Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automatic Resting Tremor Assessment in Parkinson’s Disease Using Smartwatches and Multitask Convolutional Neural Networks

Resting tremor in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most distinctive motor symptoms. Appropriate symptom monitoring can help to improve management and medical treatments and improve the patients’ quality of life. Currently, tremor is evaluated by physical examinations during clinical appointments; however, this method could be subjective and does not represent the full spectrum of the symptom in the patients’ daily lives. In recent years, sensor-based systems have been used to obtain objective information about the disease. However, most of these systems require the use of multiple devices, which makes it difficult to use them in an ambulatory setting. This paper presents a novel approach to evaluate the amplitude and constancy of resting tremor using triaxial accelerometers from consumer smartwatches and multitask classification models. These approaches are used to develop a system for an automated and accurate symptom assessment without interfering with the patients’ daily lives. Results show a high agreement between the amplitude and constancy measurements obtained from the smartwatch in comparison with those obtained in a clinical assessment. This indicates that consumer smartwatches in combination with multitask convolutional neural networks are suitable for providing accurate and relevant information about tremor in patients in the early stages of the disease, which can contribute to the improvement of PD clinical evaluation, early detection of the disease, and continuous monitoring.
Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Older Adulthood: Are Agricultural Workers at Greater Risk?

OBJECTIVES To examine whether long-term exposure to agricultural work is associated with dementia prevalence and the rate of cognitive change in older adulthood. METHODS We employed data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2014). Multiple logistic regression was used to determine whether a longest-held job in the agricultural sector was associated with differences in dementia prevalence. We examined if hearing impairment, depression and physical health indicators mediated the relationship between agricultural work and cognitive functioning. Sub-group analyses were done by age, retirement status, job tenure, and cognitive domain. We employed growth curve models to investigate implications of agricultural work on age trajectories of cognitive functioning. RESULTS Longest-held job in agriculture, fishing, and forestry (AFF) was associated with 46% greater odds of having dementia. The relationship between AFF exposure and cognitive functioning was not mediated by hearing impairment, depression, or physical health indicators. Results were stronger among younger and retired older adults as well as those with extensive job tenure. AFF exposure was associated with lower scores in working memory and attention and processing speed. Growth curve models indicated that while agricultural work exposure was associated with lower initial levels of cognitive functioning, over time the pattern reversed with individuals in non-AFF jobs showing more accelerated cognitive decline. DISCUSSION Consistent with European studies, results from the U.S. also demonstrate a higher prevalence of dementia among agricultural workers. The cognitive reserve framework may explain the seemingly paradoxical result on age patterning of cognitive performance across older adults with different work histories.
Volta metric Behavior of Mesotrione using Silver/Amalgam Electrode

Volta metric behavior of mesotrione using silver/amalgam electrode we examined in this paper.Mesotrione belongs to the triketone group of herbicides. It is used against weeds in corn and operates byinhibition of 4-hydroxyphenyl piruvate in plants. There is little information about mesotrione as its presencein the market is short. For its wider application in the future, it is important to know details of its chemicalcharacteristics and redox processes, including biogeochemical transformation and migration after applicationto agricultural land, which could contribute to its more efficient and safe application. The technique of cyclicvoltammeter with conventional three-electrode cell and electrochemical workstation was used for theinvestigation of electrochemical behavior of mesotrione. Cyclic voltamograms of mesotrione were recorded atpH values 6, 8, 10 and 12. Several peaks were obtained at certain values of the potential and they wereattributed to the reduction of two carbonyl groups (in position 1 and 3 of cyclohexane ring), the third carbonyl group and nitro group. The maximum current value was at pH 12.
The clinical value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in the modern era

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) has long been used as diagnostic tool for cardiac diseases. During recent years CPET has been proven to be additionally useful for 1) distinguishing between normal and abnormal responses to exercise; 2) determining peak oxygen uptake and level of disability; 3) identifying factors contributing to dyspnoea and exercise limitation; 4) differentiating between ventilatory (respiratory mechanics and pulmonary gas exchange), cardiovascular, metabolic and peripheral muscle causes of exercise intolerance; 5) identifying anomalies of ventilatory (respiratory mechanics and pulmonary gas exchange), cardiovascular and metabolic systems, as well as peripheral muscle and psychological disorders; 6) screening for coexistent ischaemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and arterial hypoxaemia; 7) assisting in planning individualised exercise training; 8) generating prognostic information; and 9) objectively evaluating the impact of therapeutic interventions. As such, CPET is an essential part of patients' clinical assessment. This article belongs to the special series on the “Ventilatory efficiency and its clinical prognostic value in cardiorespiratory disorders”, addressed to clinicians, physiologists and researchers, and aims at encouraging them to get acquainted with CPET in order to help and orient the clinical decision concerning individual patients. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is an essential part of patient clinical assessment, which also includes prognosis and response to clinical interventions https://bit.ly/2EHXWL2
Mycotoxins in Root Extracts of American and Asian Ginseng Bind Estrogen Receptors α and β

The estrogenic activity of ginseng has been the subject of conflicting reports. Cell proliferation, induction of estrogen-responsive genes, and isolated cases of adverse reactions such as postmenopausal vaginal bleeding and gynecomastia have been reported after ginseng treatment. Other studies report antiproliferative effects with no induction of estrogen-responsive genes. We developed estrogen receptor (ER) α and ERβ competitive binding assays using recombinant receptors and [3H]-17β-estradiol to detect phytoestrogens in extracts of Asian ginseng root (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) and American ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius L.). Root extracts contained substances that bound both receptor isoforms. These substances had a two to three times greater affinity for ERβ. Significantly higher binding was found in methanol extracts than in hot water extracts. Subsequent analysis of the extracts revealed significant ER binding attributable to zearalenone, the estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species. The ER showed no binding affinity for Rb1 and Rg1, the major ginsenosides found in P. quinquefolius and P. ginseng, respectively. Thus, ginseng extraction methods, plant species tested, and mycotoxin contaminants may help to explain the disparate literature reports. The prevalence and health significance of fungal contamination in herbal products used for medicinal purposes should be further investigated.
Synthesis and bioactivity of some new 2-substituted-3,4-dihydro-1-(9H- carbazol-4-yloxy)methyl-3-[2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)ethyl]-1,3,2 λ5-oxazaphosphole 2-oxides, sulfides and selenides

Novel 2-substituted-3,4-dihydro-1-(9H-carbazol-4-yloxy)methyl-3-(2-(2-methoxyphenoxy) ethyl)-1,3,2λ 5 -oxazaphosphole 2-oxides (3a-e) were synthesized by condensation of 1-(9H- carbazol-4-yloxy)-3-(2-(2-methoxy phenoxy)ethylamino)propan-2-ol (1) (carvedilol) with dichlorides of aryl phosphorodichloridates / N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl)phosphoramidic dichloride (2a-e) in the presence of triethylamine at 40 to 45 °C. The other title compounds (6a-c, and 6d-f) were prepared in two steps. In the first step, dichlorophenylphosphine/ethyl phosphorodichloridite was reacted with 1 in the presence of Et3N to give the corresponding P(III) intermediates (5a,b) in N2 atmosphere. In the second step, 5a,b were treated with H2O2, S or Se to convert them to the corresponding P(V) state (6a-c, 6d-f). Compounds 3a-e, 6a-f were screened for antifungal and antibacterial activity. Most of these compounds exhibited moderate activity.
Chemical composition and insecticidal properties of Origanum glandulosum (Desf.) essential oil from Algeria

BACKGROUND: To find natural compounds with insecticidal properties which could be an alternative to synthetic insecticides, oregano essential oil was tested against the insect Rhizopertha dominica devastating stored cereals. RESULTS: Oregano oils were isolated by steam distillation, analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and investigated for their insecticidal activities against Rhizopertha dominica. Contact and fumigant toxicities of global oil and three of its fractions recovered respectively after 2 h and after 0–2.5, 2.5–5 and 5–10 min of extraction were tested using the filter paper method. Eighteen components, representing 92.6% of the oil, were identified. The major components were thymol (38.8%), carvacrol (32.9%), p-cymene (7.9%) and γ-terpinene (5.1%). Toxicity tests showed that insect mortality increases with the concentration used (0.39%, 0.78%, 1.56%, 3.12% and 6.24%V). For all concentrations, the contact effect of global oil and fraction F2 was better than the fumigant effect. Whereas fractions F1 and F3 were more toxic by fumigation for concentrations lower or equal to 1.56%, their contact effect was more significant for concentrations higher than 1.56%. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that oregano oil has important insecticidal properties and may be useful as a natural grain protectant against Rhizopertha dominica to replace synthetic insecticides. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Ecofisiologia de la fotosintesis bacteriana

Se ha estudiado la fisiologia de las poblaciones naturales de bacterias fotosinteticas del azufre. Se analiza la composicion de especies dominantes y los factores ambientales que afectan a dicha composicion utilizando una tecnica de analisis multifactorial. Se propone un modelo ecofisiologico que explique la formacion de capas de bacterias fotosinteticas basado en la distribucion de biomasa y actividad fotosintetica. Finalmente se propone un modelo de funcionamiento de un ecosistema anaerobico tipico dominado por las bacterias fototroficas basado en la teoria del quimiostato de monod y en los resultados de dinamica poblacional.
Effects of Toxic Organotin Compounds on Bacteria Investigated by Micro‐Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract Within the framework of the detection of toxic substances using specific bacteria, the effect of the toxic chemical compound tributyltin chloride (TBT) on the bacterium Escherichia coli TBT3 was investigated using a noninvasive approach based on micro‐Raman spectroscopy. Various cellular densities with optical density (OD) ranging from 1 to 4 and harvested at different growth phases were induced for 1 h with different TBT concentrations: 1, 3, 5, and 10 µM. As an original contribution, the Raman results show that, in these conditions, the vibrational signatures of bacteria were affected by the presence of the toxic TBT compound, mainly in the signal characteristics from carbohydrates and lipids. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) carried out on the Raman data in these regions makes it possible to classify the spectra in three groups according to the TBT concentration, confirming the progressive influence of the chemical pollutant on the bacterium. This work shows the potentiality for the Raman technique on this subject, even though a low detection threshold corresponding with a concentration of 1 µM of TBT was established.
Characterization of hydrocarbon systems by DBE concept

Thermochemical data of mineral oil fractions are scarce. Due to the complex structure of natural hydrocarbon mixture, standard heat and Gibbs free energy of formation depend on the sample. A procedure for predicting these properties is presented. Both properties depend on the hydrocarbon type and on its molecular weight. The double-bond equivalent (DBE) and the number of olefinic double bounds are the important characterization parameters of the model. DBE can basically be calculated from molecular weight and elemental composition. Alternatively, boiling point and atomic H/C ratio can be used if the model is applied to mineral oil fractions from which boiling curves can be obtained. A criterion for testing the reliability of the estimated DBE value is available, because DBE is also a function of structural group distribution. The relevance of the DBE concept is shown with regard to hydroprocessing of mineral oil fractions. The model can be applied to total average molecules as well as to an arbitrary number of pseudocomponents and continuous mixtures. The difference between feed and product DBE is equivalent to the amount of hydrogen consumed for hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons. Further properties of the product can be predicted.
Modification of the curcumin method for low level boron determination

A simple modification of the curcumin spectrophotometric determination of boron has been developed in which the acid requiredo develop the colour is destroyed with ammonium acetate, thus eliminating the need for dilution to large volumes. Provided suitable precautions are taken to minimise contamination, the method is suitable for direct determinations of boron down to 0·1 mg of boron per litre.
External field induced paranematic-nematic phase transitions in rod-like systems

The external field induced paranematic–nematic phase separation of hard spherocylinder systems is studied using the Onsager and Parsons free-energy functionals. A bifurcation analysis is carried out in the context of the Onsager theory at an infinitesimal external field. The bifurcation concentration is found to decrease with increasing field strength. Below the critical field strength, van der Waals-like loops are found. The molecular aspect ratio dependence of the phase coexistence curves of hard spherocylinders also is investigated. The critical field strength is found to decrease with decreasing aspect ratio. The external field dependence of the order parameter along the paranematic–nematic phase equilibrium curve is also studied.
Synthesis of 2-Substituted Furanonaphthoquinones Using Directed Metalation and Cross Coupling Reactions

Abstract A synthetic method for the preparation of C-2 substituted furanonaphthoquinones from ortholithium-benzamide and the 2-furan-carboxaldehyde derivative is described. Four 2-alkyl-furanonaphthoquinones and the 2-phenyl-substituted were prepared via phathalide. This route has been shown to be general application to the synthesis of furanonaphthoquinones.
Dielectric properties of BaTiO3 by molecular dynamics simulations using a shell model

We calculated the susceptibilities of BaTiO3 by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using an isotropic shell model of Tinte et al. (S. Tinte, M.G. Stachiotti, S.R. Phillpot, M. Sepliarsky, D. Wolf, and R.L. Migoni, Ferroelectric properties of BaxSr1-xTiO3 solid solutions obtained by molecular dynamics simulation. J Phys Condens Matter, 16, pp. 3495–3506, 2004). The anisotropy of the susceptibilities was reproduced for the ferroelectric phases. However, the susceptibilities were significantly underestimated with respect to experimental ones especially for the a direction. The densities of probabilities of the local polarisations in this model for both the macroscopically polarised and not polarised directions were strongly localised around their average values, leading to the small fluctuation of the total dipole moment of the MD cell and resulting in the underestimated susceptibilities. The order–disorder character was found to be stronger in this model than in the effective Hamiltonian based on the first principles calculations.
The impact of adsorption of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor on CTAB‐protected gold nanoparticle arrays: a Raman spectroscopic comparison with solution denaturation

The influence of an array of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-protected gold nanoparticles on the structure of a model protein, bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) at pH 7.4, was studied by Raman spectroscopy. The structural consequences of array adsorption were compared with the effects of deposition of the protein directly onto a roughened gold substrate and with thermal and reductive treatment of BPTI in solution. Both thermal and reductive denaturation in solution result in loss of α-helix structure, with an increase in random conformations of the protein in the case of reductive denaturation and β-sheet conformation and random coil on thermal denaturation. For reductive denaturation in particular, extensive loss of secondary structure is evident. Deposition of the protein onto the array resulted in increased β-sheet conformation similar to that observed on thermal treatment of the protein. However, unlike denaturation, which for both thermal and reductive process resulted in changes in the disulfide stretching wavenumber, this remains largely unchanged on application of the protein to the array. Furthermore, deposition of the protein onto bare gold results in significant heterogeneity in the SS stretching signal with appearance of ggt and nonequilibrium geometry of the CCSSCC dihedral angles. Thermal denaturation results in a red shift of the SS mode, whereas dithiothreitol (DTT) treatment, as expected, induces significant loss of the SS stretching signal, although a signal at 517 cm−1 remains suggesting that the unreduced disulfide has changed to the ggt geometry. In addition, an SH mode is observed at 2570 cm−1 in solution. The response of BPTI to thermal and DTT treatment while on the array is very different to its solution behavior, and suggests that adhesion to the array increases the stability of the protein. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The vagino-cervical microbiome as a woman’s life history

The gut microbiome has been the center of attention for human commensal microbiome studies. The vaginal microbiome is also densely populated with bacteria, viruses and fungi, and the presence of microorganisms beyond the cervix is increasingly reported in non-infectious conditions1–3. Due to the over 90% of human sequences in female reproductive tract samples3,4, metagenomic information has been very limited. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing studies have identified community types in the vaginal microbiota, and observed its dynamic changes due to menstrual cycles and sexual behaviors in small cohorts5,6. Here we perform metagenomic shotgun sequencing on cervical samples from 516 women of reproductive age (more than 10-fold of the Human Microbiome Project (HMP)4), and dissect major factors, especially pregnancy and delivery histories and contraception methods on the microbiome composition. Features of other body sites, such as mood fluctuations and facial speckles could potentially be deduced from the vagino-cervical microbiome. Our results offer an unprecedented glimpse into the microbiota in the female reproductive tract and imply disease susceptibilities that may be relieved by behavioural changes.
Effect of slurry dilution, structural carbohydrates, and exogenous archaea supply on in vitro anaerobe fermentation and methanogens population of swine slurry

Artificial slurry (4% dry matter) was prepared using fresh feces and urine obtained from four pregnant sows fed with commercial diet. Freeze‐dried dairy cattle feces were used (external archaea) as co‐inoculum (Co‐i) and structural carbohydrates (CHO: apple pulp; sugar beet pulp; and wheat straw) as substrates. Bottles were incubated (39 ± 1°C for 56 days), and the gas production was measured (mbar) and converted to the volume. A sample of produced gas was taken and analyzed for methane concentration using a gas chromatography. Bottles were opened at days 0, 25, and 56 to determine total bacteria, total, and hydrogenotrophic methanogens archaea (HMA) concentrations using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and population biodiversity using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Incubation time reduced the titers of total bacteria and archaea (P < 0.01) but did not modify HMA population. Doses of Co‐i showed a positive correlation with HMA titers, although interacted with an incubation period (P < 0.001); at 5% Co‐inoculation, total bacteria decreased significantly (0–25 days) but remained steady until day 56 (P > 0.05), whereas at 10% Co inoculation, titers decreased constantly. Most of the archaeal DGGE bands were observed in all samples, suggesting a common microbial population origin but Co‐i supply altered the DGGE structure of archaea populations. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 54–64, 2015
The development and use of novel iridium complexes as catalysts for ortho‐directed hydrogen isotope exchange reactions

The preparation and application of groups of new iridium complexes are described. In particular, iridium complexes possessing phosphine ligands and a bulky N-heterocyclic carbene have been shown to be robust and readily handled species and have been applied in a range of directed hydrogen-deuterium and -tritium exchange processes and, in particular, with drug-like substrates or within ADMET-related studies. Overall, these new iridium(I) complexes are shown to be highly active catalysts and display catalytic activity far in excess of the industry standard, Crabtree's catalyst, with excellent levels of labelling being achieved over short reaction times and at low metal complex loadings, whilst tolerating a wide range of functional moieties. Furthermore and again in contrast to systems employing Crabtree's catalyst, the low catalyst loadings and short reaction times made possible by these emerging iridium carbene comple have delivered tritiated products with very good levels of labelling and without any appreciable by-product waste production.
Utilisation des paramètres de Stokes dans le calcul de l'état de polarisation d'un faisceau de rayons X après diffraction par un cristal mosaïque

The polarization state of an X-ray beam diffracted by a mosaic crystal is determined. The state of the incident beam being described by four Stokes parameters, the matrix method used allows the calculation of the Stokes parameters of a monochromatic X-ray beam and it leads to a general expression of the polarization factor which can be used for any polarization state of the incident beam.