Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perceived stress among adolescents as a marker for future mental disorders: A prospective cohort study

Aim: The mental health problems of adolescents are important in relation to their future health and life course. The aim of this study was to investigate perceived stress in adolescence as a marker for later mental disorders. Methods: The data consisted of a combination of questionnaire and register data for 11,929 adolescents. Perceived stress was measured using Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale divided into low, moderate and high perceived stress. Mental disorder was identified using the ICD-10 codes for Mental and Behavioural Disorders classified into whether the adolescents were diagnosed or not. Logistic regression was used to examine the prospective association between perceived stress and mental disorders during about 12 months of follow-up, including the adolescents self-rated health, sex and parental education. Results: In total, 247 adolescents (2.1%) were diagnosed with a mental disorder during follow-up. The perceived stress of the adolescents was associated with mental disorders, yielding two-fold higher odds of developing a mental disorder for adolescents reporting moderate perceived stress and six-fold higher odds among adolescents reporting high perceived stress in the adjusted model. Conclusions: Adolescents with high levels of perceived stress were more likely to develop a mental disorder. Interventions to reduce perceived stress among adolescents could therefore potentially help to identify groups at high risk for later mental disorders.
Mind over body: Creating an external focus for sport skills

ABSTRACT In a recent study examining the efficacy of different external foci (Singh and Wulf [2020]. The distance effect and level of expertise: Is the optimal external focus different for low-skilled and high-skilled performers? Human Movement Science, 73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2020.102663), an external focus instruction referred to parts of the body (arms). Specifically, the image of a “platform” was used to describe the area between the wrists and elbows when passing a volleyball. The present study followed up on that study by addressing the question whether a focus on an image that represents a body part (platform) would be more effective than a focus on the body parts (arms) themselves (i.e. internal focus). In a within-participant design, novice volleyball players continuously passed a volleyball to a target on the wall. Participants completed eight 45-s trials under each of the external (“focus on your platform”) and internal focus (“focus on your arms”) conditions, performed in a counterbalanced order. The results showed that the total score (i.e. sum of scores over 45 s) was significantly higher when participants focused on the platform rather than their arms. Thus, invoking an image of an external object that “replaces” a body part can serve to promote an external focus that results in immediate performance advantages compared with an internal focus on the same body part. The findings suggest that instructors within a range of applied settings can creatively use such images to facilitate the performance of motor skills. Highlights The image of an object (“platform”) is used to promote an external focus in volleyball. Novice volleyball players pass a ball to a target with a focus on the platform versus arms. Passing accuracy is superior with an external (platform) relative to an internal focus (arms). Using the image of an object to “replace” a body part can promote an external focus of attention.
Strong Correlation of MTHFR Gene Polymorphisms with Breast Cancer and its Prognostic Clinical Factors among Egyptian Females

Introduction: Globally, Breast cancer (BC) is considered the second most common type of cancer and the principal cause of death among affected women. Aim: In this study, we targeted to demonstrate the association of MTHFR single gene polymorphisms (SNPs) with the susceptibility of breast cancer, in addition to its correlation with the clinical patient features. Patients and Methods: This work was conducted on 100 Egyptian females with breast cancer and 60 healthy matched controls. Clinical examinations and pathological investigations were recorded. Genotyping of MTHFR polymorphisms C677T (rs1801133) and A1298C (rs1801131) by using Restriction Fragment length Polymorphisms (RFLP) and Sequencing assays were performed. Univariate, Multivariate and Haplotype analysis for the allelic frequencies and the association with clinicopathological features of BC were assessed. Results: The present data showed a strong significant association between the CT and TT of MTHFR (C677T), and AC and CC of (A1289C) with the susceptibility of BC showing highly statistical P- value (0.001). It was also demonstrated that the most frequent haplotype of the two loci of MTHFR (rs1801133-rs1801131) was TC. The latter was strongly associated with the aggressive clinical features of each of tumor size, advanced stage, involvement of cancer in lymph nodes, overexpression of HER2neu and dual negativity of both ER and PR hormones. Conclusions: SNPs within the MTHFR gene (C677T) and (A1289C) have strong correlation with BC among Egyptian females; These SNPs should be considered as important prognostic markers for identifying the individuals at high risk of developing BC and its progression.
Whole Heart Engineering: Advances and Challenges

Bioengineering a solid organ for organ replacement is a growing endeavor in regenerative medicine. Our approach – recellularization of a decellularized cadaveric organ scaffold with human cells – is currently the most promising approach to building a complex solid vascularized organ to be utilized in vivo, which remains the major unmet need and a key challenge. The 2008 publication of perfusion-based decellularization and partial recellularization of a rat heart revolutionized the tissue engineering field by showing that it was feasible to rebuild an organ using a decellularized extracellular matrix scaffold. Toward the goal of clinical translation of bioengineered tissues and organs, there is increasing recognition of the underlying need to better integrate basic science domains and industry. From the perspective of a research group focusing on whole heart engineering, we discuss the current approaches and advances in whole organ engineering research as they relate to this multidisciplinary field’s 3 major pillars: organ scaffolds, large numbers of cells, and biomimetic bioreactor systems. The success of whole organ engineering will require optimization of protocols to produce biologically-active scaffolds for multiple organ systems, and further technological innovation both to produce the massive quantities of high-quality cells needed for recellularization and to engineer a bioreactor with physiologic stimuli to recapitulate organ function. Also discussed are the challenges to building an implantable vascularized solid organ.
Interaction of Aspergillus niger hyphae and spores with colloidal silver nanoparticles.

The experiments explored the interactions and antifungal properties of silver nanoparticles, against a model microorganism, Aspergillus niger. Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis were used for assessment of structural alterations done to fungal cells and hyphae, coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDAX). The toxicity of the silver nanoparticles was tested using two methods: liquid exposure to the solution containing silver NPs, and spraying the NPs solution directly on the fungal culture. Analysis revealed significant cellular alteration due to the exposure to silver nanoparticles as well as effects on the growth of Aspergillus niger strain, in comparison to deionized water treatment, used at control sample. Microscopic SEM images revealed that silver nanoparticles treated hyphae were damaged on cell walls level, inducing plasmolysis, while EDAX analysis revealed strong silver depositions in the damaged areas of vegetative cells and spores walls, aspects that could be correlated with silver presence on the affected sites.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Infrared, and X-ray Powder Diffraction Study of Dimethylsulfoxide and Dimethylselenoxide Intercalates with Kaolinite

Dimethylselenoxide (DMSeO) forms three structurally resolvable intercalates with kaolinite (d(001) = 10.95, 11.26, and 11.38 Å). The 11.26-Å kaolinite: DMSeO intercalate is structurally analogous to the 3-D ordered kaolinite: DMSO intercalate (d(001) = 11.22 Å). Infrared and solid-state 77Se nuclear magnetic resonance data indicate that all DMSeO molecules are equivalent in the structure and, therefore, that the 11.26-Å kaolinite: DMSeO intercalate structure is C-face centered. Structural model refinement from X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) data further support this conclusion (Pl, a = 5.195(2), b = 8.990(4), c = 11.946(5) Å, α = 91.33(2)°, β = 109.39(2)°, γ = 89.77(2)°). The kaolinite: DMSO intercalate structure was subsequently re-refined from the XRD profile in C-face centered Pl. The derived orientation of the DMSO and DMSeO molecules with respect to the basal plane of their respective intercalates is in agreement with polarized infrared measurements of the angles with ab of S=O (40.3°) and Se=O (38.8°) for the 11.26-Å intercalate. The locations of the organic molecules also agree with observed infrared band splittings and perturbations. Interatomic distances calculated from the band shifts agree with those for the XRD derived structures.The 11.38-Å kaolinite: DMSeO intercalate is closely related to the 11.26-Å intercalate, the main differences being a 2-fold disorder in the orientation of the DMSeO molecule and less penetration of the kaolinite ditrigonal cavity by that molecule. The 10.95-Å kaolinite: DMSeO intercalate, displaying disorder parallel to [110], was obtained from the 11.26- or 11.38-Å intercalates by removal of some DMSeO.
Length Scale of Dynamic Heterogeneity in Supercooled d-Sorbitol: Comparison to Model Predictions

A direct measurement of the length scale of dynamic heterogeneity in supercooled d-sorbitol has been performed using a multidimensional 13C solid-state NMR experiment. Several models predict that the growth of this length scale is linked to the slowing of dynamics as the glass transition is approached from above. At 275 K (Tg + 7 K), 2.5 ± 1.2 nm heterogeneities are detected in sorbitol. This result and recent results of similar measurements on glycerol, o-terphenyl, and poly(vinyl acetate) are compared to various models. The only model in quantitative agreement with these experimental data is based upon local fluctuations in the configurational entropy.
Astragalus protects PC12 cells from 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neuronal damage: A serum pharmacological study

Accumulating evidence has already indicated that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) possesses tremendous potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Astragalus, also named Huangqi, is a famous traditional medical herb that can be applied to treat cerebral ischemia and prevent neuronal degeneration. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In the present study, Astragalus-containing serum (ASMES) was prepared and added into the culture medium of PC12 cells to explore its neuroprotective effect on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-caused neuronal toxicity. Our data showed that ASMES significantly ameliorated the cellular viability of cultured PC12 cells against the neurotoxicity induced by 6-OHDA (P < 0.05). Moreover, ASMES significantly decreased the cell apoptosis triggered by 6-OHDA (P < 0.01). Furthermore, 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate assay was performed to detect the changes in oxidative stress, and we showed that 6-OHDA elevated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas ASMES significantly reversed these changes (P < 0.01). Besides, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assay showed that ASMES could restore 6-OHDA-damaged MMP in cultured PC12 cells (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Astragalus could protect PC12 cells from 6-OHDA-caused neuronal toxicity, and possibly, the ROS-mediated apoptotic pathway participated in this process. Collectively, our findings provided valuable insights into the potential in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
[Anti-inflammatory effect, plasma effective components and therapeutic targets of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on ulcerative colitis mice].

This paper was to investigate the effect of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction(HLJD) on ulcerative colitis(UC) in mice, and determine the effective components in plasma, and virtually screen its therapeutic target, and predict its mechanism. Sixty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into blank group, model group, mesalazine treatment group(0.3 g·kg~(-1)), and HLJD treatment groups(24.66, 12.33, 6.17 g·kg~(-1)). Excepted for the blank group, all the mice in HLJD and mesalazine treatment groups were gavage administration. All mice freely drank 2.5% DSS solution for seven days to induce UC. The disease activity index(DAI) was detected each day. At the end of the experiment, HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in colon. The content of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in colon were determined by ELISA. The effective components in plasma were determined by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. The reverse docking in PharmMapper was used to screen the component targets. The disease targets of UC were collected by searching TTD, OMIM and GeneCards databases. The intersection of the component targets and disease targets was selected as the therapeutic targets. Then the therapeutic targets were imported into the STRING for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Discovery Studio was used to simulate the docking between the components and the targets. RESULTS:: showed that the DAI in the model group increased significantly(P<0.05), and the number of inflammatory cells and infiltration degree increased significantly compared with the blank group. The DAI in HLJD treatment group was significantly reduced(P<0.05), and the number and infiltration degree of inflammatory cells were reduced compared with the model group. The ELISA results showed that the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were increased significantly in the model group(P<0.01) compared with the blank group, and significantly down regulated in the HLJD treatment group(P<0.05) compared with the model group. After UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analyse, ten components were identified. The network pharmacology analysis showed that the action targets were significantly enriched in 129 of biological processes, such as response to organic substance, chemical and oxygen-containing compound, etc., as well as 16 of signal pathways, such as IL-17, TNF and hepatitis B signal pathways, were enriched too. The results of molecular docking showed that limonin, palmatine and berberine could bind to CASP3 and MMP9 by hydrogen bond. In conclusion, HLJD could alleviate the colonic mucosal inflammatory infiltration and mucosal damage in UC mice. The mechanism may be related to the anti-inflammatory effect on UC mice by reducing the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in colon through limonin, palmatine and berberine regulating IL-17 signal pathway and TNF signal pathway via CASP3 and MMP9 meditated.
Cystic proliferation of germline stem cells is necessary to reproductive success and normal mating behavior in medaka

The production of an adequate number of gametes is necessary for normal reproduction, for which the regulation of proliferation from early gonadal development to adulthood is key in both sexes. Cystic proliferation of germline stem cells is an especially important step prior to the beginning of meiosis; however, the molecular regulators of this proliferation remain elusive in vertebrates. Here, we report that ndrg1b is an important regulator of cystic proliferation in medaka. We generated mutants of ndrg1b that led to a disruption of cystic proliferation of germ cells. This loss of cystic proliferation was observed from embryogenic to adult stages, impacting the success of gamete production and reproductive parameters such as spawning and fertilization. Interestingly, the depletion of cystic proliferation also impacted male sexual behavior, with a decrease of mating vigor. These data illustrate why it is also necessary to consider gamete production capacity in order to analyze reproductive behavior.
Isolation, Structural Elucidation, and Total Synthesis of Epiisocitreoviridinol

Epiisocitreoviridinol, biogenetically relevant to citreoviridinol, has been isolated as a new metabolite of Penicillium citreo-viride B. (IFO 6049). Its stereostructure including the absolute configuration has been determined unambiguously by its total synthesis in optically active form.
Peering into tunneling nanotubes—The path forward

The identification of Tunneling Nanotubes (TNTs) and TNT‐like structures signified a critical turning point in the field of cell‐cell communication. With hypothesized roles in development and disease progression, TNTs’ ability to transport biological cargo between distant cells has elevated these structures to a unique and privileged position among other mechanisms of intercellular communication. However, the field faces numerous challenges—some of the most pressing issues being the demonstration of TNTs in vivo and understanding how they form and function. Another stumbling block is represented by the vast disparity in structures classified as TNTs. In order to address this ambiguity, we propose a clear nomenclature and provide a comprehensive overview of the existing knowledge concerning TNTs. We also discuss their structure, formation‐related pathways, biological function, as well as their proposed role in disease. Furthermore, we pinpoint gaps and dichotomies found across the field and highlight unexplored research avenues. Lastly, we review the methods employed to date and suggest the application of new technologies to better understand these elusive biological structures.
The effect of 5 nights of sleep restriction on empathic propensity

Literature supports the existence of a significant relationship between sleep quality/quantity and empathy. However, empathic ability and empathic propensity are distinct constructs. Expression of empathic propensity depends on the subjective cognitive costs attributed to the empathic experience. Studies on the effects of the experimental reduction in sleep duration on empathic behaviour are still lacking. Therefore, we investigated the consequences of 5 consecutive nights of sleep restriction on empathic propensity. A total of 42 university students (mean [SEM] age 24.09 [0.65] years; 22 females) underwent a cross‐over design consisting of 5 consecutive nights of regular sleep and 5 consecutive nights of sleep restriction with a maximum of 5 hr sleep/night. After each condition, all participants were evaluated using the Empathy Selection Task, a new test assessing the motivated avoidance of empathy for its associated cognitive costs. The results showed different effects of sleep restriction depending on the habitual way of responding in the empathic context. Participants with baseline high levels of empathic propensity reduced their empathic propensity after prolonged sleep restriction. Differently, participants who tended to avoid empathising already in the habitual sleep condition maintained their empathic behaviour unchanged after sleep curtailment. In conclusion, inter‐individual variability should be taken into account when evaluating the effects of sleep restriction on empathic propensity. People with habitual higher tendency to empathise could choose to avoid empathic experience following several consecutive nights of inadequate sleep.
Preparation and properties of inclusion compounds of ferrocene and its derivatives with cyclodextrins

Inclusion compounds of ferrocene and its derivatives with α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins have been prepared in a crystalline state in high yields. β-Cyclodextrin and γ-cyclodextrin formed 1 : 1 stoicheiometric inclusion compounds. α-Cyclodextrin formed 2 : 1 (host:guest) complexes with ferrocene and its monosubstituted derivatives, but did not form complexes with 1,1′-disubstituted derivatives. The complexes of α- and β-cyclodextrin with ferrocene are thermally stable and do not liberate ferrocene on heating at 100 °C in vacuo. The inclusion compounds were characterized by 1H n.m. r. , i.r. , u.v. , and circular dichroism spectroscopy. A large positive induced Cotton effect was observed in the case of complex of β-cyclodextrin with ferrocene, while the complex of γ-cyclodextrin showed a negative spectrum. The binding mode is discussed.
Inter-rater and test-retest reliability of computerized clinical vestibular tools.

BACKGROUND Clinical vestibular technology is rapidly evolving to improve objective assessments of vestibular function. Understanding the reliability and expected score ranges of emerging clinical vestibular tools is important to gauge how these tools should be used as clinical endpoints. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate inter-rater and test-retest reliability intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of four vestibular tools and to determine expected ranges of scores through smallest real difference (SRD) measures. METHODS Sixty healthy graduate students completed two 1-hour sessions, at most a week apart, consisting of two video head-impulse tests (vHIT), computerized dynamic visual acuity (cDVA) tests, and a smartphone-assisted bucket test (SA-SVV). Thirty students were tested by different testers at each session (inter-rater) and 30 by the same tester (test-retest). ICCs and SRDs were calculated for both conditions. RESULTS Most measures fell within the moderate ICC range (0.50-0.75). ICCs were higher for cDVA in the inter-rater subgroup and higher for vHITs in the test-retest subgroup. CONCLUSIONS Measures from the four tools evaluated were moderately reliable. There may be a tester effect on reliabilities, specifically vHITs. Further research should repeat these analyses in a patient population and explore methodological differences between vHIT systems.
Optimizing Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) to Detect Early Cognitive Dysfunction

BACKGROUND,— The utility of Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) as an indicator of preclinical AD is overshadowed by its inconsistent association with objective cognition. OBJECTIVE,— This study examines if manipulations of SCD measurement affect its association with early cognitive dysfunction characteristic of preclinical AD. METHODS,— Cognitively healthy older adults (n=110) completed SCD questionnaires that elicited complaints in general, compared to 5 years ago (retrospective SCD) and compared to their peers (age-anchored SCD) in binary and Likert scales. Outcome cognitive tasks included an associative memory task (Face-Name Test), a visual short-term memory binding task (STMB test), and a clinical neuropsychological list learning test (Selective Reminder Test). RESULTS,— SCD complaints, when compared to age matched peers (age-anchored SCD) were endorsed less frequently than complaints compared to 5 years ago (retrospective SCD) (p<.01). In demographically adjusted regressions, age-anchored ordinal-rated SCD was associated with short term memory binding ( β =−.22, p=.040, CI=−.45,−.01), associative memory ( β =−.26, p=.018, CI= −.45,−.06) list learning ( β =−.31, p=.002, CI=−.51,−.12). Retrospective and general ordinal-rated SCD associated with associative memory ( β =−.25, p=.012, CI=−.44,−.06; β =−.29, p=.003, CI=−.47,−.10) and list learning only ( β =−.25, p=.014, CI=−.45,−.05; β =−.28, p=.004, CI= −.48,−.09). CONCLUSION,— Ordinal Age-anchored SCD appears better suited than other SCD measurements to detect early cognitive dysfunction characteristic of preclinical AD.