Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deployment and Alcohol Use in a Military Cohort: Use of Combined Methods to Account for Exposure-Related Covariates and Heterogeneous Response to Exposure

Studies have shown that combat-area deployment is associated with increases in alcohol use; however, studying the influence of deployment on alcohol use faces 2 complications. First, the military considers a confluence of factors before determining whether to deploy a service member, creating a nonignorable exposure and unbalanced comparison groups that inevitably complicate inference about the role of deployment itself. Second, regression analysis assumes that a single effect estimate can approximate the population's change in postdeployment alcohol use, which ignores previous studies that have documented that respondents tend to exhibit heterogeneous postdeployment drinking behaviors. Therefore, we used propensity score matching to balance baseline covariates for the 2 comparison groups (deployed and nondeployed), followed by a variable-oriented difference-in-differences approach to account for the confounding and a person-oriented approach using a latent growth mixture model to account for the heterogeneous response to deployment in this prospective cohort study of the US Army National Guard (2009-2014). We observed a nonsignificant increase in estimated monthly drinks in the first year after deployment that regressed to predeployment drinking levels 2 years after deployment. We found a 4-class model that fit these data best, suggesting that common regression analyses likely conceal substantial interindividual heterogeneity in postdeployment alcohol-use behaviors.
Feedback Network Controls Photoreceptor Output at the Layer of First Visual Synapses in Drosophila

At the layer of first visual synapses, information from photoreceptors is processed and transmitted towards the brain. In fly compound eye, output from photoreceptors (R1–R6) that share the same visual field is pooled and transmitted via histaminergic synapses to two classes of interneuron, large monopolar cells (LMCs) and amacrine cells (ACs). The interneurons also feed back to photoreceptor terminals via numerous ligand-gated synapses, yet the significance of these connections has remained a mystery. We investigated the role of feedback synapses by comparing intracellular responses of photoreceptors and LMCs in wild-type Drosophila and in synaptic mutants, to light and current pulses and to naturalistic light stimuli. The recordings were further subjected to rigorous statistical and information-theoretical analysis. We show that the feedback synapses form a negative feedback loop that controls the speed and amplitude of photoreceptor responses and hence the quality of the transmitted signals. These results highlight the benefits of feedback synapses for neural information processing, and suggest that similar coding strategies could be used in other nervous systems.
TRL: a traceability representation language

Requirements Traceability (RT) refers to the process of tracing requirements through the software development life-cycle. It is essential for the software development process because a lot of information is used and produced and it should be kept related or traceable. Nevertheless, as the complexity of a system increases, the myriad of related artifacts also increases. Therefore, one is encumbered of tracing requirements through different abstraction levels. Proposing a common abstraction to the requirements traceability process and also providing query mechanisms to retrieve trace links has been recognized as one of the grand challenges of RT. Hence, in this paper, we propose a Traceability Representation Language (TRL), which provides abstractions to requirements, artifacts and trace links as well as queries, through which trace links can be searched, retrieved and filtered. To evaluate the proposed language, we have conducted an empirical experiment comparing TRL with other traceability languages, namely TracQL and TQL. We observed the readability and writability of the languages as well as their trace links representations and query declarations and concluded that the proposed TRL language is a feasible abstraction to the RT process. As a final remark, we discuss how the proposed language contributes towards portable and scalable traceability.
Beneficial effects of leptin treatment in a setting of cardiac dysfunction induced by transverse aortic constriction in mouse

Leptin, is a 16 kDa pleiotropic peptide not only primarily secreted by adipocytes, but also produced by other tissues, including the heart. Controversy exists regarding the adverse and beneficial effects of leptin on the heart We analysed the effect of a non‐hypertensive dose of leptin on cardiac function, [Ca2+]i handling and cellular electrophysiology, which participate in the genesis of pump failure and related arrhythmias, both in control mice and in mice subjected to chronic pressure‐overload by transverse aorta constriction. We find that leptin activates mechanisms that contribute to cardiac dysfunction under physiological conditions. However, after the establishment of pressure overload, an increase in leptin levels has protective cardiac effects with respect to rescuing the cellular heart failure phenotype. These beneficial effects of leptin involve restoration of action potential duration via normalization of transient outward potassium current and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content via rescue of control sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase levels and ryanodine receptor function modulation, leading to normalization of Ca2+ handling parameters.
The accuracy of ultrasound, thermography, photography and sub-epidermal moisture as a predictor of pressure ulcer presence – a systematic review

Structured summary 2 Provide a structured summary including, as applicable: background; objectives; data sources; study eligibility criteria, participants, and interventions; study appraisal and synthesis methods; results; limitations; conclusions and implications of key findings; systematic review registration number. 12 INTRODUCTION Rationale 3 Describe the rationale for the review in the context of what is already known. 13-41 Objectives 4 Provide an explicit statement of questions being addressed with reference to participants, interventions, comparisons, outcomes, and study design (PICOS). 42 METHODS Protocol and registration 5 Indicate if a review protocol exists, if and where it can be accessed (e.g., Web address), and, if available, provide registration information including registration number. N/A Eligibility criteria 6 Specify study characteristics (e.g., PICOS, length of follow-up) and report characteristics (e.g., years considered, language, publication status) used as criteria for eligibility, giving rationale. 96 Information sources 7 Describe all information sources (e.g., databases with dates of coverage, contact with study authors to identify additional studies) in the search and date last searched. 97 Search 8 Present full electronic search strategy for at least one database, including any limits used, such that it could be repeated. 226 Study selection 9 State the process for selecting studies (i.e., screening, eligibility, included in systematic review, and, if applicable, included in the meta-analysis). 97-98
Feature Extraction and Selection for EEG and Motion Data in Tasks of the Mental Status Assessing - Pilot Study using Emotiv EPOC+ Headset Signals

In the paper the results of extracting and selection the features of EEG data and accelerometer for mental status evaluation are shown. We have used 14 channel wireless EEG-system Emotiv EPOC+ with accelerometer (motional data MD) for short-term recording under several functional states for 10 healthy subjects: Functional rest (rest state), TOVA-test (mental load), Hyperventilation (physical load) and Aftereffect (after test state). We then extracted core features from EEG-only and MD-only data using principal component analysis. After that, supervised learning methods were used for mental state classification: EEGonly core features for AF3, T7, O1, T8, AF4 channels, MD-only core features and EEGMD integrated core features. Experimental results showed that integrated core features for mental status evaluation have higher prediction accuracy 92,0% for decision tree method.
Bilingual Contexts Modulate the Inhibitory Control Network

The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study investigated influences of language contexts on inhibitory control and the underlying neural processes. Thirty Cantonese–Mandarin–English trilingual speakers, who were highly proficient in Cantonese (L1) and Mandarin (L2), and moderately proficient in English (L3), performed a picture-naming task in three dual-language contexts (L1-L2, L2-L3, and L1-L3). After each of the three naming tasks, participants performed a flanker task, measuring contextual effects on the inhibitory control system. Behavioral results showed a typical flanker effect in the L2-L3 and L1-L3 condition, but not in the L1-L2 condition, which indicates contextual facilitation on inhibitory control performance by the L1-L2 context. Whole brain analysis of the fMRI data acquired during the flanker tasks showed more neural activations in the right prefrontal cortex and subcortical areas in the L2-L3 and L1-L3 condition on one hand as compared to the L1-L2 condition on the other hand, suggesting greater involvement of the cognitive control areas when participants were performing the flanker task in L2-L3 and L1-L3 contexts. Effective connectivity analyses displayed a cortical-subcortical-cerebellar circuitry for inhibitory control in the trilinguals. However, contrary to the right-lateralized network in the L1-L2 condition, functional networks for inhibitory control in the L2-L3 and L1-L3 condition are less integrated and more left-lateralized. These findings provide a novel perspective for investigating the interaction between bilingualism (multilingualism) and inhibitory control by demonstrating instant behavioral effects and neural plasticity as a function of changes in global language contexts.
Synthetic biology approach for plant protection using dsRNA

Summary Pathogens induce severe damages on cultivated plants and represent a serious threat to global food security. Emerging strategies for crop protection involve the external treatment of plants with double‐stranded (ds)RNA to trigger RNA interference. However, applying this technology in greenhouses and fields depends on dsRNA quality, stability and efficient large‐scale production. Using components of the bacteriophage phi6, we engineered a stable and accurate in vivo dsRNA production system in Pseudomonas syringae bacteria. Unlike other in vitro or in vivo dsRNA production systems that rely on DNA transcription and postsynthetic alignment of single‐stranded RNA molecules, the phi6 system is based on the replication of dsRNA by an RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase, thus allowing production of high‐quality, long dsRNA molecules. The phi6 replication complex was reprogrammed to multiply dsRNA sequences homologous to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) by replacing the coding regions within two of the three phi6 genome segments with TMV sequences and introduction of these constructs into P. syringae together with the third phi6 segment, which encodes the components of the phi6 replication complex. The stable production of TMV dsRNA was achieved by combining all the three phi6 genome segments and by maintaining the natural dsRNA sizes and sequence elements required for efficient replication and packaging of the segments. The produced TMV‐derived dsRNAs inhibited TMV propagation when applied to infected Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The established dsRNA production system enables the broad application of dsRNA molecules as an efficient, highly flexible, nontransgenic and environmentally friendly approach for protecting crops against viruses and other pathogens.
Effect of advanced age on plasma homocysteine levels and its association with ischemic stroke in non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Background Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular events in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, while the age-related expression pattern of plasma Hcy in AF remains unknown. The study was aimed to investigate the effect of advanced age on plasma Hcy levels and its association with ischemic stroke in non-valvular AF patients. Methods A total of 2562 consecutive patients with non-valvular AF and 535 controls were enrolled and divided into six age groups. Plasma Hcy levels were analyzed among different age groups, and the effect of advanced age on Hcy was investigated. Results Plasma Hcy levels did not show any difference among groups aged below 65 years, while it increased sharply in patients aged 65–74 years and aged over 75 years (15.7 ± 4.6 µmol/L, 17.1 ± 4.9 µmol/L, both P < 0.01 compared with the first four age groups). Hcy was much higher in AF patients than in controls at the same age group (all P < 0.05). The proportion of patients with hyperhomocysteinemia increased gradually with age from 32.3%, 29.2%, 31.2%, 32.4%, 45.9%, to 51.4% in six age groups. The concentration of Hcy in AF patients with ischemic stroke increased progressively with age, and was higher than those without stroke at the same age. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age 65–74 years [odds ratios (OR): 1.742, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.223–2.482, P = 0.002] and age ≥ 75 years (OR: 2.637, 95% CI: 1.605–4.335, P < 0.001) were significantly independent predictors of elevated plasma Hcy levels. Conclusions Advanced age was significantly associated with elevated Hcy levels, which may provide a possible explanation for the progressive increase in ischemic stroke especially in elderly AF patients.
Core chemistry influences the toxicity of multicomponent metal oxide nanomaterials, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide, and lithium cobalt oxide to Daphnia magna

Lithium intercalation compounds such as lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) and lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) are used extensively in lithium batteries. Because there is currently little economic incentive for recycling, chances are greater that batteries will end up in landfills or waste in the environment. In addition, the toxicity of these battery materials traditionally has not been part of the design process. Therefore, to determine the environmental impact and the possibility of alternative battery materials, representative complex battery nanomaterials, LCO and NMC, were synthesized, and toxicity was assessed in Daphnia magna. Toxicity was determined by assessing LCO and NMC at concentrations in the range of 0.1 to 25 mg/L. Acute studies (48 h) showed no effect to daphnid survival at 25 mg/L, whereas chronic studies (21 d) show significant impacts to daphnid reproduction and survival at concentrations of 0.25 mg/L for LCO and 1.0 mg/L for NMC. Dissolved metal exposures showed no effect at the amounts measured in suspension, and supernatant controls could not reproduce the effects of the particles, indicating a nanomaterial‐specific impact. Genes explored in the present study were actin, glutathione‐s‐transferase, catalase, 18s, metallothionein, heat shock protein, and vitellogenin. Down‐regulation of genes important in metal detoxification, metabolism, and cell maintenance was observed in a dose‐dependent manner. The results show that battery material chemical composition can be altered to minimize environmental impacts. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2493–2502. © 2017 SETAC
UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL PAULISTA Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais

Nanostructured materials have been extensively studied by the scientific community due to their unique properties obtained by controlled synthesis of materials. By means of the control of parameters, this new materials can be used in a number of applications in electronic and photonic technology. Among the several methods to obtain nanoparticles or nanostructured materials, the polyol method has been applied because it shows easy procedures to produce nanostructured oxides and elemental metals. The aim of this work is the synthesis of nanostructured zinc oxide, one of the most multifunctional oxides, by the polyol method. Different precursors salts like zinc acetate dihydrate, zinc nitrate hexahydrate, zinc sulfate monohydrate and zinc chloride anhydrate, as well as several times of reflux, were used to investigate the influence of the precursor anions on the synthesis and on the morphology of the crystals of zinc oxide whenever produced. The obtained powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (DRX), thermal analyses (TG/DTA), and measurements of N2 gas adsorption, scannig electronic and field emission microscopy (MEV and FEG) and chronopotentiometry. These techniques showed the possibility of producing nanostructured zinc oxide in direct way from the reflux in etylenglycol for 2, 4 and 8 hours, followed by washing and centrifugation. The smallest nanostructure observed by FEG presented around 25 nm polyhedral particles. The chronopotentiometry, presented charge/discharge curves showing better results for the electrode made of polimer composite containing ZnO nanoparticles than the obtaining results for the oxide alone. The best results showed reversibility of the lithium-ion cell upon 20 cycles, applying 3 A electric current and showing a charge potential up to 4.2 V.
Mechanical Properties of Cotton/Polyester Yarns

Samples of two cotton cultivars were spun with high- and normal-tenacity polyester staple fibers in cotton/polyester blend ratios of 100:0, 67:33, 50:50, 33:67, and 0:100. Stress-strain measurements provided tenacities, elongations, and breaking energies. Based on the stress-strain response of the pure cotton and pure polyester yarns, breaking energies were calculated for the yarn blends, with the assumption that the two different components did not interact. Differences between calculated and experimental values, which were maximum when the polyester content was about 60%, were attributed primarily to the interaction between the constituent cotton and polyester fibers. Support for this attribution was provided through measurements of energy lost when an oscillatory shearing motion was applied to 50-gram blended specimens of carded lap.
IMPLANT PLACEMENT WITHOUT NATIVE BONE CONTACT IN FRESH SOCKET FILLED WITH BOVINE POROUS BONE MINERAL: A CASE REPORT

MD, DDS, Visiting Professor, Department of Dentistry, Vita Salute University, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, 20132 Milan, Italy MD, MS, Adjunct Professor, Department of Dentistry, Vita Salute University, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, 20132 Milan, Italy MD, DMD, Associate Professor, Dental School, Vita Salute University, Milan, Italy and San Rocco Hospital, 25050 Ome Brescia, Italy MD, MFS, Researcher, Department of Dentistry, Vita Salute University, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, 20132 Milan, Italy MD, DMD, Full Professor and Chairmen, Department of Dentistry, Vita Salute University, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, 20132 Milan, Italy
Analysis of optical properties of TiO2 nanoparticles and PAN/TiO2 composite nanofibers

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was the production of thin composite nanofibrous mats PAN/TiO2 nanoparticles using the electrospinning method from solution of PAN/TiO2/DMF. TiO2 nanoparticles were obtained using sol-gel method. To prepare sol mixture, organic alkoxides precursor of titanium isopropoxide and water solution were used. Calcination of TiO-gel and following milling were carried out to obtain nanoparticles of TiO2 rutile phase. In order to analyze the structure of the obtained particles, we used X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Analysis of the morphology and chemical composition of the resulting composite nanofibers were carried out using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with EDS. The analysis of the optical properties and the energy band structure prepared nanoparticles and thin composite nanofibrous mats were determined by spectral analysis of the absorbance as a function of the energy of radiation obtained using a UV–Vis spectrophotometer.
Methodology of the My Body is Fit and Fabulous at Home (MyBFF@home): AnIntervention Study to Combat Obesity Among Housewives in Malaysia

Introduction: The National Health and Morbidity Survey Malaysia (NHMS 2011) finding showed that female adults (including housewives) are one of the high risk groups that require specific obesity intervention. This paper describes the development and methodology of the My Body is Fit and Fabulous at home (MyBFF@ home), an intervention study to combat obesity among housewives. Methods: The MyBFF@home was conducted in 2 phases and involved mixed quantitative and qualitative methods. Phase I (development of the intervention package) included scoping review, construction and development of initial package, in-depth interviews and, consultations with experts and stakeholders. Phase II (intervention) was a quasi-experimental study which involved pre-post intervention (6 months of weight loss intervention and 6 months of weight sustainability) among 18-59 year old housewives in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Results: Four components were identified for the Intervention Group: individual diet and physical activity (PA) counselling, selfmonitoring tools (food diary and PA diary), group exercise (brisk walking and pillow dumbbell) and a reduced calorie diet. Weight loss was targeted at 5% from the initial weight, and implemented for 6 months of intervention, and another 6 months of weight sustainability. Monitoring of anthropometric, cardiometabolic parameters, body composition, dietary intake, PA, body pain, quality of life, symptoms related to weight loss and health literacy were included. The Control Group was involved in series of women’s seminar and the self-monitoring tools. A total of 328 housewives were recruited from 14 low cost flats. Conclusion: MyBFF@home weight loss intervention for housewives was developed in a systematic manner. The methodology utilised local and international guidelines on the obesity management and it provides evidence on the community-based weight loss intervention among adult females in Malaysia. The package can be modified and adapted to the current weight loss programme to combat obesity among the Malaysian population.