scaffolds: A Systematic Review

Simple Summary Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been recently considered one of the main characters for liquid biopsy (biomarkers) and therapeutic application. Particularly, the therapeutic application of EVs is involved in the bone regeneration, thanks to the regulation of immune environments, enhancement of angiogenesis, differentiation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and promotion of bone mineralization. In the past 15 years, researchers have focused on the application of EVs derived from different types of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the field of bone regenerative medicine. This systematic review aims to analyze in vitro and in vivo studies that report the effects of EVs combined with scaffolds in bone regeneration. A methodical review of the literature was performed on PubMed and Embase from 2012 to 2020. Sixteen papers were analyzed; of these, one study was in vitro, eleven were in vivo, and four were both in vitro and in vivo studies. This analysis shows a growing interest in this upcoming field, with overall positive results. Promising in vitro results have been discussed in terms of bone regeneration and pro-angiogenetic processes. The positive in vitro findings were confirmed in vivo, with studies showing positive effects on several critical-size defects. However, some aspects remain to be elucidated, like the different effects induced by EVs and secretome, the most suitable cell source, the EV production protocol and concentration, and the clinical use that may benefit from this new biological approach. Abstract Scaffolds associated with mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) derivatives, such as extracellular vesicles (EVs), represent interesting carriers for bone regeneration. This systematic review aims to analyze in vitro and in vivo studies that report the effects of EVs combined with scaffolds in bone regeneration. A methodical review of the literature was performed from PubMed and Embase from 2012 to 2020. Sixteen papers were analyzed; of these, one study was in vitro, eleven were in vivo, and four were both in vitro and in vivo studies. This analysis shows a growing interest in this upcoming field, with overall positive results. In vitro results were demonstrated as both an effect on bone mineralization and proangiogenic ability. The interesting in vitro outcomes were confirmed in vivo. Particularly, these studies showed positive effects on bone regeneration and mineralization, activation of the pathway for bone regeneration, induction of vascularization, and modulation of inflammation. However, several aspects remain to be elucidated, such as the concentration of EVs to use in clinic for bone-related applications and the definition of the real advantages.
A Spectroscopic Validation of the Improved Lennard–Jones Model

The Lennard–Jones (LJ) and Improved Lennard–Jones (ILJ) potential models have been deeply tested on the most accurate CCSD(T)/CBS electronic energies calculated for some weakly bound prototype systems. These results are important to plan the correct application of such models to systems at increasing complexity. CCSD(T)/CBS ground state electronic energies were determined for 21 diatomic systems composed by the combination of the noble gas atoms. These potentials were employed to calculate the rovibrational spectroscopic constants, and the results show that for 20 of the 21 pairs the ILJ predictions agree more effectively with the experimental data than those of the LJ model. The CCSD(T)/CBS energies were also used to determine the β parameter of the ILJ form, related to the softness/hardness of the interacting partners and controlling the shape of the potential well. This information supports the experimental finding that suggests the adoption of β≈9 for most of the systems involving noble gas atoms. The He-Ne and He-Ar molecules have a lifetime of less than 1ps in the 200–500 K temperature range, indicating that they are not considered stable under thermal conditions of gaseous bulks. Furthermore, the controversy concerning the presence of a “virtual” or a “real” vibrational state in the He2 molecule is discussed.