Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanical Power during Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Initiation: A Pilot-Study

Mechanical power (MP) represents a useful parameter to describe and quantify the forces applied to the lungs during mechanical ventilation (MV). In this multi-center, prospective, observational study, we analyzed MP variations following MV adjustments after veno-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) initiation. We also investigated whether the MV parameters (including MP) in the early phases of VV ECMO run may be related to the intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. Thirty-five patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome were prospectively enrolled and analyzed. After VV ECMO initiation, we observed a significant decrease in median MP (32.4 vs. 8.2 J/min, p < 0.001), plateau pressure (27 vs. 21 cmH2O, p = 0.012), driving pressure (11 vs. 8 cmH2O, p = 0.014), respiratory rate (RR, 22 vs. 14 breaths/min, p < 0.001), and tidal volume adjusted to patient ideal body weight (VT/IBW, 5.5 vs. 4.0 mL/kg, p = 0.001) values. During the early phase of ECMO run, RR (17 vs. 13 breaths/min, p = 0.003) was significantly higher, while positive end-expiratory pressure (10 vs. 14 cmH2O, p = 0.048) and VT/IBW (3.0 vs. 4.0 mL/kg, p = 0.028) were lower in ICU non-survivors, when compared to the survivors. The observed decrease in MP after ECMO initiation did not influence ICU outcome. Waiting for large studies assessing the role of these parameters in VV ECMO patients, RR and MP monitoring should not be underrated during ECMO.
Thermal Properties and Thermal Shock Resistance of γ‐Y2Si2O7

[Sun, Ziqi; Zhou, Yanchun; Wang, Jingyang; Li, Meishuan] Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Met Res, Shenyang Natl Lab Mat Sci, Shenyang 110016, Peoples R China. [Sun, Ziqi] Chinese Acad Sci, Grad Sch, Beijing 100039, Peoples R China. ;Zhou, YC (reprint author), Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Met Res, Shenyang Natl Lab Mat Sci, Shenyang 110016, Peoples R China;yczhou@imr.ac. cn
Syntheses, Crystal Structures, andSpectral Properties of Two Coordination Compounds Based on 1,2-Bis(benzimidazolyl)benzene

Two new benzimidazolyl-containing complexes have been synthesized by reactions of salts and 1,2-bis(benzimidazolyl) benzene () with two different dicarboxylate ligands. When phthalate acid () was employed as secondary ligand, a 0D molecular complex Cu (1)was furnished and when the secondary ligand was instead by a linear bridging ligand of terephthalic acid () a 1D zipper-like coordination polymer (2) was obtained, suggesting the structure-direction effect of the secondary dicarbxylate ligand. The preliminary investigation on the spectral properties of the complexes was also presented.
Cashew nutshell liquid catalyzed green chemistry approach for synthesis of a Schiff base and its divalent metal complexes: molecular docking and DNA reactivity

Abstract Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) anacardic acid was used, for the first time, as a green and natural effective catalyst for the synthesis of a quinoline based amino acid Schiff base ligand from the condensation of 2-hydroxyquinoline-3-carbaldehyde with l-tryptophan via solvent-free simple physical grinding technique. The use of the nontoxic CNSL natural catalyst has many benefits over toxic reagents and the desired product was obtained in high yield in a short reaction time. The procedure employed is simple and does not involve column chromatography. Moreover, a series of metal(II) complexes (metal = iron(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II), and copper(II)) supported by the synthesized new quinoline based amino acid Schiff base ligand (L) has been designed and the compositions of the metal(II) complexes were examined by various analytical techniques. The findings imply that the 2-hydroxyquinoline-3-carbaldehyde amino acid Schiff base (L) serves as a dibasic tridentate ONO ligand and synchronizes with the metal(II) in octahedral geometry in accordance with the general formula [M(LH)2]. Molecular docking study of the metal(II) complexes with B-DNA dodecamer has revealed good binding energy. The conductivity parameters in DMSO suggest the existence of nonelectrolyte species. The interaction of these metal complexes with CT-DNA has shown strong binding via an intercalative mode with a different pattern of DNA binding, while UV-visible photo-induced molecular cleavage analysis against plasmid DNA using agarose gel electrophoresis has revealed that the metal complexes exhibit photo induced nuclease activity. Graphical Abstract
Information Thermodynamics and Reducibility of Large Gene Networks

Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) control biological processes like pluripotency, differentiation, and apoptosis. Omics methods can identify a large number of putative network components (on the order of hundreds or thousands) but it is possible that in many cases a small subset of genes control the state of GRNs. Here, we explore how the topology of the interactions between network components may indicate whether the effective state of a GRN can be represented by a small subset of genes. We use methods from information theory to model the regulatory interactions in GRNs as cascading and superposing information channels. We propose an information loss function that enables identification of the conditions by which a small set of genes can represent the state of all the other genes in the network. This information-theoretic analysis extends to a measure of free energy change due to communication within the network, which provides a new perspective on the reducibility of GRNs. Both the information loss and relative free energy depend on the density of interactions and edge communication error in a network. Therefore, this work indicates that a loss in mutual information between genes in a GRN is directly coupled to a thermodynamic cost, i.e., a reduction of relative free energy, of the system.
A comparison of farming- and non-farming-related suicides from the United States' National Violent Deaths Reporting System, 2003-2016.

Farmers are at higher risk of suicide than other occupations and the general population. The complex suicide risk factors have not been examined in a large, population-wide study across a significant time period. This observational study draws on existing data from the United States' National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), including 140,523 farming- or non-farming-related suicide decedents between 2003 and 2016 from across 40 states. "Farming-related" decedents included 2,801 suicides. Farmers had higher odds of being male, older, less well-educated, and American Indian/Alaska Native. Farmers had higher odds of using firearms and-when farmers used a gun-higher odds of using a long-arm weapon. Farmers had lower odds of having a known mental health condition or job problem, and lower odds of having made a previous suicide attempt or leaving a suicide note. Findings highlight the complexity of suicide risk within the context of farming in the United States and reinforce the need for tailored prevention efforts; employing means restriction of firearms; and emphasizing that traditional risk factors may not be as common in the farming population.
Down regulation of DNA topoisomerase IIβ exerts neurodegeneration like effect through Rho GTPases in cellular model of Parkinson’s disease by Down regulating tyrosine hydroxylase

ABSTRACT Initiating the transcriptional activation of neuronal genes, DNA topoisomerase IIβ (topo IIβ) has a crucial role in neural differentiation and brain development. Inhibition of topo IIβ activity causes shorter axons and deteriorated neuronal connections common in neurodegenerative diseases. We previously reported that topo IIβ silencing could give rise to neurodegeneration through dysregulation of Rho GTPases and may contribute to pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Although there are several studies available proposing a link between Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Rho GTPases, there have been no reports analyzing the topo IIβ-dependent association of PD and Rho GTPases. Here, for the first time, we identified that topo IIβ has a regulatory role on Rho GTPases contributing to PD-like pathology. We analyzed the association between topo IIβ and PD by comparing topo IIβ expression levels of Retinoic Acid (RA) and Brain-derived neutrophic factor (BDNF) induced and MPP+-intoxicated SH-SY5Y cells used as an in vitro PD model. While both mRNA and protein levels of topo IIβ increase in neural differentiated cells, a significant decrease is detected in the PD model. Additionally, silencing of topo IIβ by specific siRNAs caused phenotypic alterations like deteriorated neural connections and transcriptional regulations such as upregulation of RhoA and downregulation of Cdc42, Rac1, and tyrosine hydroxylase gene expressions. Our results suggest that topo IIβ downregulation may cause neurodegeneration through dysregulation of Rho-GTPases leading to PD-like pathology.
Olfactory language and semantic processing in anosmia: a neuropsychological case control study

ABSTRACT A longstanding debate within philosophy and neuroscience involves the extent to which sensory information is a necessary condition for conceptual knowledge. Much of our understanding of this relationship has been informed by examining the impact of congenital blindness and deafness on language and cognitive development. Relatively little is known about the “lesser” senses of smell and taste. Here we report a neuropsychological case-control study contrasting a young adult male (P01) diagnosed with anosmia (i.e. no olfaction) during early childhood relative to an age- and sex-matched control group. A structural MRI of P01’s brain revealed profoundly atrophic/aplastic olfactory bulbs, and standardized smell testing confirmed his prior pediatric diagnosis of anosmia. Participants completed three language experiments examining comprehension, production, and subjective experiential ratings of odor salient words (e.g. sewer) and scenarios (e.g. fish market). P01’s ratings of odor salience of single words were lower than all control participants, whereas his ratings on five other perceptual and affective dimensions were similar to controls. P01 produced unusual associations when cued to generate words that smelled similar to odor-neutral target words (e.g. ink → plant). In narrative picture description for odor salient scenes (e.g. bakery), P01 was indistinguishable from controls. These results suggest that odor deprivation does not overtly impair functional language use. However, subtle lexical-semantic effects of anosmia may be revealed using sensitive linguistic measures.
Functional Coupling of Slack Channels and P2X3 Receptors Contributes to Neuropathic Pain Processing

The sodium-activated potassium channel Slack (KNa1.1, Slo2.2, or Kcnt1) is highly expressed in populations of sensory neurons, where it mediates the sodium-activated potassium current (IKNa) and modulates neuronal activity. Previous studies suggest that Slack is involved in the processing of neuropathic pain. However, mechanisms underlying the regulation of Slack activity in this context are poorly understood. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings we found that Slack-mediated IKNa in sensory neurons of mice is reduced after peripheral nerve injury, thereby contributing to neuropathic pain hypersensitivity. Interestingly, Slack is closely associated with ATP-sensitive P2X3 receptors in a population of sensory neurons. In vitro experiments revealed that Slack-mediated IKNa may be bidirectionally modulated in response to P2X3 activation. Moreover, mice lacking Slack show altered nocifensive responses to P2X3 stimulation. Our study identifies P2X3/Slack signaling as a mechanism contributing to hypersensitivity after peripheral nerve injury and proposes a potential novel strategy for treatment of neuropathic pain.
Sensitivity and Specificity of Transthoracic Echocardiography in Diagnosing the Presence of the Anomalous Origin of Left Circumflex Coronary Artery From the Right Sinus of Valsalva in an Adult Population

Anomalous coronary artery (ACA) origin affects around 0.6% to 1.2% of the general population without other congenital heart disease.1 A multimodality imaging approach is usually necessary to correctly assess the origin and proximal course of ACA, and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) represents the first step in this diagnostic process, followed by coronary computed tomography.1 The anomalous origin of the left circumflex coronary artery (aLCX) from the right coronary sinus, first described by Antopol and Kugel2 in 1933, is the most common ACA, with a prevalence at coronary angiography of 0.18% to 0.67%; 3 different variants are described3: type I with separated ostia between right coronary artery and aLCX (Figure [A]), type II with a common ostium between right coronary artery and aLCX (Figure [B]), and type III with aLCX arising as a proximal branch of right coronary artery with a short common trunk (Figure [C]). Although it is considered a “benign” variant,3 its recognition is useful to avoid its damage during aortic and mitral valve surgical replacement.4 The aim of this observational prospective study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a TTE sign of a “double binary tubular image” (DBTI; Figure [D– F]), observed above the mitral annular plane and crossing the aorta in apical projections, in predicting the presence of aLCX,5 in all consecutive adult patients (aged >18 years) who underwent TTE before clinically indicated elective coronary angiography between January 2016 and October 2021 at our institution. Angiographic calcifications and the reference vessel diameter with quantitative coronary analysis of aLCX in its retroaortic segment were also assessed. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Verona and Rovigo (protocol number 11 568), and all patients provided informed consent. The data of the study may be available from the corresponding author on request. Data are presented as mean±SD or percentage. Unpaired Student t test was used to test differences between continuous variables. Sensitivity was calculated as [true positive (TP)/ TP+false negative (FN)]×100, specificity as [true negative (TN)/false positive (FP)+TN]×100, positive predictive value as [TP/TP+FP]×100, negative predictive value as [TN/TN+FN]×100, and the diagnostic accuracy as
Impact of noble-gas filler atoms on the lattice thermal conductivity of CoSb3 skutterudites: first-principles modelling

We present a systematic first-principles modelling study of the structural dynamics and thermal transport in CoSb3 skutterudites with a series of noble-gas filler atoms. Filling with chemically-inert atoms provides an idealised model for isolating the effects of the fillers from the impact of redox changes to the host electronic structure. A range of analysis techniques are proposed to estimate the filler rattling frequencies, to quantify the separate impacts of the fillers on the phonon group velocities and lifetimes, and to show how changes to the phonon spectra and interaction strengths lead to suppressed lifetimes. The noble-gas fillers are found to reduce the thermal conductivity of the CoSb3 framework by up to 15% primarily by suppressing the group velocities of low-lying optic modes. The filler rattling frequencies are determined by a detailed balance of increasing atomic mass and stronger interactions with the framework, and are found to be a good predictor of the impact on the heat transport. Lowering the rattling frequency below ∼1.5 THz by selecting heavy fillers that interact weakly with the framework is predicted to lead to a much larger suppression of the thermal transport, by inducing avoided crossings in the acoustic-mode dispersion and facilitating enhanced scattering and a consequent large reduction in phonon lifetimes. Approximate rattling frequencies determined from the harmonic force constants may therefore provide a useful metric for selecting filler atoms to optimise the thermal transport in skutterudites and other cage compounds such as clathrates.
School and educational support programmes for paediatric oncology patients and survivors: A systematic review of evidence and recommendations for future research and practice

The Psychosocial Standards of Care (PSSC) in paediatric oncology prescribe the minimum standards for education support. It is unknown, however, if published education support programmes for children with cancer meet the PSSC standards for education support. Successful implementation of standards for education support is challenging but may be achieved with guidance. We aimed to (1) review education support programmes for childhood cancer patients and survivors against the PSSC standards and (2) provide practical recommendations for future research and implementation of education support programmes.
Caffeine Ingestion Improves Performance During Fitness Tests but Does Not Alter Activity During Simulated Games in Professional Basketball Players.

PURPOSE To examine the effects of acute caffeine supplementation on physical performance during fitness testing and activity during simulated games in basketball players. METHODS A double-blind, counterbalanced, randomized, crossover study design was followed. A total of 14 professional male basketball players ingested a placebo (sucrose) and caffeine (6 mg·kg-1 of body mass) in liquid form prior to completing 2 separate testing sessions. Each testing session involved completion of a standardized 15-minute warm-up followed by various fitness tests including 20-m sprints, countermovement jumps, Lane Agility Drill trials, and a repeated-sprint-ability test. Following a 20-minute recovery, players completed 3 × 7-minute 5-vs-5 simulated periods of full-court basketball games, each separated by 2 minutes of recovery. Local positioning system technology was used to measure player activity during games. Players completed a side-effects questionnaire 12 to 14 hours after testing. RESULTS Players experienced significant (P < .05), moderate-very large (effect size = -2.19 to 0.89) improvements in 20-m sprint, countermovement jump, Lane Agility Drill, and repeated-sprint-ability performance with caffeine supplementation. However, external workloads completed during simulated games demonstrated nonsignificant, trivial-small (effect size = -0.23 to 0.12) changes between conditions. In addition, players reported greater (P < .05) insomnia and urine output after caffeine ingestion. CONCLUSIONS Acute caffeine supplementation could be effective to improve physical performance during tests stressing fitness elements important in basketball. However, acute caffeine supplementation appears to exert no meaningful effects on the activity completed during simulated basketball games and may promote sleep disturbances and exert a diuretic effect when taken at 6 mg·kg-1 of body mass in professional players.
Mobile app learning in memory intervention for acquired brain injury: Neuropsychological associations of training duration

ABSTRACT Memory impairment is a common consequence of acquired brain injury, often leading to functional difficulties day-to-day and decreased independence. Memory Link is a theory-driven training programme for individuals with moderate-to-severe memory dysfunction, which enables the acquisition of digital device skills for functional compensation. The present study examined how neuropsychological functioning and initial training performance contribute to training duration in our outpatient memory rehabilitation programme. A retrospective chart review was conducted, extending 12 years into the past, yielding data from 37 eligible participants. All participants demonstrated skill learning of the calendar function in their digital device to the criterion point. The results showed that performance on neuropsychological tests of explicit memory (e.g., CVLT-II, BVMT-R), processing speed (e.g., Digit Symbol Coding, Trail Making sequencing), executive functioning (e.g., Trail Making switching), and perceptual ability (i.e., Block Design) were significantly associated with training duration to learn the core steps of calendar use. Furthermore, linear regression revealed that initial training performance was a significant predictor of training duration. Lastly, profile of cognitive impairment, with regard to severity of memory functioning and the presence of additional deficits, was found to be a significant factor contributing to how many training trials were required to learn application skills.
Quality control of protein models : directional atomic contact analysis

Branden & Jones state, in Nature: `Protein crystallography is an exacting trade, and the results may contain errors that are difficult to identify. It is the crystallographer's responsibility to make sure that incorrect protein structures do not reach the literature. ' [Branden & Jones. (1990). Nature (London), 343, 687–689. ] One of several available methods of checking structures for correctness is the evaluation of atomic contacts. From an initial hypothesis that atom-atom interactions are the primary determinant of protein folding, any protein model can be tested for proper packing by the calculation of a contact quality index. The index is a measure of the agreement between the distributions of atoms around each residue fragment in the model and equivalent distributions derived from the database of known structures solved at high resolution. The better the agreement, the higher the contact quality index. This empirical test, which is independent of X-ray data, is applied to a series of successively refined crystal structures. In all cases, the model known or expected to be better (the one with the lower R-factor) has a better contact quality index, indicating that this type of contact analysis can be used as an independent quality criterion during crystallographic refinement. Modelled proteins and predicted mutant structures can also be evaluated.
Memory impairment in chronic experimental Chagas disease: Benznidazole therapy reversed cognitive deficit in association with reduction of parasite load and oxidative stress in the nervous tissue

Memory impairment has been associated with chronic Chagas disease (CD), a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. In degenerative diseases, memory loss has been associated with increased oxidative stress, revealed as enhanced lipid peroxidation, in the cerebral cortex. Benznidazole (Bz), a trypanocidal drug efficient to reduce blood parasite load in the acute and chronic phases of infection, showed controversial effects on heart disease progression, the main clinical manifestation of CD. Here, we evaluated whether C57BL/6 mice infected with the Colombian type I T. cruzi strain present memory deficit assessed by (i) the novel object recognition task, (ii) the open field test and (iii) the aversive shock evoked test, at 120 days post infection (dpi). Next, we tested the effects of Bz therapy (25mg/Kg/day, for 30 consecutive days) on memory evocation, and tried to establish a relation between memory loss, parasite load and oxidative stress in the central nervous system (CNS). At 120 dpi, T. cruzi-infected mice showed memory impairment, compared with age-matched non-infected controls. Bz therapy (from 120 to 150 dpi) hampered the progression of habituation and aversive memory loss and, moreover, reversed memory impairment in object recognition. In vehicle-administered infected mice, neuroinflammation was absent albeit rare perivascular mononuclear cells were found in meninges and choroid plexus. Bz therapy abrogated the infiltration of the CNS by inflammatory cells, and reduced parasite load in hippocampus and cerebral cortex. At 120 and 150 dpi, lipid peroxidation was increased in the hippocampus and cortex tissue extracts. Notably, Bz therapy reduced levels of lipid peroxidation in the cerebral cortex. Therefore, in experimental chronic T. cruzi infection Bz therapy improved memory loss, in association with reduction of parasite load and oxidative stress in the CNS, providing a new perspective to improve the quality of life of Chagas disease patients.