Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An initial exploration of fatigue as a predictor of quality of life in transplant athletes competing at national and international events.

Supporting organ transplant recipients' quality of life after surgery continues to be of interest to health researchers and applied practitioners. However, literature and guidance on the factors linked to quality of life in transplant recipient athletes remains underreported. This study aimed to identify significant predictors of quality of life in an international sample of organ transplant recipient athletes (N = 99, Mage = 53 ± 14). Adopting a cross-sectional design, we collected the study data during the 2019 World Transplant Games which consisted of demographic items, health, and physical activity-related measures (i.e., task and ego orientation, fatigue severity, assessment of physical activity, physical activity enjoyment). Predictor variables were summarised into three categories: demographic factors, sport-related factors, and levels of fatigue with physical and mental quality of life functioning as the outcome variables. Hierarchical regression analyses exposed fatigue to exert a significant negative influence on both mental and physical quality of life perceptions explaining 49% and 64% of the variance in these variables respectively. Routine measurement and monitoring of transplant athletes' level of fatigue in sport settings are recommended due to the negative bearing on quality of life that may be a potential barrier to sport participation and enjoyment.
Preoperative Glycosylated Haemoglobin Screening to Identify Older Adult Patients with Undiagnosed Diabetes Mellitus—A Retrospective Cohort Study

More than 25% of older adults in Europe have diabetes mellitus. It is estimated that 45% of patients with diabetes are currently undiagnosed, which is a known risk factor for perioperative morbidity. We investigated whether routine HbA1c screening in older adult patients undergoing surgery would identify patients with undiagnosed diabetes. We included patients aged ≥65 years without a diagnosis of diabetes who visited the preoperative assessment clinic at the Amsterdam University Medical Center and underwent HbA1c screening within three months before surgery. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery were excluded. We assessed the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes (defined as HbA1c ≥ 48 mmol·mol−1) and prediabetes (HbA1c 39–47 mmol·mol−1). Using a multivariate regression model, we analysed the ability of HbA1c to predict days alive and at home within 30 days after surgery. From January to December 2019, we screened 2015 patients ≥65 years at our clinic. Of these, 697 patients without a diagnosis of diabetes underwent HbA1c screening. The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes was 3.7% (95%CI 2.5–5.4%) and 42.9% (95%CI 39.2–46.7%), respectively. Preoperative HbA1c was not associated with days alive and at home within 30 days after surgery. In conclusion, we identified a small number of patients with undiagnosed diabetes and a high prevalence of prediabetes based on preoperative HbA1c screening in a cohort of older adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The relevance of prediabetes in the perioperative setting is unclear. Screening for HbA1c in older adult patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery does not appear to help predict postoperative outcome.
Model Validation of Recent Ground Motion Prediction Relations for Shallow Crustal Earthquakes in Active Tectonic Regions

Recent earthquake ground motion prediction relations, such as those developed from the Next Generation Attenuation of Ground Motions (NGA) project in 2008, have established a new baseline for the estimation of ground motion parameters such as peak ground acceleration (PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), and spectral acceleration (Sa). When these models were published, very little was written about model validation or prediction accuracy. We perform statistical goodness-of-fit analyses to quantitatively compare the predictive abilities of these recent models. The prediction accuracy of the models is compared using several testing subsets of the master database used to develop the NGA models. In addition, we perform a blind comparison of the new models with previous simpler models, using ground motion records from the two most recent earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater to strike mainland California: (1) the 2004 M 6.0 Parkfield earthquake, and (2) the 2003 M 6.5 San Simeon earthquake. By comparing the predictor variables and performance of different models, we discuss the sources of uncertainty in the estimates of ground motion parameters and offer recommendations for model development. This paper presents a model validation framework for assessing the prediction accuracy of ground motion prediction relations and aiding in their future development.
Gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids and depression: deep insight into biological mechanisms and potential applications

The gut microbiota is a complex and dynamic ecosystem known as the ‘second brain’. Composing the microbiota-gut-brain axis, the gut microbiota and its metabolites regulate the central nervous system through neural, endocrine and immune pathways to ensure the normal functioning of the organism, tuning individuals’ health and disease status. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main bioactive metabolites of the gut microbiota, are involved in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression. SCFAs have essential effects on each component of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in depression. In the present review, the roles of major SCFAs (acetate, propionate and butyrate) in the pathophysiology of depression are summarised with respect to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, neuroinflammation, host epigenome and neuroendocrine alterations. Concluding remarks on the biological mechanisms related to gut microbiota will hopefully address the clinical value of microbiota-related treatments for depression.
Promotion of Values Education (Factors Involved in Prosocial Behaviors and Volunteering)

(1) Background: Prosocial behavior aligns with the current societal model, where human values hold greater importance considering cultural, social, and personal variables that may influence the opportunity to benefit others. Hence, the objective of this research was established: to understand how diverse factors influence the values of young people, aiming to promote education and enhance prosocial behavior. (2) Methods: This study is quantitative research employing an empirical–analytical, cross-sectional social research method. A validated instrument was used with a sample of 1702 individuals from the city of Melilla, noteworthy for its multicultural context due to its location in North Africa. (3) Results: Inferential analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression to predict future behaviors, focusing on the factors influencing values. Various models were employed, incorporating twelve variables and four scales: sociability, transcendence, culture, and effects. (4) Conclusions: The results and conclusions suggest the need to enhance affect and sociability, primarily among the most prominent factors.
Analysis of different modulation techniques for multilevel inverters

Different level shifted modulation techniques for five level inverter has been analyzed. To control the output voltage of the inverters for specific load, different modulation techniques has been used. Amongst them multi carrier Sine Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM), Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) and Selective Harmonics Elimination (SHE) techniques are widely used for different multilevel inverter topologies. Different modulation techniques are compared on the basis of the output line voltage THD, utilization of DC link voltages and common mode voltage. The detailed analysis of modulation techniques are shown on the basis of the output THD offered by the five level Neutral Point Clamped or Diode Clamped (NPC) inverter. Hardware results for different level shifted PWM techniques also discussed.
The O-glycan is essential for the induction of protective antibodies against lethal infection by flagella A-bearing Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT To address the problem of increased antimicrobial resistance, we developed a glycoconjugate vaccine comprised of O-polysaccharides (OPS) of the four most prevalent serotypes of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) linked to recombinant flagellin types A and B (rFlaA and rFlaB) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). Flagellin is the major subunit of the flagellar filament. Flagella A and B, essential virulence factors for PA, are glycosylated with different glycans. We previously reported that while both rFlaA and rFlaB were highly immunogenic, only the rFlaB antisera reduced PA motility and protected mice from lethal PA infection in a mouse model of thermal injury. Since recombinant flagellin is not glycosylated, we examined the possibility that the glycan on native FlaA (nFlaA) might be critical to functional immune responses. We compared the ability of nFlaA to that of native, deglycosylated FlaA (dnFlaA) to induce functionally active antisera. O glycan was removed from nFlaA with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. Despite the similar high-titered anti-FlaA antibody levels elicited by nFlaA, rFlaA, and dnFlaA, only the nFlaA antisera inhibited PA motility and protected mice following lethal intraperitoneal bacterial challenge. Both the protective efficacy and carrier protein function of nFlaA were retained when conjugated to KP O1 OPS. We conclude that unlike the case with FlaB O glycan, the FlaA glycan is an important epitope for the induction of functionally active anti-FlaA antibodies.
Relationship between syringomyelia and myxomatous mitral valve disease in Cavalier King Charles spaniels

Abstract Background Syringomyelia (SM) and myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) are highly prevalent in Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS). Cardiac status in CKCS with and without SM is currently unknown. Objectives To investigate the association between SM and MMVD severity in CKCS and CKCS with SM with and without clinical signs of SM. Animals Fifty‐five CKCS: 40 with SM (22 symptomatic and 18 asymptomatic) and 15 without SM. Methods A combined retrospective and prospective study. MRI and echocardiography were used to diagnose SM and MMVD, respectively. The association between SM and MMVD severity (left ventricle internal diameter in diastole normalized to bodyweight [LVIDDN] and left atrium to aortic ratio [LA/Ao]) were tested using multivariable linear regression analysis adjusting for sex and age. Results Overall, no significant difference in LVIDDN and LA/Ao was found between CKCS with or without SM. However, CKCS with symptomatic SM had significantly smaller LVIDDN (1.45 [1.30‐1.50]) (median [IQR]) and LA/Ao (1.20 [1.10‐1.28]) compared to CKCS with asymptomatic SM (1.60 [1.50‐1.90] and 1.40 [1.20‐1.75]) as well as CKCS without SM (0.24 [0.03‐0.45] and 0.30 [0.05‐0.56]) (all P values <.03). Conclusions and Clinical Importance An association between MMVD and SM was not confirmed in this cohort of CKCS, indicating that MMVD and SM do not co‐segregate. However, CKCS with symptomatic SM had smaller left ventricle and atrial size compared to CKCS with asymptomatic SM and CKCS without SM.
Influence of Inherited Seizure Susceptibility on Intermittent Voluntary Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures in Genetically Epilepsy-Prone Rats (GEPR-3s)

Background: The link between epilepsy and alcohol consumption is complex, with conflicting reports. To enhance our understanding of this link, we conducted a study to determine how inherited seizure susceptibility affects voluntary alcohol consumption and influences alcohol withdrawal seizures in male and female genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR-3s) compared to Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: In the first experiment, animals were given access to two bottles simultaneously, one containing water and the other 7.5%, 15%, or 30% (v/v) alcohol three times a week for each dose after acclimation to drinking water. In a second experiment, animals were tested for acoustically evoked alcohol seizures 24 h after the last session of voluntary alcohol consumption. Results: Analysis revealed that GEPR-3s (males and females) had lower alcohol intake and preference than SD rats, particularly at lower alcohol concentrations. However, female GEPR-3s consumed more alcohol and had a higher alcohol preference than males. Furthermore, withdrawal from voluntary alcohol consumption facilitated the onset and duration of seizures in GEPR-3s. Conclusions: Our study suggests that genetic seizure susceptibility in GEPR-3s is negatively associated with alcohol consumption. However, withdrawal from low to moderate amounts of alcohol intake can promote epileptogenesis in the epileptic GEPR-3s.
FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION BY APPROXIMATE STRING MATCHING

An audio fingerprint is a small digest of an audio file which allows to identify it among a database of candidates. This paper first presents a fingerprint extraction algorithm. The identification task is performed by a new identification scheme which combines string matching algorithms and q-grams filtration. 1 ROBUST FINGERPRINT EXTRACTION METHOD Given an input signal sample eventually corrupted, its fingerprint allows to quickly retrieve the original file among a database of known audio files when it exists. Since an input audio sample should be identified, audio fingerprints should be composed of elementary keys (called subfingerprints) computed continuously along the signal. Fingerprints construction schemes are usually based on a sequence of overlapping windows on which sub-fingerprint values are computed [3]. This method called enframing insures a fixed detection rate of sub-fingerprints but is sensitive to cropping or shifting operations (Section 3). On the other hand, onset methods [1] are less sensitive to cuts alterations. However, these methods don’t insure any minimal detection rate of frames per second which may allow to bound the time required for the identification of an audio file. Our idea is to combine the respective advantages of enframing and onsets methods by selecting a small time interval (Iemax) with maximal energy within a larger one (Io) (Figure 1). Then, this signal segmentation process allows to quickly synchronize two fingerprints despite eventual shift operations. We then define the sub-fingerprint values as the lengths (in ms) between two consecutive Iemax. More details about our fingerprint extraction algorithm may be found in [4]. 2 FINGERPRINT RECOGNITION Several recognition techniques [3] may be used to compare an input fingerprint to a database. Within our framec © 2007 Austrian Computer Society (OCG). Figure 1. Audio Segmentation Method work, string matching methods provide a natural framework to account for shifted or wrongly detected Iemax intervals between two fingerprints. Highly similar sequences between two strings are identified by computing an edit distance. Using a finite alphabet, the edit distance is often scored using a simple metric where a match is awarded a positive score while a mismatch is awarded a negative score. However within the fingerprint recognition framework, two co-derivative fingerprints should share long sequences of common symbols with few mismatches. We thus designed a scoring function which increases non linearly when a sequence of matches is encountered. This scoring function is defined as:
Chimeric antigen receptor T cells in the treatment of osteosarcoma (Review)

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a frequently occurring primary bone tumor, mostly affecting children, adolescents and young adults. Before 1970, surgical resection was the main treatment method for OS, but the clinical results were not promising. Subsequently, the advent of chemotherapy has improved the prognosis of patients with OS. However, there is still a high incidence of metastasis or recurrence, and chemotherapy has several side effects, thus making the 5-year survival rate markedly low. Recently, chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy represents an alternative immunotherapy approach with significant potential for hematologic malignancies. Nevertheless, the application of CAR-T cells in the treatment of OS faces numerous challenges. The present review focused on the advances in the development of CAR-T cells to improve their clinical efficacy, and discussed ways to overcome the difficulties faced by CAR T-cell therapy for OS.
Genetic structure of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabiting adjacent South Florida estuaries – Biscayne Bay and Florida Bay

Coastal common bottlenose dolphins show a variety of migration and residency patterns adding to the difficulty of defining stocks for management purposes. Genetic structure plays an important role in identifying population stocks of dolphins. This study examines genetic differentiation in common bottlenose dolphins both between two social groups occurring in Biscayne Bay, Florida and between Biscayne Bay and an adjacent group of dolphins in Florida Bay. Skin biopsy samples were sequenced at the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and genotyped at microsatellite loci. Significant genetic differentiation was found between bottlenose dolphins in Biscayne Bay and Florida Bay (mtDNA FST = 0.139, p ≤ 0.001; microsatellite FST = 0.042, p ≤ 0.001) supporting independent management stock status for these two populations. Within Biscayne Bay, evidence of weak but significant population differentiation was found between the two social groups using microsatellite markers (FST = 0.0149, p ≤ 0.009); however, differentiation was not evident from the mtDNA-based estimates of FST and φST. The lack of differentiation at mtDNA coupled with field observations indicating overlapping home ranges for these two groups suggests ongoing, though perhaps low, levels of interbreeding. These data are insufficient to warrant splitting the Biscayne Bay management stock at this time.
Estimation of the Belonging Metric in a Hypothetical System-of-Systems

This paper presents application of an analytical technique that permits assessment of the strength and character of the belonging attribute in systems-of-systems (SoS). We further explore the quantification of this metric using a target system consisting of a migrating waterfowl flock. We used an agent-based model to simulate the formation and evolution of the SoS over time, and we assessed the aerodynamic benefit transferred among flock members in order to compute the belonging value. Results from model runs show that an evaluation of the overall SoS goal emerges organically from the transfer of drag reduction benefits among flock members; that benefits accrue to each individual member system as well as to the collective; and that the degree to which belonging benefits the whole varies depending on initial choices made regarding the architecture of the SoS. As an exploration of the underlying system characteristics, we propose that these results can inform the design of engineered systems.
Optimized Mass Spectrometry Detection of Thyroid Hormones and Polar Metabolites in Rodent Cerebrospinal Fluid

Thyroid hormones (TH) are required for brain development and function. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which bathes the brain and spinal cord, contains TH as free hormones or as bound to transthyretin (TTR). Tight TH level regulation in the central nervous system is essential for developmental gene expression, which governs neurogenesis, myelination, and synaptogenesis. This integrated function of TH highlights the importance of developing precise and reliable methods for assessing TH levels in CSF. We report an optimized liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based method to measure TH in rodent CSF and serum, applicable to both fresh and frozen samples. Using this new method, we find distinct differences in CSF TH in pregnant dams vs. non-pregnant adults and in embryonic vs. adult CSF. Further, targeted LC-MS metabolic profiling uncovers distinct central carbon metabolism in the CSF of these populations. TH detection and metabolite profiling of related metabolic pathways open new avenues of rigorous research into CSF TH and will inform future studies on metabolic alterations in CSF during normal development.
Achronopresence: how temporal visuotactile and visuomotor mismatches modulate embodiment

The loss of body ownership, the feeling that your body and its limbs no longer belong to you, presents a severe clinical condition that has proven difficult to study directly. We here propose a novel paradigm using mixed reality to interfere with natural embodiment using temporally conflicting sensory signals from the own hand. In Experiment 1 we investigated how such a mismatch affects phenomenological and physiological aspects of embodiment, and identified its most important dimensions using a principle component analysis. The results suggest that such a mismatch induces a strong reduction in embodiment accompanied by an increase in feelings of disownership and deafference, which was, however, not reflected in physiological changes. In Experiment 2 we refined the paradigm to measure perceptual thresholds for temporal mismatches and compared how different multimodal, mismatching information alters the sense of embodiment. The results showed that while visual delay decreased embodiment both while actively moving and during passive touch, the effect was stronger for the former. Our results extend previous findings as they demonstrate that a sense of disembodiment can be induced through controlled multimodal mismatches about one’s own body and more so during active movement as compared to passive touch. Based on the ecologically more valid protocol we propose here, we argue that such a sense of disembodiment may fundamentally differ from disownership sensations as discussed in the rubber hand illusion literature, and emphasize its clinical relevance. This might importantly advance the current debate on the relative contribution of different modalities to our sense of body and its plasticity.
Exploiting DNA methylation in cassava under water deficit for crop improvement

DNA methylation plays a key role in the development and plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. This work aimed to evaluate the DNA methylation in contrasting cassava genotypes for water deficit tolerance. The varieties BRS Formosa (bitter) and BRS Dourada (sweet) were grown under greenhouse conditions for 50 days, and afterwards, irrigation was suspended. The stressed (water deficit) and non-stressed plants (negative control) consisted the treatments with five plants per variety. The DNA samples of each variety and treatment provided 12 MethylRAD-Seq libraries (two cassava varieties, two treatments, and three replicates). The sequenced data revealed methylated sites covering 18 to 21% of the Manihot esculenta Crantz genome, depending on the variety and the treatment. The CCGG methylated sites mapped mostly in intergenic regions, exons, and introns, while the CCNGG sites mapped mostly intergenic, upstream, introns, and exons regions. In both cases, methylated sites in UTRs were less detected. The differentially methylated sites analysis indicated distinct methylation profiles since only 12% of the sites (CCGG and CCNGG) were methylated in both varieties. Enriched gene ontology terms highlighted the immediate response of the bitter variety to stress, while the sweet variety appears to suffer more potential stress-damages. The predicted protein-protein interaction networks reinforced such profiles. Additionally, the genomes of the BRS varieties uncovered SNPs/INDELs events covering genes stood out by the interactomes. Our data can be useful in deciphering the roles of DNA methylation in cassava drought-tolerance responses and adaptation to abiotic stresses.