Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of Using Instant Messaging Apps for Alcohol Reduction Intervention Among University Student Drinkers: Semistructured Interview Study With Chinese University Students in Hong Kong

Background Mobile instant messaging (IM) apps (eg, WhatsApp and WeChat) have been widely used by the general population and are more interactive than text-based programs (SMS text messaging) to modify unhealthy lifestyles. Little is known about IM app use for health promotion, including alcohol reduction for university students. Objective This study aims to explore university student drinkers' perceptions of using IM apps for alcohol reduction as they had high alcohol exposure (eg, drinking invitations from peers and alcohol promotion on campus) and the proportion of IM app use in Hong Kong. Methods A qualitative study was conducted with 20 Hong Kong Chinese university students (current drinkers) with Alcohol Use Disorder Identification test scores of ≥8 recruited using purposive sampling. Semistructured individual interviews were conducted from September to October 2019. Interview questions focused on drinking behaviors, quitting history, opinions toward IM app use as an intervention tool, perceived usefulness of IM apps for alcohol reduction, and opinions on the content and design of IM apps for alcohol reduction. Each interview lasted approximately 1 hour. All interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Two researchers independently analyzed the transcripts using thematic analysis with an additional investigator to verify the consistency of the coding. Results Participants considered IM apps a feasible and acceptable platform for alcohol reduction intervention. They preferred to receive IMs based on personalized problem-solving and drinking consequences with credible sources. Other perceived important components of instant messages included providing psychosocial support in time and setting goals with participants to reduce drinking. They further provided suggestions on the designs of IM interventions, in which they preferred simple and concise messages, chat styles based on participants' preferences (eg, adding personalized emojis and stickers in the chat), and peers as counselors. Conclusions Qualitative interviews with Chinese university student drinkers showed high acceptability, engagement, and perceived utility of IM apps for alcohol reduction intervention. IM intervention can be an alternative for alcohol reduction intervention apart from traditional text-based programs. The study has implications for developing the IM intervention for other unhealthy behaviors and highlights important topics that warrant future research, including substance use and physical inactivity. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04025151; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04025151? term=NCT04025151
Positive corona inception in point-plane gaps as influenced by a surrounding dielectric enclosure

This paper is aimed at investigating the inception voltage of the positive corona in point-to-plane gaps in atmospheric air as influenced by a surrounding dielectric enclosure. First, the method of calculation of the inception voltage is explained. It is based on the criterion of self-sustained growth of onset streamers. This calls for calculating the electric field in the vicinity of the stressed point with and without the surrounding enclosure. Then, the calculated inception voltages are compared with those measured experimentally.
A new 90‐day drinking water study of sodium cyanide in rats to further evaluate National Toxicology Program findings and inform risk assessment

The National Toxicology Program (NTP, 1993) reported male reproductive effects in a sodium cyanide (NaCN) drinking water study. The critical effect, decreased cauda epididymis weights, was used by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their hazard characterization and risk assessment of hydrogen cyanide and cyanide salts. To further investigate potential male reproductive effects, we conducted a new 90‐day drinking water study.
Switching Clinics: Patient Autonomy over the Course of Their Careers in Consumer Medicine

Patient autonomy, or the right to make decisions about medical care, is usually examined either within clinical encounters with medical providers or outside of clinics via social movements to transform care. These perspectives, however, may miss how patients exercise autonomy outside of clinical encounters while remaining in conventional care. Through in-depth interviews with 61 people who pursued fertility treatment in New York City, this article argues that one important way that people exert autonomy in consumer medicine is by switching clinics. This study finds that nearly half of participants switched clinics to reorient their patient careers that were not progressing satisfactorily, attempting to reset, redirect, and escalate them. This article emphasizes that patients exercise autonomy not just over treatment decisions but also over the direction and progress of patient careers themselves. This article suggests that patients’ disparate opportunities to elect to switch medical practices represents an inequity in consumer medicine.
External validation of the diagnostic value of perihematomal edema characteristics in neoplastic and non‐neoplastic intracerebral hemorrhage

Neoplastic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) may be incorrectly identified as non‐neoplastic ICH on imaging. Relative perihematomal edema (relPHE) on computed tomography (CT) has been proposed as a marker to discriminate neoplastic from non‐neoplastic ICH but has not been externally validated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the discriminatory power of relPHE in an independent cohort.
Defining and Measuring Cortical Thickness: Histology and MRI

Results • MRI data has been used for estimation of cortical thickness in vivo [Fischl 2000, Hutton 2008]. • The gray matter (GM) white matter (WM) boundary is strictly defined only by cytoarchitecture. • However, MRI contrast mostly derives from the presence of myelin, so that images show myeloarchitecture. • Investigation of brain sections stained alternately for myelin and neuronal cell bodies may provide detailed criteria for determining the GM-WM boundary from MR images.
Biological Control - Parasitoids and Predators Predacious Natural Enemies Associated With Suppression of Onion Thrips, Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), in Intercropped Onion-Barley Agroecosystems

The effects of two possible factors, prevention of pest immigration and enhancement of natural enemies, in suppressing onion thrips, Thrips tabaci L. , were estimated in a small-scale experimental system of spring-planted onions intercropped with barley. The population dynamics of the thrips and their potential predatory natural enemies were investigated in four treatments: control (bare ground), insect net barrier, and onion-barley intercropping with or without trimming. We found that intercropping significantly suppressed onion thrips. It is unlikely that this effect was due to the prevention of thrip immigration because they seemed to move over the camouflage and/or physical barriers of the barley and the net barrier surrounding the onions easily. Intercropping with barley significantly increased hoverfly (Syrphidae) larvae numbers on onion leaves, and that of some groups of ground-dwelling predators such as large carnivorous ground beetles (Carabidae), ants (Formicidae), and wolf spiders (Lycosidae). We conclude that the suppression of thrips in this system was associated with the enhancement of hoverfly larvae abundance, mainly Sphaerophoria macrogaster (Thomson) (Syrphidae: Diptera) because they were observed together with thrips on onions and have been reported to predate thrips as well as aphids. Some hoverfly larvae on barley might move to nearby onions to search for new food sources and attack thrips.
Serum perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoate and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer according to hormone receptor status: An analysis in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent endocrine‐disrupting chemicals that may contribute to breast cancer development; however, epidemiologic evidence is limited. We investigated associations between prediagnostic serum levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and postmenopausal breast cancer risk, overall and by hormone receptor status, in a nested case‐control study of 621 cases and 621 matched controls in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. PFOS and PFOA levels were determined based on serum metabolomic profiling performed using ultraperformance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. We used multivariable conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between each PFAS and breast cancer risk, overall, by estrogen receptor (ER) or progesterone receptor (PR) status, and by joint ER/PR status. We found little evidence of association between PFOS or PFOA and breast cancer risk overall. However, in subtype‐specific analyses, we observed statistically significant increased risks of ER+, PR+, and ER+/PR+ tumors for the third vs lowest quartile of serum PFOS (ORs [95% CIs] = 1.59 [1.01‐2.50], 2.34 [1.29‐4.23], and 2.19 [1.21‐3.98], respectively) and elevated but nonstatistically significant ORs for the fourth quartile. Conversely, for PFOA, modest positive associations with ER−, PR−, ER+/PR−, and ER−/PR− tumors were generally seen in the upper quartiles. Our findings contribute evidence supporting positive associations between serum PFOS and hormone receptor‐positive tumors, and possibly between PFOA and receptor‐negative tumors. Future prospective studies incorporating tumor hormone receptor status are needed to better understand the role of PFAS in breast cancer etiology.
Disentangling Different Aspects of Change in Tests with the D-Diffusion Model

Abstract Diffusion-based item response theory models are measurement models that link parameters of the diffusion model (drift rate, boundary separation) to latent traits of test takers. Similar to standard latent trait models, they assume the invariance of the test takers’ latent traits during a test. Previous research, however, suggests that traits change as test takers learn or decrease their effort. In this paper, we combine the diffusion-based item response theory model with a latent growth curve model. In the model, the latent traits of each test taker are allowed to change during the test until a stable level is reached. As different change processes are assumed for different traits, different aspects of change can be separated. We discuss different versions of the model that make different assumptions about the form (linear versus quadratic) and rate (fixed versus individual-specific) of change. In order to fit the model to data, we propose a Bayes estimator. Parameter recovery is investigated in a simulation study. The study suggests that parameter recovery is good under certain conditions. We illustrate the application of the model to data measuring visuo-spatial perspective-taking.
Computational Implementation and Tests of a Sequential Linearization Algorithm for Mixed-Discrete Nonlinear Design Optimization

A previous article gave the theoretical background and motivation for a new sequential linearization approach to the solution of mixed-discrete nonlinear optimal design problems. The present sequel article gives the implementation details of program MINSLIP based on this approach. Illustrative examples, modeling issues, and program parameter selection are discussed. A report on extensive computational results with test problems, as well as comparisons with other methods, shows advantages in both robustness and efficiency. Sample design applications are included.
DNA methylation‐based classification of glioneuronal tumours synergises with histology and radiology to refine accurate molecular stratification

Glioneuronal tumours (GNTs) are poorly distinguished by their histology and lack robust diagnostic indicators. Previously, we showed that common GNTs comprise two molecularly distinct groups, correlating poorly with histology. To refine diagnosis, we constructed a methylation‐based model for GNT classification, subsequently evaluating standards for molecular stratification by methylation, histology and radiology.
Natural killer cell subset count and antigen‐stimulated activation in response to exhaustive running following adaptation to a ketogenic diet

What is the central question of this study? Does a ketogenic diet (KD) modulate circulating counts of natural killer (NK) cells, including CD56bright and CD56dim subsets, and their ability to activate (CD69 expression) following in vitro antigen stimulation in response to exhaustive moderate‐intensity exercise? What is the main finding and its importance? The KD amplified the biphasic exercise‐induced NK cell response due to a greater mobilisation of the cytotoxic CD56dim subset but did not alter NK cell CD69 expression. The KD appears to modulate exercise‐induced circulating NK cell mobilisation and egress, but not antigen‐stimulated circulating NK cell activation.
Improved 2α-Hydroxylation Efficiency of Steroids by CYP154C2 Using Structure-Guided Rational Design

Hydroxylated derivatives of steroids play essential roles in medicine. Cytochrome P450 enzymes selectively hydroxylate methyne groups on steroids, which can dramatically change their polarity, biological activity and toxicity. ABSTRACT Cytochrome P450 enzymes are promising biocatalysts for industrial use because they catalyze site-selective C–H oxidation and have diverse catalytic reactions and a broad substrate range. In this study, the 2α-hydroxylation activity of CYP154C2 from Streptomyces avermitilis MA-4680T toward androstenedione (ASD) was identified by an in vitro conversion assay. The testosterone (TES)-bound structure of CYP154C2 was solved at 1.42 Å, and this structure was used to design eight mutants, including single, double, and triple mutants, to improve the conversion efficiency. Mutants L88F/M191F and M191F/V285L were found to enhance the conversion rates significantly (i.e., 8.9-fold and 7.4-fold for TES, 46.5-fold and 19.5-fold for ASD, respectively) compared with the wild-type (WT) enzyme while retaining high 2α-position selectivity. The substrate binding affinity of the L88F/M191F mutant toward TES and ASD was enhanced compared with that of WT CYP154C2, supporting the measured increase in the conversion efficiencies. Moreover, the total turnover number and kcat/Km of the L88F/M191F and M191F/V285L mutants increased significantly. Interestingly, all mutants containing L88F generated 16α-hydroxylation products, suggesting that L88 in CYP154C2 plays a vital role in substrate selectivity and that the amino acid corresponding to L88 in the 154C subfamily affects the orientation of steroid binding and substrate selectivity. IMPORTANCE Hydroxylated derivatives of steroids play essential roles in medicine. Cytochrome P450 enzymes selectively hydroxylate methyne groups on steroids, which can dramatically change their polarity, biological activity and toxicity. There is a paucity of reports on the 2α-hydroxylation of steroids, and documented 2α-hydroxylate P450s show extremely low conversion efficiency and/or low regio- and stereoselectivity. This study conducted crystal structure analysis and structure-guided rational engineering of CYP154C2 and efficiently enhanced the conversion efficiency of TES and ASD with high regio- and stereoselectivity. Our results provide an effective strategy and theoretical basis for the 2α-hydroxylation of steroids, and the structure-guided rational design of P450s should facilitate P450 applications in the biosynthesis of steroid drugs.
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Demonstrates Strain and Volume Effects on Optic Disk and Peripapillary Vasculature Caused by Horizontal Duction

Abstract Purpose The optic nerve mechanically loads the eye during ocular rotation, thus altering the configuration of the disk and peripapillary tissues. We used optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography (OCTA) to investigate mechanical strains and volume changes in disk and peripapillary blood vessels during horizontal duction. Methods Structural OCT and OCTA were performed centered on optic disks; imaging was repeated in central gaze, and in 30° ab- and adduction. By an algorithm employing point-set registration of 3 D features, we developed a novel approach for measuring disk strains, and strains and volumes of the blood vessels associated with horizontal duction. Repeatability was demonstrated in each gaze position. Results 19 eyes of 10 healthy adults of average age 37 ± 15 (standard deviation, SD) years were imaged. The method was validated by demonstrating numerically consistent vascular volumes and strains for repeated imaging under identical conditions. Compared with central gaze, vascular volume increased by 5.2 ± 4.1% in adduction. Adduction and abduction caused strains of 3.0 ± 1.6% and 2.6 ± 1.8% in the optic disk, whereas blood vessels showed greater strains of 8.1 ± 1.3% and 8.2 ± 1.7%. Decomposition of strain components depending on directionality and regions demonstrated that adduction induces significant net tensile strains, suggesting traction exerted by the optic nerve. The decomposition also showed that nasotemporal compressive strains are larger in temporal hemidisks than nasal hemidisks. The Bruch’s membrane opening was significantly compressed horizontally in adduction by 1.1% (p = .009). Conclusion This novel analysis combining structural OCT and OCTA demonstrates that optic disk compression during adduction is associated with disk and vascular strains much larger than reported for intraocular pressure elevation and pulsatile perfusion, as well as compressing the disk and increasing peripapillary vascular volume. These changes may be relevant to the pathogenesis of optic nerve and retinal vascular disorders.
Microanatomy of the metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) by single-cell transcriptomics

Abstract Background Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a major cause of liver disease worldwide and comprises non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Due to the high prevalence and poor prognosis of NASH, it is critical to identify and treat patients at risk. However, the aetiology and mechanisms remain largely unknown, warranting further analysis. Methods We first identified differential genes in NASH by single-cell analysis of the GSE129516 dataset and conducted expression profiling data analysis of the GSE184019 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Then single-cell trajectory reconstruction and analysis, immune gene score, cellular communication, key gene screening, functional enrichment analysis, and immune microenvironment analysis were carried out. Finally, cell experiments were performed to verify the role of key genes in NASH. Results We conducted transcriptome profiling of 30,038 single cells, including hepatocytes and non-hepatocytes from normal and steatosis adult mouse livers. Comparative analysis of hepatocytes and non-hepatocytes revealed pronounced heterogeneity as non-hepatocytes acted as major cell-communication hubs. The results showed that Hspa1b, Tfrc, Hmox1 and Map4k4 could effectively distinguish NASH tissues from normal samples. The results of scRNA-seq and qPCR indicated that the expression levels of hub genes in NASH were significantly higher than in normal cells or tissues. Further immune infiltration analysis showed significant differences in M2 macrophage distribution between healthy and metabolic-associated fatty liver samples. Conclusions Our results suggest that Hspa1b, Tfrc, Hmox1 and Map4k4 have huge prospects as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for NASH and may be potential therapeutic targets for NASH.
Midtail plasma flows and the relationship to near-Earth substorm activity: A case study

Recent simulations of magnetotail reconnection have pointed to a link between plasma flows, dipolarization, and the substorm current wedge. In particular, Hesse and Birn (1991) have proposed that earthward jetting of plasma from the reconnection region transports flux into the near-Earth region. At the inner edge of the plasma sheet this flux piles up, producing a dipolarization of the magnetic field. The vorticity produced by the east-west deflection of the flow at the inner edge of the plasma sheet gives rise to field-aligned currents that have region 1 polarity. Thus in this scenario the earthward flow from the reconnection region produces the dipolarization and the current wedge in a self-consistent fashion. In this study we examine observations made on April 8,1985 by the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers/Ion Release Module (IRM), the geosynchronous satellites 1979-053,1983-019, and 1984-037, and Syowa station, as well as AE. This event is unique because IRM was located near the neutral sheet in the midnight sector for an extended period of time. Ground data show that there was ongoing activity in the IRM local time sector for several hours, beginning at 1800 UT and reaching a crescendo at 2300 UT. This activity was also accompanied by energetic particle variations, including injections, at geosynchronous orbit in the nighttime sector. Significantly, there were no fast flows at the neutral sheet until the great intensification of activity at 2300 UT. At that time, IRM recorded fast earthward flow simultaneous with a dipolarization of the magnetic field. We conclude that while the aforementioned scenario for the creation of the current wedge encounters serious problems explaining the earlier activity, the observations at 2300 UT are consistent with the scenario of Hesse and Birn (1991). On that basis it is argued that the physics of substorms is not exclusively rooted in the development of a global tearing mode. Processes at the inner edge of the cross-tail current that cause a disruption of the current and a consequent dipolarization and current wedge may be unrelated to the formation of a macroscale reconnection region. Thus the global evolution of a substorm is probably a complicated superposition of such processes operating on a very localized scale and a global macroscale process that allows for such things as releasing the energy stored in lobe flux and the creation of plasmoids.
A Member of an Ancient Family of Bacterial Amino Acids Transporters Contributes to Chlamydia Nutritional Virulence and Immune Evasion

Many obligate intracellular bacteria, including members of the genus Chlamydia, cannot synthesize a variety of amino acids de novo and acquire these from host cells via largely unknown mechanisms. Previously, we determined that a missense mutation in ctl0225, a conserved Chlamydia open reading frame of unknown function, mediated sensitivity to interferon gamma. ABSTRACT Many obligate intracellular bacteria, including members of the genus Chlamydia, cannot synthesize a variety of amino acids de novo and acquire these from host cells via largely unknown mechanisms. Previously, we determined that a missense mutation in ctl0225, a conserved Chlamydia open reading frame of unknown function, mediated sensitivity to interferon gamma. Here, we show evidence that CTL0225 is a member of the SnatA family of neutral amino acid transporters that contributes to the import of several amino acids into Chlamydia cells. Further, we show that CTL0225 orthologs from two other distantly related obligate intracellular pathogens (Coxiella burnetii and Buchnera aphidicola) are sufficient to import valine into Escherichia coli. We also show that chlamydia infection and interferon exposure have opposing effects on amino acid metabolism, potentially explaining the relationship between CTL0225 and interferon sensitivity. Overall, we show that phylogenetically diverse intracellular pathogens use an ancient family of amino acid transporters to acquire host amino acids and provide another example of how nutritional virulence and immune evasion can be linked in obligate intracellular pathogens.