Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of EEG Signals using Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos: A review

Nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory have been used in neurophysiology with the aim to understand the complex brain activity from electroencephalographic (EEG) signals. Although linear methods have been the most used in EEG analysis, nonlinear approaches have been increased their presence because they reveal aspects that cannot be measured from linear approaches. However, published works in this scientific field is still very low. Thi s work describes the fundamentals of EEG signals and its basic concepts related with nonlinear dynamics and chaotic measures of complexity and stability. After that, a short review of the most common EEG-based applications is given in medical and non-medical contexts.
Driving the scalability of DNA-based information storage systems

The extreme density of DNA presents a compelling advantage over current storage media; however, in order to reach practical capacities, new approaches for organizing and accessing information are needed. Here we use chemical handles to selectively extract unique files from a complex database of DNA mimicking 5 TB of data and design and implement a nested file address system that increases the theoretical maximum capacity of DNA storage systems by five orders of magnitude. These advancements enable the development and future scaling of DNA-based data storage systems with reasonable modern capacities and file access capabilities.
Design of a Human Rhinovirus-14 3C Protease-Inducible Caspase-3

The engineering of enzymes for the purpose of controlling their activity represents a valuable approach to address challenges in both fundamental and applied research. Here, we describe and compare different design strategies for the generation of a human rhinovirus-14 (HRV14) 3C protease-inducible caspase-3 (CASP3). We exemplify the application potential of the resulting protease by controlling the activity of a synthetic enzyme cascade, which represents an important motif for the design of artificial signal transduction networks. In addition, we use our engineered CASP3 to characterize the effect of aspartate mutations on enzymatic activity. Besides the identification of mutations that render the enzyme inactive, we find the CASP3-D192E mutant (aspartate-to-glutamate exchange at position 192) to be inaccessible for 3C protease-mediated cleavage. This indicates a structural change of CASP3 that goes beyond a slight misalignment of the catalytic triad. This study could inspire the design of additional engineered proteases that could be used to unravel fundamental research questions or to expand the collection of biological parts for the design of synthetic signaling pathways.
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Somatostatin-Based Signaling in Two Model Neural Networks, the Retina and the Hippocampus

Neural inhibition plays a key role in determining the specific computational tasks of different brain circuitries. This functional “braking” activity is provided by inhibitory interneurons that use different neurochemicals for signaling. One of these substances, somatostatin, is found in several neural networks, raising questions about the significance of its widespread occurrence and usage. Here, we address this issue by analyzing the somatostatinergic system in two regions of the central nervous system: the retina and the hippocampus. By comparing the available information on these structures, we identify common motifs in the action of somatostatin that may explain its involvement in such diverse circuitries. The emerging concept is that somatostatin-based signaling, through conserved molecular and cellular mechanisms, allows neural networks to operate correctly.
[Study on the total activity of PKC and the quantity of PKC (alpha, beta) in left auricle tissues of the patients with mitral disease and atrial fibrillation].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the possible relation of atrial fibrillation (AF) with the total activity of protein kinase C (PKC) and the quantity of PKC (alpha, beta) in the left auricle tissues of the patients with mitral disease. METHODS Thirty-five patients hospitalized for valve replacement surgery were divided into four groups: group A (simple mitral stenosis with AF), group B(simple mitral stenosis with sinus rhythm), group C(simple mitral regurgitation with AF), group D (simple mitral regurgitation with sinus rhythm), The total PKC, activity and the quantity of PKC alpha and PKC beta were measured and compared in an attempt to find out whether significant difference exists between the groups. RESULTS There was no significant difference in total PKC activity between the four groups (P > 0.05). The quantity of PKC alpha in patients with AF was lower than that in patients with sinus rhythm, the quantity of PKC beta in patients with AF was higher than in patients with sinus rhythm. But these differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Under conditions of the same rhythm and the same heart disease, the total PKC activity and the quantity of PKC (alpha, beta) of the four groups showed no significant difference. No obvious relation was seen between the total activity of PKC in left auricle tissue and the occurrence of AF in patients with mitral disease, but more research on the relation between AF and the quantity of PKC isoforms in left auricle tissues would be needed.
Slip property of oil-water two phase flow in horizontal pipe

Normall, it is very difficult to measurement oil volume fraction under low oil volume fraction in multi phase flow measurement, in this study, Slip property of oil-water two phase flow in horizontal pipe under low oil volume fraction was investigated though a Coriolis Mass Flowmeter, the difference of water cut and water hold up was analyzed with experiment under the same liquid flow rate, and the same water cut with different oil water speed, the results will offer valuable reference to oil content measurement.
Radiation therapy to enhance tumor immunotherapy: a novel application for an established modality

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this review is to highlight key evidence supporting the effect of radiation therapy on tumor immunity. Conclusions: Recent findings in both the preclinical and clinical settings have provided convincing evidence of the ability of radiation therapy to influence tumor-directed immune responses, and have offered critical insights into the underlying mechanisms. Not only does radiation therapy convert the tumor microenvironment to promote robust tumor immunity, but it also enhances the generation of neoantigens and neoepitopes. Radiation therapy also shapes the TCR repertoire of CD8+ T cells in conjunction with immune checkpoint blockade. In conclusion, a high priority should be placed on developing rational strategies to integrate radiation therapy with immunotherapy in the clinical setting, with an emphasis on careful patient selection and identifying important correlative endpoints.
Design of a system for continuous intraocular pressure monitoring

Measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) has proved to be an important diagnosis tool for detecting and preventing glaucoma, a disease that could lead to blindness or even eye loss. Continuous time monitoring of IOP is important for medical research. This paper evaluates the feasibility of two kinds of passive sensors to measure IOP and presents a complete measurement system for one of them.
Germline genome protection: implications for gamete quality and germ cell tumorigenesis

Germ cells have a unique and critical role as the conduit for hereditary information and therefore employ multiple strategies to protect genomic integrity and avoid mutations. Unlike somatic cells, which often respond to DNA damage by arresting the cell cycle and conducting DNA repair, germ cells as well as long‐lived pluripotent stem cells typically avoid the use of error‐prone repair mechanisms and favor apoptosis, reducing the risk of genetic alterations. Testicular germ cell tumors, the most common cancers of young men, arise from pre‐natal germ cells.
Observed large-scale structures and diabatic heating and drying profiles during TWP-ICE

Abstract This study documents the characteristics of the large-scale structures and diabatic heating and drying profiles observed during the Tropical Warm Pool–International Cloud Experiment (TWP-ICE), which was conducted in January–February 2006 in Darwin during the northern Australian monsoon season. The examined profiles exhibit significant variations between four distinct synoptic regimes that were observed during the experiment. The active monsoon period is characterized by strong upward motion and large advective cooling and moistening throughout the entire troposphere, while the suppressed and clear periods are dominated by moderate midlevel subsidence and significant low- to midlevel drying through horizontal advection. The midlevel subsidence and horizontal dry advection are largely responsible for the dry midtroposphere observed during the suppressed period and limit the growth of clouds to low levels. During the break period, upward motion and advective cooling and moistening located primarily .
Association between Dying Experience and Place of Death: Urban-Rural Differences among Older Chinese Adults.

Background: The quality of the dying experience among older adults should improve with a better understanding of the dying experience and its association with the place of death in Mainland China. Objective: This study investigated the relationship between the dying experience and place of death among older Chinese adults in the context of an urban-rural bifurcated system. Design: We used the end-of-life module data from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey conducted in 2014 and 2016 with an eligible sample of 352 decedents ages 60 and older. Facial expression and sadness at the end of life were indicators of the dying experience in the present study. We performed multiple regression models to examine the association between the place of death and dying experience after adjusting for an ecological array of factors at the individual, family, and community levels. Results: The urban-rural differences in the association between facial expression at death and place of death were identified (interaction term: β = 0.16, p = 0.004). Among the decedents with a rural residence status, dying in a hospital was associated with a more peaceful facial expression at death than dying at home (p < 0.001). Among the decedents with an urban residence status, the place of death was not significantly related to the dying experience. Conclusion: Although home is perceived as a common place for death, the findings revealed that dying at home was less positive for rural older adults compared with dying in hospital. Bridging the gaps between urban and rural areas is necessary for the reform and construction of health care and long-term care systems in China.
Bark in woody plants: understanding the diversity of a multifunctional structure.

Most biological structures carry out multiple functions. Focusing on only one function to make adaptive inferences overlooks that manifold selection pressures and tradeoffs shape the characteristics of a multifunctional structure. Focusing on single functions can only lead to a partial picture of the causes underlying diversity and the evolutionary origin of the structure in question. I illustrate this discussion using bark as a study case. Bark comprises all the tissues surrounding the xylem in woody plants. Broadly, bark includes an inner and mostly living region and an outer, dead one. Of all plant structures, bark has the most complex anatomical structure and ontogenetic origin involving two (and often three) different meristems. Traditionally, the wide diversity in bark traits, mainly bark thickness, has been interpreted as the result of the selective pressures imposed by fire regime. However, recent research has shown that explanations based on fire regime cannot account for salient patterns of bark variation globally including the very strong inner bark thickness-stem diameter scaling, which is likely due to metabolic needs, and the very high intracommunity variation in total, inner, and outer bark thickness, and in inner:outer proportions. Moreover, explanations based on fire disregard that in addition to fire protection, bark carries out several other crucial functions for plants including translocation of photosynthates; storage of starch, soluble sugars, water, and other compounds; protection from herbivores, pathogens, and high temperatures; wound closure, as well as mechanical support, photosynthesis, and likely being involved in xylem embolism repair. All these functions are crucial for plant performance and are involved in synergistic (e.g., storage of water and insulation) and trade-off relationships (e.g., protection from fire vs photosynthetic activity). Focusing on only one of these functions, protection from fire, has provided an incomplete picture of the selective forces shaping bark diversity and has severely hindered our incipient understanding of the functional ecology of this crucial region of woody stems. Applying a multifunctional perspective to the study of bark will allow us to address why we observe such high intracommunity variation in bark traits, why some bark trait combinations are ontogenetically impossible or penalized by selection, how bark is coordinated functionally with other plant parts, and as a result, to understand how bark contributes to the vast diversity of plant ecological strategies across the globe.
Efficacy of Indigo Naturalis Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Series

Objective Indigo naturalis (IN) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has recently been reported to be effective for ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IN. Methods We performed a retrospective observational study for 14 patients with UC treated with IN from October 2015 to December 2016. Results After 8 weeks of oral administration of IN, the partial Mayo score decreased from 4 (2-5) to 1.5 (0-4) [median, interquartile range (IQR), p=0.015]. Among 10 active UC patients, 5 (50%) showed a clinical response, and 4 (40%) achieved clinical remission. Serial changes of endoscopic activity were evaluated in nine patients using the Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES), Rachmilewitz endoscopic index (REI), and UC endoscopy index of severity (UCEIS). The MES decreased from 2 (2-3) to 1 (1-2) [median (IQR), p=0.005], the REI decreased from 7 (5.5-11) to 3 (1-7) [median (IQR), p=0.008], and the UCEIS decreased from 3 (3-4.5) to 1 (0.5-3.5) [median (IQR), p=0.039]. One patient developed acute right-sided colitis with wall thickening and edematous change, and the remaining 13 showed no adverse events. Conclusion We conclude that IN is effective for patients with UC as a therapy for inducing remission.
Effect of Statin Therapy on Fibrous Cap Thickness in Coronary Plaque on Optical Coherence Tomography　- Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND Statin therapy has been shown to result in coronary plaque regression, but the relationship between statin use and stabilization of coronary plaque has not been elucidated. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of statin therapy on fibrous cap thickness (FCT) on optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods and Results:Nine OCT studies (6 randomized controlled trials and 3 observational studies) were enrolled with a total of 341 patients (390 lesions). Arms of the studies were grouped according to statin type and/or dose. Random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate a pooled mean change in FCT from baseline to follow-up. The overall effect mean FCT change was 67.7 µm (95% CI: 51.4-84.1, I2=95.0%, P<0.001). All statin groups had an increase in FCT, but the magnitude of the increase differed according to the statin. Two homogeneous subgroups with I2=0 were identified: mean FCT change was 27.8 µm (for subgroup atorvastatin 5 mg and rosuvastatin), and 61.9 µm (for subgroup atorvastatin 20 mg, fluvastatin 30 mg, and pitavastatin 4 mg). On meta-regression modeling, statin therapy alone explained most of the change in FCT. CONCLUSIONS Statin therapy induced a significant increase in FCT as assessed on OCT, independent of coronary risk factors and other medications.
Women's Perception of Cervical Cancer and Its Prevention in Rural Laos

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer of women in the world, and it becomes a major cause of cancer mortality in low-income countries. Currently, little is known regarding cervical cancer incidence in Laos, although it is anticipated to be high like in neighboring countries. To be able to develop a screening program in the country, it is essential to explore women's perception of the disease. The purpose of this study was therefore to describe knowledge, awareness, and attitudes regarding cervical cancer among rural women of Laos. Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, women were interviewed using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic factors, knowledge of the disease and its risk factors, awareness, and attitudes toward cervical cancer and its prevention. Results: Eight hundred women were included in the study, and 58% claimed to know about cervical cancer. Approximately one third (38%) considered themselves to be at risk, but less than 5% had ever had a Papanicolau test. Sixty-two percent believed it was possible to prevent cervical cancer and that vaccination may be a suitable method, but only 14% know about risk factors. Another method for prevention was frequent vaginal douching, which was suggested by 70% of the women. Symptoms like bleeding and discharge were correctly identified as possible indicators of cervical cancer, but only 57 women (7%) knew that an early stage of the disease could be symptom-free. Lack of subjective symptoms was the main reason for women to refrain from gynecological examinations. Conclusions: This study indicates that rural women in Laos have limited knowledge about cervical cancer and even less about screening and prevention. There is a need to educate the general community about the disease and its prevention.
Lost in mechanobiology, what's next?: Missing tools related to the physics of the system

The mechanobiology field has spread out remarkably over the last years, closely connected to the development of methods to probe and quantify the forces exerted by cells and tissues at different scales. Biology of the Cell contributed to the dissemination of the research results in the field by publishing a few papers related to mechanobiology [Alibert et al., 2017; Angely et al., 2017; Maı̂tre, 2017; Milloud et al., 2017; Snyder et al., 2017; Charrier et al., 2018; Gangatharan et al., 2018; Pang et al., 2018; Vianay et al., 2018; Valon and Levayer 2019]. However, a lot remains to be understood in this interdisciplinary field and novel exciting questions are emerging, such as the adaptation of structures to function within dynamic environments and the coordination of mechanical events at different scales, from molecular to tissue level, for which answers will probably require a broader range of expertise. In this editorial, we will therefore review the current challenges we identified over the mechanobiology round table session at the last Mifobio imaging school and the leads to explore to meet these needs. A central element to mechanobiology is the understanding of how cells probe their extracellular environment (neighbouring cells and the ECM components) and exert or feel forces to mediate different cellular responses via adhesive proteins such as integrins, cadherins, and other mechanosensitive receptors [Sluysmans et al., 2017; Seetharaman and Etienne-Manneville, 2018]. However, we want to specify here that the purpose of this editorial is not to describe the signalling processes induced by
Towards a second generation of ‘social media metrics’: Characterizing Twitter communities of attention around science

‘Social media metrics’ are bursting into science studies as emerging new measures of impact related to scholarly activities. However, their meaning and scope as scholarly metrics is still far from being grasped. This research seeks to shift focus from the consideration of social media metrics around science as mere indicators confined to the analysis of the use and visibility of publications on social media to their consideration as metrics of interaction and circulation of scientific knowledge across different communities of attention, and particularly as metrics that can also be used to characterize these communities. Although recent research efforts have proposed tentative typologies of social media users, no study has empirically examined the full range of Twitter user’s behavior within Twitter and disclosed the latent dimensions in which activity on Twitter around science can be classified. To do so, we draw on the overall activity of social media users on Twitter interacting with research objects collected from the Altmetic.com database. Data from over 1.3 million unique users, accounting for over 14 million tweets to scientific publications, is analyzed. Based on an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, four latent dimensions are identified: ‘Science Engagement’, ‘Social Media Capital’, ‘Social Media Activity’ and ‘Science Focus’. Evidence on the predominant type of users by each of the four dimensions is provided by means of VOSviewer term maps of Twitter profile descriptions. This research breaks new ground for the systematic analysis and characterization of social media users’ activity around science.
Psychological mechanisms driving stress resilience in mindfulness training: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE Mindfulness interventions have been shown to reduce stress; however, the mechanisms driving stress resilience effects are not known. Mindfulness interventions aim to teach individuals how to: (a) use attention to monitor present moment experiences; with (b) an attitude of acceptance and equanimity. A randomized controlled dismantling trial (RCT) was conducted to test the prediction that the removal of acceptance skills training would eliminate stress-reduction benefits of a mindfulness intervention. METHOD This preregistered RCT randomly assigned stressed community adults to 1 of 3 conditions: (a) Monitor and Accept (MA) mindfulness training, a standard 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention that provided explicit instruction in developing both monitoring and acceptance skills; (b) Monitor Only (MO) mindfulness training, a well-matched 8-week MBSR intervention that taught monitoring skills only; or (c) No Treatment (NT) control. Stress and nonjudgment were measured using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) for 3 days at baseline and 3 days at postintervention. RESULTS Consistent with predictions, MA participants increased in nonjudgment and decreased in both stress ratings and the proportion of assessments that they reported experiencing feelings of stress in daily life, relative to both MO and NT participants. CONCLUSIONS This RCT provides one of the first experimental tests of the mechanisms linking mindfulness interventions with stress resilience. These findings suggest that acceptance skills training may be a necessary active ingredient and support the value of integrating acceptance skills training into stress-reduction interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).