Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for Improving Motor Function of the Paretic Lower Extremity After Stroke

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Abstract A 56-yr-old woman with chronic stroke and gait dysfunction was recruited for this study. A lower-extremity constraint-induced movement therapy protocol was given consisting of 3.5 hrs/d of supervised intervention activities on 10 consecutive weekdays. Motor training was intensive and involved shaping. In addition, a group of behavior management strategies was used to induce further unsupervised practice and transference of motor skills from the laboratory to real-world situations. Changes in functional mobility, walking speed, balance, level of assistance, perceived quality of movement, and level of confidence while performing daily activities were assessed five times in both the baseline and intervention phases. The outcomes observed after the intervention were determined by calculating the difference between the average scores obtained in both phases. Changes in perceived quality of movement, level of confidence, level of assistance, and balance were observed.
Isolation, Screening, and Characterization of Antibiotic-Degrading Bacteria for Penicillin V Potassium (PVK) from Soil on a Pig Farm

(1) Background: Antibiotics are frequently used on farm animals, making animal husbandry a relatively large source of antibiotic pollution of the environment. The present study aims to isolate and acclimatize antibiotic-degrading bacterial strains for penicillin V potassium (PVK) from the contaminated soil of a pig farm. (2) Methods: Bacterial strains were isolated and acclimatized by continuous enrichment of cultures with PVK as the sole carbon source. The antibiotic susceptibility test, thiol mercury salt ultraviolet spectrophotometry (TMSUS), morphological observations, and 16S rDNA sequence analysis were used to identify and characterize the isolated strains. (3) Results: Four bacterial isolates (denoted as LM-1, LM-2, LM-3, LM-4) were obtained, and two of them (LM-1, LM-2) with the highest degradation rates were identified to belong to the same genera as Bacillus. These two isolates were found to be resistant to PVK antibiotic in an antibiotic sensitivity test. The TMSUS indicated that the strains LM-1 and LM-2 had good performance in PVK degradation (68% for LM-1, 66% for LM-2 in 48 h) when the initial PVK concentration was about 100 μg/mL. (4) Conclusions: Two bacterial strains isolated from the soil on a pig farm are effective in degrading PVK and can be potentially used for bioremediation of PVK antibiotic-contaminated soils.
Simulation Tool for the Analysis of Cooperative Localization Algorithms for Wireless Sensor Networks

Within the context of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Location of Things (LoT) service, this paper presents an interactive tool to quantitatively analyze the performance of cooperative localization techniques for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In these types of algorithms, nodes help each other determine their location based on some signal metrics such as time of arrival (TOA), received signal strength (RSS), or a fusion of them. The developed tool is intended to provide researchers and designers a fast way to measure the performance of localization algorithms considering specific network topologies. Using TOA or RSS models, the Crámer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) has been implemented within the tool. This lower bound can be used as a benchmark for testing a particular algorithm for specific channel characteristics and WSN topology, which allows determination if the necessary accuracy for a specific application is possible. Furthermore, the tool allows us to consider independent characteristics for each node in the WSN. This feature allows the avoidance of the typical “disk graph model,” which is usually applied to test cooperative localization algorithms. The tool allows us to run Monte-Carlo simulations and generate statistical reports. A set of basic illustrative examples are described comparing the performance of different localization algorithms and showing the capabilities of the presented tool.
High‐precision magnetoencephalography for reconstructing amygdalar and hippocampal oscillations during prediction of safety and threat

Learning to associate neutral with aversive events in rodents is thought to depend on hippocampal and amygdala oscillations. In humans, oscillations underlying aversive learning are not well characterised, largely due to the technical difficulty of recording from these two structures. Here, we used high‐precision magnetoencephalography (MEG) during human discriminant delay threat conditioning. We constructed generative anatomical models relating neural activity with recorded magnetic fields at the single‐participant level, including the neocortex with or without the possibility of sources originating in the hippocampal and amygdalar structures. Models including neural activity in amygdala and hippocampus explained MEG data during threat conditioning better than exclusively neocortical models. We found that in both amygdala and hippocampus, theta oscillations during anticipation of an aversive event had lower power compared to safety, both during retrieval and extinction of aversive memories. At the same time, theta synchronisation between hippocampus and amygdala increased over repeated retrieval of aversive predictions, but not during safety. Our results suggest that high‐precision MEG is sensitive to neural activity of the human amygdala and hippocampus during threat conditioning and shed light on the oscillation‐mediated mechanisms underpinning retrieval and extinction of fear memories in humans.
Molecular characterization of type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSV) isolated in the Netherlands from 2014 to 2016

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is the causative agent of a devastating pig disease present all over the world. The remarkable genetic variation of PRRSV, makes epidemiological and molecular analysis of circulating viruses highly important to review current diagnostic tools and vaccine efficacy. Monitoring PRRS viruses supports modern herd management by explaining the source of found viruses, either internally or externally from the herd. No epidemiological or molecular study has been published on circulating PRRS-viruses in the Netherlands, since the early nineties. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate circulating PRRS-viruses in the Netherlands in 2014, 2015 and 2016 on a molecular level by sequencing ORF2, ORF3, ORF4, ORF5, ORF6 and ORF7. The results demonstrate that the 74 PRRSV strains belong to PRRSV-1, but the diversity among strains is high, based on nucleotide identity, individual ORF length and phylogenetic trees of individual ORFs. Furthermore, the data presented here show that the phylogenetic topology of some viruses is ORF dependent and suggests recombination. The identity of the strain of interest might be misinterpreted and wrong conclusions may be drawn in a diagnostic and epidemiological perspective, when only ORF5 is analyzed, as performed in many routine sequencing procedures.
Recent Progress on Electromagnetic Field Measurement Based on Optical Sensors

Electromagnetic field sensors are widely used in various areas. In recent years, great progress has been made in the optical sensing technique for electromagnetic field measurement, and varieties of corresponding sensors have been proposed. Types of magnetic field optical sensors were presented, including probes-based Faraday effect, magnetostrictive materials, and magnetic fluid. The sensing system-based Faraday effect is complex, and the sensors are mostly used in intensive magnetic field measurement. Magnetic field optical sensors based on magnetic fluid have high sensitivity compared to that based on magnetostrictive materials. Three types of electric field optical sensors are presented, including the sensor probes based on electric-optic crystal, piezoelectric materials, and electrostatic attraction. The majority of sensors are developed using the sensing scheme of combining the LiNbO3 crystal and optical fiber interferometer due to the good electro-optic properties of the crystal. The piezoelectric materials-based electric field sensors have simple structure and easy fabrication, but it is not suitable for weak electric field measurement. The sensing principle based on electrostatic attraction is less commonly-used sensing methods. This review aims at presenting the advances in optical sensing technology for electromagnetic field measurement, analyzing the principles of different types of sensors and discussing each advantage and disadvantage, as well as the future outlook on the performance improvement of sensors.
Image reconstruction for interrupted-beam x-ray CT on diagnostic clinical scanners

Low-dose x-ray CT is a major research area with high clinical impact. Compressed sensing using view-based sparse sampling and sparsity-promoting regularization has shown promise in simulations, but these methods can be difficult to implement on diagnostic clinical CT scanners since the x-ray beam cannot be switched on and off rapidly enough. An alternative to view-based sparse sampling is interrupted-beam sparse sampling. SparseCT is a recently-proposed interrupted-beam scheme that achieves sparse sampling by blocking a portion of the beam using a multislit collimator (MSC). The use of an MSC necessitates a number of modifications to the standard compressed sensing reconstruction pipeline. In particular, we find that SparseCT reconstruction is feasible within a model-based image reconstruction framework that incorporates data fidelity weighting to consider penumbra effects and source jittering to consider the effect of partial source obstruction. Here, we present these modifications and demonstrate their application in simulations and real-world prototype scans. In simulations compared to conventional low-dose acquisitions, SparseCT is able to achieve smaller normalized root-mean square differences and higher structural similarity measures on two reduction factors. In prototype experiments, we successfully apply our reconstruction modifications and maintain image resolution at quarter-dose reduction level. The SparseCT design requires only small hardware modifications to current diagnostic clinical scanners, opening up new possibilities for CT dose reduction.
Microfibrillar‐associated protein 4 in serum is associated with asthma in Danish adolescents and young adults

Microfibrillar‐associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is an extracellular matrix protein belonging to the fibrinogen‐related protein superfamily, which plays multifaceted roles in innate immunity and normal endothelial function. It has been proposed that MFAP4 promotes the development of asthma in vivo and proasthmatic pathways of bronchial smooth muscle cells in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of serum MFAP4 in adolescents and young adolescents with persistent asthma.
Participants’ Perceptions of “C.H.A.M.P. Families”: A Parent-Focused Intervention Targeting Paediatric Overweight and Obesity

Background: Recently, our team implemented a 13-week group-based intervention for parents of children with obesity (“C.H.A.M.P. Families”). The primary objective of this study was to explore, qualitatively, parents’ perspectives of their experiences in and influence of C.H. A.M.P. Families, as well as their recommendations for future paediatric obesity treatment interventions. Methods: Twelve parents (seven mothers, five fathers/step-fathers) representing seven children (four girls, three boys) with obesity participated in one of two focus groups following the intervention. Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim and data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Findings showed that parents perceived their participation in C.H. A.M.P. Families to be a positive experience. Participants highlighted several positive health-related outcomes for children, families, and parents. Parents also underscored the importance and positive impact of the group environment, specific educational content, and additional program components such as free child-minding. Recommendations for future interventions were also provided, including greater child involvement and more practical strategies. Finally, parents identified several barriers including socioenvironmental issues, time constraints, and parenting challenges. Conclusions: Researchers developing family-based childhood obesity interventions should consider the balance of parent and child involvement, as well as emphasize group dynamics strategies and positive family communication.
Scalable content creation for mobile internet

This thesis presents a new design of information architecture for the mobile Internet to achieve scalable content creation. The core originality of our design is a data structure for Web content encoding. With a unique tree hierarchy, this data structure enables the information architecture to take advantage of many open technologies for Internet content development, resulting in a dynamic adaptation of Web content based on variations in communication channel conditions and terminal device capabilities. Compared with proposals offered by other researchers, our design accomplishes content adaptation based on a more detailed analysis of the channel and device, an approach highly necessary for today's digital world of flourishing multimedia. As an empirical evaluation, a three-tier Web-browsing application is built to show that our solution can reach the adaptation objectives with an easy and cost-effective implementation. Thus, our design can be quickly employed in content creation for the mobile Internet. Furthermore, through extensions, our work can serve end-users through attractive mobile applications, while contributing significantly to the development of the mobile Internet.
A Dilemma of Dogma: Specifying the Personality Root of Sexual Prejudice

ABSTRACT The current study integrated prior research demonstrating 1) a mediational process by which the Five-Factor Model personality factor Openness to Experience, transmitted through right-wing authoritarian ideology, predicts sexual prejudice and 2) that the Five-Factor Model personality facet Openness to Values may be the more precise personality root of this process. Participants were 79 college students who completed a comprehensive measure of Five-Factor Model personality factors and facets and other relevant measures. Results supported hypotheses. In particular, facet-level Openness to Values accounted for comparable unique variance in sexual prejudice as factor-level Openness, and analyses of direct and indirect effects and overall model fit supported Openness to Values as the precise source predictor of the mediational pathway. Discussion focuses on preliminary evidence that Openness (and perhaps its facets) may be cultivated, and sexual prejudice reduced, by contact interventions. I emphasize in particular the promise of contact interventions that avoid frustration of the dogmatic personality by enhancing the experiential processing mode, including encouraging mental simulation of alternate social values.
Learning the Orientation of a Loosely-Fixed Wearable IMU Relative to the Body Improves the Recognition Rate of Human Postures and Activities

Features were developed which accounted for the changing orientation of the inertial measurement unit (IMU) relative to the body, and demonstrably improved the performance of models for human activity recognition (HAR). The method is proficient at separating periods of standing and sedentary activity (i.e., sitting and/or lying) using only one IMU, even if it is arbitrarily oriented or subsequently re-oriented relative to the body; since the body is upright during walking, learning the IMU orientation during walking provides a reference orientation against which sitting and/or lying can be inferred. Thus, the two activities can be identified (irrespective of the cohort) by analyzing the magnitude of the angle of shortest rotation which would be required to bring the upright direction into coincidence with the average orientation from the most recent 2.5 s of IMU data. Models for HAR were trained using data obtained from a cohort of 37 older adults (83.9 ± 3.4 years) or 20 younger adults (21.9 ± 1.7 years). Test data were generated from the training data by virtually re-orienting the IMU so that it is representative of carrying the phone in five different orientations (relative to the thigh). The overall performance of the model for HAR was consistent whether the model was trained with the data from the younger cohort, and tested with the data from the older cohort after it had been virtually re-oriented (Cohen’s Kappa 95% confidence interval [0.782, 0.793]; total class sensitivity 95% confidence interval [84.9%, 85.6%]), or the reciprocal scenario in which the model was trained with the data from the older cohort, and tested with the data from the younger cohort after it had been virtually re-oriented (Cohen’s Kappa 95% confidence interval [0.765, 0.784]; total class sensitivity 95% confidence interval [82.3%, 83.7%]).
CHANGES IN DYNAMIC LEFT VENTRICULAR FUNCTION, ASSESSED BY THE STRAIN-VOLUME LOOP, RELATE TO REVERSE REMODELLING AFTER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT.

OBJECTIVES Aortic valve replacement (AVR) leads to remodelling of the left ventricle (LV). Adopting a novel technique to examine dynamic LV function, our study explored whether post-AVR changes in dynamic LV function and/or changes in aortic valve characteristics are associated with LV mass regression during follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS We retrospectively analysed 30 participants with severe aortic stenosis who underwent standard transthoracic echocardiographic assessment prior to AVR (88[22-143] days), post-AVR (13[6-22] days) and during follow-up (455[226-907] days). We assessed standard measures of LV structure, function and aortic valve characteristics. Novel insight into dynamic LV function was provided through a 4-chamber image by examination of the temporal relation between LV longitudinal strain (ԑ) and volume (ԑ-volume loops), representing the contribution of LV mechanics to volume change. AVR resulted in immediate changes in structural valve characteristics, alongside a reduced LV longitudinal peak ԑ and improved coherence between the diastolic and systolic part of the ԑ-volume loop (all P<0.05). Follow-up revealed a decrease in LV mass (P<0.05) and improvements in LV ejection fraction and LV longitudinal peak ԑ (P<0.05). A significant relationship was present between decline in LV mass during follow-up and post-AVR improvement in coherence of the ԑ-volume loops (r=0.439, P=0.03), but not with post-AVR changes in aortic valve characteristics or LV function (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS We found that post-AVR improvements in dynamic LV function, are related to long-term remodelling of the left ventricle. This highlights the potential importance of assessing dynamic LV function for cardiac adaptations in vivo.
Optimal Blood Pressure Thresholds for Minimal Coronary Artery Disease Risk in Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine optimal blood pressure (BP) thresholds for minimizing coronary artery disease (CAD) risk in people with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications (EDC) Study participants without known CAD at baseline (n = 605) were included and followed for 25 years. The associations of time-weighted BP measures (systolic BP [SBP], diastolic BP [DBP], and mean arterial pressure) with incident CAD were examined by using Cox models. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were summarized by different cut points of time-weighted BPs. Risk stratification analyses were then performed on the basis of BP (<120/80 vs. ≥120/80 mmHg) and HbA1c (<8% vs. ≥8%). RESULTS Baseline mean age was 27 years. Half of the cohort were women and 98% were white. A dose-gradient association was observed for categorized time-weighted BPs and CAD. According to AUC, the optimal cut point for SBP was 120 mmHg and for DBP was 80 mmHg. BP ≥120/80 mmHg was associated with a 1.9 times (95% CI 1.4, 2.6) greater risk of developing CAD than that for BP <120/80 mmHg. Participants with good control of both BP and HbA1c had BP <120/80 mmHg and HbA1c <8%. Those with only high BP (hazard ratio [HR] 2.0 [95% CI 1.1, 3.9]) carried a similar risk of developing CAD as those with only high HbA1c (HR 1.6 [95% CI 0.97, 2.8]). CONCLUSIONS The optimal BP threshold associated with minimal CAD risk is 120/80 mmHg in young adults with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes.
A high‐throughput BAC end analysis protocol (BAC‐anchor) for profiling genome assembly and physical mapping

Summary Traditional approaches for sequencing insertion ends of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries are laborious and expensive, which are currently some of the bottlenecks limiting a better understanding of the genomic features of auto‐ or allopolyploid species. Here, we developed a highly efficient and low‐cost BAC end analysis protocol, named BAC‐anchor, to identify paired‐end reads containing large internal gaps. Our approach mainly focused on the identification of high‐throughput sequencing reads carrying restriction enzyme cutting sites and searching for large internal gaps based on the mapping locations of both ends of the reads. We sequenced and analysed eight libraries containing over 3 200 000 BAC end clones derived from the BAC library of the tetraploid potato cultivar C88 digested with two restriction enzymes, Cla I and Mlu I. About 25% of the BAC end reads carrying cutting sites generated a 60–100 kb internal gap in the potato DM reference genome, which was consistent with the mapping results of Sanger sequencing of the BAC end clones and indicated large differences between autotetraploid and haploid genotypes in potato. A total of 5341 Cla I‐ and 165 Mlu I‐derived unique reads were distributed on different chromosomes of the DM reference genome and could be used to establish a physical map of target regions and assemble the C88 genome. The reads that matched different chromosomes are especially significant for the further assembly of complex polyploid genomes. Our study provides an example of analysing high‐coverage BAC end libraries with low sequencing cost and is a resource for further genome sequencing studies.
Post-Traumatic Growth, Dissociation, and Sexual Revictimization in Female Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors

Background: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors are at high risk of sexual revictimization. At the same time, some survivors report positive transformations resulting from the traumatic experience, a phenomenon known as post-traumatic growth (PTG). Although one might expect PTG to be related to reduced risk of revictimization, the link between PTG and revictimization has not been investigated. Furthermore, mixed findings regarding the associations between PTG and distress imply that the effects of PTG are multifaceted. One potential explanation may be that dissociation shapes the implications of PTG, making it more like denial than adaptive processing of traumatic experience. This longitudinal study explores (a) the associations between PTG and sexual revictimization and (b) the moderating role of dissociation within the associations between PTG and revictimization. Method: Participants were 111 female CSA survivors who participated in a 6-month efficacy trial evaluating the effectiveness of group psychotherapy for CSA survivors with HIV risk factors. Results: Dissociation moderated the associations between PTG and revictimization: Whereas PTG had nonsignificant effects on revictimization in participants with low dissociation, it predicted elevated levels of revictimization in participants with high dissociation. Conclusions: Reports of PTG among some CSA survivors might mirror dissociative beliefs that increase their risk of revictimization.