Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Benefits of a four-week functional restoration program in chronic low back pain patients and three-month follow-up: focus on paraspinal muscle aerobic metabolism responses to exercise.

BACKGROUND Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a major health concern characterized by paraspinal muscle fatigability. This can be improved following a functional restoration program. Muscle fatigability can be related to impairment in aerobic metabolism responses. In this study, we investigated paraspinal muscles aerobic metabolism in CLBP patients before and after a functional restoration program, in order to determine if the enhancement in patients' condition following the program is associated to changes in metabolism responses. METHODS Twenty-two CLBP patients S2 (11 women, 11 men; 41.6 ±1.8 years; 73.7±3.1 kg; 1.74±0.02 m) were evaluated before and after a 4-week functional restoration program, with exercise therapy as the main component. Three months later, 12 patients were seen for a followup visit. During each testing session, patients performed a five-minute isokinetic trunk extension exercise in measuring pulmonary gas exchanges and paraspinal muscle oxygenation. Mechanical efficiency and onset V̇ O2 kinetics were also calculated, in addition to usual questionnaires and exercises designed to evaluate psychosocial and physical factors. RESULTS At the end of the program, paraspinal muscle oxygenation, mechanical efficiency, and the V̇ O2 onset kinetics were improved (P <0.05). All measures remained stable during the threemonth follow-up with the exception of paraspinal muscle oxygenation, which deteriorated (P<0.05). Return-to-work was associated with the level of workday physical activities and to a decrease in fear-avoidance beliefs. CONCLUSIONS At the end of the program, aerobic metabolism responses were improved in paraspinal muscles in patients. These improvements were not associated with return-to-work, which was primarily influenced by socio-psychological factors.
Molecular Characterization of Astrocytoma Progression Towards Secondary Glioblastomas Utilizing Patient-Matched Tumor Pairs

Astrocytomas are primary human brain tumors including diffuse or anaplastic astrocytomas that develop towards secondary glioblastomas over time. However, only little is known about molecular alterations that drive this progression. We measured multi-omics profiles of patient-matched astrocytoma pairs of initial and recurrent tumors from 22 patients to identify molecular alterations associated with tumor progression. Gene copy number profiles formed three major subcluters, but more than half of the patient-matched astrocytoma pairs differed in their gene copy number profiles like astrocytomas from different patients. Chromosome 10 deletions were not observed for diffuse astrocytomas, but occurred in corresponding recurrent tumors. Gene expression profiles formed three other major subclusters and patient-matched expression profiles were much more heterogeneous than their copy number profiles. Still, recurrent tumors showed a strong tendency to switch to the mesenchymal subtype. The direct progression of diffuse astrocytomas to secondary glioblastomas showed the largest number of transcriptional changes. Astrocytoma progression groups were further distinguished by signaling pathway expression signatures affecting cell division, interaction and differentiation. As expected, IDH1 was most frequently mutated closely followed by TP53, but also MUC4 involved in the regulation of apoptosis and proliferation was frequently mutated. Astrocytoma progression groups differed in their mutation frequencies of these three genes. Overall, patient-matched astrocytomas can differ substantially within and between patients, but still molecular signatures associated with the progression to secondary glioblastomas exist and should be analyzed for their potential clinical relevance in future studies.
Muscle Synergies During Walking in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

Background: Walking problems in children with cerebral palsy (CP) can in part be explained by limited selective motor control. Muscle synergy analysis is increasingly used to quantify altered neuromuscular control during walking. The early brain injury in children with CP may lead to a different development of muscle synergies compared to typically developing (TD) children, which might characterize the abnormal walking patterns. Objective: The overarching aim of this review is to give an overview of the existing studies investigating muscle synergies during walking in children with CP compared to TD children. The main focus is on how muscle synergies differ between children with CP and TD children, and we examine the potential of muscle synergies as a measure to quantify and predict treatment outcomes. Methods: Bibliographic databases were searched by two independent reviewers up to 22 April 2019. Studies were included if the focus was on muscle synergies of the lower limbs during walking, obtained by a matrix factorization algorithm, in children with CP. Results: The majority (n = 12) of the 16 included studies found that children with CP recruited fewer muscle synergies during walking compared to TD children, and several studies (n = 8) showed that either the spatial or temporal structure of the muscle synergies differed between children with CP and TD children. Variability within and between subjects was larger in children with CP than in TD children, especially in more involved children. Muscle synergy characteristics before treatments to improve walking function could predict treatment outcomes (n = 3). Only minimal changes in synergies were found after treatment. Conclusions: The findings in this systematic review support the idea that children with CP use a simpler motor control strategy compared to TD children. The use of muscle synergy analysis as a clinical tool to quantify altered neuromuscular control and predict clinical outcomes seems promising. Further investigation on this topic is necessary, and the use of muscle synergies as a target for development of novel therapies in children with CP could be explored.
A Gait Pattern Generator for Closed-Loop Position Control of a Soft Walking Robot

This paper presents an approach to control the position of a gecko-inspired soft robot in Cartesian space. By formulating constraints under the assumption of constant curvature, the joint space of the robot is reduced in its dimension from nine to two. The remaining two generalized coordinates describe respectively the walking speed and the rotational speed of the robot and define the so-called velocity space. By means of simulations and experimental validation, the direct kinematics of the entire velocity space (mapping in Cartesian task space) is approximated by a bivariate polynomial. Based on this, an optimization problem is formulated that recursively generates the optimal references to reach a given target position in task space. Finally, we show in simulation and experiment that the robot can master arbitrary obstacle courses by making use of this gait pattern generator.
Somatotype Components as Useful Predictors of Disordered Eating Attitudes in Young Female Ballet Dance Students

The current study used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to examine the accuracy of somatotype components in correctly classifying disordered eating attitudes (DEA) in female dance students. Participants were a sample of 81 female dancers distributed in two groups: beginner training (BT; age (mean ± SD) = 10.09 ± 1.2 years, n = 32) and advanced training (AT; age = 15.37 ± 2.1 years, n = 49). For evaluation of DEA, the Eating Attitudes Test- 26 (EAT-26) questionnaire was used. We defined an EAT-26 score ≥20 as positive for DEA. Somatotype components were calculated using the Heath-Carter anthropometric method. The risk of presenting DEA was 28.1% (n = 9) in the BT group and 6.1% (n = 3) in the AT group. In the BT group, mesomorphy demonstrated moderate–high accuracy in predicting DEA (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64–0.93). The optimal cut-off of 6.34 yielded a sensitivity of 0.77 and a specificity of 0.95. Ectomorphy showed moderate accuracy in predicting DEA (AUC = 0.768, 95% CI: 0.58–0.89). The optimal cut-off of 2.41 yielded a sensitivity of 0.78 and a specificity of 0.78. In the AT group, none of the components demonstrated accuracy in predicting DEA. Somatotype components were good predictors of disordered eating attitudes in the younger dance student group (beginner training). Further research is needed to identify the determinants of these differences between the two groups.
Medical education engagement during the COVID-19 era – A student parents perspective

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the delivery of medical education and has limited the ability of student parents to fully engage with their studies. Student parents have been faced with additional challenges such as increased childcare roles and home-schooling responsibilities, splitting their focus. Identifying the issues student parents face and adopting workable solutions at all levels, will ensure the best outcomes for these students and better preparedness for the future.
The Cellular Basis of Dermal Bone Evolution and Development in Threespine Stickleback Fish

Figure 5. Illustration of an opercle in a 14dpf stickleback embryo. The opercle is visualized in green and the EdU labeled cells are visualized in red. The black dotted line indicates the fan region of the opercle. The opercle is divided along the A/P axis to separate it into dorsal and ventral regions for quantification (gray line). The black arrows indicate cells that are parallel to the edge of the opercle fan. Discussion and Conclusions
Investigation of the Safety and Antihyperglycemic Effect of Apios americana Flower Intake as a Food Material in Normal and Diabetic Mice

Department of Nutritional Science, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aomori University of Health and Welfare, 58-1 Mase, Hamadate, Aomori 030-8505, Japan Aomori Pharmaceutical Association, Sanitary Inspection Center, 164-43 Yamaguchi, Nogi, Aomori 030-0142, Japan Kuraishi Regional Development Public Corporation, 99 Amehiratai, Ishizawa, Kuraishi, Gonohe-machi 039-1701, Japan Unit of Life and Health Science, Faculty of Education, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi 753-8513, Japan Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aomori University of Health and Welfare, 58-1 Mase, Hamadate, Aomori 030-8505, Japan
Effects of a Reactive Phosphorus–Sulfur Containing Flame-Retardant Monomer on the Flame Retardancy and Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Unsaturated Polyester Resin

A novel reactive phosphorus and sulfur-containing monomer (bis(acryloxyethyldiphenylphosphate)sulfone, BADPS) was synthesized to enhance the comprehensive performance of unsaturated polyester resin (UPR), and corresponding flame-retardant unsaturated polyester resins (FR-UPRs) with various amounts of BADPS were prepared by radical bulk polymerization. The flame retardancy and thermal and mechanical properties of the UPR samples were investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI) measurements, cone calorimetry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and a tension test. The results showed that the introduction of BADPS remarkably enhanced the flame resistance and high-temperature stability, as well as the tensile performance of UPR. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy studies revealed that BADPS can efficaciously promote the formation of UPR char residue with an improved microstructure and increased graphitization degree, which enhancedthe high-temperature stability and char yield of UPR. Additionally, a thermogravimetry-Fourier transform infrared (TG-FTIR) analysis corroborated that the evolution of combustible volatiles from UPR decomposition was substantially restrained by the incorporation of BADPS, which is beneficial for the suppression of fire hazards in UPR.
Chitosan Derivatives with Mucoadhesive and Antimicrobial Properties for Simultaneous Nanoencapsulation and Extended Ocular Release Formulations of Dexamethasone and Chloramphenicol Drugs

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of neat chitosan (CS) and its derivatives with 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AAMPS) and [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (MEDSP) as appropriate nanocarriers for the simultaneous ocular administration of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DxP) and chloramphenicol (CHL). The derivatives CS-AAMPS and CS-MEDSP have been synthesized by free-radical polymerization and their structure has been proved by Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Both derivatives exhibited low cytotoxicity, enhanced mucoadhesive properties and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Encapsulation was performed via ionic crosslinking gelation using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as the crosslinking agent. Dynamic light scattering measurements (DLS) showed that the prepared nanoparticles had bimodal distribution and sizes ranging from 50–200 nm and 300–800 nm. Drugs were encapsulated in their crystalline (CHL) or amorphous (DexSP) form inside nanoparticles and their release rate was dependent on the used polymer. The CHL dissolution rate was substantially enhanced compared to the neat drug and the release time was extended up to 7 days. The release rate of DexSP was much faster than that of CHL and was prolonged up to 3 days. Drug release modeling unveiled that diffusion is the main release mechanism for both drugs. Both prepared derivatives and their drug-loaded nanoparticles could be used for extended and simultaneous ocular release formulations of DexSP and CHL drugs.
Poly (siloxane imide) Binder for Silicon Based Lithium-Ion Battery Anode via Rigidness/Softness Coupling.

Binder plays a crucial role in maintaining mechanical integrity of electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. However, the conventional binders lack proper elasticity, which are not suitable for high-performance silicon anodes featured with huge volume change during cycling. Herein, a poly (siloxane imide) copolymer (PSI) is designed, synthesized, and utilized as a binder for the silicon based anode. A rigidness/softness coupling mechanism is demonstrated by the PSI binder, which can accommodate volume expansion of the silicon anode upon lithiation. The electrocechemical performance in terms of cyclic stability and rate capability can be effectively improved with the PSI binder as demonstrated by a silicon nanoparticle anode.
Adiposity covaries with signatures of asymmetric feedback learning during adaptive decisions

Abstract Unhealthy weight gain relates, in part, to how people make decisions based on prior experience. Here we conducted post hoc analysis on an archival data set to evaluate whether individual differences in adiposity, an anthropometric construct encompassing a spectrum of body types, from lean to obese, associate with signatures of asymmetric feedback learning during value-based decision-making. In a sample of neurologically healthy adults (N = 433), ventral striatal responses to rewards, measured using fMRI, were not directly associated with adiposity, but rather moderated its relationship with feedback-driven learning in the Iowa gambling task, tested outside the scanner. Using a biologically inspired model of basal ganglia-dependent decision processes, we found this moderating effect of reward reactivity to be explained by an asymmetrical use of feedback to drive learning; that is, with more plasticity for gains than for losses, stronger reward reactivity leads to decisions that minimize exploration for maximizing long-term outcomes. Follow-up analysis confirmed that individual differences in adiposity correlated with signatures of asymmetric use of feedback cues during learning, suggesting that reward reactivity may especially relate to adiposity, and possibly obesity risk, when gains impact future decisions more than losses.
Exploring the Use of Fruit Callus Culture as a Model System to Study Color Development and Cell Wall Remodeling during Strawberry Fruit Ripening

Cell cultures derived from strawberry fruit at different developmental stages have been obtained to evaluate their potential use to study different aspects of strawberry ripening. Callus from leaf and cortical tissue of unripe-green, white, and mature-red strawberry fruits were induced in a medium supplemented with 11.3 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) under darkness. The transfer of the established callus from darkness to light induced the production of anthocyanin. The replacement of 2,4-D by abscisic acid (ABA) noticeably increased anthocyanin accumulation in green-fruit callus. Cell walls were isolated from the different fruit cell lines and from fruit receptacles at equivalent developmental stages and sequentially fractionated to obtain fractions enriched in soluble pectins, ester bound pectins, xyloglucans (XG), and matrix glycans tightly associated with cellulose microfibrils. These fractions were analyzed by cell wall carbohydrate microarrays. In fruit receptacle samples, pectins were abundant in all fractions, including those enriched in matrix glycans. The amount of pectin increased from green to white stage, and later these carbohydrates were solubilized in red fruit. Apparently, XG content was similar in white and red fruit, but the proportion of galactosylated XG increased in red fruit. Cell wall fractions from callus cultures were enriched in extensin and displayed a minor amount of pectins. Stronger signals of extensin Abs were detected in sodium carbonate fraction, suggesting that these proteins could be linked to pectins. Overall, the results obtained suggest that fruit cell lines could be used to analyze hormonal regulation of color development in strawberry but that the cell wall remodeling process associated with fruit softening might be masked by the high presence of extensin in callus cultures.
The numbers and distribution of elephant Loxodonta africana in the Rwenzori National Park and Chambura Game Reserve, Uganda

Summary A series of aerial counts of elephant made between 1968 and 1972 in the Rwenzori National Park and Chambura Game Reserve, Uganda, is described. A summary is included of all previous aerial counts made in the region. Numbers present in the park since 1963 averaged 1752 during the dry seasons, some 3/5 of the wet season mean of 2896. Corresponding figures for the reserve are 325 and 501. The distribution was very significantly aggregated for each count and remained so when the totals for all counts were lumped. The distribution tended to be more aggregated in dry than in wet seasons. The overall density in the park was 1.43 elephant km-2 with wet and dry season means of 1.74 and 1.05 respectively. Corresponding figures for the reserve are 2.06, 2.42 and 1.57 km-2. The mean group size in the park was 6.3 elephant but there were significant variations over the whole range of observations although not between wet and dry season means. The elephant in the reserve were highly aggregated with a mean group size of 28.8. It is concluded that there was a significant rise in the wet season population of the park between 1963 and 1968 but that subsequently, numbers remained fairly stable. Numbers in the dry season and in the reserve at all seasons have not varied significantly since 1963. It is suggested that the wet season rise has been due to a reduction in the area of grazing land available outside the park at this time of year. It is concluded that vegetational differences are responsible for the un even distribution of elephant with human disturbance having an effect in some areas. It is believed that in the region censused, there are at least three distinct populations of elephant of which only that in the reserve is showing signs of stress.
Estrogen Receptor β in the Sheep Ovary During the Estrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy1

Abstract Objectives were to sequence and examine the expression of the estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in the sheep ovary. The sequence of the ovine ERβ (oERβ) was determined using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cloning techniques. The reading frame of oERβ contained 527 amino acids and exhibited high overall homology with cow (98%), rat (88%), and human (88%) ERβ. In addition, an oERβ isoform having a 139-base pair deletion (oERβ1) was identified. The predicted amino acid sequence of this isoform is lacking the ligand-binding and carboxyl-terminal transactivation domains. The oERβ protein and mRNA were determined in ovaries obtained from ewes on Days 0 (first day of estrus), 2, 6, and 10 of the estrous cycle and Day 30 of gestation. Immunohistochemistry showed that oERβ protein was located in granulosa cells, the ovarian surface epithelium, endothelium, and Day 2 corpus luteum (CL). Weak immunostaining for ERβ was detected in the theca interna. Relative steady-state amounts of oERβ mRNA in the CL were determined using semiquantitative RT-PCR. Amounts of oERβ mRNA were greater (P < 0.05) during CL formation (Day 2) than at later stages. The oERβ to oERβ1 mRNA ratio was lower (P < 0.05) on Day 2 than on Day 10 or Day 30 due to a decrease in amounts of oERβ1. Results indicate that the oERβ is a 527-amino acid protein expressed in specific cells of the ovary. Changes in relative amounts of full-length oERB and a deletion isoform in CL occurred during the estrous cycle, suggesting that these two types of ERβ might regulate estrogen actions during early CL development in sheep.
SynBio and the Boundaries between Functional and Pathogenic RepA-WH1 Bacterial Amyloids

Amyloids are protein polymers that were initially linked to human diseases. Across the whole Tree of Life, many disease-unrelated proteins are now emerging for which amyloids represent distinct functional states. Most bacterial amyloids described are extracellular, contributing to biofilm formation. However, only a few have been found in the bacterial cytosol. This paper reviews from the perspective of synthetic biology (SynBio) our understanding of the subtle line that separates functional from pathogenic and transmissible amyloids (prions). ABSTRACT Amyloids are protein polymers that were initially linked to human diseases. Across the whole Tree of Life, many disease-unrelated proteins are now emerging for which amyloids represent distinct functional states. Most bacterial amyloids described are extracellular, contributing to biofilm formation. However, only a few have been found in the bacterial cytosol. This paper reviews from the perspective of synthetic biology (SynBio) our understanding of the subtle line that separates functional from pathogenic and transmissible amyloids (prions). In particular, it is focused on RepA-WH1, a functional albeit unconventional natural amyloidogenic protein domain that participates in controlling DNA replication of bacterial plasmids. SynBio approaches, including protein engineering and the design of allosteric effectors such as diverse ligands and an optogenetic module, have enabled the generation in RepA-WH1 of an intracellular cytotoxic prion-like agent in bacteria. The synthetic RepA-WH1 prion has the potential to develop into novel antimicrobials.