Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adult height prediction using the growth curve comparison method

Understanding the growth pattern is important in view of child and adolescent development. Due to different tempo of growth and timing of adolescent growth spurt, individuals reach their adult height at different ages. Accurate models to assess the growth involve intrusive radiological methods whereas the predictive models based solely on height data are typically limited to percentiles and therefore rather inaccurate, especially during the onset of puberty. There is a need for more accurate non-invasive methods for height prediction that are easily applicable in the fields of sports and physical education, as well as in endocrinology. We developed a novel method, called Growth Curve Comparison (GCC), for height prediction, based on a large cohort of > 16,000 Slovenian schoolchildren followed yearly from ages 8 to 18. We compared the GCC method to the percentile method, linear regressor, decision tree regressor, and extreme gradient boosting. The GCC method outperformed the predictions of other methods over the entire age span both in boys and girls. The method was incorporated into a publicly available web application. We anticipate our method to be applicable also to other models predicting developmental outcomes of children and adolescents, such as for comparison of any developmental curves of anthropometric as well as fitness data. It can serve as a useful tool for assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring of somatic and motor development of children and youth.
Pioglitazone Use and Reduced Risk of Dementia in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus With a History of Ischemic Stroke

Background and Objectives Previous studies have reported the protective effect of pioglitazone on dementia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Recent studies have shown that pioglitazone also lowers the risk of primary and recurrent stroke. Understanding the characteristics of patients particularly associated with the benefits of pioglitazone would facilitate its personalized use by specifying subpopulations during routine clinical care. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of pioglitazone use on dementia in consideration of stroke occurrence. Methods Using nationwide longitudinal data of patients with DM from the Korean National Health Insurance Service DM cohort (2002–2017), we investigated the association of pioglitazone use with incident dementia in patients with new-onset type 2 DM. The heterogeneity of the treatment effect was examined using exploratory analyses. Using a multistate model, we assessed the extent to which incident stroke affects the association between pioglitazone use and dementia. Results Pioglitazone use was associated with a reduced risk of dementia, compared with nonuse (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.84, 95% CI 0.75–0.95); the risk reduction in dementia was greater among patients with a history of ischemic heart disease or stroke before DM onset (aHR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.24–0.90; aHR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.38–0.86, respectively). The incidence of stroke was also reduced by pioglitazone use (aHR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.66–1.00). However, when the stroke developed during the observation period of pioglitazone use, such lowered risk of dementia was not observed (aHR = 1.27, 95% CI 0.80–2.04). Discussion Pioglitazone use is associated with a lower risk of dementia in patients with DM, particularly in those with a history of stroke or ischemic heart disease, suggesting the possibility of applying a personalized approach when choosing pioglitazone to suppress dementia in patients with DM.
Interactive effects of elevated temperature and drought on plant carbon metabolism: A meta‐analysis

Elevated temperature (Te) and drought often co‐occur and interactively affect plant carbon (C) metabolism and thus the ecosystem C cycling; however, the magnitude of their interaction is unclear, making the projection of global change impacts challenging. Here, we compiled 107 journal articles in which temperature and water availability were jointly manipulated, and we performed a meta‐analysis of interactive effects of Te and drought on leaf photosynthesis (Agrowth) and respiration (Rgrowth) at growth temperature, nonstructural carbohydrates and biomass of plants, and their dependencies on experimental and biological moderators (e.g., treatment intensity, plant functional type). Our results showed that, overall, there was no significant interaction of Te and drought on Agrowth. Te accelerated Rgrowth under well‐watered conditions rather than under drought conditions. The Te × drought interaction on leaf soluble sugar and starch concentrations were neutral and negative, respectively. The effect of Te and drought on plant biomass displayed a negative interaction, with Te deteriorating the drought impacts. Drought induced an increase in root to shoot ratio at ambient temperature but not at Te. The magnitudes of Te and drought negatively modulated the Te × drought interactions on Agrowth. Root biomass of woody plants was more vulnerable to drought than that of herbaceous plants at ambient temperature, but this difference diminished at Te. Perennial herbs exhibited a stronger amplifying effect of Te on plant biomass in response to drought than did annual herbs. Te exacerbated the responses of Agrowth and stomatal conductance to drought for evergreen broadleaf trees rather than for deciduous broadleaf and evergreen coniferous trees. A negative Te × drought interaction on plant biomass was observed on species‐level rather than on community‐level. Collectively, our findings provide a mechanistic understanding of the interactive effects of Te and drought on plant C metabolism, which would improve the prediction of climate change impacts.
KCNA1 gain‐of‐function epileptic encephalopathy treated with 4‐aminopyridine

Precision medicine for Mendelian epilepsy is rapidly developing. We describe an early infant with severely pharmacoresistant multifocal epilepsy. Exome sequencing revealed the de novo variant p.(Leu296Phe) in the gene KCNA1, encoding the voltage‐gated K+ channel subunit KV1.1. So far, loss‐of‐function variants in KCNA1 have been associated with episodic ataxia type 1 or epilepsy. Functional studies of the mutated subunit in oocytes revealed a gain‐of‐function caused by a hyperpolarizing shift of voltage dependence. Leu296Phe channels are sensitive to block by 4‐aminopyridine. Clinical use of 4‐aminopyridine was associated with reduced seizure burden, enabled simplification of co‐medication and prevented rehospitalization.
Low-noise CMOS SPAD arrays with in-pixel time-to-digital converters

We present our latest results concerning CMOS Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) arrays for high-throughput parallel single-photon counting. We exploited a high-voltage 0.35 μm CMOS technology in order to develop low-noise CMOS SPADs. The Dark Count Rate is 30 cps at room temperature for 30 μm devices, increases to 2 kcps for 100 μm SPADs and just to 100 kcps for 500 μm ones. Afterpulsing is less than 1% for hold-off time longer than 50 ns, thus allowing to reach high count rates. Photon Detection Efficiency is > 50% at 420 nm, > 40% below 500 nm and is still 5% at 850 nm. Timing jitter is less than 100 ps (FWHM) in SPADs with active area diameter up to 50 μm. We developed CMOS SPAD imagers with 150 μm pixel pitch and 30 μm SPADs. A 64×32 SPAD array is based on pixels including three 9-bit counters for smart phase-resolved photon counting up to 100 kfps. A 32x32 SPAD array includes 1024 10-bit Time-to-Digital Converters (TDC) with 300 ps resolution and 450 ps single-shot precision, for 3D ranging and FLIM. We developed also linear arrays with up to 60 pixels (with 100 μm SPAD, 150 μm pitch and in-pixel 250 ps TDC) for time-resolved parallel spectroscopy with high fill factor.
Changing patterns of the East Asian monsoon drive shifts in migration and abundance of a globally important rice pest

Numerous insects including pests and beneficial species undertake windborne migrations over hundreds of kilometers. In East Asia, climate‐induced changes in large‐scale atmospheric circulation systems are affecting wind‐fields and precipitation zones and these, in turn, are changing migration patterns. We examined the consequences in a serious rice pest, the brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens) in East China. BPH cannot overwinter in temperate East Asia, and infestations there are initiated by several waves of windborne spring or summer migrants originating from tropical areas in Indochina. The East Asian summer monsoon, characterized by abundant rainfall and southerly winds, is of critical importance for these northward movements. We analyzed a 42‐year dataset of meteorological parameters and catches of BPH from a standardized network of 341 light‐traps in South and East China. We show that south of the Yangtze River during summer, southwesterly winds have weakened and rainfall increased, while the summer precipitation has decreased further north on the Jianghuai Plain. Together, these changes have resulted in shorter migratory journeys for BPH leaving South China. As a result, pest outbreaks of BPH in the key rice‐growing area of the Lower Yangtze River Valley (LYRV) have declined since 2001. We show that these changes to the East Asian summer monsoon weather parameters are driven by shifts in the position and intensity of the Western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) system that have occurred during the last 20 years. As a result, the relationship between WPSH intensity and BPH immigration that was previously used to predict the size of the immigration to the LYRV has now broken down. Our results demonstrate that migration patterns of a serious rice pest have shifted in response to the climate‐induced changes in precipitation and wind pattern, with significant consequences for the population management of migratory pests.
Local synchronicity in dopamine-rich caudate nucleus influences Huntington's disease motor phenotype.

Structural grey and white matter changes precede the manifestation of clinical signs of Huntington's disease by many years. Conversion to clinically manifest disease therefore likely reflects not merely atrophy but a more wide-spread breakdown of brain function. Here, we investigated the structure - function relationship close to and after the clinical onset testing for its co-localization with specific neurotransmitter/receptor systems and important regional brain hubs, in particular caudate nucleus and putamen that are central to maintain normal motor behavior. In two independent cohorts of patients with premanifest Huntington's disease close to onset and very early manifest Huntington's disease (total n = 84; n = 88 matched controls) we used structural and resting state functional MRI. We show that measures of functional activity and local synchronicity within cortical and subcortical regions remain normal in the premanifest Huntington's disease phase despite clear evidence of brain atrophy. In manifest Huntington's disease, homeostasis of synchronicity was disrupted in subcortical hub regions such as caudate nucleus and putamen, but also in cortical hub regions, for instance the parietal lobe. Cross-modal spatial correlations of functional MRI data with receptor/neurotransmitter distribution maps showed that Huntington's disease specific alterations co-localize with dopamine receptors D1, D2, as well as dopamine and serotonin transporters. Caudate nucleus synchronicity significantly improved models predicting the severity of the motor phenotype or predicting the classification into premanifest Huntington's disease or motor manifest Huntington's disease. Our data suggest that the functional integrity of the dopamine receptor rich caudate nucleus is key to maintain network function. The loss of caudate nucleus functional integrity affects network function to a degree that causes a clinical phenotype. These insights into what happens in Huntington's disease could serve as a model for what might be a more general relationship between brain structure and function in neurodegenerative diseases in which other brain regions are vulnerable.
Partial Balint’s syndrome and left homonymous hemianopsia presenting after resection of a right occipito-parietal glioblastoma

ABSTRACT A 66-year-old left-handed male was admitted to our acute inpatient rehabilitation (AIR) unit following a resection of the right occipito-parietal glioblastoma. He presented with symptoms of horizontal oculomotor apraxia, contralateral optic ataxia and left homonymous hemianopsia. We diagnosed this patient with partial Bálint’s syndrome (BS)— oculomotor apraxia, optic ataxia but not simultanagnosia. BS is typically caused by bilateral posterior parietal lesions, but we here describe a unique case due toresection of a right intracranial tumor. A short AIR stay allowed our patient to learn how to compensate for visuomotor and visuospatial deficits, and improved his quality of life significantly.
Effectiveness of Upadacitinib in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis including those with Inadequate Response to Dupilumab and/or Baricitinib: Results from the BioDay Registry

Clinical trials showed that upadacitinib, a selective Janus kinase-1 inhibitor, is effective for treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. However, daily practice studies are limited. This multicentre prospective study evaluated the effectiveness of 16 weeks of upadacitinib treatment for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adult patients, including those with previous inadequate response to dupilumab and/or baricitinib, in daily practice. A total of 47 patients from the Dutch BioDay registry treated with upadacitinib were included. Patients were evaluated at baseline, and after 4, 8 and 16 weeks of treatment. Effectiveness was assessed by clinician- and patient-reported outcome measurements. Safety was assessed by adverse events and laboratory assessments. Overall, the probabilities (95% confidence intervals) of achieving Eczema Area and Severity Index ≤ 7 and Numerical Rating Scale – pruritus ≤ 4 were 73.0% (53.7–86.3) and 69.4% (48.7–84.4), respectively. The effectiveness of upadacitinib was comparable in patients with inadequate response to dupilumab and/or baricitinib and in patients who were naïve for these treatments or who had stopped such treatments due to adverse events. Fourteen (29.8%) patients discontinued upadacitinib due to ineffectiveness, adverse events or both (8.5%, 14.9% and 6.4%, respectively). Most frequently reported adverse events were acneiform eruptions (n = 10, 21.3%), herpes simplex (n = 6, 12.8%), nausea and airway infections (both n = 4, 8.5%). In conclusion, upadacitinib is an effective treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, including those with previous inadequate response to dupilumab and/or baricitinib treatment.
Thromboembolism profiles associated with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors: a real-world pharmacovigilance study and a systematic review

ABSTRACT Background Thrombosis is the second leading cause of mortality in cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate the association between cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) and thrombosis. Research design and methods A retrospective pharmacovigilance analysis based on real-world data combined with a systematic review was used to explore the thrombotic risk profiles of CDK4/6i. The study has been registered with Prospero (CRD42021284218). Result In the pharmacovigilance analysis, CDK4/6i showed a higher rate of reported venous thromboembolism (VTE) (ROR = 2.78, 95% CI = 2.64–2.92), with the highest signal for trilaciclib (ROR = 27.55, 95% CI = 13.43–56.52) but only 9 cases, followed by abemaciclib (ROR = 3.73, 95% CI = 3.19–4.37). For arterial thromboembolism (ATE), only ribociclib increased the reporting rate (ROR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.91–2.41). In the meta-analysis, palbociclib, abemaciclib, and trilaciclib all increased the risk of VTE (OR = 2.23, 3.17, and 3.90). In the subgroup analysis, only abemaciclib increased the risk of ATE (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.12–3.99) . Conclusions CDK4/6i had different profiles of thromboembolism. Palbociclib, abemaciclib, or trilaciclib increased the risk of VTE. Ribociclib and abemaciclib showed a weak association with the risk of ATE.
Associations between cancer history, social distancing behaviors, and loneliness in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, enforced social distancing initiatives have highlighted differences in social distancing practices and the resulting loneliness in various populations. The objective of this study was to examine how cancer history and social distancing practices relate to loneliness during COVID-19. Methods and findings Participants from previous studies (N = 32,989) with permission to be re-contacted were invited to complete a survey online, by phone, or by mail between June and November 2020. Linear and logistic regression models were used to determine the associations between cancer history, social distancing, and loneliness. Results Among the included participants (n = 5729), the average age was 56.7 years, 35.6% were male, 89.4% were White, and 54.9% had a cancer history (n = 3147). Individuals with a cancer history were more likely to not contact people outside of their household (49.0% vs. 41.9%, p<0.01), but were less likely to feel lonely (35.8% vs. 45.3%, p<0.0001) compared to those without a cancer history. Higher adherence to social distancing behaviors was associated with higher odds of loneliness among individuals with (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.17-1.38) and without a cancer history (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06-1.25). Conclusions Findings from this study can inform efforts to support the mental health of individuals susceptible to loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Approximate Sparse Regularized Hyperspectral Unmixing

Sparse regression based unmixing has been recently proposed to estimate the abundance of materials present in hyperspectral image pixel. In this paper, a novel sparse unmixing optimization model based on approximate sparsity, namely, approximate sparse unmixing (ASU), is firstly proposed to perform the unmixing task for hyperspectral remote sensing imagery. And then, a variable splitting and augmented Lagrangian algorithm is introduced to tackle the optimization problem. In ASU, approximate sparsity is used as a regularizer for sparse unmixing, which is sparser than regularizer and much easier to be solved than regularizer. Three simulated and one real hyperspectral images were used to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm in comparison to regularizer. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is more effective and accurate for hyperspectral unmixing than state-of-the-art regularizer.
The Value of the Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter (ONSD) in Predicting Postdural Puncture Headache (PDPH): A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is one of the serious complications after lumbar puncture, but there is no effective tool to predict it. OBJECTIVES To explore whether ultrasound measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) as a predictor of PDPH can be a reliable tool supported by reliable protocols and data. STUDY DESIGN A prospective observational study. SETTING Department of Anesthesiology. METHODS This prospective observational study was performed in 156 patients undergoing cesarean section (CS). The patient's ONSD was recorded before anesthesia (T0), 10 minutes after anesthesia (T1), at the end of the operation (T2), at the first postoperative day (T24), at the second postoperative day (T48), and the third postoperative day (T72). During the 3-day follow-up, the patients were evaluated, identified, and divided into a PDPH group and a non-PDPH group. Age, weight, height, ASA, lumbar puncture location, and the number of lumbar puncture attempts were also recorded. We mainly analyzed the changes and differences between the 2 groups of ONSD. RESULTS Twenty-four patients (15%) developed PDPH. The ONSD was significantly lower in the PDPH group than in the non-PDPH group at T2, T24, T48, and T72. All patients showed a significant reduction in ONSD at T1 compared to T0. Women whose ONSD continued to fall without recovery from T0 to T2 were more likely to experience PDPH (RR 5. 022; 95 CI 3.343 to 7.508). The ONSD at T24 was the best predictor of PDPH (ACU 0. 9787, 95 CI 0.9578 to 0.9996), with a cutoff value of 0.40 cm (sensitivity 92%, specificity 94%). LIMITATIONS This is a single-center study, and ONSD may vary in different regions or ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS We believe that continuous measurements of ONSD may be a useful tool for predicting PDPH.
Cspg4high microglia contribute to microgliosis during neurodegeneration

Significance Activated microglia play a central role in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders. They phagocytose cell debris or misfolded protein and contribute to neuroinflammation. However, the origin of activated microglia during neurodegeneration remains incompletely understood. Understanding their origin is essential for controlling deregulated microglial activity. Our single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals that Cspg4high microglia represent a subset of microglia that has a distinct transcriptome from other known microglia subtypes in mice and humans. These cells undergo steady-state mitosis continuously and throughout life in the brain at rather low levels. Cspg4high microglia are expanded contributing to microgliosis during neurodegeneration. Thus, the present study identifies Cspg4high microglia as a new source of activated microglia in the diseased brain.
Octopamine and tyramine signalling in Aedes aegypti: Molecular characterization and insight into potential physiological roles

In insects, the biogenic amines octopamine (OA) and tyramine (TA) are involved in controlling several physiological and behavioural processes. OA and TA act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators or neurohormones, performing their functions by binding to specific receptors belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. OA and TA along with their receptors are involved in reproduction, smell perception, metabolism, and homeostasis. Moreover, OA and TA receptors are targets for insecticides and antiparasitic agents, such as the formamidine Amitraz. In the dengue and yellow fever vector, Aedes aegypti, limited research has been reported on their OA or TA receptors. Here, we identify and molecularly characterize the OA and TA receptors in A. aegypti. Bioinformatic tools were used to identify four OA and three TA receptors in the genome of A. aegypti. The seven receptors are expressed in all developmental stages of A. aegypti; however, their highest transcript abundance is observed in the adult. Among several adult A. aegypti tissues examined, including the central nervous system, antennae and rostrum, midgut, Malpighian tubules, ovaries, and testes, the type 2 TA receptor (TAR2) transcript is most abundant in the ovaries and the type 3 TA receptor (TAR3) is enriched in the Malpighian tubules, leading us to propose putative roles for these receptors in reproduction and diuresis, respectively. Furthermore, a blood meal influenced OA and TA receptor transcript expression patterns in adult female tissues at several time points post blood meal, suggesting these receptors may play key physiological roles associated with feeding. To better understand OA and TA signalling in A. aegypti, the transcript expression profiles of key enzymes in their biosynthetic pathway, namely tyrosine decarboxylase (Tdc) and tyramine β-hydroxylase (Tβh), were examined in developmental stages, adult tissues, and brains from blood-fed females. These findings provide information for better understanding the physiological roles of OA, TA, and their receptors in A. aegypti, and additionally, may help in the development of novel strategies for the control of these human disease vectors.