Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An fMRI Study on Self-Perception of Patients after Aesthetic Implant-Prosthetic Rehabilitation

Objectives: In this functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) study, we investigated the activation of cerebral pathways involved in the elaboration of self-retracting photos (SELF) and the same pictures of others (OTHER). Each of the photographs showed one of the participants during different stages of the rehabilitation: pre-treatment (PRE), virtual planning using “Smile-Lynx” smile design software (VIR), and post-rehabilitation (POST). Methods: We selected eighteen volunteers, both male and female, between 22 and 67 years of age, who previously underwent prosthetic rehabilitation. Each of them was subjected to an fMRI acquisition. Various stimuli were then shown to the subjects in the form of self-retracting photographs and photographs of other participants, all in pseudo-randomized order. We then carried out a two- stage mixed-effects group data analysis with statistical contrast targeting two main effects: one regarding the main effect of Identity (SELF vs. OTHER) and the other regarding the effect of the prosthetic rehabilitation phase (PRE vs. VIR vs. POS). All the effects mentioned above survived a peak-level of p < 0.05. Results: For the effect of identity, results reported the involvement of dorsolateral frontoparietal areas bilaterally. For the phase by identity effect, results reported activation in the supplementary motor area (SMA) in the right hemisphere. A stronger activation in observing self-retracting photos (SELF) post-treatment (POST) was reported compared to the other phases considered in the experiment. Conclusions: All the collected data showed differences regarding the main effect of Identity (SELF vs. OTHER). Most importantly, the present study provides some trend-wise evidence that the pictures portraying the subject in their actual physiognomy (POST) have a somewhat special status in eliciting selectively greater brain activation in the SMA. This effect was interpreted as a plausible correlate of an empathic response for beautiful and neutral faces. The present research suggests a possible way to measure self-perception of the subject after an appearance-altering procedure such an implant-prosthetic rehabilitation. However, future clinical studies are needed to investigate this matter further.
Electrospun poly(D, L-lactide)/gelatin/glass-ceramics tricomponent nanofibrous scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

Electrospun scaffolds are emerging as ECM- mimicking structures for tissue engineering thanks to their nanofibrous architecture. For the development of suitable electrospun scaffolds for bone tissue engineering the addition of inorganic components has been implemented with the aim to confer important bioactivity like osteoinduction, osteointegration and cell adhesion to the scaffolds. In this context we propose a tricomponent electrospun scaffold composed of poly(D,L-lactide), gelatin and RKKP glass-ceramics. The bioactive RKKP glass-ceramic system has attracted interest, due to the presence of ions such as La3+ and Ta5+ , which turned out to be valuable as growth supporting agents for bones. In this work, RKKP glass-ceramics were embedded inside the microfibers of electrospun scaffolds and the structural and biological properties were investigated. Our results showed that the glass-ceramic microparticles were uniformly distributed in the fibrous structure of the scaffold. Furthermore, the glass-ceramics promoted biomineralization of the scaffolds and improved cell viability and osteogenic differentiation. The mineralized layer formed on RKKP -containing scaffolds after incubation in simulated body fluid medium has been shown to be hydroxyapatite by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results on differentiation studies of canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (cAMSC) grown on the electrospun scaffolds suggest that on varying the content of RKKP in the scaffold, it is possible to drive the differentiation toward chondrogenic or osteogenic commitment. The presence of ions, like La3+ and Ta5+ , in the RKKP embedded polymeric composite scaffolds could play a role in supporting cell growth and promoting differentiation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Importin-α2 mediates brain development, learning and memory consolidation in Drosophila

Abstract Neuronal development and memory consolidation are conserved processes that rely on nuclear-cytoplasmic transport of signaling molecules to regulate gene activity and initiate cascades of downstream cellular events. Surprisingly, few reports address and validate this widely accepted perspective. Here we show that Importin-α2 (Imp-α2), a soluble nuclear transporter that shuttles cargoes between the cytoplasm and nucleus, is vital for brain development, learning and persistent memory in Drosophila melanogaster. Mutations in importin-α2 (imp-α2, known as Pendulin or Pen and homologous with human KPNA2) are alleles of mushroom body miniature B (mbmB), a gene known to regulate aspects of brain development and influence adult behavior in flies. Mushroom bodies (MBs), paired associative centers in the brain, are smaller than normal due to defective proliferation of specific intrinsic Kenyon cell (KC) neurons in mbmB mutants. Extant KCs projecting to the MB β-lobe terminate abnormally on the contralateral side of the brain. mbmB adults have impaired olfactory learning but normal memory decay in most respects, except that protein synthesis-dependent long-term memory (LTM) is abolished. This observation supports an alternative mechanism of persistent memory in which mutually exclusive protein-synthesis-dependent and -independent forms rely on opposing cellular mechanisms or circuits. We propose a testable model of Imp-α2 and nuclear transport roles in brain development and conditioned behavior. Based on our molecular characterization, we suggest that mbmB is hereafter referred to as imp-α2mbmB.
Genetic basis of oxygen sensing in the carotid body: HIF2α and an isoform switch in cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4

HIF2α and COX4I2 are necessary for carotid body oxygen sensing (Moreno-Domínguez et al. in 21 January 2020 issue). The mechanistic basis of the marked oxygen sensitivity of glomus cells in the carotid body has long puzzled physiologists. In this issue of Science Signaling, Moreno-Domínguez et al. show the critical importance of high levels of hypoxia-inducible factor, HIF2α/EPAS1, and the nuclear-encoded mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit, COX4I2, in glomus cell sensitivity to hypoxia.
Distribution of Cardioembolic Stroke: A Cohort Study

Background: A cardiac origin in ischemic stroke is more frequent than previously assumed, but it is not clear which patients benefit from cardiac work-up if obvious cardiac pathology is absent. We hypothesized that thromboembolic stroke with a cardiac source occurs more frequently in the posterior circulation compared with thromboembolic stroke of another etiology. Methods: We performed a multicenter observational study in 3,311 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke who were enrolled in an ongoing prospective stroke registry of 8 University hospitals between September 2009 and November 2014 in The Netherlands. In this initiative, the so-called Parelsnoer Institute-Cerebrovascular Accident Study Group, clinical data, imaging, and biomaterials of patients with stroke are prospectively and uniformly collected. We compared the proportions of posterior stroke location in patients with a cardiac stroke source with those with another stroke etiology and calculated risk ratios (RR) with corresponding 95% CI with Poisson regression analyses. To assess which patient or disease characteristics were most strongly associated with a cardiac etiology in patients with ischemic stroke, we performed a stepwise backward regression analysis. Results: For the primary aim, 1,428 patients were eligible for analyses. The proportion of patients with a posterior stroke location among patients with a cardiac origin of their stroke (28%) did not differ statistically significant to those with another origin (25%), age and sex adjusted RR 1.16; 95% CI 0.96–1.41. For the secondary aim, 1,955 patients were eligible for analyses. No recent history of smoking, no hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, a higher age, and a higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score were associated with a cardiac etiology of ischemic stroke. Conclusions: We could not confirm our hypothesis that thromboembolic stroke localized in the posterior circulation is associated with a cardioembolic source of ischemic stroke, and therefore posterior stroke localization on itself does not necessitate additional cardiac examination. The lack of determinants of atherosclerosis, for example, no recent history of smoking and no hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, a higher age, and a higher NIHSS score are stronger risk factors for a cardiac source of ischemic stroke.
Testing of the new streptomyces strains for production of phenoloxidases.

Thirty wild new strains of filamentous bacteria belonging to the genus Streptomyces isolated from different Romanian soil samples and ten strains from Collection of microorganisms of Bioaliment Research Platform (acronym MIUG) were tested and screened for their ability to produce extracellular tyrosinase and laccase. Based on preliminary qualitative screening assays for the extracellular phenoloxidases production carried out by stationary cultivation on Gause agar medium (GMA) supplemented with 1% (w/w) L-tyrosine, nineteen strains were selected as active producers. Furthermore, a quantitative selection based on active strains ability to produce tyrosinase and laccase by submerged cultivation in liquid Gause salts basal medium supplemented with 1 g L L-tyrosine and 0.001 g L CuSO4, during 168 hours was performed. Results showed that 70% of the Streptomyces strains have a good potential for producing tyrosinase and 30% of strains were remarked for their ability to produce laccase. Moreover, it was observed that, Streptomyces strains coded MIUG 4.89 and MIUG 4.88 from MIUG Collection have the ability to simultaneously produce both enzymes. The effect of temperature and pH on enzymes activity was also investigated. The optimum temperature for both activity (tyrosinase and laccase) was found to be 30°C. Laccase was found active over a pH range of 4.0 to 6.0 with maximum activity at pH 5.0. The optimum pH for tyrosinases activity was observed to be around 7.0. The obtained results are important for future applications of Streptomyces phenoloxidases in different areas.
The new generation of tools for prediction of wind power potential and site selection

Today a number of well established models and methodologies exist for estimating resources and design parameters and in many cases they work well. This is true if good local data are available for calibrating the models or for verification. But the wind energy community is still hampered by many projects having large negative discrepancies between calculated and actual experienced resources and design conditions. However, when such significant discrepancies are found, no well established methods exist to correct the situation. Discrepancies can be introduced at any point in the modeling chain, from insufficient input data to deficient physics and resolution in any of the models, model linking issues, insufficient resolution or errors in surface topographical data such as terrain heights, land cover data etc. Therefore it has been decided on a European Union level to launch a project “The New European Wind Atlas” aiming at reducing overall uncertainties in determining wind conditions; standing on three legs: A data bank from a series of intensive measuring campaigns; a thorough examination and redesign of the model chain from global, mesoscale to microscale models and the creation of the wind atlas database. Although the project participants will come from the 27 member states it is envisioned that the project will be opened for global participation through test benches for model development and sharing of data – climatologically as well as experimental. Experiences from national wind atlases will be utilized, such as the Indian, the South African, the Finnish, the German, the Canadian atlases and others.
Mood versus energy/activity symptoms in bipolar disorder: which cluster of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale better distinguishes between mania, depression, and euthymia?

INTRODUCTION Although bipolar disorder (BD) is traditionally included among mood disorders, some authors believe that changes in energy and motor activity, rather than mood changes, represent the true cardinal symptoms in mania and depression. The aim of the current study was to identify which cluster of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) better distinguishes between mania, depression and euthymia. METHOD A group of 106 patients with BD were followed for 13 years and repeatedly assessed with the HAM-D as well as with other clinical scales. To perform a comparison, HAM-D items were classified according to clinical criteria into three clusters: energy/activity symptoms, mood symptoms, and other symptoms. Item response theory (IRT) analyses were performed to provide a test information curve for those three clusters. We measured the prevalence of one cluster of symptoms over the other two throughout the latent trait. RESULTS Considering HAM-D items individually, the IRT analysis revealed that there was a mixture of mood and energy/activity symptoms among the most discriminative items, both in depression and in euthymia. However, in mania, only energy/activity symptoms - i.e., general somatic symptoms and retardation - were among the most informative items. Considering the classification of items, both in depression as in mania, the energy/activity cluster was more informative than the mood cluster according to the IRT analysis. CONCLUSION Our data reinforce the view of hyperactivity and motor retardation as cardinal changes of mania and depression, respectively.
The effects of mineral and liquid organic fertilizers on some nutritional characteristics of bell pepper

The economical effect of liquid organic fertilizer on agriculture may be a factor in the extension of its practice in larger areas. The rates of compost required to supply sufficient N requirements might be economically challenging for farmers. Therefore, the organic liquid fertilizers might help in reducing the need of high rates of compost to maintain proper N amount and in reducing the expenses. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of mineral and liquid organic fertilizers on some nutritional characteristics of bell pepper. Results show that the main effects and interaction between cultivars and fertilizers were not statistically singificant on the subject parameters in this experiment. However, the application of mineral fertilizer resulted in the highest ascorbic acid content in fresh fruits (110.07 mg 100 g -1 ). In comparison with liquid organic fertilizers, mineral fertilizer had higher levels in other parameters such as lipids (8.16 g 100 g -1 ), fruit dry matter (13.39 g 100 g -1 ), K (18.5 g kg -1 ), Ca (0.83 g kg -1 ), Mg (0.98 g kg -1 ), Mn (7.9 mg kg -1 ) and S (0.21 mg kg -1 ). Ascorbic acid, protein and dry matter content were affected by the colour of fruit. Also, a higher ascorbic acid and Ca, acorbic acid and Mg, lipid and Ca contents suggest a positive correlation between these parameters. However mineral fertilizers had more favorable effects on quality of bell pepper, our results indicated that liquid organic fertilizers might be considered sufficient as a source of nutrients in organic growing.
Patterns of Risk and Protective Factors Among Alaska Children: Association With Maternal and Child Well-Being.

This study used population-representative data to examine associations of risk and protective factor patterns among Alaska Native/American Indian (AN/AI; N = 592) and non-Native (N = 1,018) children with maternal and child outcomes at age 3 years. Among AN/AI children, a high risk/moderate protection class was associated with child developmental risk and mothers being less likely to feel comfortable asking for help or knowing where to go for parenting information compared to a low socioeconomic status/high protection class. Among non-Native children, a moderate risk/high protection class was associated with child developmental risk and mothers being less likely to feel comfortable asking for help compared to a low risk/high protection class. Results provide insight on the intersection of risk and protective factors among Alaska families.
JNK Pathway Mediates Low Oxygen Level Induced Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition and Stemness Maintenance in Colorectal Cancer Cells

(1) Background: Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer cell stemness maintenance (SM) are important factors for cancer metastasis. Although hypoxia has been considered as a possible factor for EMT induction and promotion of SM, studies in this area, apart from hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathways and severe hypoxia, are scant. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different oxygen levels on EMT induction and SM and elucidate the signaling pathways involved in colorectal cancer cells. (2) Methods: Cell morphological analysis, migration assay, immunofluorescence staining of cytoskeleton and Western blotting were performed on human colorectal cancer cells HT-29, DLD-1, and SW-480 cultured at 1%, 10%, and normal (21%) O2 levels. The role played by c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was evaluated through the use of the specific JNK inhibitor SP600125. (3) Results: This study evaluated 1% and 10% O2 are possible conditions for EMT induction and SM. This study also demonstrated the partial relieve of EMT induction and SM by SP600125, showing the importance of the JNK pathway in these processes. Furthermore, this study proposed a novel pathway on the regulation of Akt by JNK-c-Jun. (4) Conclusions: This study suggests 10% O2 as another possible condition for EMT induction, and SM and JNK pathways play important roles in these processes through multiple factors. Inhibition of JNK could be explored as treatment for inhibiting metastasis in colorectal cancer cells.
Advances in Analysis of Biodistribution of Exosomes by Molecular Imaging

Exosomes are nano-sized membranous vesicles produced by nearly all types of cells. Since exosome-like vesicles are produced in an evolutionarily conserved manner for information and function transfer from the originating cells to recipient cells, an increasing number of studies have focused on their application as therapeutic agents, drug delivery vehicles, and diagnostic targets. Analysis of the in vivo distribution of exosomes is a prerequisite for the development of exosome-based therapeutics and drug delivery vehicles with accurate prediction of therapeutic dose and potential side effects. Various attempts to evaluate the biodistribution of exosomes obtained from different sources have been reported. In this review, we examined the current trends and the advantages and disadvantages of the methods used to determine the biodistribution of exosomes by molecular imaging. We also reviewed 29 publications to compare the methods employed to isolate, analyze, and label exosomes as well as to determine the biodistribution of labeled exosomes.
Drinking motivations in UK serving and ex-serving military personnel

Abstract Background Drinking motivations within the UK military have not been studied despite the high prevalence of alcohol misuse in this group. Aims We aimed to characterize drinking motivations and their demographic, military and mental health associations in UK serving and ex-serving personnel. Methods Serving and ex-serving personnel reporting mental health, stress or emotional problems occurring in the last 3 years were selected from an existing cohort study. A semi-structured telephone interview survey examined participants’ mental health, help-seeking, alcohol use and drinking motivations. Results Exploratory factor analysis of drinking motivations in military personnel (n = 1279; response rate = 84.6%) yielded 2 factors, labelled ‘drinking to cope’ and ‘social pressure’. Higher drinking to cope motivations were associated with probable anxiety (rate ratio [RR] = 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3–1.5), depression (RR = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.2–1.4) and post-traumatic stress disorder (RR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.3–1.6). Higher social pressure motivations were associated with probable anxiety (odds ratio = 1.1; 95% CI = 1.0–1.1). Alcohol misuse and binge drinking were associated with reporting higher drinking to cope motivations, drinking at home and drinking alone. Conclusions Amongst military personnel with a stress, emotional or mental health problem, those who drink to cope with mental disorder symptoms or because of social pressure, in addition to those who drink at home or drink alone, are more likely to also drink excessively.
Interventions for incarcerated adults with opioid use disorder in the United States: A systematic review with a focus on social determinants of health

Incarceration poses significant health risks for people involved in the criminal justice system. As the world’s leader in incarceration, the United States incarcerated population is at higher risk for infectious diseases, mental illness, and substance use disorder. Previous studies indicate that the mortality rate for people coming out of prison is almost 13 times higher than that of the general population; opioids contribute to nearly 1 in 8 post-release fatalities overall, and almost half of all overdose deaths. Given the hazardous intersection of incarceration, opioid use disorder, and social determinants of health, we systematically reviewed recent evidence on interventions for opioid use disorder (OUD) implemented as part of United States criminal justice system involvement, with an emphasis on social determinants of health (SDOH). We searched academic literature to identify eligible studies of an intervention for OUD that was implemented in the context of criminal justice system involvement (e.g., incarceration or parole/probation) for adults ages 19 and older. From 6,604 citations, 13 publications were included in final synthesis. Most interventions were implemented in prisons (n = 6 interventions), used medication interventions (n = 10), and did not include SDOH as part of the study design (n = 8). Interventions that initiated medication treatment early and throughout incarceration had significant, positive effects on opioid use outcomes. Evidence supports medication treatment administered throughout the period of criminal justice involvement as an effective method of improving post-release outcomes in individuals with criminal justice involvement. While few studies included SDOH components, many investigators recognized SDOH needs as competing priorities among justice-involved individuals. This review suggests an evidence gap; evidence-based interventions that address OUD and SDOH in the context of criminal justice involvement are urgently needed.