Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Imaging With Therapeutic Acoustic Wavelets–Short Pulses Enable Acoustic Localization When Time of Arrival is Combined With Delay and Sum

Passive acoustic mapping (PAM) is an algorithm that reconstructs the location of acoustic sources using an array of receivers. This technique can monitor therapeutic ultrasound procedures to confirm the spatial distribution and amount of microbubble activity induced. Current PAM algorithms have an excellent lateral resolution but have a poor axial resolution, making it difficult to distinguish acoustic sources within the ultrasound beams. With recent studies demonstrating that short-length and low-pressure pulses—acoustic wavelets—have the therapeutic function, we hypothesized that the axial resolution could be improved with a quasi-pulse-echo approach and that the resolution improvement would depend on the wavelet’s pulse length. This article describes an algorithm that resolves acoustic sources axially using time of flight and laterally using delay-and-sum beamforming, which we named axial temporal position PAM (ATP-PAM). The algorithm accommodates a rapid short pulse (RaSP) sequence that can safely deliver drugs across the blood–brain barrier. We developed our algorithm with simulations (k-wave) and in vitro experiments for one-, two-, and five-cycle pulses, comparing our resolution against that of two current PAM algorithms. We then tested ATP-PAM in vivo and evaluated whether the reconstructed acoustic sources mapped to drug delivery within the brain. In simulations and in vitro, ATP-PAM had an improved resolution for all pulse lengths tested. In vivo, experiments in mice indicated that ATP-PAM could be used to target and monitor drug delivery into the brain. With acoustic wavelets and time of flight, ATP-PAM can locate acoustic sources with a vastly improved spatial resolution.
Analysis of the function of the alfalfa MsLEA-D34 gene in abiotic stress responses and flowering time.

A novel late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) gene, MsLEA-D34, was cloned from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Its function and gene regulatory pathways were studied via overexpression and RNAi of the gene in Arabidopsis and hairy roots of alfalfa, as well as via analyzing key genes related to MsLEA-D34 during developmental phases of alfalfa. The results showed that MsLEA-D34 was a typical intrinsically disordered protein with high ability of protein protection. Overexpression of MsLEA-D34 increased plant tolerance to osmotic and salt stresses, and caused Arabidopsis early flowering under drought and well water conditions. Overexpressing MsLEA-D34 (OE-MsLEA-D34) induced up-regulation of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and GIGANTEA (GI) at flowering phase of Arabidopsis was clearly observed in MsLEA-D34-OE hairy roots of alfalfa, but only FT downregulated in MsLEA-D34-RNAi lines. A positive effect of MsLEA-D34 on FT accumulation was demonstrated in alfalfa hairy roots. Abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive element (ABRE)-binding transcription factor (MsABF2), a novel transcription factor cloned from alfalfa, directly bound to RY element in MsLEA-D34 promoter and activated MsLEA-D34 expression. The above results indicate that MsLEA-D34 can regulate abiotic stress response in plants and influence flowering time of Arabidopsis.
Three‐dimensional echocardiographic acquisition and validity of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction

Transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) three‐dimensional echocardiography (3DE) is now used in daily clinical practice. Advancements in technology have improved image acquisition with higher frame rates and increased resolution. Different 3DE acquisition techniques can be used depending upon the structure of interest and if volumetric analysis is required. Measurements of left ventricular (LV) volumes are the most common use of 3DE clinically but are highly dependent upon image quality. Three‐dimensional LV function analysis has been made easier with the development of automated software, which has been found to be highly reproducible. However, further research is needed to develop normal reference range values of LV function for both 3D TTE and TEE.
Virulence of Entomopathogenic Fungi to Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Interactions With Entomopathogenic Nematodes

Abstract The objectives of this study were to quantify the virulence of four entomopathogenic fungal species to pupae of Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and to determine the potential to combine entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) for biological control of this pest. The four species of EPFs included Beauveria bassiana (strain GHA), Metarhizium brunneum (strain F52), Isaria javanica (wf GA17), and Isaria fumosorosea (Apopka 97 strain). In laboratory assays, all fungi reduced adult emergence but there were no differences between fungal species. Isaria javanica and M. brunneum were examined further in a EPFs and EPNs bioassay that also included the EPNs Steinernema carpocapsae (ALL strain) and S. riobrave (355 strain). All nematodes and fungi were applied either alone or in combination (fungus + nematode). There were no differences between species within the same entomopathogen group (fungi and nematodes). However, the treatment with S. riobrave resulted in lower R. pomonella emergence than either fungal species. The combination of S. riobrave and I. javanica resulted in the lowest R. pomonella emergence (3%) at fourth-week interval, which was significantly lower than any of the single-agent applications, yet virulence of the other three combination treatments was not different from their respective nematode treatments applied alone. Additive interactions were detected for all fungus–nematode combinations. This study suggests that application of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi could be an effective option to suppress R. pomonella populations.
Morphological, optical, and elemental analysis of dental enamel after debonding laminate veneer with Er,Cr:YSGG laser: A pilot study

Laminate veneer removal is becoming a routine procedure at the dental clinic and the use of laser can facilitate its removal. This work aimed to evaluate the morphological, elemental, and optical changes in the remaining enamel after veneer removal using Er,Cr:YSGG laser. Forty‐four enamel slabs were prepared and randomly distributed into nine experimental groups, for bonding using lithium disilicate laminates with three different luting agents (Variolink Veneer, RelyX U200, and RelyX Veneer). Then each agent was debonded using Er,Cr:YSGG laser (2.78 μm) using two different protocols:3.5 W, 48.14 J/cm2, 20 Hz non‐contact and 3.0 W, 48.14 J/cm2, 20 Hz non‐contact. The morphological, optical, and elemental analysis of enamel was performed before cementation and after laser debonding, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS). The level of statistical significance adopted was 5%. The EDS analysis of enamel after debonding revealed a significant increase in silane and carbon, as well as a decrease in calcium and phosphate contents. Analysis showed the presence of residual cement in most experimental groups but the morphological analysis showed alteration of the enamel's prisms only in the groups that used RelyX Veneer and Variolink Veneer cements. There was no evidence of deleterious morphological changes resulting from irradiation. However, an increase in the optical attenuation coefficient by the OCT was observed due to the presence of the remaining cement. It can be concluded that the Er,Cr:YSGG laser, in the mean powers used, is efficient for veneer removal without causing deleterious effects for the enamel.
A phase II study of the insulin-like growth factor type I receptor inhibitor IMC-A12 in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma

Uveal melanoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy and up to half of all patients will develop metastatic disease despite the effective treatment of the primary tumor. Insulin-like growth factors I/II play a fundamental role in the cell migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. IMC-A12, a mAb specifically targets insulin-like growth factor type I receptor, has shown promise in preclinical studies. We performed a multicenter phase II study for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma administered IMC-A12 10 mg/kg IV every two weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was objective response (proportion of patients with complete or partial response), and secondary endpoints were disease control rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival. A total of 18 patients enrolled in this study (10 males and eight females) with a median age. Ten patients (55%) had stable disease, seven patients (38%) had progression as best overall response. No partial response or complete response was observed; however, the disease control rate, defined as complete response + partial response + stable disease ≥3 months, was 50%. Median progression-free survival was 3.1 months, and median overall survival was 13.8 months. Adverse events of any grade occurred in 13 patients (72.2%). Treatment-related grade 3 adverse events were rare, and there were no grade 4 or 5 related adverse events. IMC-A12 was very well tolerated, however, showed limited clinical activity in uveal melanoma as a single agent. Due to its low toxicity profile it could be studied in combination with other pathway-specific agents.
Associations of Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Television Viewing with Life Expectancy Cancer-Free at Age 50: The ARIC Study

Background: Physical activity has been associated with longer chronic disease–free life expectancy, but specific cancer types have not been investigated. We examined whether leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (LTPA) and television (TV) viewing were associated with life expectancy cancer-free. Methods: We included 14,508 participants without a cancer history from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. We used multistate survival models to separately examine associations of LTPA (no LTPA, <median, ≥median) and TV viewing (seldom/never, sometimes, often/very often) with life expectancy cancer-free at age 50 from invasive colorectal, lung, prostate, and postmenopausal breast cancer. Models were adjusted for age, gender, race, ARIC center, education, smoking, and alcohol intake. Results: Compared with no LTPA, participants who engaged in LTPA ≥median had a greater life expectancy cancer-free from colorectal [men-2.2 years (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7–2.7), women-2.3 years (95% CI, 1.7–2.8)], lung [men-2.1 years (95% CI, 1.5–2.6), women-2.1 years (95% CI, 1.6–2.7)], prostate [1.5 years (95% CI, 0.8–2.2)], and postmenopausal breast cancer [2.4 years (95% CI, 1.4–3.3)]. Compared with watching TV often/very often, participants who seldom/never watched TV had a greater colorectal, lung, and postmenopausal breast cancer-free life expectancy of ∼1 year. Conclusions: Participating in LTPA was associated with longer life expectancy cancer-free from colorectal, lung, prostate, and postmenopausal breast cancer. Viewing less TV was associated with more years lived cancer-free from colorectal, lung, and postmenopausal breast cancer. Impact: Increasing physical activity and reducing TV viewing may extend the number of years lived cancer-free.
Diagnostic significance and carcinogenic mechanism of pan‐cancer gene POU5F1 in liver hepatocellular carcinoma

The prognostic and clinicopathological significance of POU Class 5 Homeobox 1 (POU5F1) among various cancers are disputable heretofore. The diagnostic value and functional mechanism of POU5F1 in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) have not been studied thoroughly.
Evaluation of Green Coffee-Roasting Biogas with Modeling Valorization of Possible Solutions

According to the European Union Directive 2009/28/EC, the goals of obtaining 20% of all energy requirements from renewable sources and a 20% reduction in primary energy use must be fulfilled by 2020. In this work, an evaluation was performed, from the environmental and energy point of view, of anaerobic digestion as a valid solution for the treatment of the byproducts obtained from the coffee-roasting process. In particular, thermophilic anaerobic digestion tests were carried out. Output values from the laboratory were used as input for the MCBioCH4 model to evaluate the produced flow of biogas and biomethane and two different biogas valorization alternatives, namely, the traditional exploitation of biogas for heat/energy production and biomethane conversion. The results of the preliminary simulation showed that a full-scale implementation of the coffee waste biogas production process is technically feasible and environmentally sustainable. Furthermore, the performed analysis validates a general methodology for energy production compatibility planning.
Temperature Regulation of Primary and Secondary Seed Dormancy in Rosa canina L.: Findings from Proteomic Analysis

Temperature is a key environmental factor restricting seed germination. Rose (Rosa canina L.) seeds are characterized by physical/physiological dormancy, which is broken during warm, followed by cold stratification. Exposing pretreated seeds to 20 °C resulted in the induction of secondary dormancy. The aim of this study was to identify and functionally characterize the proteins associated with dormancy control of rose seeds. Proteins from primary dormant, after warm and cold stratification (nondormant), and secondary dormant seeds were analyzed using 2-D electrophoresis. Proteins that varied in abundance were identified by mass spectrometry. Results showed that cold stratifications affected the variability of the highest number of spots, and there were more common spots with secondary dormancy than with warm stratification. The increase of mitochondrial proteins and actin during dormancy breaking suggests changes in cell functioning and seed preparation to germination. Secondary dormant seeds were characterized by low levels of legumin, metabolic enzymes, and actin, suggesting the consumption of storage materials, a decrease in metabolic activity, and cell elongation. Breaking the dormancy of rose seeds increased the abundance of cellular and metabolic proteins that promote germination. Induction of secondary dormancy caused a decrease in these proteins and germination arrest.
Acalculia in Aphasia.

BACKGROUND Patients with aphasia can present a type of acalculia referred to as aphasic acalculia. AIMS To investigate the correlation and to test regression models for one- and two-digit calculation skills using verbal and nonverbal predictors. METHODS AND PROCEDURES We selected an aphasia sample of 119 men and 81 women with a mean age of 57.37 years (SD = 15.56) and an average level of education of 13.52 years (SD = 4.08). Spanish versions of the Western Aphasia Battery and Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination, plus a Written Calculation test, were individually administered. The calculation section of the Western Aphasia Battery and the Written Calculation tests were used to pinpoint calculation difficulties. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Calculation difficulties were more severe in Global and Mixed non-fluent aphasia; they were very similar in Broca, Conduction, and Amnesic Aphasia. All correlations between the two calculation subtests and the other subtests of the Western Aphasia Battery were statistically significant. Calculation subtests correlated negatively with age and positively with schooling. Sex and time post-onset did not show any correlation with the calculation scores. Education, Reading, Block Design, and Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices were significant predictors of Western Aphasia Battery Calculation. Writing was the only significant predictor of the Written Calculation scores. CONCLUSIONS Nonverbal abilities were predictors of calculation tests, whereas agraphia defects were predictors of the Written Calculation test. Therefore, calculation abilities can be regarded both as written language-dependent and verbal language-independent.
Clinical Team Perspectives on the Psychosocial Aspects of Transition to Adult Care for Patients With Childhood‐Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The transition from pediatric to adult care for youth with childhood‐onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a vulnerable period. Adverse outcomes during this transition include gaps in care, unscheduled health care utilization, loss of insurance, and high disease activity. The objective of this study was to examine the clinical care teams’ perspective on the psychosocial factors associated with transition outcomes, which are poorly understood in this population.
Role of miRNA-mRNA Interaction in Neural Stem Cell Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

miRNA regulates the expression of protein coding genes and plays a regulatory role in human development and disease. The human iPSCs and their differentiated progenies provide a unique opportunity to identify these miRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms. To identify miRNA–mRNA regulatory interactions in human nervous system development, well characterized NSCs were differentiated from six validated iPSC lines and analyzed for differentially expressed (DE) miRNome and transcriptome by RNA sequencing. Following the criteria, moderated t statistics, FDR-corrected p-value ≤ 0.05 and fold change—absolute (FC-abs) ≥2.0, 51 miRNAs and 4033 mRNAs were found to be significantly DE between iPSCs and NSCs. The miRNA target prediction analysis identified 513 interactions between 30 miRNA families (mapped to 51 DE miRNAs) and 456 DE mRNAs that were paradoxically oppositely expressed. These 513 interactions were highly enriched in nervous system development functions (154 mRNAs; FDR-adjusted p-value range: 8.06 × 10−15–1.44 × 10−4). Furthermore, we have shown that the upregulated miR-10a-5p, miR-30c-5p, miR23-3p, miR130a-3p and miR-17-5p miRNA families were predicted to down-regulate several genes associated with the differentiation of neurons, neurite outgrowth and synapse formation, suggesting their role in promoting the self-renewal of undifferentiated NSCs. This study also provides a comprehensive characterization of iPSC-generated NSCs as dorsal neuroepithelium, important for their potential use in in vitro modeling of human brain development and disease.
Reminders of Everyday Misinformation Statements Can Enhance Memory for and Beliefs in Corrections of Those Statements in the Short Term

Fake-news exposure can cause misinformation to be mistakenly remembered and believed. In two experiments (Ns = 96), we examined whether reminders of misinformation could improve memory for and beliefs in corrections. Subjects read factual statements and misinformation statements taken from news websites and then read statements that corrected the misinformation. Misinformation reminders appeared before some corrections but not others. Subjects then attempted to recall facts, indicated their belief in those recalls, and indicated whether they remembered corrections and misinformation. In Experiment 1, we did not constrain subjects’ report criteria. But in Experiment 2, we encouraged conservative reporting by instructing subjects to report only information they believed to be true. Reminders increased recall and belief accuracy. These benefits were greater both when misinformation was recollected and when subjects remembered that corrections had occurred. These findings demonstrate one situation in which misinformation reminders can diminish the negative effects of fake-news exposure in the short term.
Interleukin-1β Alters Hebbian Synaptic Plasticity in Multiple Sclerosis

In multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammation alters synaptic transmission and plasticity, negatively influencing the disease course. In the present study, we aimed to explore the influence of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β on peculiar features of associative Hebbian synaptic plasticity, such as input specificity, using the paired associative stimulation (PAS). In 33 relapsing remitting-MS patients and 15 healthy controls, PAS was performed on the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle. The effects over the motor hot spot of the APB and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscles were tested immediately after PAS and 15 and 30 min later. Intracortical excitability was tested with paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of IL-1β were calculated. In MS patients, PAS failed to induce long-term potentiation (LTP)-like effects in the APB muscle and elicited a paradoxical motor-evoked potential (MEP) increase in the ADM. IL-1β levels were negatively correlated with the LTP-like response in the APB muscle. Moreover, IL-1β levels were associated with synaptic hyperexcitability tested with paired-pulse TMS. Synaptic hyperexcitability caused by IL-1β may critically contribute to alter Hebbian plasticity in MS, inducing a loss of topographic specificity.
Thermal Neutron Relative Biological Effectiveness Factors for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy from In Vitro Irradiations

The experimental determination of the relative biological effectiveness of thermal neutron factors is fundamental in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. The present values have been obtained while using mixed beams that consist of both neutrons and photons of various energies. A common weighting factor has been used for both thermal and fast neutron doses, although such an approach has been questioned. At the nuclear reactor of the Institut Laue-Langevin a pure low-energy neutron beam has been used to determine thermal neutron relative biological effectiveness factors. Different cancer cell lines, which correspond to glioblastoma, melanoma, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and non-tumor cell lines (lung fibroblast and embryonic kidney), have been irradiated while using an experimental arrangement designed to minimize neutron-induced secondary gamma radiation. Additionally, the cells were irradiated with photons at a medical linear accelerator, providing reference data for comparison with that from neutron irradiation. The survival and proliferation were studied after irradiation, yielding the Relative Biological Effectiveness that corresponds to the damage of thermal neutrons for the different tissue types.
Tear Film Classification in Interferometry Eye Images Using Phylogenetic Diversity Indexes and Ripley's K Function

Dry eye syndrome is one of the most frequently reported eye diseases in ophthalmological practice. The diagnosis of this disease is a challenging task due to its multifactorial etiology. One of the most applied tests is the manual classification of tear film images captured with the Doane interferometer. The interference phenomena in these images can be characterized as texture patterns, which can be automatically classified into one of the following categories: strong fringes, coalescing strong fringes, fine fringes, coalescing fine fringes, and debris. This work presents a method for classifying tear film images based on texture analysis using phylogenetic diversity indexes and Ripley's K function. The proposed method consists of six main steps: acquisition of the image dataset; segmentation of the region of interest; feature extraction using phylogenetic diversity indexes and Ripley's K function; feature selection using Greedy Stepwise; classification using the algorithms Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Naive Bayes (NB), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Random Tree (RT) and Radial Basis Function Network (RBFNet); and (6) validation of results. The best result, using the RF classifier, we obtained classification rates higher than 99% of accuracy with 0.843% of standard deviation, 0.999 of the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve, 0.995 of Kappa and 0.996 of F-Measure. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is promising and can potentially be used by experts to accurately diagnose dry eye syndrome in tear film images.