Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of the Chinese Version of the Modified Gait Efficacy Scale for Patients Removing Ilizarov External Fixation Device for Over One Year

Objective To validate the Chinese version of the modified Gait Efficacy Scale (C-mGES) in people who have had an Ilizarov external fixation apparatus removed more than 1 year ago. Methods (1) Translating and cultural adapting the English version mGES into Chinese. (2) Validation of the C-mGES with the Perceived Efficacy Patient-Physician Interactions Scale (PEPPI-10), Self-Efficacy for Rehabilitation Outcome Scale (SER), Lower Extremities Function Assessment Scale (LEFS), and Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ). Instrument measurements included item generation, construct validity, reliability testing, test-retest reliability and correlation with other scales. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to determine internal consistency and construct validity. One hundred five persons who had Ilizarov external fixation devices removed more than 1 year ago were investigated. Results One hundred and two patients were included in this research. Our study showed that the C-mGES has high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α-coefficient 0.928). CFA confirmed good fit indices for a unidimensional model of the C-mGES. In test-retest reliability, 97 patients were analyzed. The results showed that the substantial kappa coefficient is 0.680, and the ICC is 0.98 (95% CI). Conclusion Our study showed that the Chinese version mGES has a good internal consistency, construct validity and satisfactory criterion-related validity. This scale can assist in the assessment of walking self-efficacy in patients who have had Ilizarov external fixation devices removed for over 1 year.
Capacity Evaluation of Diagnostic Tests For COVID-19 Using Multicriteria Decision-Making Techniques

In December 2019, cases of pneumonia were detected in Wuhan, China, which were caused by the highly contagious coronavirus. This study is aimed at comparing the confusion regarding the selection of effective diagnostic methods to make a mutual comparison among existing SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests and at determining the most effective one. Based on available published evidence and clinical practice, diagnostic tests of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were evaluated by multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, namely, fuzzy preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluation (fuzzy PROMETHEE) and fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (fuzzy TOPSIS). Computerized tomography of chest (chest CT), the detection of viral nucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction, cell culture, CoV-19 antigen detection, CoV-19 antibody IgM, CoV-19 antibody IgG, and chest X-ray were evaluated by linguistic fuzzy scale to compare among the diagnostic tests. This scale consists of selected parameters that possessed different weights which were determined by the experts' opinions of the field. The results of our study with both proposed MCDM methods indicated that the most effective diagnosis method of COVID-19 was chest CT. It is interesting to note that the methods that are consistently used in the diagnosis of viral diseases were ranked in second place for the diagnosis of COVID-19. However, each country should use appropriate diagnostic solutions according to its own resources. Our findings also show which diagnostic systems can be used in combination.
Translation and validation of the anticipated turnover scale for the Portuguese cultural context

Abstract Aim This study aimed to culturally and linguistically adapt the Anticipated Turnover Scale (ATS) for the Portuguese population. Design A cross‐sectional study. Methods The ATS instrument was validated in a non‐probabilistic sample of 259 nurses working at three hospitals in Portugal. The validity was assessed through factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability and test–retest. Results The final scale is a one‐factor scale consisting of 10 items and called "turnover intention. " There are significant correlations among the scale items. Reliability and validity are acceptable. The ATS—Portuguese version, exhibited good psychometric properties for the Portuguese population.
Reduced volume and reflection for bright optical tweezers with radial Laguerre–Gauss beams

Significance Nanoscale dielectric devices are capable of mediating long-range atom–atom interactions using guided mode photons, as well as long-range photon–photon interactions mediated by lattices of atoms. Such systems have the potential to provide new tools for quantum science. However, an outstanding challenge is the delivery of single atoms to optical traps near nanophotonic devices. We introduce a capability that could increase fidelity for atom-lattice assembly near nanophotonic structures. Other applications include imaging strategies. Spatially structured light has opened a wide range of opportunities for enhanced imaging as well as optical manipulation and particle confinement. Here, we show that phase-coherent illumination with superpositions of radial Laguerre–Gauss (LG) beams provides improved localization for bright optical tweezer traps, with narrowed radial and axial intensity distributions. Further, the Gouy phase shifts for sums of tightly focused radial LG fields can be exploited for phase-contrast strategies at the wavelength scale. One example developed here is the suppression of interference fringes from reflection near nanodielectric surfaces, with the promise of improved cold-atom delivery and manipulation.
Most similar variety grouping for distinctness evaluation of flax and linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) varieties by means of AFLP and morphological data

For flax, a self-pollinating agricultural crop, experts dealing with plant variety testing for granting Plant Breeders' Rights have noted a decreasing morphological variation between candidate varieties. This study aimed to evaluate the use of molecular markers as additional descriptors for genetic variation. The use of six AFLP primer combinations enabled the differentiation of all tested varieties. Two types of statistical analysis were applied to assess the genetic variation: (1) Analysis of Molecular Variance, and (2) computation of the average Jaccard similarity between single plants belonging to the same variety. A major part of the genetic variation (13%) could be explained by the division between new and old varieties; the division between linseed and fibre flax accounted only for 3% of the total variance. However, the variation within new and old varieties did not differ. As further tested on a subset of 17 morphologically very similar varieties, AFLP marker data were able to reveal extra sources of genetic variation. Statistical analysis using Mantel tests proved that ordinations based on AFLP marker frequency data were reproducible and independent of the resemblance measure used. This can be exploited in plant variety testing as an additional tool for determining the distinctness of new varieties that are morphologically difficult to differentiate.
Optimization Extraction of Shikonin Using Ultrasound-Assisted Response Surface Methodology and Antibacterial Studies

The objectives of this study were to develop and optimize ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for shikonin from Arnebia euchroma using response surface methodology (RSM) and to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of shikonin. The maximum yield of shikonin was 1.26% under the optimal extraction conditions (ultrasound power, 93 W; time, 87 min; temperature, 39°C; and liquid-solid ratio, 11 : 1). Shikonin showed inhibitory activity against standard strains and clinical isolates to varying extents (MICs ranging from 128 to 1024 μg/mL, MBCs ranging from 256 to 2048 μg/mL), and it was more effective for Gram-positive bacteria as indicated by lower MIC and MBC values. Time-kill curves revealed that antibacterial activity of shikonin exhibited a dose-response relationship. In summary, via this study, we identified ultrasound-assisted RSM as the optimal extraction method for shikonin, which is a potential material for the treatment of bacterial infections.
Neonatal Survival in Sub-Sahara: A Review of Kenya and South Africa

Introduction The majority (99%) of the children who die during the first 4 weeks of life do so in the poorer parts of the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In 2018, sub-Saharan Africa had a neonatal mortality rate of 28 deaths per 1000 live births. The purpose of the review was to explore and describe the trends of neonatal mortality within the two sub-Saharan countries. Methods We did a literature search in biomedical databases of data published, in English, between Jan 1, 1975, and November 30, 2019. The databases included Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, PUBMED, OVID and Google scholar. The keywords used in the search: “Neonatal Survival”, “Sub-Sahara”, “Kenya” and “South Africa”. Results The search generated 2209 articles of which only 27 met the inclusion criteria. The present study qualitatively analysed data. Data were presented and organized under two thematic domains: 1) trends of national neonatal mortality rates in South Africa and Kenya and 2) causes of neonatal mortality. Conclusion The current review results noted that in 2018, the neonatal mortality rate for Kenya was 19.6 deaths per 1000 live births. The neonatal mortality rate has fallen gradually from 35.4 deaths per 1000 live births in 1975. On the other hand, South Africa has had its neonatal mortality rate fall from 27.9 deaths per 1000 live births in 1975 to 10.7 deaths per 1000 live births in 2018. Most neonatal deaths resulted in preterm birth complications followed by intrapartum-related events for the two countries. Within the sub-Saharan region, disparities exist as neonates born in South Africa are more likely to survive during the neonatal period compared to Kenya.
Concurrent infection of individual corn kernels with white and green isolates of Aspergillus flavus

When ears of maize (Zea mays) were needle-inoculated in the field with a white conidial isolate of Aspergillus flavus at 2 days after midsilk, then reinoculated 4 days later with a green conidial isolate of the fungus, both isolates could be recovered from individual kernels. Both isolates also were recovered from individual kernels from reciprocally inoculated ears. Percentage of kernel infection with the green conidial isolate was higher overall than that with the white isolate in tests over a 3-yr period
H 2020 5 G-Coral Project Grant No . 761586 D 1 . 3 – 5 G-CORAL refined system design and future directions

This is the third and last deliverable from Work Package 1 (WP1), targeting the final 5GCORAL system design, the definition of both procedures and techniques for incremental deployment of the 5G-CORAL platform into existing networks as well as the identification of the future directions of the 5G-CORAL solution. The refined 5G-CORAL architecture takes the outcome of validation process within the Project into account and details at system level the interaction between the EFS (Edge and Fog computing System) and the OCS (Orchestration and Control System) needed for establishing an end-to-end service making use of Edge and Fog resources. Furthermore, the capability of the OCS to manage heterogeneous virtualization platforms has been assessed on a per use case basis. Aiming at completing the analysis of the federation mechanism in 5G-CORAL (already provided in previous WP1 deliverables) the business requirements for each of the players in the 5G-CORAL ecosystem have been identified. Moreover, this deliverable also reports the State-of-the-Art for both the performance metrics and technical features taken into account by the 5G-CORAL use cases. Future directions of the 5G-CORAL platform have been elaborated in order to improve the applicability of the 5GCORAL solution to the Project’s use cases as well as new potential ones, such as the on-device Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) as well as private wireless networks. D1.3 – 5G-CORAL refined system design and future directions 2 H2020-761586 Document properties Document number D1.3 Document title 5G-CORAL refined system design and future directions Document responsible TI Document editor Damiano Rapone Target dissemination level Public Status of the document Final Version 1.0 Table of contributors Partner Contributors TI Damiano Rapone ITRI Samer Talat, Chen-Hao Chiu, Ibrahiem Osamah, Gary Huang UC3M Sergio González, Luca Cominardi, Kiril Antevski, Carlos J. Bernardos IDCC Giovanni Rigazzi AZCOM Riccardo Ferrari, Giacomo Parmeggiani SICS Bengt Ahlgren EAB Chenguang Lu, Daniel Cederholm NCTU Hsu-Tung Chien ADLINK Gabriele Baldoni TELCA Aitor Zabala, Pedro Bermúdez Production properties Reviewers Antonio De La Oliva Delgado, Damiano Rapone, Bengt Ahlgren, Aitor Zabala, Hsu-Tung Chien
One-Dimensional Plasmonic Sensors

Recent advances in surface plasmon sensors have significantly reduced the limitations of conventional optical sensors. With the recent development of micro- and nano-fabrication technology, miniaturized one-dimensional structures become a promising platform for surface plasmon sensors for its compactness and simple structure. In this review, we describe the generation of surface plasmon polaritons and the resonance conditions. Then we categorize surface plasmon sensors by the physical quantities they detect, elaborating their working principle, performance, and current development. Finally, we summarize both limitations and advances of various design methods to provide an outlook on future directions of this field.
Similar but Not Identical—Binding Properties of LSU (Response to Low Sulfur) Proteins From Arabidopsis thaliana

Members of the plant-specific LSU (RESPONSE TO LOW SULFUR) family are strongly induced during sulfur starvation. The molecular functions of these proteins are unknown; however, they were identified as important stress-related hubs in several studies. In Arabidopsis thaliana, there are four members of the LSU family (LSU1–4). These proteins are small (approximately 100 amino acids), with coiled-coil structures. In this work, we investigated interactions between different monomers of LSU1–4. Differences in homo- and heterodimer formation were observed. Our structural models of LSU1–4 homo- and heterodimers were in agreement with our experimental observations and may help understand their binding properties. LSU proteins are involved in multiple protein–protein interactions, with the literature suggesting they can integrate abiotic and biotic stress responses. Previously, LSU partners were identified using the yeast two hybrid approach, therefore we sought to determine proteins co-purifying with LSU family members using protein extracts isolated from plants ectopically expressing TAP-tagged LSU1–4 constructs. These experiments revealed 46 new candidates for LSU partners. We tested four of them (and two other proteins, CAT2 and NBR1) for interaction with LSU1–4 by other methods. Binding of all six proteins with LSU1–4 was confirmed by Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation, while only three of them were interacting with LSUs in yeast-two-hybrid. Additionally, we conducted network analysis of LSU interactome and revealed novel clues for the possible cellular function of these proteins.
Divergent synthesis of complex diterpenes through a hybrid oxidative approach

Trio of enzymes power divergent synthesis Diterpene natural products are built from a 20-carbon building block, with a huge range of possible structures and modifications. Chemical synthesis of specific molecules, some of which have valuable biological activities, is tricky because of the need for selective oxidations and rearrangements when starting from widely available scaffolds. Zhang et al. characterized selectivities for three oxidative enzymes that each attack different positions on a common scaffold. They then seamlessly combined chemical transformations with the enzymatic oxidations to produce nine distinct compounds across three families of diterpenes. These results highlight the potential of hybrid organic-biocatalytic synthetic schemes for divergent synthesis. Science, this issue p. 799 Synthesis of nine complex diterpenes is achieved through combined chemical and enzymatic C–H oxidation methods. Polycyclic diterpenes exhibit many important biological activities, but de novo synthetic access to these molecules is highly challenging because of their structural complexity. Semisynthetic access has also been limited by the lack of chemical tools for scaffold modifications. We report a chemoenzymatic platform to access highly oxidized diterpenes by a hybrid oxidative approach that strategically combines chemical and enzymatic oxidation methods. This approach allows for selective oxidations of previously inaccessible sites on the parent carbocycles and enables abiotic skeletal rearrangements to additional underlying architectures. We synthesized a total of nine complex natural products with rich oxygenation patterns and skeletal diversity in 10 steps or less from ent-steviol.
Draft Whole-Genome Sequence of Triparma laevis f. inornata (Parmales, Bolidophyceae), Isolated from the Oyashio Region, Western North Pacific Ocean

We present the first draft whole-genome sequence for the Parmales (Bolidophyceae, Heterokonta), a picoplanktonic sister group of diatoms, using a Triparma laevis f. inornata strain that was isolated from the Oyashio region in the western North Pacific Ocean. ABSTRACT We present the first draft whole-genome sequence for the Parmales (Bolidophyceae, Heterokonta), a picoplanktonic sister group of diatoms, using a Triparma laevis f. inornata strain that was isolated from the Oyashio region in the western North Pacific Ocean.
Introduction to real time user interaction in virtual reality powered by brain computer interface technology

How can VR/AR platforms personalize the user experience? I discuss how Looxid Link, the most VR-compatible, brainsensing technology, can connect users' minds to VR by visualizing, interacting with, and analyzing the users' minds in VR by demonstrating realtime examples using users' EEG feature and mind indexes.
Measuring the Impacts of Extra-Musical Elements in Guitar Music Playing: A Pilot Study

Philosophers, composers, and musicians have long argued whether instrumental music finds meaning in its formal structure and musical content (Hanslick, 1986) or through reference to extra-musical elements, like narratives, emotions, or memories (Meyer, 1956). While the use of extra-musical elements appears grounded in individual musicians’ priorities for performance and teaching (Héroux, 2018), the impact of emotional indications on expressivity has not previously been studied in a large-scale experiment. The aim of this pilot study was to construct the methodology for a larger project to study the impact of the use of extra-musical elements on the sound results of guitarists. We asked guitar students to record one short newly composed piece, Evocation 1, according to the following conditions: (A) in a non-expressive manner, (B) according to the notated musical indications, and (C) with the addition of suggested contextual and emotional extra-musical elements to the musical instructions. We asked two expert guitarists to evaluate the level of expressiveness for conditions B and C and conducted interviews with participants to collect data on the experimental process to refine protocol. To more objectively measure manifestations of objectivity from the recorded performances, we extracted data from each recording about pitch, dynamics, and timing, as well as expressive dynamic deviations. The impact of both recording conditions and the expertise level of performers on the quality of this audio data led us to change the analysis design from a comparative design (with other participants) to a self-comparative design (each participant with himself) for the larger study.
The Genome Sequence of an H6N5 Influenza A Virus Strain Isolated from a Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) Sampled in Alaska, USA, Shares High Identity with That of a South Korean Wild Bird Strain

We report the genome sequence of an H6N5 influenza A virus isolated from a northern pintail sampled in Alaska in 2017. All segment sequences shared >99% nucleotide identity with those of a wild bird strain from South Korea. This finding supports viral dispersal between East Asia and North America by wild birds. ABSTRACT We report the genome sequence of an H6N5 influenza A virus isolated from a northern pintail sampled in Alaska in 2017. All segment sequences shared >99% nucleotide identity with those of a wild bird strain from South Korea. This finding supports viral dispersal between East Asia and North America by wild birds.
Energetics of Pregnancy and Lactation in Freeranging Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus)

We combined field measurements of metabolic rate, made with doubly labeled water, with data from our previous studies to examine reproductive energetics in 24 female little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus). Including estimates of tissue or milk production, M. lucifugus required an average of 33.7 kJ d⁻¹ of assimilated energy in pregnancy compared to 41.3 kJ d⁻¹ during lactation. Predicted insect consumption was 5.5 g d⁻¹ for a 9-gpregnant female and 6.7g d⁻¹ for a 79-g lactating female. About 2% of total energy assimilated during pregnancy was stored as new tissue, whereas lactating females exported 32% as milk. Estimated assimilated energy demand on the first day of lactation was 33.8 kJ d⁻¹ and increased to 60.3 kJ d⁻¹ at peak lactation. By subtracting laboratory measurements of roosting costs from observed metabolized energy expenditure, we calculated that foraging flight by 9-g pregnant M. lucifugus required 4.46 kJ h⁻¹; this was 13% less than allometric predictions. Foraging fight accounted for the largest proportion of the daily metabolized energy budget during pregnancy (61%) and lactation (66%). The large amount of energy devoted to foraging by this aerial-feeding bat may partially explain the low proportion of energy it allocates to tissue production and milk export.
Contributing Factors to the Improvement of International Students' Health Literacy in China: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective

Background: It is generally accepted that learning engagement is predictive of better learning outcomes. Yet, there might be some underlying motives for students to engage in or disengage from learning. Aims: Grounded in self-determination theory, this study aimed to examine whether satisfaction of international students' innate needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness correlated positively with their engagement in learning and improvement of health literacy in China. Sample: Forty-three international undergraduates from a medical university in China participated in the study. Methods: Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to deal with data collected from surveys on health literacy, perceived need satisfaction and the need satisfaction intervention, and from observation log recording dynamic changes in the students' performance while implementing a need-satisfying scheme in Hygiene education. In addition, final examination scores of with/without-intervention parts were compared to unveil the effect of the intervention. Results: Perceived autonomy support motivated the participants to engage actively in learning; close relation to peers and teachers encouraged them to take on challenges; satisfying their need for competence enabled them to have better performance and academic achievements as well as an improvement on health literacy. Conclusions: The present study suggested that fulfillment of the students' basic needs contributes to their engagement in learning and improvement of health literacy.