Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microelectrode Arrays Modified with Nanocomposites for Monitoring Dopamine and Spike Firings Under Deep Brain Stimulation in Rat Models of Parkinson's Disease.

Little is known about the efficacy of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) as an effective treatment for Parkinson's Disease (PD) because of the lack of multichannel neural electrical and chemical detection techniques at the cellular level. In this study, a 7 mm-long and 250 μm-wide microelectrode array (MEA) was fabricated to provide real-time monitoring of dopamine (DA) concentration and neural spike firings in the Caudate Putamen (CPu) of rats with PD. Platinumn nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (Pt/rGO) were modified onto the sensitive microelectrode sites. The detection limit (50 nM) and sensitivity (8.251 pA/μM) met the specific requirements for DA detection in vivo. A single neural spike was isolated due to the high signal to noise ratio of the MEA. DBS was applied in the affected side of the globus pallidus internal (GPi) in PD rats. After DBS, the concentration of DA in the bilateral CPu increased markedly. The mean increment of the ipsilateral DA was 7. 33μM (increasing from 0.54 μM to 7.87 μM), which was 2.2-fold higher than the increment in the contralateral side. The mean amplitude of neural spikes in the bilateral CPu decreased more than 10%, and was more obvious in the ipsilateral side where the spike amplitude changed from 169 μV to 134 μV. Spike firing rate decreased by 65% (ipsilateral side) and 51% (contralateral side). The power of the local field potential decreased to 940 μW (ipsilateral side) and 530 μW (contralateral side) in 0~30 Hz. Collectively, our data show that the GPi-DBS plays a significant regulatory role in the bilateral CPu in terms of DA concentration, spike firing and power; furthermore, the ipsilateral variations of the dual mode signals were more significant than those in the contralateral side. These results provide new detection and stimulation technology for understanding the mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease and should, therefore, represent a useful resource for the design of future treatments.
Three-dimensional extensions of matrix completion based MIMO radar

Recently, matrix completion (MC) theory has attracted much attention for its capability of recovering low-rank matrix through its partial entries. In particular, MC has been employed in a vast field of array signal processing to reduce the system burden while maintaining the performance to some extent. In this paper, we investigate the application of MC in bistatic MIMO radar parameter estimation, where the targets of interest are characterized by their directions of arrival (DOAs), directions of departure (DODs) and Doppler frequencies. The recoverable bounds of the target information matrix under such a circumstance are provided. In addition, a new MC-based sparse sensing scheme is proposed. Numerical results validate the effectiveness of this new type of MC-MIMO radar.
How do stroke survivors with communication difficulties manage life after stroke in the first year? A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND Interest in how stroke survivors might be better supported to manage life after stroke has grown rapidly in recent years, with a particular emphasis on enabling 'self-management'. Post-stroke communication difficulties may pose a unique barrier to longer term adaptation and adjustment. It is important to understand how stroke survivors with communication difficulties manage life after stroke and what support may be needed to facilitate this process. AIMS To explore how stroke survivors with communication difficulties manage life after stroke in the first year. METHODS & PROCEDURES A cross-sectional qualitative study involving in-depth semi-structured interviews with stroke survivors with communication difficulties (aphasia, dysarthria or apraxia of speech) and/or their family members at single time points during the first year post-stroke. A total of 21 participants (14 stroke survivors and seven family members) took part in interviews for the study. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. OUTCOME & RESULTS A total of six themes were identified: (1) strategies to manage changes to communication; (2) testing communication outside of the home; (3) balancing support and independence; (4) hope for recovery; (5) obtaining support from healthcare professionals; and (6) adapting activities and keeping busy. Stroke survivors with communication difficulties and their family members undertook significant work (practical, relational, emotional) to manage their condition. Adaptation and adjustment was often facilitated by 'doing'; testing out which activities could be managed independently and which required additional support. Some stroke survivors and their family members demonstrated considerable resourcefulness and creativity in developing strategies to manage their communication difficulties. Despite the work undertaken, many expressed a lack of confidence in their ability and feelings of powerlessness and abandonment at the point of discharge from community services. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS Stroke survivors and their family members develop personally meaningful and context-specific strategies to adjust to and manage life after stroke. Future interventions should recognize, support and build upon the active work already undertaken by stroke survivors with communication difficulties and their families. Further support before and around the point of discharge from community services may be needed to help build confidence and skills to manage in the longer term. The benefit of a supported self-management approach for stroke survivors with communication difficulties should be further investigated.
Exaggerated cardiovascular responses to muscle contraction and tendon stretch in UCD Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus rats.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients have exaggerated sympathetic activity and blood pressure responses to exercise. However, the underlying mechanisms for these responses, as well as how these responses change throughout disease progression, are not completely understood. For this study, we examined the effect of the progression of T2DM on the exercise pressor reflex, a critical neuro-cardiovascular mechanism that functions to increase sympathetic activity and blood pressure during exercise. We also aimed to examine the effect of T2DM on reflexive cardiovascular responses to static contraction, as well as those responses to tendon stretch when an exaggerated exercise pressor reflex was present. We evoked the exercise pressor reflex and mechanoreflex by statically contracting the hindlimb muscles and stretching the Achilles tendon, respectively, for 30 s. We then compared pressor and cardioaccelerator responses in unanesthetized, decerebrated UCD Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (UCD-T2DM) rats 21 wks and 31 wks following the onset of T2DM to responses in healthy non-diabetic rats. We found that the pressor response to static contraction was greater in the 31 wk T2DM (∆MAP=39±5 mmHg), but not in the 21 wk T2DM (∆MAP=24±5 mmHg), rats compared to non-diabetic rats (∆MAP=18±2 mmHg, p<0.05). Similarly, the pressor and the cardioaccelerator responses to tendon stretch were significantly greater in the 31 wk T2DM rats (∆MAP=69±6 mmHg, ∆HR=28±4 bpm) compared to non-diabetic rats (∆MAP=14±2 mmHg, ∆HR=5±3 bpm, p<0.05). These findings suggest that the exercise pressor reflex changes as T2DM progresses and that a sensitized mechanoreflex may play a role in exaggerating these cardiovascular responses.
Exhaled volatile organic compounds in adult asthma: a systematic review

The search for biomarkers that can guide precision medicine in asthma, particularly those that can be translated to the clinic, has seen recent interest in exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Given the number of studies reporting “breathomics” findings and its growing integration in clinical trials, we performed a systematic review of the literature to summarise current evidence and understanding of breathomics technology in asthma. A PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)-oriented systematic search was performed (CRD42017084145) of MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane databases to search for any reports that assessed exhaled VOCs in adult asthma patients, using the following terms (asthma AND (volatile organic compounds AND exhaled) OR breathomics). Two authors independently determined the eligibility of 2957 unique records, of which 66 underwent full-text review. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment was performed on the 22 studies deemed to fulfil the search criteria. The studies are described in terms of methodology and the evidence narratively summarised under the following clinical headings: diagnostics, phenotyping, treatment stratification, treatment monitoring and exacerbation prediction/assessment. Our review found that most studies were designed to assess diagnostic potential rather than focus on underlying biology or treatable traits. Results are generally limited by a lack of methodological standardisation and external validation and by insufficiently powered studies, but there is consistency across the literature that exhaled VOCs are sensitive to underlying inflammation. Modern studies are applying robust breath analysis workflows to large multi-centre study designs, which should unlock the full potential of measurement of exhaled volatile organic compounds in airways diseases such as asthma. The clinical utility of exhaled breath sampling contrasts the complexity required for VOC analysis. Modern studies are now starting to apply robust methodological standards demonstrating breathomics to be sensitive to underlying inflammation. http://bit.ly/2WS1Sfx
Metabolic Systems Analysis of Shock-Induced Endotheliopathy (SHINE) in Trauma

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Objective: Investigate the endothelial cell phenotype (s) that causes Shock-Induced Endotheliopathy in trauma. Background: We have studied more than 2750 trauma patients and identified that patients with high circulating syndecan-1 (endothelial glycocalyx damage marker) in plasma have an increased mortality rate compared with patients with lower levels. Notably, we found that patients suffering from the same trauma severity could develop significantly different degrees of endothelial dysfunction as measured by syndecan-1. Methods: Prospective observational study of 20 trauma patients admitted to a Level 1 Trauma Centre and 20 healthy controls. Admission plasma syndecan-1 level and mass spectrometry were measured and analyzed by computational network analysis of our genome-scale metabolic model of the microvascular endothelial cell function. Results: Trauma patients had a significantly different endothelial metabolic profile compared with controls. Among the patients, 4 phenotypes were identified. Three phenotypes were independent of syndecan-1 levels. We developed genome-scale metabolic models representative of the observed phenotypes. Within these phenotypes, we observed differences in the cell fluxes from glucose and palmitate to produce Acetyl-CoA, and secretion of heparan sulfate proteoglycan (component of syndecan-1). Conclusions: We confirm that trauma patients have a significantly different metabolic profile compared with controls. A minimum of 4 shock-induced endotheliopathy phenotypes were identified, which were independent of syndecan-1level (except 1 phenotype) verifying that the endothelial response to trauma is heterogeneous and most likely driven by a genetic component. Moreover, we introduced a new research tool in trauma by using metabolic systems biology, laying the foundation for personalized medicine.
IL-27 posttranslationally regulates Y-box binding protein-1 to inhibit HIV-1 replication in human CD4+ T cells

Objectives: IL-27 is known as an antiviral cytokine that inhibits HIV, hepatitis C virus, and other viruses. We have previously demonstrated that, IL-27 posttreatment after HIV-infection inhibits viral replication in primary CD4+ T cells. Design: Here, we evaluated the anti-HIV effect of IL-27 pretreatment in CD4+ T cells from healthy donors prior to HIV infection with HIVNL4.3 or vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G)-pseudotyped HIV-luciferase virus (HIV-LUC-V). Methods: IL-27-treated CD4+ T cells were infected with HIVNL4.3 or HIV-LUC-V and assessed the anti-HIV effect. HIV infection was monitored by p24 antigen ELISA or luciferase assay. HIV fusion/entry and uncoating were determined by BlaM-Vpr assay and HIV fate of capsid and/or HIV Entry/Uncoating assay based on core-packaged RNA availability and Translation assay, respectively. HIV proviral copy number was determined by real-time PCR. Gene expression profile from IL-27-pretreated CD4+ T cells was determined using Genechip array. Posttranslational modification of global proteins from IL-27-pretreated CD4+ T cells was determined by a combination of 2-dimensional difference-in-gel-electrophoresis (2D-DIG), western-blot and protein mass spectrometry. Results: IL-27 pretreatment inhibited HIVNL4.3 and HIV-LUC-V infection in CD4+ T cells. HIV copy assay demonstrated that IL-27-treatment suppressed an early step of reverse transcription during HIV infection. A combination of 2D-DIG-electrophoresis and western blot assays demonstrated that IL-27-treatment induces a change in posttranslational modification of Y box binding protein-1 (YB-1). Overexpression of domain negative YB-1 mutants illustrated that a residue Lysine at 118 plays a key role in supporting HIV infection in CD4+ T cells. Conclusion: IL-27-pretreatment inhibits HIV-1 infection by suppressing an HIV-reverse transcription product formation/uncoating step by suppressing the acetylation of YB-1 in primary CD4+ T cells.
EPAS1 Gain-of-Function Mutation Contributes to High-Altitude Adaptation in Tibetan Horses

Abstract High altitude represents some of the most extreme environments worldwide. The genetic changes underlying adaptation to such environments have been recently identified in multiple animals but remain unknown in horses. Here, we sequence the complete genome of 138 domestic horses encompassing a whole altitudinal range across China to uncover the genetic basis for adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia. Our genome data set includes 65 lowland animals across ten Chinese native breeds, 61 horses living at least 3,300 m above sea level across seven locations along Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, as well as 7 Thoroughbred and 5 Przewalski’s horses added for comparison. We find that Tibetan horses do not descend from Przewalski’s horses but were most likely introduced from a distinct horse lineage, following the emergence of pastoral nomadism in Northwestern China ∼3,700 years ago. We identify that the endothelial PAS domain protein 1 gene (EPAS1, also HIF2A) shows the strongest signature for positive selection in the Tibetan horse genome. Two missense mutations at this locus appear strongly associated with blood physiological parameters facilitating blood circulation as well as oxygen transportation and consumption in hypoxic conditions. Functional validation through protein mutagenesis shows that these mutations increase EPAS1 stability and its hetero dimerization affinity to ARNT (HIF1B). Our study demonstrates that missense mutations in the EPAS1 gene provided key evolutionary molecular adaptation to Tibetan horses living in high-altitude hypoxic environments. It reveals possible targets for genomic selection programs aimed at increasing hypoxia tolerance in livestock and provides a textbook example of evolutionary convergence across independent mammal lineages.
Psychopathy in a forensic sample - the factor structure of the PCL:SV in a Danish forensic sample.

The research literature reveals an ongoing debate regarding the most appropriate conceptualization of psychopathic personality disorder. Specifically, it is discussed to what degree antisocial behavior is part of the conceptualization of the psychopathy construct and what constitutes the best factor model of the Psychopathy Checklist scales. The aim of the present study is to consider the underlying factor structure of the PCL:SV (Psychopathy Checklist Screening Version) in a Danish sample as well as considering the role of antisocial behavior in the psychopathy construct. Data from a Danish forensic patient sample (N = 225) was used and item response theory (IRT), aonfirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and structural equations model (SEM) analyses were carried out. Overall, the findings suggest appropriate item and model fit for the PCL:SV as well as superiority of the three-factor model over the four-factor model. The results are discussed in relation to the broader concept of personality disorder as well as clinical practice in regards to violence risk assessments and treatment of psychopathy.
Circulating markers of cellular immune activation in prediagnostic blood sample and lung cancer risk in the Lung Cancer Cohort Consortium (LC3)

Cell‐mediated immune suppression may play an important role in lung carcinogenesis. We investigated the associations for circulating levels of tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenine:tryptophan ratio (KTR), quinolinic acid (QA) and neopterin as markers of immune regulation and inflammation with lung cancer risk in 5,364 smoking‐matched case–control pairs from 20 prospective cohorts included in the international Lung Cancer Cohort Consortium. All biomarkers were quantified by mass spectrometry‐based methods in serum/plasma samples collected on average 6 years before lung cancer diagnosis. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for lung cancer associated with individual biomarkers were calculated using conditional logistic regression with adjustment for circulating cotinine. Compared to the lowest quintile, the highest quintiles of kynurenine, KTR, QA and neopterin were associated with a 20–30% higher risk, and tryptophan with a 15% lower risk of lung cancer (all ptrend < 0.05). The strongest associations were seen for current smokers, where the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of lung cancer for the highest quintile of KTR, QA and neopterin were 1.42 (1.15–1.75), 1.42 (1.14–1.76) and 1.45 (1.13–1.86), respectively. A stronger association was also seen for KTR and QA with risk of lung squamous cell carcinoma followed by adenocarcinoma, and for lung cancer diagnosed within the first 2 years after blood draw. This study demonstrated that components of the tryptophan–kynurenine pathway with immunomodulatory effects are associated with risk of lung cancer overall, especially for current smokers. Further research is needed to evaluate the role of these biomarkers in lung carcinogenesis and progression.
Intrinsic motivation and turnover intention among geriatric nurses employed in nursing homes: the roles of job burnout and pay satisfaction

Background: Few studies have examined intrinsic motivation that is related to turnover intention among geriatric nurses employed in nursing homes in China. Objectives: This study aims at investigating the relationship between intrinsic motivation and turnover intention among geriatric nurses employed in nursing homes in China by analyzing the mediating roles of job burnout and pay satisfaction. Methods: Based on multistage stratified random sampling, a total of 1212 geriatric nurses was investigated by a questionnaire in China. Structural equation models were employed to test the hypotheses. Results: Intrinsic motivation was negatively related to turnover intention (β = −0.063), and job burnout (β = −0.072) and pay satisfaction (β = −0.014) played significant mediating roles in the relationship between intrinsic motivation and turnover intention. Conclusions: Findings revealed that intrinsic motivation, pay satisfaction and job burnout were strong predicators of turnover intention. The results may provide implications to lessen turnover intention among geriatric nurses employed in nursing homes.
Comparative genome analysis of the SPL gene family reveals novel evolutionary features in maize

Abstract SPLs are plant-specific transcription factors that play important regulatory roles in plant growth and development. Systematic analysis of the SPL family has been performed in numerous plants, such as Arabidopsis, rice, and Populus. However, no comparative analysis has been performed across different species to examine evolutionary features. In this study, we present a comparative analysis of SPLs in different species. The results showed that 84 SPLs of the four species can be divided into six groups according to phylogeny. We found that most of the SPL-containing regions in maize showed extensive conservation with duplicated regions of rice and sorghum. A gene duplication analysis in maize indicated that ZmSPLs showed a significant excess of segmental duplication. The Ka/Ks analysis indicated that 9 out of 18 duplicated pairs in maize experienced positive selection, while SPL gene pairs of rice and sorghum mainly evolved under purifying selection, suggesting novel evolutionary features for ZmSPLs. The 31 ZmSPLs were further analyzed by describing their gene structure, phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal location, and expression, Among the ZmSPLs, 13 were predicated to be targeted by miR156s and involved in drought stress response. These results provide the foundation for future functional analyses of ZmSPLs.
Theoretical description of modern 1H in Vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopic pulse sequences

This article reviews the most commonly used modern sequences designed to confront the two major challenges of in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS): spatial localization and metabolic specificity. The purpose of this review article is to provide a deeper and clearer understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which all modern MRS sequences operate. A descriptive explanation, consistent pulse sequence diagram, and theoretical concepts of the measured signal are given for five spatial localization sequences and three modules designed to increase metabolic specificity. Cross‐sequence comparisons, including potential modifications for estimating quantitative measures like spin‐lattice relaxation time T1, spin‐spin relaxation time T2, and diffusion coefficients are briefly discussed.
An equitable approach to solving distributed constraint optimization problems

We propose a new algorithm, Support Based Distributed Optimization (SBDO). SBDO is designed specifically to address the challenges unique to distributed problems. These challenges are autonomy, equality and fault tolerance. SBDO uses an argumentation based approach to solve DCOP problems. Each agent constructs a partial solution to the problem, and attempts to convince the other agents to either extend this partial solution or modify their own partial solution so that it is consistent with this one. The resulting algorithm has the following properties: Anytime, Asynchronous, Dynamic, Fault tolerant and Sound. It can solve DCOP problems which meet the following conditions: • The domain of each variable must be finite. • There must be a total order over solutions. • The quality of a solution must be monotonically non-decreasing as the solution is extended. Next we present a general model for DCOPs, called Semiring DCOP (SDCOP). SDCOP utilizes semirings to represent utility values and read/write permissions on variables to represent the distributed nature of the problem. The resulting model is capable of representing all of the accepted problems in the constraint programming domain and several problems which have not been explored by the community. Finally we begin extending SBDO to solve problems represented using SDCOP. We start by removing the restriction that there must be a total order over the solutions. This is achieved by allowing each agent to maintain many different partial solutions simultaneously. Future work includes extending SBDO to support problems where variables may have bounded infinite domains and problems where several agents have write access to the same variable.