Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Teenage Brain: Public Perceptions of Neurocognitive Development during Adolescence

Abstract Over the past decade, important insights have been obtained into the neurocognitive development during adolescence. To better understand how these neuroscientific insights impact the real world, we investigated how neuroscience has shaped public perceptions of the “teenage brain” and if these perceptions influence adolescent behavior. When asking to generate free associations with the word “teenage brain,” adolescents (n = 363, Mage = 14.47 years) and parents (n = 164, Mage = 47.16 years) more often mention undesirable behaviors (e.g., “irresponsible”) than desirable behaviors (e.g., “creative”). Despite these dominantly negative associations, priming adolescents with positively versus negatively framed statements about adolescent brain development did not influence their subsequent risk-taking, impulsivity, and performance on response-to-failure tasks. However, we did find a more nuanced effect, related to how much adolescents agreed with the negative versus positive priming statements: Adolescents' negative beliefs about adolescent brain development reinforced negative behaviors by increased risk-taking behaviors, and adolescents' positive beliefs reinforced positive behaviors by using positive strategies to cope with academic setbacks. The current findings underline the impact of views that build up over time and that these are not easily influenced by a one-time instance of information but rather reinforce the impact of new information. To prevent negative perceptions of the teenage brain from becoming self-fulfilling prophecies, it is important that communication about adolescent neurocognitive development is framed in a more balanced way. Neuroscientists need to be more aware of how their research impacts the real world, before we are fully ready for “real-world neuroscience. ”
A biomarker of collagen type I degradation is associated with cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is characterized by accumulation of lipids, cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the arterial wall. Collagen type I (COL1), a component of the arterial ECM, is cleaved by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and known to be remodelled in atherosclerosis. We explored whether the MMP‐mediated COL1 biomarker, C1M, was associated with cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality and all‐cause mortality in a large prospective cohort of patients with known atherosclerosis.
Adaptive and Resilient Circuits: A Tutorial on Improving Processor Performance, Energy Efficiency, and Yield via Dynamic Variation

Variability in device, circuit, and system parameters is one of the primary challenges in the semiconductor industry. Parameter variations degrade processor performance, energy efficiency, and yield across all market segments, ranging from small embedded cores in systems on chip to large multicore servers. In the design, manufacturing, and testing of commercial processors, there are three major variability classifications: 1) simulation tool uncertainties, 2) static parameter variations, and 3) dynamic parameter variations. Simulation tool uncertainties result from a design tradeoff between the simulation time and accuracy for both static-timing analysis and circuit simulators. In addition, transistor and interconnect model inaccuracies increase simulation tool uncertainties, especially when designing a processor in a new technology.
Genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella serotypes recovered throughout the beef production chain and from patients with salmonellosis

Salmonella is one of the major foodborne pathogens worldwide. The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of this foodborne pathogen has raised a great concern in recent years. Studies on the frequency and characterization of Salmonella serotypes can help to improve our knowledge on the epidemiology of this pathogen. The purpose of this study was to compare the serotypes, AMR and genetic profiles of Salmonella isolates recovered from raw beef throughout the beef production chain and from human feces associated with clinical cases of salmonellosis. The serotype, AMR and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profile of 243 Salmonella enterica isolates recovered from beef carcasses (n = 78), ground beef (n = 135), and human feces from clinical cases of salmonellosis (n = 30) were compared. Forty-three different Salmonella serotypes were identified and regardless of the source, the top five corresponded to Typhimurium, Give, Group B (partially serotyped), Infantis and Anatum. Twelve serotypes from beef carcasses were also found in ground beef, showing their presence throughout the beef production chain. Salmonella Typhimurium, Infantis, Anatum and Montevideo were the only serotypes identified in all sample types. Resistance to tetracyclines was the most frequent (41.2%) followed by resistance to aminoglycosides (37%), folate pathway inhibitors (21%), quinolones (20.2%), phenicols (17.1%), penicillins (15.6%) and cephems (7%). Multidrug resistance was observed in 28.8% of the isolates, and those from human feces showed resistance to a larger number of antimicrobials. Great concern arises from the resistance and reduced susceptibility observed to quinolones and cephalosporins because these drugs are the first line of treatment for invasive Salmonella infections. Twenty-seven distinct pulse-types were detected among 238 isolates. Clustering analysis for the most frequent serotypes identified groups of isolates with similar AMR profiles. Multidrug resistance spreading throughout the food production chain should be continually monitored and its importance emphasized.
Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Studies Identifies Novel Functional CpG-SNPs Associated with Bone Mineral Density at Lumbar Spine

Osteoporosis is a serious public health issue, which is mostly characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD). To search for additional genetic susceptibility loci underlying BMD variation, an effective strategy is to focus on testing of specific variants with high potential of functional effects. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that introduce or disrupt CpG dinucleotides (CpG-SNPs) may alter DNA methylation levels and thus represent strong candidate functional variants. Here, we performed a targeted GWAS for 63,627 potential functional CpG-SNPs that may affect DNA methylation in bone-related cells, in five independent cohorts (n = 5905). By meta-analysis, 9 CpG-SNPs achieved a genome-wide significance level (p < 7.86 × 10−7) for association with lumbar spine BMD and additional 15 CpG-SNPs showed suggestive significant (p < 5.00 × 10−5) association, of which 2 novel SNPs rs7231498 (NFATC1) and rs7455028 (ESR1) also reached a genome-wide significance level in the joint analysis. Several identified CpG-SNPs were mapped to genes that have not been reported for association with BMD in previous GWAS, such as NEK3 and NFATC1 genes, highlighting the enhanced power of targeted association analysis for identification of novel associations that were missed by traditional GWAS. Interestingly, several genomic regions, such as NEK3 and LRP5 regions, contained multiple significant/suggestive CpG-SNPs for lumbar spine BMD, suggesting that multiple neighboring CpG-SNPs may synergistically mediate the DNA methylation level and gene expression pattern of target genes. Furthermore, functional annotation analyses suggested a strong regulatory potential of the identified BMD-associated CpG-SNPs and a significant enrichment in biological processes associated with protein localization and protein signal transduction. Our results provided novel insights into the genetic basis of BMD variation and highlighted the close connections between genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of complex disease.
Diagnostic investigation of breast magnetic resonance imaging in malignant and benign mass lesions

Introduction Breast magnetic resonance imaging (BMRI) has been identified as a valuable modality in the diagnosis of breast cancer and monitoring the response to chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative importance of different descriptors of breast masses in contrast-enhanced breast MRI. Material and methods In a database of pathologically proven breast lesions, in total 433 masses in 312 patients detected by contrast-enhanced breast MRI were selected. All images were assessed according to the MRI BI-RADS lexicon and those with significant positive MRI findings (BI-RADS categories 3, 4, 5) were enrolled in the study. Results Mean age of patients was 45.09 ±10.5 years. The most frequent BI-RADS score was 4 (60.7%), followed by 3 (27%). Among the morphologic descriptors of the enhancing masses, the findings most strongly associated with malignancy included spiculated margin (60.6%) and irregular shape (38%). Considering the dynamic descriptors, a wash-out pattern in the time-intensity curve was the most powerful finding associated with malignancy (27.9%). Among all breast MRI descriptors, the best odds ratio (OR) in association with malignancy was noted for speculated margin (OR = 10.2) followed by wash-out or plateau curves (OR = 6.1), size greater than 1 cm (OR = 4.3) and irregular shape (OR = 3.1). Conclusions It seems that morphologic descriptors of MRI BI-RADS for enhancing masses are quite specific, while dynamic descriptors of the masses are highly sensitive. Appropriate consideration and combination of different BI-RADS findings could help in better characterization of enhancing masses on breast MRI, lowering the rate of false positive reports and avoiding unnecessary biopsies.
Machine Learning for the Performance Assessment of High-Speed Links

This paper investigates the application of support vector machine to the modeling of high-speed interconnects with largely varying and/or highly uncertain design parameters. The proposed method relies on a robust and well-established mathematical framework, yielding accurate surrogates of complex dynamical systems. An identification procedure based on the observation of a small set of system responses allows generating compact parametric relations, which can be used for design optimization and/or stochastic analysis. The feasibility and strength of the method are demonstrated based on a benchmark function and on the statistical assessment of a realistic printed circuit board interconnect, highlighting the main features and benefits of this technique over state-of-the-art solutions. Emphasis is given to the effects of the initial sample size and of input noise on the model estimation.
Coronary calcium score as an expression of multisystemic progression of bipolar disorder

Reports of cocaine use by older populations have risen in recent years. The abuse of illicit substances by older adults was once considered unlikely, and aging was commonly seen as a protective factor against use of these substances. However, new cases of drug abuse by aging individuals are being reported through admissions for inpatient treatment. In some cases, onset of cocaine consumption might occur after 50 years of age, contradicting previous assumptions. Yarnell reported on this trend and highlighted that it is a growing health concern that has been underestimated and under-analyzed to date. Projections warn that approximately 5.7 million people over the age of 60 years will have substance-use disorder by 2020. Several demographic aspects should be considered when assessing this population. A great number of these older cocaine users are male and unmarried. The profile for these substance abusers seems to be developing into one of predominantly white people with a secondary or higher education. Possible factors involved in the seeking of illicit psychoactive substances by older adults include emotional problems related to loneliness and stressful situations in later life, loss of productivity or a social role, and chronic pain. A high frequency of depression is also observed in these individuals. It is noteworthy that alcohol consumption may be an associated factor. Regarding age, higher rates of cocaine use were reported in adults aged 50 to 64 than in those over 65 years old. Elderly people frequently experience neurologic, cognitive, and behavioral impairments that can be worsened by cocaine use. Attention and working and visual memory are the cognitive functions most prominently impaired in cocaine users. Andersen et al. reported a decrease in birth of new cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in experiments involving acute administration of cocaine in adult rats. Cocaine is also known to disrupt the sleep pattern of its users severely, affecting sleep maintenance, causing sleep fragmentation, and altering sleep architecture, all effects that warrant special attention in the elderly. It is safe to assume that cocaine use can have an amplifying impact on several health problems associated with advanced age. Illicit drug use is on the rise, while life expectancy has increased. Substance abuse by older adults is an observed and ongoing trend that may represent a social and health concern of considerable proportions in the future. Specifically, we highlight the relevance of qualitative and quantitative evaluations of this trend and its possible implications.
The Effect of a Head-mounted Low Vision Device on Visual Function

SIGNIFICANCE Head-mounted low vision devices have received considerable attention in recent years owing to rapidly developing technology, facilitating ease of use and functionality. Systematic clinical evaluations of such devices remain rare but are needed to steer future device development. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate, in a multicenter prospective trial, the short- and medium-term effects of a head-worn vision enhancement device (eSight Eyewear). METHODS Participants aged 13 to 75 years with stable vision (distance acuity, 20/60 to 20/400; visual field diameter >20°) were recruited across six sites. Data were collected at baseline (no device), at fitting (with device), and after 3 months of everyday use. Outcome measures were visual ability measured by the Veterans Affairs Low Vision Visual Functioning Questionnaire 48, distance acuity (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study), reading performance (MNREAD chart), contrast sensitivity (MARS chart), face recognition, and a modified version of the Melbourne Low Vision Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Index. RESULTS Among the 51 participants, eSight introduction immediately improved distance acuity (0.74 ± 0.28 logMAR), contrast sensitivity (0.57 ± 0.53 log units), and critical print size (0.52 ± 0.43 logMAR), all P < . 001, without any further change after 3 months; reading acuity improved at fitting (0.56 ± 0.35 logMAR) and by one additional line after 3 months, whereas reading speed only slightly increased across all three time points. The Melbourne ADL score and face recognition improved at fitting (P < .01) with trends toward further improvement at 3 months. After 3 months of use, Veterans Affairs Low Vision Visual Functioning Questionnaire 48 person measures (in logits) improved: overall, 0.84, P < . 001; reading, 2.75, P < . 001; mobility, 0.04, not statistically significant; visual information, 1.08, P < . 001; and visual motor, 0.48, P = . 02. CONCLUSIONS eSight introduction yields immediate improvements in visual ability, with face recognition and ADLs showing a tentative benefit of further use. Overall, visual ability, reading, and visual information showed greatest benefit with device use. Further studies need to examine benefits of practice and training and possible differential effects of underlying pathology or baseline vision.
A New Procedure to Forecast the Dynamic Rating of Buried Cables

Appropriate forecasts of the dynamic rating of buried cables can be exploited by networks operators to significantly increase the power transport capacity of medium voltage and low voltage distribution systems, without sacrificing the normal life of the cables. However, forecasting the effects of the soil conditions on the dynamic rating of the buried cable is not an easy task. In this paper, a detailed procedure is proposed to deal with this problem. The proposed procedure handles the changing environmental conditions by exploiting a thermal-hydraulic model of the soil and a model for the thermal exchange between the buried cable and the surrounding soil. The forecasts of external influencing variables, such as precipitations and soil temperature, and of cable currents, needed as inputs of the proposed procedure, are obtained by means of a Support Vector Regression technique. Numerical applications based on actual load and weather data confirmed the suitability of the procedure, encouraging for further research on the topic.
Multi-Look in GLRT-Based Detection of Single and Double Persistent Scatterers

Persistent scatterer (PS) interferometry and more recently synthetic aperture radar tomography have shown to be powerful tools in urban scenarios for providing 3-D point clouds in the reconstruction of buildings as well as in the monitoring of their possible slow temporal deformations. The detection of PSs represents a fundamental aspect, which in the literature has been mainly addressed at full resolution (single-look detection), thus considering only the scatterer coherence properties along the different acquisitions. In this paper, we investigate the benefits offered by the usage of multiple observation looks. Multi-look generalized likelihood ratio test detection schemes are derived and analyzed in terms of detection performances. The analysis shows that even a slight multi-look can provide a dramatic improvement on the detection capability both on simulated and real data, especially in the areas characterized by a low signal-to-noise ratio and in the presence of a limited number of acquisitions.
A valve‐based microfluidic device for on‐chip single cell treatments

Assays toward single‐cell analysis have attracted the attention in biological and biomedical researches to reveal cellular mechanisms as well as heterogeneity. Yet nowadays microfluidic devices for single‐cell analysis have several drawbacks: some would cause cell damage due to the hydraulic forces directly acting on cells, while others could not implement biological assays since they could not immobilize cells while manipulating the reagents at the same time. In this work, we presented a two‐layer pneumatic valve‐based platform to implement cell immobilization and treatment on‐chip simultaneously, and cells after treatment could be collected non‐destructively for further analysis. Target cells could be encapsulated in sodium alginate droplets which solidified into hydrogel when reacted with Ca2+. The size of hydrogel beads could be precisely controlled by modulating flow rates of continuous/disperse phases. While regulating fluid resistance between the main channel and passages by the integrated pneumatic valves, on‐chip capture and release of hydrogel beads was implemented. As a proof of concept for on‐chip single‐cell treatments, we showed cellular live/dead staining based on our devices. This method would have potential in single cell manipulation for biochemical cellular assays.
Disentangling the mechanisms of mate choice in a captive koala population

Successful captive breeding programs are crucial to the long-term survival of many threatened species. However, pair incompatibility (breeding failure) limits sustainability of many captive populations. Understanding whether the drivers of this incompatibility are behavioral, genetic, or a combination of both, is crucial to improving breeding programs. We used 28 years of pairing data from the San Diego Zoo koala colony, plus genetic analyses using both major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-linked and non-MHC-linked microsatellite markers, to show that both genetic and non-genetic factors can influence mating success. Male age was reconfirmed to be a contributing factor to the likelihood of a koala pair copulating. This trend could also be related to a pair’s age difference, which was highly correlated with male age in our dataset. Familiarity was reconfirmed to increase the probability of a successful copulation. Our data provided evidence that females select mates based on MHC and genome-wide similarity. Male heterozygosity at MHC class II loci was associated with both pre- and post-copulatory female choice. Genome-wide similarity, and similarity at the MHC class II DAB locus, were also associated with female choice at the post-copulatory level. Finally, certain MHC-linked alleles were associated with either increased or decreased mating success. We predict that utilizing a variety of behavioral and MHC-dependent mate choice mechanisms improves female fitness through increased reproductive success. This study highlights the complexity of mate choice mechanisms in a species, and the importance of ascertaining mate choice mechanisms to improve the success of captive breeding programs.
High-Risk Neuroblastoma Treatment Review

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. One subset, high-risk neuroblastoma, is very difficult to treat and requires multi-modal therapy. Intensification of therapy has vastly improved survival rates, and research is focused on novel treatments to further improve survival rates. The current treatment schema is divided into three stages—induction, consolidation, and maintenance. This review serves as an overview of the current treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma and a glimpse at current research for future therapy.
A Robust Frequency Control Technique for Wind Power Conversion with Two-Level Structure Predictive Method

In modular and scalable matrix converters, which are deployed to interface the medium/high-power grids, there is huge interest to enhance the high computational burden of prevalent control schemes, such as model predictive control (MPC). In this paper, the operational performance of the Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter (M3C) is studied to transfer power generated by offshore wind farm and to interconnect the three-phase AC grid. The two-level structure control design is realized, of which a first-level predictive controller based on a Finite Control-Set Model Predictive Control (FCS-MPC) generates an initial controlled variables to regulate the converter branch voltages and currents. The second-level iterative controller is embedded into an integrated perturbation analysis and sequential quadratic programming (IPA-SQP) algorithm for handling uncertainty and updating weighting factors. The complete control scheme aiming to reduce sampling time and optimization of variable constraints, thus its optimality is proved through simulation analysis for a designed system with an equal or low operating frequency at the input or output AC systems for a M3C with 9-levelline-to-line voltage.