Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trunk Exercises Improve Balance in Parkinson Disease: A Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and Purpose: Trunk control is important for maintaining balance; hence, deficient trunk control may contribute to balance problems in people with Parkinson disease (PD). Unfortunately, this deficit is poorly managed with pharmacological therapies, emphasizing the need for alternative therapies for these patients. This randomized controlled trial sought to examine the effects of a 12-week trunk-specific exercise-based intervention on balance in people with PD. Methods: Twenty-four people with PD and with a history of falls completed assessments of motor symptom severity, balance confidence, mobility, quality of life, and quiet-standing balance. Participants were then randomized to receive either 12 weeks of exercise or education and reassessed after 12 and 24 weeks. Results: Linear mixed-models analyses showed no significant changes in clinical outcomes following the intervention. However, during quiet standing, sway area on a foam surface without vision was reduced for the exercise group at 12 (−6.9 ± 3.1 cm; 95% confidence interval [CI] = −13.1 to −0.7; P = 0.029; d = 0.66) and 24 weeks (−7.9 ± 3.1 cm; 95% CI = −14.1 to −1.7; P = 0.013; d = 0.76). Furthermore, the exercise group demonstrated reduced sway variability at 12 (−0.2 ± 0.1 cm; 95% CI = −0.4 to 0.0; P = 0.042; d = 0.62) and 24 weeks in the medial-lateral direction (−0.2 ± 0.1 cm; 95% CI = −0.4 to 0.0; P = 0.043; d = 0.62). No changes in quiet standing balance were recorded for the education group. Discussion and Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that exercise-based interventions targeting trunk strength, endurance, and mobility may be effective for improving quiet-standing balance in people with PD. However, additional research is needed to determine whether these improvements are sufficient to reduce falls risk. Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A254).
Single-Center Retrospective Analysis of Breakthrough Allergic-Like Reactions to Gadobutrol.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the rate and severity of breakthrough allergic-like reactions to gadobutrol. MATERIALS AND METHODS Under a waiver from our institutional review board, we performed a key word search of our institutional PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) database to identify all allergic-like reactions, which occurred in the setting of gadobutrol administration between December 2009 and August 2018, encompassing approximately 25,000 gadobutrol injections. Patients with an index allergic-like reaction who underwent a subsequent gadobutrol-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging after a standard 13-hour corticosteroid and antihistamine premedication protocol before repeat injection were identified. Patient characteristics, volume of gadobutrol injected, and severity of index and breakthrough reactions were recorded and compared by χ test, t test, and Spearman correlation. RESULTS The index allergic-like reaction rate to gadobutrol was 0.28% (69/25000). Of the patients who had an index allergic-like reaction, 45% (31/69) had a subsequent magnetic resonance imaging with gadobutrol injection and premedication with a breakthrough reaction rate of 35% (11/31). Most index reactions were mild in severity (91% [63/69]), and most breakthrough reactions were also typically mild (91% [10/11]). One patient escalated from a mild index reaction to a moderate breakthrough reaction despite premedication. There was no correlation between volume of gadobutrol injected (ρ = -0.004, P = 0.98) or association with age (P = 0.74), although female patients had higher breakthrough reaction rates (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Allergic-like reactions to gadobutrol are rare; however, breakthrough reactions occur with moderate frequency despite premedication, and although generally of mild severity, in our series, one breakthrough reaction escalated in severity.
Heterosis is common and inbreeding depression absent in natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana

The importance of genetic drift in shaping patterns of adaptive genetic variation in nature is poorly known. Genetic drift should drive partially recessive deleterious mutations to high frequency, and inter‐population crosses may therefore exhibit heterosis (increased fitness relative to intra‐population crosses). Low genetic diversity and greater genetic distance between populations should increase the magnitude of heterosis. Moreover, drift and selection should remove strongly deleterious recessive alleles from individual populations, resulting in reduced inbreeding depression. To estimate heterosis, we crossed 90 independent line pairs of Arabidopsis thaliana from 15 pairs of natural populations sampled across Fennoscandia and crossed an additional 41 line pairs from a subset of four of these populations to estimate inbreeding depression. We measured lifetime fitness of crosses relative to parents in a large outdoor common garden (8,448 plants in total) in central Sweden. To examine the effects of genetic diversity and genetic distance on heterosis, we genotyped parental lines for 869 SNPs. Overall, genetic variation within populations was low (median expected heterozygosity = 0.02), and genetic differentiation was high (median FST = 0.82). Crosses between 10 of 15 population pairs exhibited significant heterosis, with magnitudes of heterosis as high as 117%. We found no significant inbreeding depression, suggesting that the observed heterosis is due to fixation of mildly deleterious alleles within populations. Widespread and substantial heterosis indicates an important role for drift in shaping genetic variation, but there was no significant relationship between fitness of crosses relative to parents and genetic diversity or genetic distance between populations.
Statin Therapy Before Transition to End‐Stage Renal Disease With Posttransition Outcomes

Background Although studies have shown that statin therapy in patients with non–dialysis‐dependent chronic kidney disease was associated with a lower risk of death, this was not observed in dialysis patients newly initiated on statins. It is unclear if statin therapy benefits administered during the predialysis period persist after transitioning to end‐stage renal disease. Methods and Results In 47 720 veterans who transitioned to end‐stage renal disease during 2007 to 2014, we examined the association of statin therapy use 1 year before transition with posttransition all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization incidence rates over the first 12 months of follow‐up. Associations were examined using multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazard models and negative binomial regressions. Sensitivity analyses included propensity score and subgroup analyses. The cohort's mean±SD age was 71±11 years, and the cohort included 4% women, 23% blacks, and 66% diabetics. Over 12 months of follow‐up, there were 13 411 deaths, with an incidence rate of 35.3 (95% CI, 34.7–35.8) deaths per 100 person‐years. In adjusted models, statin therapy compared with no statin therapy was associated with lower risks of 12‐month all‐cause (hazard ratio [95% CI], 0.79 [0.76–0.82]) and cardiovascular (hazard ratio [95% CI], 0.83 [0.78–0.88]) mortality, as well as with a lower rate of hospitalizations (incidence rate ratio [95% CI], 0.89 [0.87–0.92]) after initiating dialysis. These lower outcome risks persisted across strata of clinical characteristics, and in propensity score analyses. Conclusions Among veterans with non–dialysis‐dependent chronic kidney disease, treatment with statin therapy within the 1 year before transitioning to end‐stage renal disease is associated with favorable early end‐stage renal disease outcomes.
Corticocortical Systems Underlying High-Order Motor Control

Cortical networks are characterized by the origin, destination, and reciprocity of their connections, as well as by the diameter, conduction velocity, and synaptic efficacy of their axons. The network formed by parietal and frontal areas lies at the core of cognitive-motor control because the outflow of parietofrontal signaling is conveyed to the subcortical centers and spinal cord through different parallel pathways, whose orchestration determines, not only when and how movements will be generated, but also the nature of forthcoming actions. Despite intensive studies over the last 50 years, the role of corticocortical connections in motor control and the principles whereby selected cortical networks are recruited by different task demands remain elusive. Furthermore, the synaptic integration of different cortical signals, their modulation by transthalamic loops, and the effects of conduction delays remain challenging questions that must be tackled to understand the dynamical aspects of parietofrontal operations. In this article, we evaluate results from nonhuman primate and selected rodent experiments to offer a viewpoint on how corticocortical systems contribute to learning and producing skilled actions. Addressing this subject is not only of scientific interest but also essential for interpreting the devastating consequences for motor control of lesions at different nodes of this integrated circuit. In humans, the study of corticocortical motor networks is currently based on MRI-related methods, such as resting-state connectivity and diffusion tract-tracing, which both need to be contrasted with histological studies in nonhuman primates.
Theoretical chemical ionization rate constants of the concurrent reactions of hydronium ions (H3 O+ ) and oxygen ions (O 2 + ) with selected organic iodides.

Short chain volatile iodinated organic compounds (VIOCs) are of great importance in many fields that include atmospheric chemistry, agriculture, and environmental chemistry related to nuclear power plant safety. Proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) allows for fast, sensitive, and online quantification of VIOCs if the chemical ionization (CI) reaction rate coefficients are known. In this work, the theoretical CI rate coefficients for the reactions of hydronium ions (H3 O+ ) and oxygen ions (O 2 + ) with selected atmospherically important short chain VIOCs are determined. The neutral CH3 I, CH2 I2 , C2 H5 I, iso-C3 H7 I, n-C3 H7 I, n-C4 H9 I, 2-C4 H9 I, n-C5 H11 I, 2-C5 H11 I, and 3-C5 H11 I have been chosen because these compounds are of atmospheric and environmental importance in the field of safety of nuclear plant reactors. Theoretical ion-molecule collision rate coefficients were determined using the Su and Chesnavich theory based on parametrized trajectory calculations. The proton affinity, ionization energy, dipole moment, and polarizability values of the neutral molecules were determined from density functional theory and coupled-cluster calculations. The newly calculated rate constants facilitate the use of the CI mass spectrometry in the atmospheric quantification of selected VIOCs.
The Astrophysical Formation of Asymmetric Molecules and the Emergence of a Chiral Bias

The biomolecular homochirality in living organisms has been investigated for decades, but its origin remains poorly understood. It has been shown that circular polarized light (CPL) and other energy sources are capable of inducing small enantiomeric excesses (ees) in some primary biomolecules, such as amino acids or sugars. Since the first findings of amino acids in carbonaceous meteorites, a scenario in which essential chiral biomolecules originate in space and are delivered by celestial bodies has arisen. Numerous studies have thus focused on their detection, identification, and enantiomeric excess calculations in extraterrestrial matrices. In this review we summarize the discoveries in amino acids, sugars, and organophosphorus compounds in meteorites, comets, and laboratory-simulated interstellar ices. Based on available analytical data, we also discuss their interactions with CPL in the ultraviolet (UV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) regions, their abiotic chiral or achiral synthesis, and their enantiomeric distribution. Without doubt, further laboratory investigations and upcoming space missions are required to shed more light on our potential extraterrestrial molecular origins.
Association between human leucocyte antigen alleles and risk of stroke in Iranian population

Previous studies have demonstrated associations between human leucocyte antigen (HLA) and some types of ischaemic stroke. In the present study, we genotyped HLA‐A,‐B and ‐DRB1 alleles in 140 Iranian patients with history of ischaemic stroke and 140 age‐/sex‐matched healthy subjects. No significant difference has been found in the distribution of HLA‐A and B alleles between cases and controls. The DRB1*16 allele was significantly over‐represented in patient group compared with control group (Adjusted p value = 0.048). Other HLA‐DRB1 alleles were not associated with stroke risk. The HLA‐B*35,B*52 genotype was significantly more prevalent among patients compared with controls (Adjusted p value = 0.03, OR [95% CI] = 9.3 [1.3, 407.2]). Several HLA haplotypes were associated with risk of stroke in the assessed population. The current study provides further evidences for participation of HLA in conferring risk of ischaemic stroke.
Instructive role of melanocytes during pigment pattern formation of the avian skin

Significance Periodic pigment patterns, such as spots and stripes, are often observed in animal skin; however, we should learn more the molecular and cellular mechanisms for patterning. Here, we examined the black and yellow stripes in the Japanese quail avian model. Using melanocyte transplantation, we found that the periodic pattern is formed by melanocytes cell autonomously. Genetic modulations of gap junction channels in melanocytes alter the periodic pattern. Furthermore, the melanocytes instruct the dermal cells to express agouti signaling protein, which induces pheomelanin (yellow pigment) by antagonizing the melanocortin 1 receptor on melanocytes. Our study suggests that melanocytes play an instructive role in melanocyte periodic patterning and that melanocytes and dermal cells may interact further to produce the final stable pigment pattern. Animal skin pigment patterns are excellent models to study the mechanism of biological self-organization. Theoretical approaches developed mathematical models of pigment patterning and molecular genetics have brought progress; however, the responsible cellular mechanism is not fully understood. One long unsolved controversy is whether the patterning information is autonomously determined by melanocytes or nonautonomously determined from the environment. Here, we transplanted purified melanocytes and demonstrated that melanocytes could form periodic pigment patterns cell autonomously. Results of heterospecific transplantation among quail strains are consistent with this finding. Further, we observe that developing melanocytes directly connect with each other via filopodia to form a network in culture and in vivo. This melanocyte network is reminiscent of zebrafish pigment cell networks, where connexin is implicated in stripe formation via genetic studies. Indeed, we found connexin40 (cx40) present on developing melanocytes in birds. Stripe patterns can form in quail skin explant cultures. Several calcium channel modulators can enhance or suppress pigmentation globally, but a gap junction inhibitor can change stripe patterning. Most interestingly, in ovo, misexpression of dominant negative cx40 expands the black region, while overexpression of cx40 expands the yellow region. Subsequently, melanocytes instruct adjacent dermal cells to express agouti signaling protein (ASIP), the regulatory factor for pigment switching, which promotes pheomelanin production. Thus, we demonstrate Japanese quail melanocytes have an autonomous periodic patterning role during body pigment stripe formation. We also show dermal agouti stripes and how the coupling of melanocytes with dermal cells may confer stable and distinct pigment stripe patterns.
Biodiversity data integration—the significance of data resolution and domain

Recent years have seen an explosion in the availability of biodiversity data describing the distribution, function, and evolutionary history of life on earth. Integrating these heterogeneous data remains a challenge due to large variations in observational scales, collection purposes, and terminologies. Here, we conceptualize widely used biodiversity data types according to their domain (what aspect of biodiversity is described? ) and informational resolution (how specific is the description? ). Applying this framework to major data providers in biodiversity research reveals a strong focus on the disaggregated end of the data spectrum, whereas aggregated data types remain largely underutilized. We discuss the implications of this imbalance for the scope and representativeness of current macroecological research and highlight the synergies arising from a tighter integration of biodiversity data across domains and resolutions. We lay out effective strategies for data collection, mobilization, imputation, and sharing and summarize existing frameworks for scalable and integrative biodiversity research. Finally, we use two case studies to demonstrate how the explicit consideration of data domain and resolution helps to identify biases and gaps in global data sets and achieve unprecedented taxonomic and geographical data coverage in macroecological analyses.
Magnetometer-Based Drift Correction During Rest in IMU Arm Motion Tracking

Real-time motion capture of the human arm in the home environment has many use cases, such as video game and therapy applications. The required tracking can be based on off-the-shelf Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) with integrated three-axis accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers. However, this usually requires a homogeneous magnetic field to correct for orientation drift, which is often not available inside buildings. In this paper, RPMC (Rest Pose Magnetometer-based drift Correction), a novel method that is robust to long term drift in environments with inhomogeneous magnetic fields, is presented. The sensor orientation is estimated by integrating the angular velocity measured by the gyroscope and correcting drift around the pitch and roll axes with the acceleration information. This commonly leads to short term drift around the gravitational axis. Here, during the calibration phase, the local magnetic field direction for each sensor, and its orientation relative to the inertial frame, are recorded in a rest pose. It is assumed that arm movements in free space are exhausting and require regular rest. A set of rules is used to detect when the user has returned to the rest pose, to then correct for the drift that has occurred with the magnetometer. Optical validations demonstrated accurate (root mean square error RMS=6.1°), low latency (61ms) tracking of the user’s wrist orientation, in real time, for a full hour of arm movements. The reduction in error relative to three alternative methods implemented for comparison was between 82.5% and 90.7% for the same movement and environment. Therefore, the proposed arm tracking method allows for the correction of orientation drift in an inhomogeneous magnetic field by exploiting the user’s need for frequent rest.
Naringin (4′,5,7-Trihydroxyflavanone 7-Rhamnoglucoside) Attenuates β-Cell Dysfunction in Diabetic Rats through Upregulation of PDX-1

Background: Pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1) is a key transcription factor which regulates Insulin gene expression and insulin secretion in adult β-cells and helps to maintain β-cells mass. Naringin, a flavanone, owing to its antioxidant property, is reported to have antidiabetic effects. Objectives: The present study tries to evaluate the role of naringin on the β-cell-specific transcription factor PDX-1 in diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in male rats using streptozotocin and treated with naringin (100 mg/kg) orally for 4 and 8 weeks. Serum insulin level, Pdx-1 and Insulin gene expression, and PDX-1 protein expression were assessed in the rat pancreas. Histopathological and ultrastructural changes in the islet and β-cells were observed. Results: Naringin prevented leukocytic infiltration in the pancreas of diabetic rats and recouped the β-cells with adequate secretory granules. Naringin-treated diabetic rats showed significantly increased mRNA expression of Pdx-1 and Insulin genes, increased expression of transcription factor PDX-1, and higher serum insulin levels than the diabetic control animals. These changes were more pronounced in the 8-week naringin-treated diabetic animals. Conclusions: Naringin was found to be an effective antidiabetic agent which increased Insulin gene expression and insulin secretion by upregulating the PDX-1 gene and protein expression.
Development of next generation 3-dimensional in vitro soft tissues models for biomaterial testing : controlling construct properties with fluid flow

Pre-clinical biomaterial development and testing have traditionally relied on 2D in vitro, or complex in vivo assays. It is essential for the cell environment to match the natural tissue in terms of matrix density, architecture, components (including stress/strains) for tissue models to behave in a natural manner. The aim of this project is to improve existing in vitro models for the biomaterial testing. Plastically compressed collagen hydrogels were used to create a simple and accessible 3D model. Improvement in hydrogel stiffness was achieved using pre-crosslinked, polymeric collagen, as a starting material. Hydrogels were formed by blending polymeric and monomeric collagens, which delayed the aggregation of collagen fibrils, and enabled cell incorporation at physiological pH. Plastic compression of the novel hydrogel resulted in stiffer constructs; however, during compression, cells were exposed to reversible (i.e. using mobile macromolecules) increases in cell-damaging fluid shear stresses. In the material degradation model, it was found that the release rates of PLGA degradation products were influenced by cells in the collagen matrix; and differed significantly between 2D (24 hours) and 3D (7 days) models. Imaging of cells cultured within the biomaterial also demonstrate the up-take of biomaterials within cells within the model after 10 days in culture. Nanoparticle drug delivery via hyaluronan nanoparticle (HA-NP) was im-
Impact of resection margin status on recurrence and survival in pancreatic cancer surgery

The prognosis of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is poor and selection of patients for surgery is challenging. This study examined the impact of a positive resection margin (R1) on locoregional recurrence (LRR) and overall survival (OS); and also aimed to identified tumour characteristics and/or technical factors associated with a positive resection margin in patients with PDAC.