Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ketamine anesthesia induces gain enhancement via recurrent excitation in granular input layers of the auditory cortex

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, ketamine, is commonly used as an anesthetic agent and has more recently gained attention as an antidepressant. Ketamine has been linked to increased stimulus-locked excitability, inhibition of interneurons, and modulation of intrinsic neuronal oscillations. However, the functional network mechanisms are still elusive. A better understanding of these anesthetic network effects may improve upon previous interpretations of seminal studies conducted under anesthesia and have widespread relevance for neuroscience with awake and anesthetized subjects as well as in medicine. Here, we investigated the effects of anesthetic doses of ketamine (15mg kg−1/h i.p.) on the network activity after pure tone stimulation within the auditory cortex of male Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). We used laminar current source density (CSD) analysis and subsequent layer-specific continuous wavelet analysis to investigate spatiotemporal response dynamics on cortical columnar processing in awake and ketamine-anesthetized animals. We found thalamocortical input processing within granular layers III/IV to be significantly increased under ketamine. This effect on early thalamocortical input processing was not due to changes in cross-trial phase coherence. Rather, the layer-dependent gain enhancement under ketamine was attributed to a broadband increase in amplitude reflecting an increase in recurrent excitation. The time-frequency analysis is further indicative of a prolonged period of stimulus-induced excitation possibly due to a reduced coupling of excitation and inhibition in granular input circuits—in line with the common hypothesis of cortical disinhibition via NMDA-mediated suppression of GABAergic interneurons. Statement of significance Ketamine is a common anesthetic agent and is known to alter excitability and neuronal synchronicity in the cortex. We reveal here that anesthetic doses of ketamine increase recurrent excitation of thalamic input in the granular layers of the auditory cortex of Mongolian gerbils. This leads to a layer-specific gain enhancement of the time-locked response to external stimuli. Analysis of tone-evoked amplitudes and cross-trial variability of cortical current sources and sinks indicate a mechanism of cortical disinhibition via NMDA-mediated suppression of GABAergic interneurons. Our findings might help to understand the functional mechanisms of the clinical effects of ketamine promoting the development of new therapeutic agents with lower side effects.
Connected at Sea: The Influence of the Internet and Online Communication on the Well-Being and Life Satisfaction of Cruise Ship Employees

This study aims to elucidate the idiosyncratic effects of the Internet and online communication on the well-being and life satisfaction of cruise ship employees. Cross-sectional surveys and covariance-based structural equation modelling tools were used. In addition, univariate variance analysis was used to address the effects of socio-demographic variables (years of service on a cruise ship, working department on a cruise ship, gender, age, educational level and place of residency) on latent variables of the conceptual model. The conceptual model draws on existing theory and previous research and was empirically tested on a sample of cruise ship employee internet users. Result show that while being onboard a cruise ship, employees experience strong social pressure to be constantly available and they fear of missing out on important information and life events. Thus, relatedness to friends and family needs satisfaction is of paramount importance for cruise ship employees because they are fully aware that they are dispensable and replaceable to cruise ship companies, however to their friends and family, they are indispensable and unique. Moreover, employees who engage in other tasks/activities while taking part in online communication with friends and family exhibit reduced performance, which leads to poor interaction and social dissatisfaction. Lastly, employees experiencing under-reciprocating exchanges show significant negative effects on their well-being. Overall, the results provided several important theoretical and practical implications relevant to cruise tourism and human resource management.
Molecular Characterization and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of C. jejuni Isolates from Italian Wild Bird Populations

Poultry is considered a major reservoir of human campylobacteriosis. It also been reported that not only poultry, but also wild birds, are capable of carrying C. jejuni, thus demonstrating to be a risk of spreading the bacteria in the environment. To gain insight into the population structure and investigate the antimicrobial resistance genotypes and phenotypes, we analyzed a collection of 135 C. jejuni from 15 species of wild birds in Italy. MLST revealed the presence of 41 sequence types (STs) and 13 clonal complexes (CCs). ST-179 complex and the generalist ST-45 complex were the most prevalent. Core genome MLST revealed that C. jejuni from ST-45 complex clustered according to the bird species, unlike the ST-179 complex which featured 3 different species in the same cluster. Overall we found a moderate prevalence of resistance to tetracycline (12.5%), ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid (10%). The novel ST isolated from one pigeon showed resistance to all the antibiotics tested. The ST-179 complex (33.3%) was identified with significantly higher nalidixic acid resistance relative to other tested STs. Nine AMR genes (tet(O), cmeA, cmeB, cmeC, cmeR, aad, blaOXA-61, blaOXA-184 and erm(B)) and 23S rRNA and gyrA-associated point mutations were also described, indicating a concordance level between genotypic and phenotypic resistance of 23.3%, 23.4% and of 37.5% for streptomycin, tetracycline and quinolones/fluoroquinolones, respectively. We recommend that particular attention should be given to wild birds as key sentinel animals for the ecosystem contamination surveillance.
3D Isotropic Resolution Diffusion-Prepared Magnitude-Stabilized bSSFP Imaging with High Geometric Fidelity at 1.5 Tesla.

INTRODUCTION MRI has been increasingly used in radiation therapy to facilitate tumor and organ delineation and assess treatment response. Diffusion MRI can provide cellularity information and may enable functional-based treatment planning and adaptation. However, strong distortion associated with the conventional diffusion-weighted single-shot echo-planar imaging (DW-ssEPI) sequence is problematic for accurate target delineation. The goal of this work is to propose a 3D diffusion sequence with minimal distortion for radiation therapy applications. METHODS A 3D diffusion-prepared magnitude-stabilized balanced steady-state free precession sequence (DP-MS-bSSFP) was developed. A 2D navigator was acquired during the linear catalyzation stage of the bSSFP readout to estimate the phase, which was then used in a plane-by-plane low-rank constrained reconstruction to correct the shot-to-shot k-space inconsistency. A diffusion phantom was scanned to evaluate and compare the geometric reliability and ADC accuracy with the conventional DW-ssEPI. Eight landmarks were selected on each slice of the images to calculate the target registration error (TRE), which was used as a surrogate for geometric fidelity. The phantom was scanned under both 0 °C and room temperature. Brain scans were performed on 5 healthy volunteers. In the first volunteer, protocols of 1, 2, and 4 shots per Kz plane were compared. In vivo geometric fidelity and ADC accuracy were evaluated on the remaining 4 volunteers using the protocol of 4 shots per Kz plane. In the geometric fidelity study, 8 to 10 landmarks were picked on each slice to calculate the TRE. Regions of interest were placed on the white matter, the cerebellum, and the cerebrospinal fluid region to evaluate the ADC agreement between DW-ssEPI and DP-MS using the Bland-Altman plot. All scans were performed at 1.5 mm isotropic resolution to meet the high-resolution requirement of many radiotherapy applications. RESULTS The DP-MS had drastically improved geometric accuracy compared with DW-ssEPI on the phantom. The mean TRE decreased from 2.09 mm to 0.70 mm. The percentage difference of the ADC values between the two diffusion sequences were less than 5.5% and 7% for the 0 °C and room temperature study, respectively. The DW-ssEPI had strong distortion and susceptibility-related artifacts at tissue air boundary, whereas distortion was minimal in DP-MS images. Overall, the mean/max TRE was over 2 mm/7 mm in the volunteers for DW-ssEPI, whereas less than 0.8 mm/2 mm for DP-MS. Good ADC agreement was observed for the white matter, the cerebellum, and the CSF based on the Bland-Altman plots. CONCLUSION A 3D diffusion sequence was developed and validated. It provided high-resolution diffusion imaging with mean distortion less than 1 mm at 1.5T, and is a promising imaging technique for treatment planning and adaptive radiotherapy.
Fabrication and Characterization of a Novel Composite Magnetic Photocatalyst β-Bi2O3/BiVO4/MnxZn1−xFe2O4 for Rhodamine B Degradation under Visible Light

β-Bi2O3/BiVO4/MnxZn1−xFe2O4 (BV/MZF) composite magnetic photocatalyst was first synthesized using the hydrothermal and calcination method. BV/MZF was a mesoporous material with most probable pore size and specific surface area of 18 nm and 17.84 m2/g, respectively. Due to its high saturation magnetization (2.67 emu/g), the BV/MZF composite can be easily separated and recovered from solution under an external magnetic field. The results of photo-decomposition experiments show that the decomposition rate of Rhodamine B (RhB) by BV/MZF can reach 92.6% in 3 h under visible light. After three cycles, BV/MZF can still maintain structural stability and excellent pollutant degradation effect. In addition, analysis of the photocatalytic mechanism of BV/MZF for RhB shows that the p-n heterojunction formed in BV/MZF plays a vital role in its photocatalytic performance. This work has potential application in the future for solving environmental pollution.
Sequential Interferon β-Cisplatin Treatment Enhances the Surface Exposure of Calreticulin in Cancer Cells via an Interferon Regulatory Factor 1-Dependent Manner

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) refers to a unique form of cell death that activates an adaptive immune response against dead-cell-associated antigens. Accumulating evidence indicates that the efficacy of conventional anticancer agents relies on not only their direct cytostatic/cytotoxic effects but also the activation of antitumor ICD. Common anticancer ICD inducers include certain chemotherapeutic agents (such as anthracyclines, oxaliplatin, and bortezomib), radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and oncolytic virotherapies. However, most chemotherapeutic reagents are inefficient or fail to trigger ICD. Therefore, better understanding on the molecular determinants of chemotherapy-induced ICD will help in the development of more efficient combinational anticancer strategies through converting non- or relatively weak ICD inducers into bona fide ICD inducers. In this study, we found that sequential, but not concurrent, treatment of cancer cells with interferon β (IFNβ), a type I IFN, and cisplatin (an inefficient ICD inducer) can enhance the expression of ICD biomarkers in cancer cells, including surface translocation of an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone, calreticulin (CRT), and phosphorylation of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor alpha (eIF2α). These results suggest that exogenous IFNβ may activate molecular determinants that convert cisplatin into an ICD inducer. Further bioinformatics and in vitro experimental analyses found that interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) acted as an essential mediator of surface CRT exposure by sequential IFNβ-cisplatin combination. Our findings not only help to design more effective combinational anticancer therapy using IFNβ and cisplatin, but also provide a novel insight into the role of IRF1 in connecting the type I IFN responses and ICD.
Concept Drift Detection via Equal Intensity k-Means Space Partitioning

The data stream poses additional challenges to statistical classification tasks because distributions of the training and target samples may differ as time passes. Such a distribution change in streaming data is called concept drift. Numerous histogram-based distribution change detection methods have been proposed to detect drift. Most histograms are developed on the grid-based or tree-based space partitioning algorithms which makes the space partitions arbitrary, unexplainable, and may cause drift blind spots. There is a need to improve the drift detection accuracy for the histogram-based methods with the unsupervised setting. To address this problem, we propose a cluster-based histogram, called equal intensity $k$ -means space partitioning (EI-kMeans). In addition, a heuristic method to improve the sensitivity of drift detection is introduced. The fundamental idea of improving the sensitivity is to minimize the risk of creating partitions in distribution offset regions. Pearson’s chi-square test is used as the statistical hypothesis test so that the test statistics remain independent of the sample distribution. The number of bins and their shapes, which strongly influence the ability to detect drift, are determined dynamically from the sample based on an asymptotic constraint in the chi-square test. Accordingly, three algorithms are developed to implement concept drift detection, including a greedy centroids initialization algorithm, a cluster amplify–shrink algorithm, and a drift detection algorithm. For drift adaptation, we recommend retraining the learner if a drift is detected. The results of experiments on the synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate the advantages of EI-kMeans and show its efficacy in detecting concept drift.
Stability and Predictors of Poor 6-min Walking Test Performance over 2 Years in Patients with COPD

Poor performance in the 6-min walk test (6MWT < 350 m) is an important prognostic indicator of mortality and risk of exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Little is known about the stability of this state over time and what factors might predict a poor 6MWT performance. To determine the stability of 6MWT performance over a 2-year period in COPD patients participating in annual medical follow-up visits, and to assess the ability of several clinical, pulmonary, and non-pulmonary factors to predict poor 6MWT performance, we prospectively included 137 patients with stable COPD (mean age, 66.9 ± 8.3 years). The 6MWT was scored at baseline and 2-year follow-up. To evaluate clinical, pulmonary, and non-pulmonary variables as potential predictors of poor 6MWT performance, we used multiple logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, weight, height, and 6MWT performance at baseline. Poor 6MWT performance was stable over 2 years for 67.4% of patients. Predictors of poor 6MWT performance included a five-repetition sit-to-stand test score ≤2 (OR, 3.01; 95% CI, 1.22–7.42), the percentage of mobility activities with limitations (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00–1.07), and poor 6MWT performance at baseline (OR, 4.64; 95% CI, 1.88–11.43). Poor 6MWT performance status was stable for the majority of COPD patients. Lower scores on the five-repetition sit-to-stand test and a higher number of mobility activities with limitations were relevant predictors of poor 6MWT performance over 2 years. Prognostic models based on these non-pulmonary factors can provide non-inferior discriminative ability in comparison with prognostic models based on only pulmonary factors.
Enhancing Cadmium Tolerance and Pea Plant Health through Enterobacter sp. MN17 Inoculation Together with Biochar and Gravel Sand

Contamination of soils with heavy metals, particularly cadmium (Cd), is an increasingly alarming environmental issue around the world. Application of organic and inorganic immobilizing amendments such as biochar and gravel sand in combination with metal-tolerant microbes has the potential to minimize the bioavailability of Cd to plants. The present study was designed to identify the possible additive effects of the application of Enterobacter sp. MN17 as well as biochar and gravel sand on the reduction of Cd stress in plants and improvement of growth and nutritional quality of pea (Pisum sativum) plants through the reduction of Cd uptake. Pea seeds were surface sterilized then non-inoculated seeds and seeds inoculated with Enterobacter sp. MN17 were planted in artificially Cd-polluted soil, amended with the immobilizing agents biochar and gravel sand. Application of biochar and gravel sand alone and in combination not only improved the growth and nutritional quality of pea plants by in situ immobilization but also reduced the uptake of Cd by plant roots and its transport to shoots. However, microbial inoculation further enhanced the overall plant health as well as alleviated the toxic effects of Cd on the pea plants. These soil treatments also improved rates of photosynthesis and transpiration. The combined use of biochar and gravel sand with bacterial inoculation resulted in an increase in plant height (47%), shoot dry weight (42%), root dry weight (57%), and 100 seeds weight (49%) as compared to control plants in Cd contaminated soil. Likewise, biochemical constituents of pea seeds (protein, fat, fiber, and ash) were significantly increased up to 41%, 74%, 32%, and 72%, respectively, with the combined use of these immobilizing agents and bacterium. Overall, this study demonstrated that the combined application of biochar and gravel sand, particularly in combination with Enterobacter sp. MN17, could be an efficient strategy for the remediation of Cd contaminated soil. It could support better growth and nutritional quality of pea plants.
West Nile Virus Epidemic in Germany Triggered by Epizootic Emergence, 2019

One year after the first autochthonous transmission of West Nile virus (WNV) to birds and horses in Germany, an epizootic emergence of WNV was again observed in 2019. The number of infected birds and horses was considerably higher compared to 2018 (12 birds, two horses), resulting in the observation of the first WNV epidemy in Germany: 76 cases in birds, 36 in horses and five confirmed mosquito-borne, autochthonous human cases. We demonstrated that Germany experienced several WNV introduction events and that strains of a distinct group (Eastern German WNV clade), which was introduced to Germany as a single introduction event, dominated mosquito, birds, horse and human-related virus variants in 2018 and 2019. Virus strains in this clade are characterized by a specific-Lys2114Arg mutation, which might lead to an increase in viral fitness. Extraordinary high temperatures in 2018/2019 allowed a low extrinsic incubation period (EIP), which drove the epizootic emergence and, in the end, most likely triggered the 2019 epidemic. Spatiotemporal EIP values correlated with the geographical WNV incidence. This study highlights the risk of a further spread in Germany in the next years with additional human WNV infections. Thus, surveillance of birds is essential to provide an early epidemic warning and thus, initiate targeted control measures.
National representative analysis of unilateral hearing loss and hearing aid usage in South Korea

A definitive study on the prevalence of adult unilateral hearing loss and hearing aid rehabilitation is lacking in Korea. The purpose of our study was to investigate the prevalence of adult unilateral hearing loss and the factors associated with hearing aid use in patients with unilateral hearing loss in South Korea. We obtained data from 2009 to 2012 from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES), a cross-sectional, nationwide and population-based survey in the Republic of Korea. We analyzed the prevalence and associated factors of unilateral hearing loss and hearing aid adoption by univariable and multivariable analysis. Unilateral hearing loss was defined as pure tone average ≥ 41 dB in the worse hearing ear, and < 41 dB in the other ear assessed at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 kHz. From 2009 to 2012, 33,252 individuals participated in the KNHANES. Among them, the number of patients with unilateral hearing loss was 1632 (5.55%) and the prevalence of hearing aid adoption in unilateral hearing loss was 1.56%. We also compared the factors between hearing aid users and non-users. Occupational status (OR 3.759, 95% CI 1.443–9.804), the hearing threshold in the better ear (OR 1.088, 95% CI 1.029–1.151), and hearing threshold in the worse ear (OR 1.031, 1.005–1.058) were found to affect the adoption of hearing aids. The prevalence of noise exposure at work in hearing aid users was significantly lower than the prevalence of noise exposure at work in those with no hearing aid. The prevalence of hearing aid use in patients with unilateral hearing loss in Korea is very low compared to other countries. Public health education is needed to increase public awareness of unilateral hearing loss, hearing aid adoption and its continued usage. Auditory rehabilitation should be actively recommended to patients with unilateral hearing loss.
Skeletal Muscle Na,K-ATPase as a Target for Circulating Ouabain

While the role of circulating ouabain-like compounds in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, kidney and other tissues in health and disease is well documented, little is known about its effects in skeletal muscle. In this study, rats were intraperitoneally injected with ouabain (0.1–10 µg/kg for 4 days) alone or with subsequent injections of lipopolysaccharide (1 mg/kg). Some rats were also subjected to disuse for 6 h by hindlimb suspension. In the diaphragm muscle, chronic ouabain (1 µg/kg) hyperpolarized resting potential of extrajunctional membrane due to specific increase in electrogenic transport activity of the α2 Na,K-ATPase isozyme and without changes in α1 and α2 Na,K-ATPase protein content. Ouabain (10–20 nM), acutely applied to isolated intact diaphragm muscle from not injected rats, hyperpolarized the membrane to a similar extent. Chronic ouabain administration prevented lipopolysaccharide-induced (diaphragm muscle) or disuse-induced (soleus muscle) depolarization of the extrajunctional membrane. No stimulation of the α1 Na,K-ATPase activity in human red blood cells, purified lamb kidney and Torpedo membrane preparations by low ouabain concentrations was observed. Our results suggest that skeletal muscle electrogenesis is subjected to regulation by circulating ouabain via the α2 Na,K-ATPase isozyme that could be important for adaptation of this tissue to functional impairment.