Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Interplay Between Diet Quality and Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index on Glycemic Parameters in Pregnancy: A Comparison of Various Diet Quality Scores (OR35-02-19).

Objectives Nutrition in pregnancy plays an important role in maintaining glycemic control but there is no consensus on how to characterize maternal diet quality with respect to glycemic outcomes. The objective of this study is to compare the associations between 4 indices of diet quality with biomarkers of glycemic control (insulin, homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)) in pregnancy, and to determine whether associations vary as a function of pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI). Methods In a prospective longitudinal study of N = 220 pregnant women, dietary intakes were assessed at 3 time points across gestation by 3 × 24h-diet recalls per assessment, from which 4 validated diet quality scores were derived: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Alternative Healthy Eating Index for Pregnancy (AHEI-P), Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII). Fasting blood samples collected at each assessment were assayed for insulin and glucose and HOMA-IR was computed. pBMI was computed from self-reported pre-pregnancy weight and measured height. Linear regression models predicting mean pregnancy values of insulin and HOMA-IR by diet quality score and pBMI and the diet quality*pBMI interaction term were computed. Results pBMI is strongly predictive of insulin and HOMA-IR and each diet quality score exerts similar significant main effects on glycemic parameters (Table 1). Only the DII*pBMI interaction term was significantly associated with insulin and HOMA-IR (Table 2). Figures 1A and 1B depict that the effect of DII on glycemic control is most pronounced for women with a pBMI < 25.0 Kg/m2, while levels among overweight and obese women remain relatively stable regardless of the inflammatory profile of the diet. Neither DASH, MDS or AHEI-P showed a significant effect on glycemic markers when analyzed as a function of pBMI. Conclusions Although each of the examined diet quality scores may serve as crude predictors of glycemic control in pregnancy, only the DII detected significant differential effects as a function of pBMI. A more pro-inflammatory diet in normal weight pregnant women may exert a stronger influence on glycemic control compared to overweight and obese women, likely attributed to the overriding effects of excess adiposity on dysglycemia. Funding Sources National Institutes of Health: NICHD, NIMHD, NIMH. Supporting Tables Images and/or Graphs
Overexpression of Circulating Soluble Nogo-B Improves Diabetic Kidney Disease by Protecting the Vasculature

Damage to the vasculature is the primary mechanism driving chronic diabetic microvascular complications such as diabetic nephropathy, which manifests as albuminuria. Therefore, treatments that protect the diabetic vasculature have significant therapeutic potential. Soluble neurite outgrowth inhibitor-B (sNogo-B) is a circulating N-terminus isoform of full-length Nogo-B, which plays a key role in vascular remodeling following injury. However, there is currently no information on the role of sNogo-B in the context of diabetic nephropathy. We demonstrate that overexpression of sNogo-B in the circulation ameliorates diabetic kidney disease by reducing albuminuria, hyperfiltration, and abnormal angiogenesis and protecting glomerular capillary structure. Systemic sNogo-B overexpression in diabetic mice also associates with dampening vascular endothelial growth factor-A signaling and reducing endothelial nitric oxide synthase, AKT, and GSK3β phosphorylation. Furthermore, sNogo-B prevented the impairment of tube formation, which occurred when human endothelial cells were exposed to sera from patients with diabetic kidney disease. Collectively, these studies provide the first evidence that sNogo-B protects the vasculature in diabetes and may represent a novel therapeutic target for diabetic vascular complications.
A Professional Development Model to Promote Internet Integration into P-12 Teachers' Practice: A Mixed Methods Study

ABSTRACT This mixed method study reports long-term effects of a staff development model on P-12 teachers' instructional practices and dispositions regarding Internet integration into teaching. The model design was guided by participants' varying professional developmental levels and their values and beliefs about teaching and learning. A survey, administered at three checkpoints over a three-year period, yielded quantitative data regarding participants' concerns about the curricular innovation. Qualitative data, gathered through interviews conducted with a sample of the participants, contributed to understanding, from the participants' perspective, changes they perceived in their teaching practices as a result of the staff development. Elements of the model most instrumental in effecting changes were identified. Results support the recommendation for teacher-centered staff development that includes critical characteristics to effect and sustain change in teacher practice. These features must emanate from teacher practice and be supported by the system in which the teacher works.
Nutrient restriction and migration of turkey satellite cells

Post hatch muscle growth and the repair or regeneration of muscle after myofiber injury is mediated by satellite cells. Satellite cells proliferate, migrate, differentiate, and fuse with growing or regenerating myofibers. The proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells are affected by nutrition, but it is unknown how nutrition impacts satellite cell migration. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of a nutrient restriction on satellite cell migration. Satellite cells from the pectoralis major muscle of 1 and 49-day-old Randombred Control Line 2 turkeys were grown in culture, and migration was measured using a wound healing assay. Nutrient restrictions of 0, 5, 10, and 20% of the standard culture medium were applied starting immediately after scratch or 24 h prior to scratch. Nutrient restrictions of 5 and 20% increased 1 D satellite cell migration at 6 h post scratch compared to 1 D satellite cells with standard culture medium but had no effect after 12 h post scratch. Nutrient restrictions started 24 h prior to scratch increased 1 D satellite cell migration at 6 and 12 h post scratch compared to nutrient restrictions started immediately after scratch. The migration of 49 D satellite cells was not affected by the percentage or timing of the nutrient restriction. These data suggest that nutrition has only a minor effect on the migration of turkey pectoralis major muscle satellite cells. Therefore, the influence of nutrition on satellite cell migration is likely not an important factor for evaluating poultry diet formulations to optimize muscle growth and structure for improved meat protein and fat content as well as meat texture.
Resonance assisted jump-in voltage reduction for electrostatically actuated nanobeam-based gateless NEM switches

Electrostatically actuated nanobeam-based electromechanical switches have shown promise for versatile novel applications, such as low power devices. However, their widespread use is restricted due to poor reliability resulting from high jump-in voltages. This article reports a new method for lowering the jump-in voltage by inducing mechanical oscillations in the active element during the switching ON process, reducing the jump-in voltage by more than three times. Ge0.91Sn0. 09 alloy and Bi2Se3 nanowire-based nanoelectromechanical switches were constructed in situ to demonstrate the operation principles and advantages of the proposed method.
Inhibition Activity of Compounds and Bacteriophages against Flavobacterium psychrophilum Biofilms In Vitro.

Flavobacterium psychrophilum produces biofilms under laboratory conditions, and it has been inconclusively suggested that F. psychrophilum biofilms can be a potential reservoir for transmission of the pathogen to a fish population under fish farming conditions. Therefore, there is a need for anti-biofilm compounds. The main aim of this study was to determine the anti-biofilm properties of certain compounds and bacteriophages on F. psychrophilum biofilms under static conditions using a standard 96-well microtiter plate biofilm assay in vitro. Eight compounds (A-type proanthocyanidins, D-leucine, EDTA, emodin, fucoidan, L-alliin, parthenolide, and 2-aminoimidazole) at three sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs), four bacteriophages (Fpv-3, Fpv-9, Fpv-10, and Fpv-21), and a phage combination (Fpv-9 + Fpv-10) were tested for inhibition of biofilm formation and reduction of the biomass of mature biofilms formed by two smooth isolates (P7-9/10 and P1-10B/10) and two rough isolates (P7-9/2R/10 and P1-10B/2R/10) of F. psychrophilum. The crystal violet staining method was used to stain the biofilms. Most of the compounds at sub-MICs inhibited the biofilm formation of mainly smooth isolates, attaining up to 80% inhibition. Additionally, the same reduction trend was also observed for 2-aminoimidazole, emodin, parthenolide, and D-leucine on the biomass of mature biofilms in a concentration-dependent manner. The anti-biofilm properties of the compounds are believed to lie in their ability to disturb the cellular interactions during biofilm formation and probably to cause cell dispersal in already formed biofilms. Lytic bacteriophages efficiently inhibited biofilm formation of F. psychrophilum, while they partially reduced the biomass of mature biofilms. However, the phage combination (Fpv-9 + Fpv-10) showed a successful reduction in the biomass of F. psychrophilum mature biofilms. We conclude that inhibiting compounds together with bacteriophages may supplement the use of disinfectants against bacterial biofilms (e.g., F. psychrophilum biofilms), leading to a reduced occurrence of bacterial coldwater disease outbreaks at fish farms.
Clinical significance of preoperative nutritional parameter and patient outcomes after pancreatectomy: A retrospective study at two academic institute

Backgrounds/Aims Preoperative nutritional status has been reported to influence patient outcomes after pancreatectomy. The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) is a useful parameter to reflect the outcomes of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. Therefore, the relationship between the PNI and clinicopathological factors, surgical data, and postoperative morbidity were retrospectively evaluated at two academic institutes in a cohort study. Methods Curative pancreatectomy was performed on 222 patients at the University of Nagasaki between 1995 and March 2015, and 101 at the University of Miyazaki between April 2015and March 2018. The PNI was calculated using preoperative albumin and total cholesterol levels. Results The mean PNI in our series was 39.2±5.4 and the prevalence of PNIs less than 40 was observed in 134 patients (44%). The PNI was not significantly different between normal, hard, and fatty architecture of the pancreatic parenchyma. The PNIs were significantly negatively correlated with higher age (p<0.01), but not with gender, co-morbidity, or habits. The PNI was significantly correlated with levels of hemoglobin, prothrombin activity, choline esterase, total protein, albumin and cholesterol (p<0.01), and with postoperative total protein and albumin levels (p<0.05). Although the preoperative PNI tended to be lower in patients with total postoperative complications, no significant differences for each complication were observed. Conclusions Although the preoperative PNIs reflect the perioperative nutritional status, its predictive usefulness for postoperative complications could not be significantly confirmed.
Mutual Regulation of Receptor-Like Kinase SIT1 and B'κ-PP2A Shapes the Early Response of Rice to Salt Stress

B'κ-PP2A positively regulates salt tolerance by limiting receptor-like kinase SIT1 activity in rice, while SIT1 phosphorylates B'κSer502 to enhance its protein stability. The receptor-like kinase SIT1 acts as a sensor in rice (Oryza sativa) roots, relaying salt stress signals via elevated kinase activity to enhance salt sensitivity. Here, we demonstrate that Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) regulatory subunit B'κ constrains SIT1 activity under salt stress. B'κ-PP2A deactivates SIT1 directly by dephosphorylating the kinase at Thr515/516, a salt-induced phosphorylation site in the activation loop that is essential for SIT1 activity. B'κ overexpression suppresses the salt sensitivity of rice plants expressing high levels of SIT1, thereby contributing to salt tolerance. B'κ functions in a SIT1 kinase-dependent manner. During early salt stress, activated SIT1 phosphorylates B'κ; this not only enhances its binding with SIT1, it also promotes B'κ protein accumulation via Ser502 phosphorylation. Consequently, by blocking SIT1 phosphorylation, B'κ inhibits and fine-tunes SIT1 activity to balance plant growth and stress adaptation.
How do novice and improver walkers move in their home environments? An open-sourced infant’s gait video analysis

Objective Natural independent walking mostly occurs during infant´s everyday explorations of their home environment. Gait characteristics of infant walkers at different developmental stages exist in literature, however, data has been only collected in laboratory environments, which may reduce gait variability, therefore mask differences between developmental stages of natural gait. The aim of the study was to provide the first data set of temporal and functional gait characteristics of novice and improver infant walkers in familiar environment conditions in their home. We hypothesised that familiar environment conditions may effectively demonstrate natural gait characteristics and real differences in gait variables differing between 2 groups of developing infant walkers. Methods In a cross-sectional design; we used open-source videos of infants in their home environments: twenty videos of 10 novice (5 girls, 5 boys, 7–12 months) and 10 improver (4 girls, 6 boys, 8–13 months) walkers were chosen from an open-source website. 2-D video gait analysis was undertaken for these parameters: falls frequency, frequency of stops, gait cadence, and time of stance phase, swing phase, and double support. Between groups comparison for novice versus improver was investigated by Mann-Whitney U tests (p ≤ 0.05) with determination of effect size of Pearson r correlation. Results Statistically significant differences between groups with large effect sizes were found for these parameters: falls frequency (p = 0.01, r = 0.56); cadence (p = 0.01, r = 0.57); stance phase duration of right leg (p < 0.01, r = 0.63); stance phase duration of left leg (p = 0.01, r = 0.56); and double support phase duration (p < 0.01, r = 0.69). Novices scored higher in comparison with improver walkers in all the parameters except cadence. Conclusions This study presents the first data set of functional and temporal gait parameters of novice and improver infant walkers in their home environments. As an addition to recent research, novice infants walk with lower cadence and higher falls frequency, stance phase time and double support in their familiar environments. With increasing experiences, infant´s cadence increases while the other parameters decrease.
Video Classification using Spatio Temporal Features

With phenomenal expansion of video data demand and expectation of management for unending workload, it has turned out to be a very tough job even for an experienced worker to cope with. Classification is the primary step for retrieval and classification approaches are those techniques that split video into predefined categories. Classification alleviates content based video browsing, searching, indexing and retrieval. In this thesis, an edge, histogram & motion based approach is proposed to classify video into prespecified genres. Since video data exhibit spatial as well as temporal behaviour, static and dynamic features are extracted from video sequence and Euclidean distance is used as a measure. 180 minutes of video has been taken for training and 60 minutes of video is used as testing set. The experiments show that the proposed method gives good accuracy on a set of five different video genres.
Ion-to-ion amplification through an open-junction ionic diode

Significance For intimate communication between electrical devices and biological areas, signal transfer in human–machine interfaces has become an issue due to differences in signal carriers. Furthermore, as the amount of ions acquired from biological systems is very small, amplification of weak ionic signals is required for effective signal processing. Here, we report the signal amplification effect observed in a fully ionic device system. Through the modified design of polyelectrolyte gel-based ionic diodes, minute ionic signals can be directly injected into ionic devices and can also be amplified to a large amount of ions by generating additional ionic currents. Our findings will be applicable to engineering ion-based information processing devices, as well as achieving direct communication with biological signals. As biological signals are mainly based on ion transport, the differences in signal carriers have become a major issue for the intimate communication between electrical devices and biological areas. In this respect, an ionic device which can directly interpret ionic signals from biological systems needs to be designed. Particularly, it is also required to amplify the ionic signals for effective signal processing, since the amount of ions acquired from biological systems is very small. Here, we report the signal amplification in ionic systems as well as sensing through the modified design of polyelectrolyte hydrogel-based ionic diodes. By designing an open-junction structure, ionic signals from the external environment can be directly transmitted to an ionic diode. Moreover, the minute ionic signals injected into the devices can also be amplified to a large amount of ions. The signal transduction mechanism of the ion-to-ion amplification is suggested and clearly verified by revealing the generation of breakdown ionic currents during an ion injection. Subsequently, various methods for enhancing the amplification are suggested.
Characterization and real-time removal of motion artifacts from EEG signals

Objective. Accurate implementation of real-time non-invasive brain-machine/computer interfaces (BMI/BCI) requires handling physiological and nonphysiological artifacts associated with the measurement modalities. For example, scalp electroencephalographic (EEG) measurements are often considered prone to excessive motion artifacts and other types of artifacts that contaminate the EEG recordings. Although the magnitude of such artifacts heavily depends on the task and the setup, complete minimization or isolation of such artifacts is generally not possible. Approach. We present an adaptive de-noising framework with robustness properties, using a Volterra based non-linear mapping to characterize and handle the motion artifact contamination in EEG measurements. We asked healthy able-bodied subjects to walk on a treadmill at gait speeds of 1-to-4 mph, while we tracked the motion of select EEG electrodes with an infrared video-based motion tracking system. We also placed inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors on the forehead and feet of the subjects for assessing the overall head movement and segmenting the gait. Main results. We discuss in detail the characteristics of the motion artifacts and propose a real-time compatible solution to filter them. We report the effective handling of both the fundamental frequency of contamination (synchronized to the walking speed) and its harmonics. Event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) analysis for walking shows that the gait dependency of artifact contamination is also eliminated on all target frequencies. Significance. The real-time compatibility and generalizability of our adaptive filtering framework allows for the effective use of non-invasive BMI/BCI systems and greatly expands the implementation type and application domains to other types of problems where signal denoising is desirable. Combined with our previous efforts of filtering ocular artifacts, the presented technique allows for a comprehensive adaptive filtering framework to increase the EEG signal to noise ratio (SNR). We believe the implementation will benefit all non-invasive neural measurement modalities, including studies discussing neural correlates of movement and other internal states, not necessarily of BMI focus.
Synthesis of “Dahlia-Like” Hydrophilic Fluorescent Carbon Nanohorn as a Bio-Imaging PROBE

Carbon nanohorns (CNH) were synthesized by a simple conventional hydrothermal method in this study. The CNHs were prepared by the chemical oxidation from the carbonation of Nafion (catalyst) with heparin (carbon resource). The formation of CNH involved two major steps, as described followed. First, the formation of carbon nanorice (CNR) was achieved by carbonation and self-assembly of heparin inside the Nafion structure. Second, the further oxidation of CNR resulted the heterogeneous and porous micelle domains showed at the outer layer of the CNR particles. These porous domains exhibited hydrophobic carbon and resulted self-assembly of the CNR to form the structure of CNHs. The resulting CNHs aggregated into a “dahlia-like” morphology with fluorescence in a diameter of 50–200 nm. The “dahlia-like” CNH showed better fluorescence (450nm) than CNR particles because of the presence of more structural defect. These findings suggest that the hydrophilic fluorescent carbon nanohorns (HFCNHs) synthesized in this study have the potential to be used for in vitro bio-imaging
Partial defoliation of Brachypodium distachyon plants grown in petri dishes under low light increases P and other nutrient levels concomitantly with transcriptional changes in the roots

Background There have been few studies on the partial defoliation response of grass. It has been unclear how partial defoliation may affect roots at the levels of nutrient accumulation and transcriptional regulation. Hereby we report a comprehensive investigation on molecular impacts of partial defoliation by using a model grass species, Brachypodium distachyon. Results Our Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry analyses of B. distachyon revealed shoot- and root-specific accumulation patterns of a group of macronutrients including potassium (K), Phosphorus (P), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and micronutrients including Sodium (Na), iron (Fe), and Manganese (Mn). Meanwhile, our genome-wide profiling of gene expression patterns depicts transcriptional impacts on B. distachyon roots by cutting the aerial portion. The RNAseq analyses identified a total of 1,268 differentially expressed genes in B. distachyon with partial defoliation treatment. Our comprehensive analyses by means of multiple approaches, including Gene Ontology, InterPro and Pfam protein classification, KEGG pathways, and Plant TFDB, jointly highlight the involvement of hormone-mediated wounding response, primary and secondary metabolites, and ion homeostasis, in B. distachyon after the partial defoliation treatment. In addition, evidence is provided that roots respond to partial defoliation by modifying nutrient uptake and rhizosphere acidification rate, indicating that an alteration of the root/soil interaction occurs in response to this practice. Conclusions This study reveals how partial defoliation alters ion accumulation levels in shoots and roots, as well as partial defoliation-induced transcriptional reprogramming on a whole-genome scale, thereby providing insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the recovery process of grass after partial defoliation.