Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender Differences in Visuospatial Abilities and Complex Mathematical Problem Solving

Mathematical problem-solving and spatial visualization are areas in which performance has been shown to vary with sex. This article describes the impact of gender on spatial relations measured in 331 secondary school students (202 males, 129 females), 145 (105 males, 40 females) of whom had been selected to participate in a mathematical talent stimulation project after passing a complex problem-solving test. In the two tests administered, the Differential Aptitude Tests-Space Relations (DAT-SR) and the Primary Mental Abilities-Space Relations (PMA-SR), performance was assessed on the grounds of both absolute scores and the ratio to the number of items answered. The students participating in the talent program earned higher scores on both tests, although no interaction was identified between mathematical abilities and gender in connection with the differences in spatial habilities observed. In PMA-SR, boys answered more items and scored higher, whereas in DAT-SR girls tended to omit more items. None of the indicators studied exhibited differences between the sexes in both tests and in some cases the differences in the absolute values of the indicators were absent when expressed as ratios.
Adoptive Cell Therapy Targeting Neoantigens: A Frontier for Cancer Research

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a kind of immunotherapy in which T cells are genetically modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or T cell receptor (TCR), and ACT has made a great difference in treating multiple types of tumors. ACT is not perfect, and it can be followed by severe side effects, which hampers the application of ACT in clinical trials. One of the most promising methods to minimize side effects is to endow adoptive T cells with the ability to target neoantigens, which are specific to tumor cells. With the development of antigen screening technologies, more methods can be applied to discover neoantigens in cancer cells, such as whole-exome sequencing combined with mass spectrometry, neoantigen screening through an inventory-shared neoantigen peptide library, and neoantigen discovery via trogocytosis. In this review, we focus on the side effects of existing antigens and their solutions, illustrate the strategies of finding neoantigens in CAR-T and TCR-T therapies through methods reported by other researchers, and summarize the clinical behavior of these neoantigens.
Time for Action: Verbal Action Cues Influence Temporal Binding

Prior research has shown that our perception of time is compressed when we volitionally perform actions, a phenomenon referred to as temporal binding. In three studies, we investigated the degree to which contextual cues that signaled other agents and related to actions would influence binding, given that those cues may affect individual’s feelings of independent action performance. Participants heard action verbalizations that did or did not match actions that participants had already begun performing. Participants’ time estimates of the intervals between action initiations and action effects were higher on trials in which they heard verbalizations that matched their ongoing actions, and lower on trials in which the verbalizations and actions did not match. Such effects did not occur when participants passively observed actions and effects being caused by the computer. These results show that the compatibility of action cues with ongoing actions influences temporal binding effects, suggesting that they influence our feelings of having been an independent agent.
Construction of 1D Ag-AgBr/AlOOH Plasmonic Photocatalyst for Degradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride

In this work, the highly efficient and low-cost Ag-AgBr/AlOOH plasmonic photocatalyst is successfully prepared via a simple and mild wet-chemical process and used for degrading high concentration methylene blue (MB) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). The optimized 6-Ag-AgBr/AlOOH sample showed a 79% decomposition of TCH in 2 h, which is almost two times higher than that of bare AgBr (37%). For degrading MB, the photocatalytic activity of 6-Ag-AgBr/AlOOH (decomposing 84% in 2 h) showed a large enhancement as compared to bare AgBr (only 57%). The TEM, HRTEM, XRD, DRS, and XPS characterization results confirm that Ag-AgBr is a composite catalyst formed by loading Ag nanoparticles onto AgBr surfaces and then loaded on to AlOOH. The possible mechanism proposed is that •O2- and •OH radicals produced under sun light are the main active species for degrading MB and TCH. It is hoped that this work will open a new gateway to the synthesis of highly efficient and low-cost Ag-AgBr/AlOOH plasmonic photocatalysts for degrading organic pollutants.
Structure-Function of the High Affinity Substrate Binding Site (S1) of Human Norepinephrine Transporter

The human norepinephrine transporter (hNET) is a member of the neurotransmitter/sodium symporter family, which also includes the neuronal monoamine transporters for serotonin (SERT) and dopamine (DAT). Its involvement in chronic pain and many neurological disorders underlies its pharmaceutical importance. Using the X-ray crystal structures of the human serotonin transporter (hSERT) (PDB 5I6X) and Drosophila melanogaster dopamine transporter (dDAT) (PDB 4M48 and PDB 4XPA) as templates, we developed molecular models for norepinephrine (NE) bound to its high affinity binding site (S1) in the hNET. Our model suggests that the S1 site for NE is deeply buried between transmembrane helices (TMHs) 1, 3, 6, and 8 and overlaps the binding site for leucine in the bacterial leucine transporter (LeuT) and dopamine (DA) in dDAT. Mutational studies identified the functional binding pocket for NE comprised residues A73, A77, N78, V148, N153, I156, G320, F329, N350, S420, G423, and M424, which all influenced NE affinity and/or transport. These effects support a NE-hNET docking model where A73, A77, G320, S420, G423, and M424 form H-bond interactions with NE, V148, I156, and F329 form hydrophobic interactions with NE, whereas N78 affects NE transport and N350 affects NE affinity and transport via an influence on the octahedral co-ordination of the Na1+ ion. Consistent with a conserved structure-function amongst sodium-dependent neurotransmitter transporters, S1 residues A73, A77 (G100 in hSERT), N78, V148 (I150 in hSERT), N153, G320, F329 (Y331 in d DAT), N350, and G423 are conserved in DAT and SERT, indicating they likely play conserved functional roles.
Smoking behavior of primary care physicians and its effect on their smoking counseling practice

Context: Smoking among the primary care physicians (PCPs) is detrimental to not only their own health but it may also affect their attitude and practice towards smoking cessation counseling. Aims: We aimed to assess the smoking behavior of primary care physicians and its effect on their patient smoking counseling practices. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the primary care physicians (N = 261) working under the Ministry of Health in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia during May to June 2018. The data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire that was based on global adult tobacco survey. The participants were selected through simple random sampling. Results: About 16% of PCPs were found to be current smokers while about 9.6% were ex-smokers. On binomial logistic regression current smoking was observed to be independently associated with gender, specialty, and years of work experience (P < 0.01). The practice of smoking cessation advice was found to be significantly associated with physicians' current smoking status after adjusting for other factors; PCPs who were non-smokers were 2.97 (95% CI 1.34-6.54) times more likely to always advice patients on cessation as compared to smoking colleagues. Conclusions and Implications: Smoking behavior of physicians was found to affect their patient smoking cessation counseling. This finding should be used in while planning and training staff for smoking cessation services in primary care settings.
Functional Trait Variation Among and Within Species and Plant Functional Types in Mountainous Mediterranean Forests

Plant structural and biochemical traits are frequently used to characterise the life history of plants. Although some common patterns of trait covariation have been identified, recent studies suggest these patterns of covariation may differ with growing location and/or plant functional type (PFT). Mediterranean forest tree/shrub species are often divided into three PFTs based on their leaf habit and form, being classified as either needleleaf evergreen (Ne), broadleaf evergreen (Be), or broadleaf deciduous (Bd). Working across 61 mountainous Mediterranean forest sites of contrasting climate and soil type, we sampled and analysed 626 individuals in order to evaluate differences in key foliage trait covariation as modulated by growing conditions both within and between the Ne, Be, and Bd functional types. We found significant differences between PFTs for most traits. When considered across PFTs and by ignoring intraspecific variation, three independent functional dimensions supporting the Leaf-Height-Seed framework were identified. Some traits illustrated a common scaling relationship across and within PFTs, but others scaled differently when considered across PFTs or even within PFTs. For most traits much of the observed variation was attributable to PFT identity and not to growing location, although for some traits there was a strong environmental component and considerable intraspecific and residual variation. Nevertheless, environmental conditions as related to water availability during the dry season and to a smaller extend to soil nutrient status and soil texture, clearly influenced trait values. When compared across species, about half of the trait-environment relationships were species-specific. Our study highlights the importance of the ecological scale within which trait covariation is considered and suggests that at regional to local scales, common trait-by-trait scaling relationships should be treated with caution. PFT definitions by themselves can potentially be an important predictor variable when inferring one trait from another. These findings have important implications for local scale dynamic vegetation models.
Nutritional status and eating behavior of children: A study among primary school children in a rural area of West Bengal

Background: Dietary preferences and childhood eating behavior has marked influence on nutritional status of children. The objective of the study was to find out eating behavior of primary school children in a rural area of West Bengal using Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire and to determine association of body mass index (BMI) with eating behavior. Methodology: It was an institution-based observational study with cross-sectional design done from May to August, 2018. The study was done among 142 children studying at four primary schools at Singur, in the rural field practice area of our institute. The four schools were selected randomly using list of primary schools in the area. Eating behavior of children was assessed using Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). BMI of the children was assessed using WHO Z scores tables for children. Data analysis was done using SPSS Version 16 and binary logistic regression was done to find out association of BMI with eating behavior of study participants. Results: The proportion of under-nutrition and overnutrition was 22.0% and 16.0%, respectively. Food fussiness was significantly associated with thinness [BMI below (−2SD)]. Enjoyment of food, satiety response was significantly associated with overnutrition [BMI above (+1 SD)]. Food avoidance subscale was significantly associated with thinness [OR: 2.5, CI: 1.11, 5.63] and this subscale was protective for overweight [OR: 0.22, CI: 0.07, 0.69]. Conclusion: This study showed association of BMI with child eating behavior. Therefore, awareness among parents should be created to change problematic eating of their children which would further help them to achieve normal BMI.
Nasofacial rhinoentomophthoramycosis: A report of two cases from Central India

Rhinoentomophthoromycosis due to Conidiobolus coronatus is a rare, chronic, granulomatous disease, occurring mainly in tropical countries including India. We report two cases of rhinoentomophthoromycosis in an 18-year-old female and a farmer of 35 years residents of Chhattisgarh shifted from Madhya Pradesh and Orrisa. It was diagnosed by microscopy and isolation C. coronatus in culture. The patient presented with a swollen nose with obstruction that had progressed slowly over 1 year. His nasal swelling was bilateral, diffuse, mildly tender, erythematous, nonpitting, with mucosal crusting and hypertrophy of inferior turbinates but no regional lymphadenopathy. Culture of tissue from the nasal biopsy on sabouraud dextrose agar yielded multiple colonies of a mold with satellite smaller colonies at periphery. The isolate demonstrated the macroscopic and microscopic morphologic characteristics of C. coronatus. The patients were earlier treated with itraconazole or its combination with potassium iodide and the patients were treated successfully with amphotericin B.
The association of anemia as a risk of heart failure

Aim: The present study was conducted to assess the presence of anemia in patients with advanced heart failure (HF) and compared the clinical characteristics of patients with anemia and without anemia. Methodology: The present study was conducted on 102 patients (60 males, 42 females) with advanced HF admitted in hospital. In all, general physical and clinical examinations were performed. All were subjected to complete blood count (CBC), hematocrit, and assessment of urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). The levels of serum iron, ferritin, iron saturation, and iron-binding capacity were also evaluated. The causes of HF were assessed. Results: Mean age was 48.2 ± 5.7 and 42.2 ± 6.2 years in males and females patients, respectively. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 0.26 ± 0.8 in males and 0.24 ± 0.5 in females. 71.5% males and 76.3% females were on inotropic support. The etiology of HF was ischemia in 29% males and 27% females, high blood pressure in 15% males and 12% females, obesity in 18% males and 19% females, valvular heart disease in 7% males and 5% females, diabetes in 11% males and 6% females, and idiopathy in 20% males and 31% females. There was a significant difference in mean age, initial HB, final HB, hypertension, creatinine, BNP, and initial hematocrit level in patients with anemia and without anemia (P < 0.05). Deaths in hospital were also significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Anemia was seen in one-third of the patients with HF. Anemia was an independent marker with poor prognosis. Anemic patients were older than non-anemic patients.
Direct Comparison of Posterior Subthalamic Area Stimulation versus Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson′s Disease

In this case report, we describe successful tremor capture via stimulation of the posterior subthalamic area (PSA) for a patient with tremor-predominant Parkinson's disease. In this scenario, the patient had a deep brain stimulation (DBS) lead placed in the PSA of the right hemisphere and a DBS lead placed in the subthalmic nucleus (STN) of the left hemisphere. Therefore, we were able to directly compare tremor capture in the same patient receiving stimulation in two different brain areas. We show that both placements are equally efficacious for tremor suppression, though the DBS lead placed in the PSA required slightly higher current intensity. This comparison in the same patient confirms that stimulation of the PSA can successfully suppress tremor in Parkinson's disease.
A study of handwashing training effects on awareness, attitude, and handwashing skills of third grade elementary school students

Background and Aims: Hands are the first way of which many infectious diseases are transmitted. Hand hygiene is a means of infection control in schools. Close consideration of handwashing in educational units is important to control and prevent infection transmission. The present study aimed to determine the effect of handwashing education on awareness, attitude and handwashing skills of third-grade elementary school students in Tehran. Methods: In this study, 76 third grade students of elementary schools located at district 1 of Tehran with the mean age of 9 years were randomly divided into intervention and control groups using pre-test and post-test. Data collection for intervention and control groups was done using a researcher-made awareness- and attitude-gauging questionnaire, along with a checklist of handwashing performance which was completed in cooperation with the health instructor. Results: The results of this study showed that there was a significant difference between the awareness of 3rd-grade students in intervention (69.79 ± 1.61) and control (49.03 ± 1.18) groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, students' attitude toward handwashing improved as a result of education, and the intervention group (62.37 ± 0.65) had a more positive attitude toward hygiene and handwashing compared to the control group (48.45 ± 0.73) (P < 0.05). In the case of handwashing performance, the intervention group (56.76 ± 1.33) had better health performance compared to the control group (40.08 ± 0.67) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Practical training, preparation of educational posters and videos can enhance awareness, attitude and handwashing performance.
A retrospective study on the relationship between maxillary posterior teeth and maxillary sinus floor using cone-beam computed tomographic images

Introduction: The aims of this study were to evaluate the distance and relationship between the root apex of maxillary posterior teeth and the maxillary sinus floor (MSF) and whether they varied with age. Cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images covering maxillary sinus taken in our department from December 2015 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Material and Methods: Totally 221 CBCT images of maxillary posterior teeth were analyzed. The distance and relationship between the root apex and the MSF was measured and categorized into four types. The data were correlated with age. ANOVA, Fisher's exact test, Cochran–Armitage trend test, Pearson's Chi-square test were used. Results: For the second premolar, the distance from the apex to the MSF was the furthest compared to first and second molars. The majority of apices were located below the MSF. For the first molar, the palatal root owned the shortest distance (2.79 mm) (P < 0.05) and highest frequency (11.8%) in Type IV (root protruded into the MSF) in all teeth. For second molar, the mesiobuccal root had the minimum distance (2.08 mm) (P < 0.05) in all teeth and the second highest frequency (11.0%) in Type IV. In young people (20–40 years), the shorter distance and higher frequency in Type IV differed significantly compared to other age groups (P < 0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: The data verified the close relationship between the root apex of maxillary posterior teeth and the MSF. Age was a key factor to correlate the relation. Special care should be taken when dealing with maxillary posterior teeth, especially for young people.
Microinjection of a growth factor cocktail affects activated microglia in the neocortex of adult rats

Microglia, as the resident immune cells in the central nervous system, play important roles in regulating neuronal processes, such as neural excitability, synaptic activity, and apoptotic cell clearance. Growth factors can activate multiple signaling pathways in central nervous system microglia and can regulate their immune effects, but whether growth factors can affect the morphological characteristics and ultrastructure of microglia has not been reported. After microinjecting 300 nL of a growth factor cocktail, including 10 μg/mL epidermal growth factor, 10 μg/mL basic fibroblast growth factor, 10 μg/mL hepatocyte growth factor and 10 μg/mL insulin-like growth factor into adult rat cortex, we found that the number of IBA1-positive microglia around the injection area increased significantly, indicating local activation of microglia. All CD68-positive labeling co-localized with IBA1 in microglia. Cell bodies and protrusions of CD68-positive cells were strongly attached to or were engulfing neurons. Characteristic huge phagosomes were observed in activated phagocytes by electron microscopy. The phagosomes generally included non-degraded neuronal protrusions and mitochondria, yet they contained no myelin membrane or remnants, which might indicate selective phagocytosis by the phagocytes. The remnant myelin sheath after phagocytosis still had regenerative ability and formed “myelin-like” structures around phagocytes. These results show that microinjection of a growth factor cocktail into the cerebral cortex of rodents can locally activate microglia and induce selective phagocytosis of neural structures by phagocytes. The study was approved by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (approval No. IACUC-AMMS-2014-501) on June 30, 2014.
Current landscape in motoneuron regeneration and reconstruction for motor cranial nerve injuries

The intricate anatomy and physiology of cranial nerves have inspired clinicians and scientists to study their roles in the nervous system. Damage to motor cranial nerves may result from a variety of organic or iatrogenic insults and causes devastating functional impairment and disfigurement. Surgical innovations directed towards restoring function to injured motor cranial nerves and their associated organs have evolved to include nerve repair, grafting, substitution, and muscle transposition. In parallel with this progress, research on tissue-engineered constructs, development of bioelectrical interfaces, and modulation of the regenerative milieu through cellular, immunomodulatory, or neurotrophic mechanisms has proliferated to enhance the available repertoire of clinically applicable reconstructive options. Despite these advances, patients continue to suffer from functional limitations relating to inadequate cranial nerve regeneration, aberrant reinnervation, or incomplete recovery of neuromuscular function. These shortfalls have profound quality of life ramifications and provide an impetus to further elucidate mechanisms underlying cranial nerve denervation and to improve repair. In this review, we summarize the literature on reconstruction and regeneration of motor cranial nerves following various injury patterns. We focus on seven cranial nerves with predominantly efferent functions and highlight shared patterns of injuries and clinical manifestations. We also present an overview of the existing reconstructive approaches, from facial reanimation, laryngeal reinnervation, to variations of interposition nerve grafts for reconstruction. We discuss ongoing endeavors to promote nerve regeneration and to suppress aberrant reinnervation and the development of synkinesis. Insights from these studies will shed light on recent progress and new horizons in understanding the biomechanics of peripheral nerve neurobiology, with emphasis on promising strategies for optimizing neural regeneration and identifying future directions in the field of motor cranial neuron research.