Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Photoinactivation Sensitivity of Staphylococcus carnosus to Visible‐light Irradiation as a Function of Wavelength

Inactivation properties of visible light are of increasing interest due to multiple possible fields of application concerning antibacterial treatment. For violet wavelengths, the generation of reactive oxygen species by porphyrins is accepted as underlying mechanism. However, there is still little knowledge about photosensitizers at blue wavelengths. While flavins were named as possible candidates, there is still no experimental evidence. This study investigates the photoinactivation sensitivity of Staphylococcus carnosus to selected wavelengths between 390 and 500 nm in 10‐ to 25‐nm intervals. Absorption and fluorescence measurements in bacterial lysates confirmed inactivation findings. By means of a mathematical calculation in MATLAB®, a fit of different photosensitizer absorption spectra to the measured action spectrum was determined to gain knowledge about the extent to which specific photosensitizers are involved. The most effective wavelength for S. carnosus at 415 nm could be explained by the involvement of zinc protoporphyrin IX. Between 450 and 470 nm, inactivation results indicated a broad plateau, statistically distinguishable from 440 and 480 nm. This observation points to flavins as responsible photosensitizers, which furthermore seem to be involved at violet wavelengths. A spectral scan of sensitivities might generally be an advantageous approach for examining irradiation impact.
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Plus Rehabilitative Exercise as a Treatment for Dysphagia in Stroke and Non-Stroke Patients in an NHS Setting: Feasibility and Outcomes

Dysphagia is a debilitating condition with significant consequences in terms of physical and mental health. This study demonstrates that it is feasible to provide an intensive therapy program combining neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with exercise against resistance in the treatment of dysphagia in a public healthcare setting. Thirty-one patients (17 stroke, 14 non-stroke) who experienced dysphagia with reduced laryngeal elevation completed the therapy program. After checking the data sets for comparability, it was deemed appropriate for the outcome data from these patients to be combined with that of 12 stroke patients previously reported to enable statistical analysis on a larger data set (n = 43). A repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a statistically significant increase in amount and variety of food a patient was able to take orally (FOIS) following completion of treatment (p < 0.001). There was no significant between-subject effect of stroke status (p = 0.43), or interaction between treatment and stroke status (p = 0.68). There was a significant improvement in secondary outcome measures of swallow safety with fluids (PAS) (p < 0.001) and swallow-related quality of life (Swal-Qol (p < 0.001). These findings indicate that the therapy program may be associated with reduced impairment in a subset of patients with dysphagia resulting from stroke and non-stroke atiologies, and the data will inform the design of future research to address unanswered questions.
A study of cyberbullying victimization and the moderating role of mindfulness on online disinhibition and cyberbullying

This research paper aims to evaluate cybervictimization and the moderating role of mindfulness on online disinhibition effect and cyberbullying. A cross-sectional quantitative study was performed on 385 tertiary education students from public and private tertiary education institutions in Malaysia. The participants were recruited using the snowball sampling method. Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS) was used to run hierarchical multiple regression analysis to test the whether cybervictimization during adolescence predicted cyberbullying, and whether there is a significant effect of online disinhibition effect on the relationship between cybervictimization and cyberbullying perpetration. The same analysis was also utilized to evaluate the three-way interactions of awareness and acceptance with the other variables. The results indicated that being victims of cyberbullying during adolescence are more likely to be cyberbullies in the future. In addition, online disinhibition effect was found to influence the tendency for victims to cyberbully others. However, three-way interactions were insignificant, whereby acceptance and awareness were not able to impact the influence of online disinhibition effect. Future research are suggested to use a broader scale for mindfulness or test another factor altogether to identify an inhibitor to counteract against online disinhibition effect.
Subcellular Localization Signals of bHLH-PAS Proteins: Their Significance, Current State of Knowledge and Future Perspectives

The bHLH-PAS (basic helix-loop-helix/ Period-ARNT-Single minded) proteins are a family of transcriptional regulators commonly occurring in living organisms. bHLH-PAS members act as intracellular and extracellular “signals” sensors, initiating response to endo- and exogenous signals, including toxins, redox potential, and light. The activity of these proteins as transcription factors depends on nucleocytoplasmic shuttling: the signal received in the cytoplasm has to be transduced, via translocation, to the nucleus. It leads to the activation of transcription of particular genes and determines the cell response to different stimuli. In this review, we aim to present the current state of knowledge concerning signals that affect shuttling of bHLH-PAS transcription factors. We summarize experimentally verified and published nuclear localization signals/nuclear export signals (NLSs/NESs) in the context of performed in silico predictions. We have used most of the available NLS/NES predictors. Importantly, all our results confirm the existence of a complex system responsible for protein localization regulation that involves many localization signals, which activity has to be precisely controlled. We conclude that the current stage of knowledge in this area is still not complete and for most of bHLH-PAS proteins an experimental verification of the activity of further NLS/NES is needed.
Marriage, Divorce and Sorting: A Reassessment of Unilateral Divorce Laws

I evaluate the impact of unilateral divorce laws (UDLs) on the risk of divorce via two channels: the effect on divorce of married couples (divorce effect), and the effect on marriage formation (sorting effect). The divorce effect affects the divorce probability of all married couples, while the sorting effect is only experienced by couples that married after the implementation of UDLs. I use differences in the timing of states' enactment of UDLs as a source of exogenous treatment variation in a difference-in-differences approach. Using the Divorce and Marriage file of Vital Statistics from the NBER data collection, I find that UDLs have a profound impact on marital sorting. The sorting effect significantly increases the cumulative risk of divorce within any length of marriage, while the divorce effect is only significantly associated with increasing the risk of divorce within the first 9 years and has no effect on subsequent years. Moreover, unstable marriages dissolve faster due to changes in marital sorting. The sorting effect increases the risk of divorce in each of the first 5 years of marriage by 4.5%, while there is zero divorce effect for these same years. 31% of the initial increase in the overall divorce rate identified in previous studies is due to the sorting effect.
Examining Mexican-Heritage Mothers' Perceptions of Their Children's Weight: Comparison of Silhouette and Categorical Survey Methods.

Background: Failure to recognize children's overweight status by parents may contribute to children's risk for obesity. We examined two methods of measuring mothers' perceptions of children's weight and factors associated with weight perception inaccuracy. Methods: Cross-sectional analyses of clinical and self-report data from 287 Mexican-heritage mother-child dyads. Mothers identified their child's weight category using a scale (e.g., "normal/overweight/obese") and a visual silhouette scale (11 child gender-specific weight-varying images). Children's height and weight were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI). Chi-square tests examined associations between categorical, silhouette, and BMI percentile categories of children's weight. Bivariate logistic regression analyses examined factors associated with mothers' inaccuracy of their children's weight. Results: Only 13% of mothers accurately classified their child as obese using the categorical scale, while 78% accurately classified their child as obese using the silhouette scale. Mothers were more likely to underestimate their child's weight using BMI categories (62%) compared to using the silhouette scale (23%). Predictors of mothers' underestimation using the categorical method were child sex [female] (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.02-3.86), child age [younger age] (AOR = 10.39; 95% CI: 4.16-25.92 for ages 5-6 years), and mother's weight status (overweight AOR = 2.99; 95% CI: 1.05-8.51; obese AOR = 5.19; 95% CI: 1.89-14.18). Child BMI was the only predictor of mothers' overestimation (AOR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.85-0.94) using the silhouette method. Conclusions: Using silhouette scales to identify children's body weight may be a more accurate tool for clinicians and interventionists to activate parents' awareness of unhealthy weight in children compared to using traditional categorical weight-labeling methods.
Distinct PLZF+CD8αα+ Unconventional T Cells Enriched in Liver Use a Cytotoxic Mechanism to Limit Autoimmunity

Key Points PLZF expression in CD8αα Tunc distinguishes them from conventional CD8 T cells. CD8αα Tunc express NK cell markers and are dependent upon IL-2Rβ signaling. CD8αα Tunc use perforin in a negative feedback mechanism to control autoimmunity. Hepatic immune system is uniquely challenged to mount a controlled effector response to pathogens while maintaining tolerance to diet and microbial Ags. We have identified a novel population of innate-like, unconventional CD8αα+TCRαβ+ T cells in naive mice and in human peripheral blood, called CD8αα Tunc, capable of controlling effector T cell responses. They are NK1.1+ (CD161+ in human), express NK-inhibitory receptors, and express the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) transcription factor that distinguishes them from conventional CD8+ T cells. These cells display a cytotoxic phenotype and use a perforin-dependent mechanism to control Ag-induced or T cell–mediated autoimmune diseases. CD8αα Tunc are dependent upon IL-15/IL-2Rβ signaling and PLZF for their development and/or survival. They are Foxp3-negative and their regulatory activity is associated with a functionally distinct Qa-1b–dependent population coexpressing CD11c and CD244. A polyclonal TCR repertoire, an activated/memory phenotype, and the presence of CD8αα Tunc in NKT- and in MAIT-deficient as well as in germ-free mice indicates that these cells recognize diverse self-protein Ags. Our studies reveal a distinct population of unconventional CD8+ T cells within the natural immune repertoire capable of controlling autoimmunity and also providing a new target for therapeutic intervention.
Robot Locomotion Controller Generation Through Human-Inspired Optimization

This thesis presents an approach to the formal design, optimization and implementation of bipedal robotic walking controllers, with experimental application on two biped platforms. Standard rigid-body modeling is used to construct a hybrid system model of robotic walking; this model estimates the motion of the robot hardware under a given control action. The primary objective of this thesis is the construction of a control law which effects, on the robot, a periodic “walking” behavior. The process begins with examination of human walking data—specifically outputs of human walking—which provide inspiration for the construction of formal walking control laws. These controllers drive the robot to a low-dimensional representation, termed the partial hybrid zero dynamics, which is shaped by the parameters of the outputs describing the human output data. The main result of this paper is an optimization problem that produces a low-dimensional representation that “best” fits the human data while simultaneously enforcing constraints that ensure a stable periodic orbit and constraints which model the physical limitations of the robot hardware. This formal result is demonstrated through simulation and utilized to obtain 3D walking experimentally with an Aldebaran NAO robot and NASA’s prototype Leg Testbed robot.
From organizational support to second victim-related distress: role of patient safety culture.

AIM This cross-sectional correlation study aimed to explore the associations among patient safety culture, organizational support, second victim-related distress, absenteeism, and turnover intentions in the registered nurses (RNs) by using structural equation modeling. BACKGROUND Medical errors could cause RNs' second victim-related distress, which may either positively or negatively impact patient safety culture. METHOD The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) and Second Victim Experience and Support Tool (SVEST) were used to investigate 267 RNs who were involved in direct patient care and medical errors within the previous year in China. RESULTS About half (45.3%) of nurses experienced psychological distress, and 26.6% of the nurses intended to leave. The model showed that 6 dimensions of patient safety culture have contributed to decreasing absenteeism and turnover intention via increased organizational supports and decreased second victim-related distress. CONCLUSION The second victim-related distress may be relieved and organizational support may be enhanced through improvements in patient safety culture. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Strategies are needed to establish an environment where cooperation/cooperative relationships between supervisor and the staff nurse can be ensured.
Time trends in referrals to child and adolescent gender identity services: a study in four Nordic countries and in the UK

Abstract Purpose: To explore whether the increase observed in referrals to child and adolescent gender identity services (GIDSs) has been similar in four Nordic countries and in the UK. Materials and methods: Numbers of referrals per year in 2011–2017 were obtained from all GIDS in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the UK and related to population aged <18. Results: A similar pattern of increase in referral rates was observed across countries, resulting in comparable population adjusted rates in 2017. In children, male:female birth sex ratio was even; in adolescents, a preponderance of females (birth sex) was observed, particularly in Finland. Conclusions: The demand for GIDSs has evolved similarly across Nordic countries and the UK. The reasons for the increase are not known but increased awareness of gender identity issues, service availability, destigmatization as well as social and media influences may play a role.
Integrating Empathy and Interpersonal Emotion Regulation.

When individuals experience empathy, they often seek to bolster others' well-being. But what do empathizers want others to feel? Though psychologists have studied empathy and prosociality for decades, this question has yet to be clearly addressed. This is because virtually all existing research focuses on a model under which improving others' well-being also comprises heightening their positive affect or decreasing their negative affect and helping them reach their own emotional goals. In this review, I argue that real-life empathic goals encompass a broader range-including sometimes worsening targets' affect or contravening their wishes in order to improve their well-being-that can be productively integrated into the framework of interpersonal emotion regulation (IER). I review the empathic IER spectrum in a number of contexts, including close relationships, professional caregiving, and group-based emotions. Integrating empathy and IER provides a synthetic and generative way to ask new questions about how social emotions produce prosocial actions. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Psychology, Volume 71 is January 4, 2020. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
IL-17A, a possible biomarker for the evaluation of treatment response in Trypanosoma cruzi infected children: A 12-months follow-up study in Bolivia

Background The National Program for Chagas disease was implemented in Bolivia in 2006, and it greatly decreased the number of infections through vector control. Subsequently, a treatment regimen of benznidazole (BNZ) was started in seropositive school-age children living in certified vector control areas. Methods and findings We conducted a 12-month follow-up study and seven blood samples were taken during and after the treatment. Serology, conventional diagnostic PCR (cPCR) and quantitative Real-time PCR (qPCR) were performed. Plasma Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines levels were also determined. Approximately 73 of 103 seropositive children complied with BNZ, with three interruptions due to side effects. To evaluate each individual’s treatment efficacy, the cPCR and qPCR values during the final 6 months of the follow-up period were observed. Among 57 children who completed follow-up, 6 individuals (11%) showed both cPCR(+) and qPCR(+) (non reactive), 24 (42%) cPCR(-) but qPCR(+) (ambiguous) and 27 (47%) cPCR(-) and qPCR(-) (reactive). Within 14 Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines, IL-17A showed significantly higher levels in seropositive children before the treatment compared to age-matched seronegative children and significantly decreased to the normal level one-year after. Moreover, throughout the follow-up study, IL-17A levels were positively co-related to parasite counts detected by qPCR. At the 12 months’ time point, IL-17A levels of non-reactive subjects were significantly higher than either those of reactive or ambiguous subjects suggesting that IL-17A might be useful to determine the reactivity to BNZ treatment. Conclusions Plasma levels of IL-17A might be a bio-marker for detecting persistent infection of T. cruzi and its chronic inflammation.
SES and the emotional ‘benefits’ and ‘costs’ of parenting

In today’s society, children’s value to their parents is primarily emotional. As such, scholars have devoted a tremendous amount of effort to understanding how children both enhance, and diminish, the emotional wellbeing of parents. What remains unclear, however, is how these emotional ‘costs’ and ‘benefits’ vary across different socioeconomic segments of U.S. society. We investigate this question using random effects models and a representative sample of adults participating in the American Time Use Survey Wellbeing Module (N activities =52,036, N respondents =17,481). We find that caring for minor children (versus not) is associated with greater levels of positive emotions (happiness, meaning) and less sadness for all socioeconomic groups, but it is only associated with greater levels of negative emotions (stress, fatigue) for higher SES parents. This overall pattern of results was also observed when looking only at men. For women, however, it was only observed among higher SES mothers. For lower SES women, raising children did not seem to enhance, or diminish, emotional wellbeing. We discuss these SES and gender related findings in the context of recent trends in fertility among both lower and higher socioeconomic segments of society, as well as trends in social inequality more broadly. Key words: wellbeing, parenting, education, time use, gender
Bimodal modulation of background activity in an identified descending interneuron.

In the absence of any obvious input, sensory neurons and interneurons can display resting or spontaneous activity. This is often regarded as noise and removed through trial averaging, although it may reflect history-dependent modulation of tuning or fidelity and, thus, be of functional relevance to downstream interneurons. Here, we investigate the history-dependence of spontaneous activity in a pair of identified, bimodal descending interneurons of the stick insect, called contralateral ON-type velocity-sensitive interneurons (cONv). The bilateral pair of cONv conveys antennal mechanosensory information to the thoracic ganglia, where it arborises in regions containing locomtor networks. Each cONv encodes the movement velocity of the contralateral antenna, but also substrate vibration as induced by discrete tapping events. Moreover, cONv displays highly fluctuating spontaneous activity that can reach rates similar to those during antennal movement at moderate velocities. Hence, cONv offers a unique opportunity to study history-dependent effects on spontaneous activity and, thus, encoding fidelity in two modalities. Here, we study unimodal and cross-modal effects as well as unilateral and bilateral effects, using bilateral recordings of both cONv neurons, while moving one antenna and/or delivering taps to induce substrate vibration. Tapping could reduce spontaneous activity of both neurons, whereas antennal movement reduced spontaneous activity of the contralateral cONv neuron only. Combination of both modalities showed a cooperative effect for some parameter constellations, suggesting bimodal enhancement. Since both stimulus modalities could cause a reduction of spontaneous activity at stimulus intensities occurring during natural locomotion, we conclude that this should enhance neuronal response fidelity during locomotion.
Synthesis of Well-Defined Gold Nanoparticles Using Pluronic: The Role of Radicals and Surfactants in Nanoparticles Formation

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNP) by reacting chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) and Pluronic F127 was thoroughly investigated. The rate of reduction of HAuCl4 and the yield and morphology of GNP strongly depended on the concentration of the reactants and sodium chloride, as well as pH and temperature. Upon completion of the reaction heterogeneous mixtures of small GNP of defined shape and Pluronic aggregates were formed. GNP were separated from the excess of Pluronic by centrifugal filtration. Under optimized conditions the GNP were small (ca. 80 nm), uniform (PDI ~0.09), strongly negatively charged (ζ-potential −30 mV) and nearly spherical. They were stable in distilled water and phosphate-buffered saline. Purified GNP contained ~13% by weight of an organic component, yet presence of polypropylene oxide was not detected suggesting that Pluronic was not adsorbed on their surface. Analysis of the soluble products suggested that the copolymer undergoes partial degradation accompanied by cleavage of the C–O bonds and appearance of new primary hydroxyl groups. The reaction involves formation of free radicals and hydroperoxides depends on the oxygen concentration. GNP did not form at 4 °C when the micellization of Pluronic was abolished reinforcing the role of the copolymer self-assembly. In conclusion, this work provides insight into the mechanism of HAuCl4 reduction and GNP formation in the presence of Pluronic block copolymers. It is useful for improving the methods of manufacturing uniform and pure GNP that are needed as nanoscale building blocks in nanomedicine applications.