Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why is self-report of sleep position sometimes unreliable? -

This study examined whether the proportion of time spent on varying positions could account for the accuracy of self-perceived sleep position. The sample contained 26 healthy subjects, who were invited to sleep at a laboratory for two consecutive nights and in the next morning, were asked to answer some questions about their sleep, including self-perceived major sleep position and other sleep positions adopted. Their sleep was videotaped and was coded by two external judges. For both laboratory nights, subjects who correctly reported their major sleep position spent a larger proportion of their sleep time on the major body position, spent a smaller proportion of their sleep time on positions other than the major one, showed a larger discrepancy between the two proportions, and tended to rest their hands on their chest or stomach during sleep rather than put their hands aside their trunk than did subjects who incorrectly identified their major sleep position. These findings suggest that the misperception of one’s sleep position can be attributed to the individual difference in the variability of sleep positions across the night. Although most subjects could correctly identify their major sleep position, the inaccuracy rate was high – that is, 23.1% for the first laboratory night and 42.3% for the second laboratory night. Furthermore, self-perceived and externally coded sleep positions were not significantly associated in the second night. The self-report method is far less expensive than the video-coding method but researchers should be cautious about its limitations and consistency with objective measures. For clinical purposes, self-report of sleep position should be complemented by video records.
Enhanced solar water disinfection using ZnO supported photocatalysts

ABSTRACT Nano-structured ZnO photocatalysts on cellulose and polyester supports were developed for enhancing solar water disinfection (SODIS). The photocatalysts were fabricated by a two-step hydrothermal method, in which ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized and deposited on a cellulose or polyester support as a seed layer, followed by the growth of one-dimensional ZnO nanorods on the seed layer in a liquid bath containing zinc nitrate and hexamethylenetetramine as sources of precursors. The morphologies and phase compositions of the synthesized ZnO nanorods from different growth conditions were investigated with field emission scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The crystallinity size of the ZnO nanorods was in the range of 17–30 nm and increased with the precursor concentration. The XRD patterns also revealed that higher growth solution concentrations led to higher intensity of XRD peaks, indicating higher crystallinity. Additionally, to test for SODIS enhancement, experiments using 200-mL transparent polyethylene bags as SODIS reactors, with ZnO photocatalysts inside, and water samples containing 106 CFU of Escherichia Coli were conducted in a laboratory UVA setup. The photocatalyst with a polyester support resulted in a 15% higher disinfection efficiency than that of the one with a cellulose support. Moreover, a field test of enhanced SODIS was conducted in actual sunlight, using specially designed SODIS reactors containing ZnO photocatalysts with a polyester support. Nearly total disinfection (97–98% efficiency) was achieved within the first 15 min of every test. The treated water was also tested for zinc contents, which could be released from the photocatalysts, by ICP-OES. The results were lower than 2 mg/L. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Nighres: processing tools for high-resolution neuroimaging

Abstract With recent improvements in human magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ultra-high fields, the amount of data collected per subject in a given MRI experiment has increased considerably. Standard image processing packages are often challenged by the size of these data. Dedicated methods are needed to leverage their extraordinary spatial resolution. Here, we introduce a flexible Python toolbox that implements a set of advanced techniques for high-resolution neuroimaging. With these tools, segmentation and laminar analysis of cortical MRI data can be performed at resolutions up to 500 μm in reasonable times. Comprehensive online documentation makes the toolbox easy to use and install. An extensive developer’s guide encourages contributions from other researchers that will help to accelerate progress in the promising field of high-resolution neuroimaging.
Analysis of multidrug resistance in the predominant Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in Canada: the SAVE study, 2011-15.

Objectives This study assessed MDR invasive isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, in relation to serotype evolution in Canada between 2011 and 2015 as part of the annual SAVE study. Methods As part of a collaboration between the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance and Public Health Agency of Canada-National Microbiology Laboratory, 6207 invasive isolates of S. pneumoniae were evaluated. All isolates were serotyped and had antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed, in accordance with CLSI guidelines (M07-A10, 2015). Complete susceptibility profiles were available for 6001 isolates. MDR was defined as resistance to three or more classes of antimicrobial agents (with penicillin MIC ≥2 mg/L defined as resistant). Results The overall rate of MDR S. pneumoniae was 6.2% (372/6001) in SAVE, decreasing significantly from 8.5% in 2011 to 5.6% in 2015 (P = 0.0041). MDR was observed in 32 serotypes, with serotypes 15A and 19A predominating (26.6% and 41.7% of the MDR isolates, respectively). The overall proportion of serotypes 19A, 7F and 33A decreased significantly (P < 0.0001) throughout the study. The annual proportion of serotypes 7C, 8, 9N, 10A, 20, 24F, 29, 31, 33F, 35B and 38 increased throughout the study; however, among these increasing serotypes, MDR was only notable (>5%) for 24F and 33F. Conclusions In 2015, 56.3% of invasive MDR S. pneumoniae were serotypes included in the PCV-13 vaccine. PCV-13 includes the most commonly identified serotype, 19A; however, other increasingly important MDR serotypes, such as 15A, 24F and 33F, are notably not in the currently used vaccines.
Limitations of the 2015 ATA Guidelines for Prediction of Thyroid Cancer: A Review of 1947 Consecutive Aspirations

Background The 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines have been proposed to aid in the management of thyroid nodules by determining whether fine needle aspiration is indicated. Objective To determine whether the ATA guidelines contribute to the overdiagnosis of thyroid cancer. Patients and Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of ultrasound-imaged thyroid nodules (n = 1947) consecutively aspirated at a tertiary care center from 1 October 2009 to 22 February 2016. Nodules were retrospectively reviewed, assigned a 2015 ATA morphology, and placed into one of five 2015 ATA categories of risk (ATA-1, <1% risk of malignancy; ATA-2, <3% risk; ATA-3, 5% to 10% risk, ATA-4: 10% to 20% risk; ATA-5, >70% to 90% risk) by a reader who was blinded to cytology. ATA category was compared with cytopathology. The positive predictive value (PPV) of each ATA category was calculated with respect to cancer. Numbers needed to aspirate and Pearson correlations were calculated. Interrater agreement for ATA category across five readers was assessed. Results The PPV for cancer increased by ATA category [category 1 to 5, respectively: 0% (0/14), 2% (4/249), 5% (36/733), 12% (104/850), 28% (28/101)]. The number needed to sample to detect one papillary cancer was 125 (ATA-2), 49 (ATA-3), 13 (ATA-4), and 5 (ATA-5). The overall interrater agreement for ATA score across all five readers was fair (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.460). Conclusions The 2015 ATA guidelines stratify risk for thyroid cancer; however, the stratification system is overly optimistic regarding cancer detection rates for the higher-risk nodules, and there is only fair interrater agreement.
Characterization of strain of fowl adenoviruses circulating in Morocco

Infection of fowl with adenoviruses raises concerns for poultry production, thus making the detection of adenovirus infection crucial. Fowl adenovirus is the causal agent of inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) and other avian syndromes that affect the production; since the epidemiological point of view it is important to differentiate the serotype of the virus. Between September 2016 and February 2017 several cases of IBH in broiler flocks were reported in Morocco. Molecular detection of the fowl adenovirus and sequencing also allowed determining the strain of the virus. The strain detected was identified as fowl adenovirus closely related to serotype 11 and 8a based on nucleotide sequence analyses of hexon gene loop 1. This is the first time that FadV has been detected in Morocco.
Exacerbation of Type 1 Diabetes in Perinatally Genistein Exposed Female Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) Mouse Is Associated With Alterations of Gut Microbiota and Immune Homeostasis

Despite various hypothesized benefits of dietary isoflavone genistein (GEN) from soy-based products, many questions surrounding GEN's immunotoxic effects, especially during perinatal exposure, have yet to be answered. The objective of the study was to determine if there existed a sex-specific effect of GEN on type 1 diabetes (T1D) following perinatal exposure. We exposed offspring of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice to GEN per oral at a physiological dose (20 mg/kg body weight) from embryonic day 7 to postnatal day (PND) 21. In female offspring, perinatal GEN dosing significantly increased the incidence of T1D at early time points, and the exacerbation was associated with decreased serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IgG2a, and IgM. In male offspring dosed with GEN, a decrease in serum IgG1 was also observed. Flow cytometric analysis in females suggested an increased pro-inflammatory splenic CD5+CD24- and CD4-CD8+ cell counts, while both %T cells and %CD4+ T cells were significantly decreased in males, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect. Gut microbiota (GMB) analysis indicated that fecal microbiota from PND 90 female offspring exhibited an increased level of Enterobacteriales (suggesting a pro-inflammatory response), while the similar changes were not found in PND 30 females. Moreover, RNA sequencing showed that intestinal α-defensin expression was down-regulated in GEN-treated females, supporting a pro-inflammatory response. However, perinatal GEN administration perturbed GMB toward an anti-inflammatory response in PND 90 males. Taken together, a strong sex-specific effect was found in the perinatal GEN exposure window, and the T1D exacerbation in NOD females was associated with GMB-related immunomodulatory mechanisms.
Colonization of a commercial broiler line by Campylobacter is under limited genetic control and does not significantly impair performance or intestinal health

ABSTRACT Campylobacter is the leading bacterial cause of foodborne diarrheal illness in humans and source attribution studies unequivocally identify handling or consumption of poultry meat as a key risk factor. Campylobacter colonizes the avian intestines in high numbers and rapidly spreads within flocks. A need therefore exists to devise strategies to reduce Campylobacter populations in poultry flocks. There has been a great deal of research aiming to understand the epidemiology and transmission characteristics of Campylobacter in poultry as a means to reduce carriage rates in poultry and reduce infection in humans. One potential strategy for control is the genetic selection of poultry for increased resistance to colonization by Campylobacter. The potential for genetic control of colonization has been demonstrated in inbred populations following experimental challenge with Campylobacter where quantitative trait loci associated with resistance have been identified. Currently in the literature there is no information of the genetic basis of Campylobacter colonization in commercial broiler lines and it is unknown whether these QTL are found in commercial broiler lines. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters associated with Campylobacter load and genetic correlations with gut health and production traits following natural exposure of broiler chickens to Campylobacter. The results from the analysis show a low but significant heritability estimate (0.095 ± 0.037) for Campylobacter load which indicates a limited genetic basis and that non‐genetic factors have a greater influence on the level of Campylobacter found in the broiler chicken. Furthermore, through examination of macroscopic intestinal health and absorptive capacity, our study indicated that Campylobacter has no detrimental effects on intestinal health and bird growth following natural exposure in the broiler line under study. These data indicate that whilst there is a genetic component to Campylobacter colonization worthy of further investigation, there is a large proportion of phenotypic variance under the influence of non‐genetic effects. As such the control of Campylobacter will require understanding and manipulation of non‐genetic host and environmental factors.
Uniform Core–Shell Nanoparticles with Thiolated Hyaluronic Acid Coating to Enhance Oral Delivery of Insulin

Oral delivery of protein drugs is an attractive route of administration due to its convenience for repeated dosing and good patient compliance. However, currently oral protein therapeutics show very low bioavailability mainly due to the existence of hostile gastrointestinal (GI) environments, including mucus layers and intestinal epithelial barriers. Herein, using insulin as a model protein therapeutic, the core–shell nanoparticles with thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA‐SH) coating (NPHA‐SH) are produced utilizing a two‐step flash nanocomplexation process to enhance oral delivery efficiency of insulin. A positively charged nanoparticle core is first generated by electrostatic complexation between insulin and N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)‐3‐trimethyl ammonium chloride modified chitosan (HTCC), followed by surface coating with HA‐SH. The optimized NPHA‐SH shows an average size of 100 nm with high encapsulation efficiency (91.1%) and loading capacity (38%). In vitro and ex vivo results confirm that NPHA‐SH shows high mucus‐penetration ability, improved intestinal retention and transepithelial transport property due to its thiolated surface and the ability of HA‐SH coating to dissociate from the nanoparticle surface when across the mucosal layer. Oral administration of NPHA‐SH to Type 1 diabetic rats yields high efficacy and an average relative bioavailability of 11.3%. These results demonstrate that the HA‐SH coated core–shell nanoparticles are a promising oral delivery vehicle for protein therapeutics.
Bayesian negative-binomial-family-based multistate Markov model for the evaluation of periodic population-based cancer screening considering incomplete information and measurement errors

Population-based cancer screening is often asked but hardly addressed by a question: “How many rounds of screening are required before identifying a cancer of interest staying in the pre-clinical detectable phase (PCDP)? ” and also a similar one related to the number of screens required for stopping screening for the low risk group. It can be answered by using longitudinal follow-up data on repeated rounds of screen, namely periodic screen, but such kind of data are rather complicated and fraught with intractable statistical properties including correlated multistate outcomes, unobserved and incomplete (censoring or truncation) information, and imperfect measurements. We therefore developed a negative-binomial-family-based discrete-time stochastic process, taking sensitivity and specificity into account, to accommodate these thorny issues. The estimation of parameters was implemented with Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. We demonstrated how to apply this proposed negative-binomial-family-based model to the empirical data similar to the Finnish breast cancer screening program.
The Hand-eye Coordination of Professional Baseball Players: The Relationship to Batting.

SIGNIFICANCE A visuomotor skill (eye-hand visual-motor reaction time [EH-VMRT]) important for baseball performance is described. Eye-hand visual-motor reaction time represents the integration of visual information, perceptually based decisions, and motor movements to accomplish a specific task. The speed at which this occurs depends on many factors, some visual, some perceptual, and some motor related. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to describe the EH-VMRT ability and evaluate its relationship to the baseball batting performance of professional baseball players. METHODS A commercially available EH-VMRT system was used on 450 professional baseball players. Results were retrospectively compared with standard, career, plate discipline metrics. RESULTS Statistically significant correlations were found between the EH-VMRT metrics and plate discipline batting metrics. Better EH-VMRT ability also correlated with longer service in, and likelihood to achieve, the major-league level. The better (top 20%) EH-VMRT group had three fewer at bats before gaining a walk (22% decrease), as well as swinging 10 to 12% less often at pitches outside the strike zone and 6 to 7% less often at pitches in the strike zone as compared with the bottom 20% group. In addition, EH-VMRT displays a threshold-like relationship with the ability to gain a walk. CONCLUSIONS These results describe the EH-VMRT ability of professional baseball players and show a significant relationship between the EH-VMRT ability and batting performance. These results may suggest a possible role in player selection, indicating that batters with better EH-VMRT may be more likely to reach the major-league level and be more productive for their team. Further studies will be needed to demonstrate whether training better EH-VMRT results in improved batting performance.
The Acceptability, Feasibility and Potential Outcomes of an Individual Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Hearing Voices

Background: A prominent area of advancement in the psychological treatment for people with persisting psychosis has been the application of mindfulness-based therapies. Recent literature has recommended the investigation of focused mindfulness interventions for voices (auditory hallucinations) as a specific experience. To date, only mindfulness programs in group format have been examined. Aims: This non-randomized pilot study aimed to assess the acceptability, feasibility and potential outcomes of an individual mindfulness program for persistent voices on the negative impact of voices on the subjective experience of mental health and wellbeing, depression and voice-related distress and disruption. Also, it aimed to identify potential psychological and neurocognitive mechanisms of change. Method: A new 4-week individual Mindfulness Program for Voices (iMPV) was developed, and piloted with a group of 14 participants with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and persisting voices. Participants completed clinical and neurocognitive measures pre- and post-intervention and at 2-month follow-up. Results: Results revealed low attrition rates, high formal practice engagement levels and positive participant feedback. Pre–post outcomes suggested small to moderate effects for a reduction in the negative impact of voices on experience, depression and disruption. Large effects for changes in mindful responding and attentional switching were also identified. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that this novel treatment protocol is appropriate, engaging and safe for persistent voice hearers. Findings for mindful responding and attentional switching suggest these to be potential mechanisms of change for further investigation. Further RCTs are warranted to ascertain the feasibility and efficacy for focused mindfulness interventions for voices of individual format.
Media use and excess body weight among women in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Objectives To investigate the (1) time trends in body mass index (BMI) and (2) relationship between media use and body weight status among adult women in Nigeria. We hypothesise that higher frequency of media use is associated with higher likelihood of being overweight and obesity among adult women. Study design Cross-sectional. Setting Urban and rural settings in Nigeria. Participants Adult non-pregnant women aged between 15 and 49 years. Methods Data were derived from Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 2003, 2008 and 2013. The outcome variable was excess body weight (overweight and obesity), and main explanatory variables were frequency of reading newspaper, listening to radio and television (TV) viewing. Datasets were merged to perform pooled analysis, and were analysed using bivariate and multivariable regression techniques. Results Of the 69 401 participants, 16.2% had a BMI of 25.0–29.9 kg/m2 (95% CI 15.8 to 16.6) and 6.6% had >30 kg/m2 (95% CI 6.3 to 6.9). Between 2003 and 2013, the prevalence of overweight women increased by 4.1%, and that of obesity by 2.2%. Overall, radio was the most popular media followed by TV and newspaper. Respectively, 15.6% and 11.7% of the women reported using radio and TV almost every day and 30.6% and 25.1% at least once a week. In multivariable analysis, watching TV almost every day and at least once a week were associated with, respectively, 1.6 and 1.2 times higher odds of being overweight, and 2.7 and 1.5 times higher odds of being obese compared with those who never used radio. Similarly, significant associations were observed for newspaper and radio use as well. Conclusion The prevalence of overweight and obesity is noticeably high among Nigerian women and has been increasing steadily over the past decade. A statistically significant association exists between BMI and the use of newspaper, radio and TV. Further studies are required to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie this relationship.
Engineering of a Polydisperse Small Heat-Shock Protein Reveals Conserved Motifs of Oligomer Plasticity

Small heat-shock proteins (sHSP) are molecular chaperones that bind and sequester partially and globally unfolded states of their client proteins. Of paramount importance to their physiological roles is the assembly into large oligomers, which for mammalian sHSP are polydisperse and undergo subunit exchange. The flexibility and dynamic nature of these oligomers mediates functional regulation by phosphorylation and underpins the deleterious effects of disease-linked mutations. Previously, we discovered that the archaeal Hsp16.5, which natively forms ordered and symmetric 24-subunit oligomers, can be engineered to transition to an ordered and symmetric 48-subunit oligomer by insertion of a peptide from human HspB1 (Hsp27) at the junction of the N-terminal and α-crystallin domains. Here, we carried out a detailed analysis of the determinants of Hsp16.5 oligomeric plasticity by altering the sequence and length of the inserted peptide. Utilizing light scattering, blue native gel electrophoresis, native mass spectrometry and electron microscopy, we uncovered the existence of an array of oligomeric states (30 to 38 subunits) that can be populated as a consequence of different insertions. These oligomers are intermediate states on the assembly pathway of the 48-subunit oligomer as two of the variants can concurrently form 24-subunit or 30-38 subunit polydisperse oligomers. Polydisperse Hsp16.5 oligomers displayed higher affinity to a model client protein consistent with a general mechanism for recognition and binding that involves increased access of the hydrophobic N-terminal region. Our findings, which integrate structural and functional analyses from evolutionarily-distant sHSP, support a model wherein the modular architecture of these proteins encodes motifs of oligomer polydispersity, dissociation and expansion to achieve functional diversity and regulation.