Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Similarities between fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes in the study of the permeability transition pore

The investigation of biological processes involved in cardiovascular diseases and the study of new cardioprotective strategies and therapeutic targets in human specimens are challenging to date. This is partly due to the almost absent availability of control cardiac samples caused by stringent ethical guidelines of the interested country and the continual development of semiinvasive percutaneous procedures, which make it difficult to perform and process the cardiac biopsy for experiments on viable myocytes. Real and attractive alternatives may exist, such as the creation of pathological models with immortalised ventricular human myocytes and the direct reprogramming of human endogenous cells into cardiomyocytes using induced pluripotent stem cell technology, but these methods also include limitations.1 The obstacles to developing an appropriate cell model to study a given pathology are not limited to the cardiovascular field. Several studies, including mitochondrial disorders and neurodegenerative diseases,24 have adopted alternative and more feasible experimental models, such as skinbiopsyderived fibroblasts, to perform functional analyses on a pathological phenotype. In our previous publication5 to which this short letter refers, we showed a strong and positive correlation between the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening measured in fibroblasts from STsegment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients and reperfusion injury (RI) evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of the same patients. Moreover, we found significant intersubject variability in mPTP opening, and the patients with hyperresponsive mPTP opening also had greater reperfusion damage.5 This was an interesting finding considering the fact that, to the best of our knowledge, no data on mPTP and RI in humans are available to date. However, the question of how mPTP measured in fibroblasts reflects the reperfusion damage of a given patient, as well as how mPTP function (or other biological readouts) can be assessed directly in patients affected by cardiac ischaemia– reperfusion (I/R), remains unanswered. mPTP is a multiprotein complex with channel function.611 It is of great interest in the cardiovascular field because it is a key step in cell death during I/R episodes (i.e., in MI) in its “open state” and is considered one of the main culprits of RI. For these reasons, it constitutes an important target for cardioprotection, as already shown in cells and animal models.8,12,13 Here, in an effort to explain our findings mentioned above, we provide an update on the differences that may occur between cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts in the analysis of mPTP activity in ischaemic patients. Indeed, with this pilot study, we detected negligible differences in mPTP function between both cell lines. This study is part of a larger project aimed to provide genetic and functional information on the mPTP in the RI directly in humans and refers to our previous publication.
The Design of a Wideband Microwave Absorber Based on Resistively Single Square-Loop Arrays

A non-magnetic microwave absorber was proposed, for which the-10dB absorbing bandwidth would operate over all the X-band with a total thickness of 4 mm. The designed structure was composed by resistively single square-loop FSS on the surface of metal-backed dielectric substrate. The influence of the substrate and FSS was discussed for absorption optimization. Besides, the current distribution of the FSS was investigated to explain the principle of resonance. Good accordance of the experimental results and the simulated results has been achieved, indicating the feasibility of our designed structure and the reliability of the simulated method.
Neuromotor control associates with muscle weakness observed with McArdle sign of multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is often accompanied by myelopathy, which may be associated with progressive worsening. A specific finding of MS‐associated myelopathy is McArdle sign, wherein neck flexion is associated with prominent increased limb weakness relative to that detected with neck extension. In this study, we characterized neuromotor control properties of finger extensors in association with the McArdle sign.
Does plasmid-based beta-lactam resistance increase E. coli infections: Modelling addition and replacement mechanisms

Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become more prevalent during past decades. Yet, it is unknown whether such infections occur in addition to infections with antibiotic-susceptible bacteria, thereby increasing the incidence of infections, or whether they replace such infections, leaving the total incidence unaffected. Observational longitudinal studies cannot separate both mechanisms. Using plasmid-based beta-lactam resistant E. coli as example we applied mathematical modelling to investigate whether seven biological mechanisms would lead to replacement or addition of infections. We use a mathematical neutral null model of individuals colonized with susceptible and/or resistant E. coli, with two mechanisms implying a fitness cost, i.e., increased clearance and decreased growth of resistant strains, and five mechanisms benefitting resistance, i.e., 1) increased virulence, 2) increased transmission, 3) decreased clearance of resistant strains, 4) increased rate of horizontal plasmid transfer, and 5) increased clearance of susceptible E. coli due to antibiotics. Each mechanism is modelled separately to estimate addition to or replacement of antibiotic-susceptible infections. Fitness costs cause resistant strains to die out if other strain characteristics are maintained equal. Under the assumptions tested, increased virulence is the only mechanism that increases the total number of infections. Other benefits of resistance lead to replacement of susceptible infections without changing the total number of infections. As there is no biological evidence that plasmid-based beta-lactam resistance increases virulence, these findings suggest that the burden of disease is determined by attributable effects of resistance rather than by an increase in the number of infections.
Prospective clinical trial of disulfiram plus copper in men with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer

In preclinical models of prostate cancer (PC), disulfiram (DSF) reduced tumor growth only when co‐administered with copper (Cu), and Cu uptake in tumors is partially regulated by androgen‐receptor signaling. However, prior trials of DSF in PC used DSF as monotherapy.
Structural and functional biomarkers of the insula subregions predict sex differences in aggression subscales

Aggression is a common and complex social behavior that is associated with violence and mental diseases. Although sex differences were observed in aggression, the neural mechanism for the effect of sex on aggression behaviors remains unclear, especially in specific subscales of aggression. In this study, we investigated the effects of sex on aggression subscales, gray matter volume (GMV), and functional connectivity (FC) of each insula subregion as well as the correlation of aggression subscales with GMV and FC. This study found that sex significantly influenced (a) physical aggression, anger, and hostility; (b) the GMV of all insula subregions; and (c) the FC of the dorsal agranular insula (dIa), dorsal dysgranular insula (dId), and ventral dysgranular and granular insula (vId_vIg). Additionally, mediation analysis revealed that the GMV of bilateral dIa mediates the association between sex and physical aggression, and left dId–left medial orbital superior frontal gyrus FC mediates the relationship between sex and anger. These findings revealed the neural mechanism underlying the sex differences in aggression subscales and the important role of the insula in aggression differences between males and females. This finding could potentially explain sexual dimorphism in neuropsychiatric disorders and improve dysregulated aggressive behavior.
Combining physics-based and Kriging models to improve the estimation of noise exposure

Abstract Worker exposure to occupational hazards is traditionally measured by equipping workers with wearable exposure monitors. An emerging alternative measurement first generates time-varying hazard maps from permanent monitors within the facility, then estimating worker exposure by integrating hazard levels traversed in map, following the tracked movement of workers. Complex environments may require many monitors to produce a hazard map with the necessary accuracy, but effective interpolation functions can reduce the required number of monitors needed. This work assesses the effectiveness of three models for accurately interpolating hazard levels among monitors: a traditional Kriging model, a physics-based model, and a hybrid model that combines the Kriging and physics-based models. The effectiveness of each interpolation function was tested with sound levels collected in four environmental settings. These detailed experimental data were used to generate over 10,000 simulation trials, where each trial configured the experimental data into a unique arrangement of simulated monitoring and sampling positions. For each simulation trial, the effectiveness of the three models was assessed with the root mean square error of the sound levels at the simulated sampling positions, using the simulated monitoring positions as input. The interpolated values between the monitored positions were analyzed separately from the extrapolated values beyond the monitored positions. The hybrid model consistently reported among the lowest errors in each trial. The Kriging model performed best for the densest networks (those with the most monitors). Even in these cases, the hybrid model performed within 10% of the Kriging model with less than a third of the monitors. The experiment demonstrates that the hybrid model is highly effective at estimating hazardous sound levels; future work may demonstrate similar advantages for gas and aerosol hazards.
Long-Term Follow-up of Aneurysms Treated With Hydrogel-Coated Coils Shows Progressive Thrombosis and Improvement in Raymond–Roy Classification

BACKGROUND: Coil embolization of aneurysms has been shown to be a safe and effective method of aneurysm treatment. Hydrogel-coated coils were developed as a hybrid embolization device to increase the packing density of a coil mass in an aneurysm and to reduce retreatment and rerupture rates. Previous studies have shown a benefit compared with bare metal coils. OBJECTIVE: To present long-term follow-up of a cohort of patients treated with hydrogel-coated coils to better determine the effectiveness compared with bare platinum coils. METHODS: Between January 2003 and April 2012, we identified patients with both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms coiled at our institution, using some portion of hydrogel-coated coils. Planned follow-up angiography was performed at 6 months, 18 months, and 5 years post-treatment. All imaging was independently adjudicated by a single physician at a separate institution. The results were scored with the modified Raymond–Roy Occlusion Classification. RESULTS: A total of 145 patients with 153 treated aneurysms were included in the study analysis. Immediately after treatment, 49% of aneurysms were classified at Raymond–Roy Occlusion Classification I or II, which improved to 83% by 6 months. This percent plateaued at 18-month and 5-year follow-up, measuring 86% and 90%, respectively. The retreatment rate was 14% over the 5-year period, and there were no rerupture events captured. CONCLUSION: Treatment of intracranial aneurysms with coil embolization using hydrogel-coated aneurysms shows evidence of progressive occlusion, particularly over the first 6 months of follow-up. The retreatment rate is comparable with historical data, and the rerupture rate is low.
Genetically programmed alternative splicing of NEMO mediates an autoinflammatory disease phenotype

Host defense and inflammation are regulated by the NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO), a scaffolding protein with a broad immune cell and tissue expression profile. Hypomorphic mutations in inhibitor of NF-κB kinase regulatory subunit gamma (IKBKG) encoding NEMO typically present with immunodeficiency. Here, we characterized a pediatric autoinflammatory syndrome in 3 unrelated male patients with distinct X-linked IKBKG germline mutations that led to overexpression of a NEMO protein isoform lacking the domain encoded by exon 5 (NEMO-Δex5). This isoform failed to associate with TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1), and dermal fibroblasts from affected patients activated NF-κB in response to TNF but not TLR3 or RIG-I–like receptor (RLR) stimulation when isoform levels were high. By contrast, T cells, monocytes, and macrophages that expressed NEMO-Δex5 exhibited increased NF-κB activation and IFN production, and blood cells from these patients expressed a strong IFN and NF-κB transcriptional signature. Immune cells and TNF-stimulated dermal fibroblasts upregulated the inducible IKK protein (IKKi) that was stabilized by NEMO-Δex5, promoting type I IFN induction and antiviral responses. These data revealed how IKBKG mutations that lead to alternative splicing of skipping exon 5 cause a clinical phenotype we have named NEMO deleted exon 5 autoinflammatory syndrome (NDAS), distinct from the immune deficiency syndrome resulting from loss-of-function IKBKG mutations.
Design and modeling of PCB coils for inductive power charging

This article presents a modeling and parametric investigation of PCB (printed circuit board) coils used in inductive power charging systems by using intensive full-wave electromagnetic simulations. Low frequencies applications (below 1 MHz) are targeted. The proposed modeling approach and design methodology are validated for wireless power transfer systems including transmitting (Tx) and receiving (Rx) coils. The impact of ferrite materials used for shielding and efficiency improvement is also analysed. Optimized PCB coils allowing a theoretical efficiency of 88.7% at 100 kHz and 98.5% at 1 MHz confirms that PCB coils are appropriate for wireless power transfer at such frequencies.
Differential environmental and genomic architectures shape the natural diversity for trichome patterning and morphology in different Arabidopsis organs

Abstract Despite the adaptive and taxonomic relevance of the natural diversity for trichome patterning and morphology, the molecular and evolutionary mechanisms underlying these traits remain mostly unknown, particularly in organs other than leaves. In this study, we address the ecological, genetic and molecular bases of the natural variation for trichome patterning and branching in multiple organs of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). To this end, we characterized a collection of 191 accessions and carried out environmental and genome‐wide association (GWA) analyses. Trichome amount in different organs correlated negatively with precipitation in distinct seasons, thus suggesting a precise fit between trichome patterning and climate throughout the Arabidopsis life cycle. In addition, GWA analyses showed small overlapping between the genes associated with different organs, indicating partly independent genetic bases for vegetative and reproductive phases. These analyses identified a complex locus on chromosome 2, where two adjacent MYB genes (ETC2 and TCL1) displayed differential effects on trichome patterning in several organs. Furthermore, analyses of transgenic lines carrying different natural alleles demonstrated that TCL1 accounts for the variation for trichome patterning in all organs, and for stem trichome branching. By contrast, two other MYB genes (TRY and GL1), mainly showed effects on trichome patterning or branching, respectively.
Transapical‐transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients without transvascular options: Modified transapical approach

Outcomes in patients with iliofemoral and concomitant iliofemoral‐remote arteriopathies who cannot undergo transfemoral or other alternative transvascular approaches have not been studied so far. This study aimed to evaluate the early and midterm outcomes after transapical (TA)‐transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with femoral and femoral‐remote arteriopathies who cannot undergo transvascular approaches.
OsbHLH061 links TOPLESS/TOPLESS-RELATED Repressor Proteins with POSITIVE REGULATOR OF IRON HOMEOSTASIS 1 to Maintain Iron Homeostasis in Rice.

As excess iron (Fe) is toxic uptake of this essential micronutrient must be tightly controlled. Previous studies showed that Oryza sativa (rice) POSITIVE REGULATOR OF IRON HOMEOSTASIS1 (OsPRI1) acts upstream of the iron-related transcription factor 2 (OsIRO2) and OsIRO3 to positively regulate root-to-shoot Fe translocation. However, as expression of OsPRI1 is constitutive it is unclear how the Fe deficiency response is turned-off to prevent toxicity when Fe is sufficient. The bHLH transcription factor OsbHLH061 interacts with OsPRI1, and this study used molecular, genetics, biochemical and physiological approaches to functionally characterize OsbHLH061 and how it affects Fe homeostasis. OsbHLH061 knock-out or overexpression lines increase or decrease Fe accumulation in shoots respectively. Mechanistically, OsbHLH061 expression is up-regulated by high Fe, and physically interacts with OsPRI1, the OsbHLH061-OsPRI1 complex recruits TOPLESS/TOPLESS-RELATED (OsTPL/TPR) co-repressors to repress OsIRO2 and OsIRO3 expression. The OsbHLH061 ethylene-responsive element binding factor-associated amphiphilic repression (EAR) motif is required for this transcriptional repression activity. These results define a functional OsTPL/TPR-OsbHLH061-OsPRI1-OsIRO2/3 module that negatively controls long-distance transport of Fe in plants for adaptation to changing Fe environments and maintain Fe homeostasis in rice.
Lived experiences of radiation therapists using health literacy strategies with patients—A qualitative review using interpretative phenomenological analysis

Adaptive communication is an essential requirement to deliver quality patient‐centred care. Determining patients’ informational needs and acting on the needs are skills radiation therapists (RTs) employ daily with patients. Learning health literacy (HL) strategies to assist with the informational delivery provides RTs with options to improve patients’ understanding of vital radiotherapy treatment information or tasks. This research investigates the lived experiences of RTs from the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centres in Australia using HL strategies during patient interactions after undertaking HL training workshops.
Adult Externalizing and Suicidal Behavior in Children Who Set Fires: Analysis of a 40 Year Birth Cohort Study

Objective Firesetting in children is thought to be an indicator of severe conduct problems in young people. However, no research has examined whether childhood firesetting is also associated with increased risk of externalizing and suicidal behaviors in adulthood. Method Data were obtained from a longitudinal study (n = 1265). Childhood firesetting/conduct problems (7–10 years) were derived from an assessment of antisocial behavior. Externalizing/suicidal behavior was derived from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and the Self-Report Delinquency Inventory. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models estimated associations between childhood firesetting and adult substance use disorders, criminal offending, and suicidal ideation, adjusting for childhood conduct problems and other confounding factors. Associations between childhood and adult firesetting (age 18–40 years) were examined using cross-tabulation (χ2). Results Five percent of children reported firesetting (7–10 years). Childhood firesetting appeared to increase the risk of adult firesetting; however, in most cases adult firesetting was not associated with childhood firesetting (χ2 (1) = 4.15, p = . 0417). Childhood firesetting was a risk marker for adult externalizing/suicidal behavior; however, the effect was relatively weak (IRR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.11–2.05). Children with conduct problems who also engaged in firesetting were found to be at substantially higher risk of later externalizing/suicidal behavior (IRR = 2.84; 95% CI: 1.24–6.49). Conclusion This study found that childhood firesetting is a risk marker for adult externalizing/suicidal behavior, not an independent risk factor. It may be more useful for clinicians to focus on child conduct problems generally, rather than focussing on firesetting behavior.
Employee retention strategies: factors for generation Y bursar graduates

The nature of work ischanging, and so are the elements which are necessary to manage these differenttransformations. The focus of thisstudy was to determine which factors were important to Generation Y engineeringbursar graduates from a particular organisation; in particular those withintheir first 5 years of work. A theoretical framework from the literature wasdeveloped, and the Case Study research method was applied.Theresults showed that Job satisfactionhad the greatest influence as a retention factor. It was found that there was adifference between factors which influenced an employee to stay or leave.
Cerebellar modulation of memory encoding in the periaqueductal grey and fear behaviour

The pivotal role of the periaqueductal grey (PAG) in fear learning is reinforced by the identification of neurons in male rat ventrolateral PAG (vlPAG) that encode fear memory through signalling the onset and offset of an auditory-conditioned stimulus during presentation of the unreinforced conditioned tone (CS+) during retrieval. Some units only display CS+ onset or offset responses, and the two signals differ in extinction sensitivity, suggesting that they are independent of each other. In addition, understanding cerebellar contributions to survival circuits is advanced by the discovery that (i) reversible inactivation of the medial cerebellar nucleus (MCN) during fear consolidation leads in subsequent retrieval to (a) disruption of the temporal precision of vlPAG offset, but not onset responses to CS+, and (b) an increase in duration of freezing behaviour. And (ii) chemogenetic manipulation of the MCN-vlPAG projection during fear acquisition (a) reduces the occurrence of fear-related ultrasonic vocalisations, and (b) during subsequent retrieval, slows the extinction rate of fear-related freezing. These findings show that the cerebellum is part of the survival network that regulates fear memory processes at multiple timescales and in multiple ways, raising the possibility that dysfunctional interactions in the cerebellar-survival network may underlie fear-related disorders and comorbidities.
Modelling of MIMO channels for the populated indoor environment

The use of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels has recently attracted considerable interest as an approach that can yield significant capacity gains over conventional smart antenna arrays. This paper presents a new channel model for MIMO systems operating in populated indoor environments. The model is based on geometrical optics and a detailed radar cross-section (RCS) representation of the human body, and it is capable of estimating the temporal response and the capacity bounds for MIMO channels in the presence of pedestrian traffic. For a single room environment, the new channel model predicts an increase in capacity from 19.1 bits/s/Hz to 31.4 bits/s/Hz solely caused by the movement of pedestrians. The new channel modelling technique offers an efficient solution to the performance evaluation of MIMO wireless systems in populated indoor environments. (6 pages)