Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Music Does Not Facilitate Lexical Tone Normalization: A Speech-Specific Perceptual Process

Listeners utilize the immediate contexts to efficiently normalize variable vocal streams into standard phonology units. However, researchers debated whether non-speech contexts can also serve as valid clues for speech normalization. Supporters of the two sides proposed a general-auditory hypothesis and a speech-specific hypothesis to explain the underlying mechanisms. A possible confounding factor of this inconsistency is the listeners’ perceptual familiarity of the contexts, as the non-speech contexts were perceptually unfamiliar to listeners. In this study, we examined this confounding factor by recruiting a group of native Cantonese speakers with sufficient musical training experience and a control group with minimal musical training. Participants performed lexical tone judgment tasks in three contextual conditions, i.e., speech, non-speech, and music context conditions. Both groups were familiar with the speech context and not familiar with the non-speech context. The musician group was more familiar with the music context than the non-musician group. The results evidenced the lexical tone normalization process in speech context but not non-speech nor music contexts. More importantly, musicians did not outperform non-musicians on any contextual conditions even if the musicians were experienced at pitch perception, indicating that there is no noticeable transfer in pitch perception from the music domain to the linguistic domain for tonal language speakers. The findings showed that even high familiarity with a non-linguistic context cannot elicit an effective lexical tone normalization process, supporting the speech-specific basis of the perceptual normalization process.
Contributions of Luminance and Motion to Visual Escape and Habituation in Larval Zebrafish

Animals from insects to humans perform visual escape behavior in response to looming stimuli, and these responses habituate if looms are presented repeatedly without consequence. While the basic visual processing and motor pathways involved in this behavior have been described, many of the nuances of predator perception and sensorimotor gating have not. Here, we have performed both behavioral analyses and brain-wide cellular-resolution calcium imaging in larval zebrafish while presenting them with visual loom stimuli or stimuli that selectively deliver either the movement or the dimming properties of full loom stimuli. Behaviorally, we find that, while responses to repeated loom stimuli habituate, no such habituation occurs when repeated movement stimuli (in the absence of luminance changes) are presented. Dim stimuli seldom elicit escape responses, and therefore cannot habituate. Neither repeated movement stimuli nor repeated dimming stimuli habituate the responses to subsequent full loom stimuli, suggesting that full looms are required for habituation. Our calcium imaging reveals that motion-sensitive neurons are abundant in the brain, that dim-sensitive neurons are present but more rare, and that neurons responsive to both stimuli (and to full loom stimuli) are concentrated in the tectum. Neurons selective to full loom stimuli (but not to movement or dimming) were not evident. Finally, we explored whether movement- or dim-sensitive neurons have characteristic response profiles during habituation to full looms. Such functional links between baseline responsiveness and habituation rate could suggest a specific role in the brain-wide habituation network, but no such relationships were found in our data. Overall, our results suggest that, while both movement- and dim-sensitive neurons contribute to predator escape behavior, neither plays a specific role in brain-wide visual habituation networks or in behavioral habituation.
Clinical Pathway for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A First Proposal for the Peruvian Population

Background: Relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is a subtype of degenerative inflammatory demyelinating disease of multifactorial origin that affects the central nervous system and leads to multifocal neurological impairment. Objectives: To develop a clinical pathway (CP) for the management of Peruvian patients with RRMS. Methods: First, we performed a literature review using Medline, Embase, Cochrane, ProQuest, and Science direct. Then, we structured the information as an ordered and logical series of five topics in a defined timeline: (1) How should MS be diagnosed? (2) How should a relapse be treated? (3) How should a DMT be initiated? (4) How should each DMT be used? and (5) How should the patients be followed? Results: The personnel involved in the care of patients with RRMS can use a series of flowcharts and diagrams that summarize the topics in paper or electronic format. Conclusions: We propose the first CP for RRMS in Peru that shows the essential steps for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring RRMS patients based on an evidence-based medicine method and local expert opinions. This CP will allow directing relevant clinical actions to strengthen the multidisciplinary management of RRMS in Peru.
Safflower Polysaccharide Inhibits AOM/DSS-Induced Mice Colorectal Cancer Through the Regulation of Macrophage Polarization

Safflower polysaccharide (SPS) is one of the active fractions extracted from safflower petals (Carthamus tinctorius L.) which has been reported to possess antitumor and immune control roles. However, its antitumor mechanisms by regulating the immune pathway remain barely understood. In this study, a mouse model was established by azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to evaluate the antitumor effect of SPS on colorectal cancer (CRC). The results showed that 50 mg/kg SPS-1, an active fraction isolated from SPS, could significantly inhibit CRC induced by AOM/DSS and changed the polarization of macrophages to the M1 phenotype. Meanwhile, SPS-1 treatment significantly alleviated the characteristic AOM/DSS-induced pathological symptoms, in terms of decreasing the nucleoplasmic ratio, nuclear polarity extinction, and gland hyperplasia. However, the results in vitro showed that SPS-1 did not directly inhibit the growth of CRC cells but could upregulate the NF-κB signal and trigger M1 macrophage transformation. Thus, the condition medium (CM) of Mφ pretreated with SPS-1 was used against CRC cells. As expected, SPS-1–activated Raw 264.7 markedly exhibited antitumor effects by inhibiting cell proliferation and suppressing cell colony formation. In addition, SPS-1–activated Raw 264.7 could also induce CRC cell apoptosis by upregulating the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO). Further results suggested that SPS-1–induced transition of the macrophage phenotype could be suppressed by an NF-κB inhibitor, PDTC. Moreover, SPS-1–activated Raw 264.7 inhibiting CRC cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis were also rescued by PDTC. Taken together, all results suggested that SPS-1 could be a therapeutic option for the prevention and treatment of CRC.
Differential Diagnosis of Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Active Tuberculosis: A Key to a Successful Tuberculosis Control Strategy

As an ancient infectious disease, tuberculosis (TB) is still the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent worldwide. Latent TB infection (LTBI) has been recognized as the largest source of new TB cases and is one of the biggest obstacles to achieving the aim of the End TB Strategy. The latest data indicate that a considerable percentage of the population with LTBI and the lack of differential diagnosis between LTBI and active TB (aTB) may be potential reasons for the high TB morbidity and mortality in countries with high TB burdens. The tuberculin skin test (TST) has been used to diagnose TB for > 100 years, but it fails to distinguish patients with LTBI from those with aTB and people who have received Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccination. To overcome the limitations of TST, several new skin tests and interferon-gamma release assays have been developed, such as the Diaskintest, C-Tb skin test, EC-Test, and T-cell spot of the TB assay, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube, QuantiFERON-TB Gold-Plus, LIAISON QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test, and LIOFeron TB/LTBI. However, these methods cannot distinguish LTBI from aTB. To investigate the reasons why all these methods cannot distinguish LTBI from aTB, we have explained the concept and definition of LTBI and expounded on the immunological mechanism of LTBI in this review. In addition, we have outlined the research status, future directions, and challenges of LTBI differential diagnosis, including novel biomarkers derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and hosts, new models and algorithms, omics technologies, and microbiota.
Screening Fuels for Autoignition with Small-Volume Experiments and Gaussian Process Classification

Partially reacting candidate fuels under highly dilute conditions across a range of temperatures provides a means to classify the candidates based on traditional ignition characteristics using much lower quantities (sub-mL) than the full octane tests. Using a classifier based on a Gaussian Process model, synthetic species profiles obtained by plug flow reactor simulations at seven temperatures are used to demonstrate that the configuration can be used to classify 95% of the samples correctly for autoignition sensitivity exceeding a threshold (S ≥ 8) and 100%of the samples correctly for research octane number exceeding a threshold (RON ≥ 90). Molecular beam mass spectrometry (MBMS) experimental data at four temperatures is then used as the model input in a real-world test. Despite the nontrivial relationship between the MBMS measurements and speciation as well as experimental noise it is still possible to classify 95% of the samples correctly for RON and 85% of the samples correctly for S in a “leave-one-o.
Revisited Hyperoxia Pathophysiology in the Perioperative Setting: A Narrative Review

The widespread use of high-dose oxygen, to avoid perioperative hypoxemia along with WHO-recommended intraoperative hyperoxia to reduce surgical site infections, is an established clinical practice. However, growing pathophysiological evidence has demonstrated that hyperoxia exerts deleterious effects on many organs, mainly mediated by reactive oxygen species. The purpose of this narrative review was to present the pathophysiology of perioperative hyperoxia on surgical wound healing, on systemic macro and microcirculation, on the lungs, heart, brain, kidneys, gut, coagulation, and infections. We reported here that a high systemic oxygen supply could induce oxidative stress with inflammation, vasoconstriction, impaired microcirculation, activation of hemostasis, acute and chronic lung injury, coronary blood flow disturbances, cerebral ischemia, surgical anastomosis impairment, gut dysbiosis, and altered antibiotics susceptibility. Clinical studies have provided rather conflicting results on the definitions and outcomes of hyperoxic patients, often not speculating on the biological basis of their results, while this review highlighted what happens when supranormal PaO2 values are reached in the surgical setting. Based on the assumptions analyzed in this study, we may suggest that the maintenance of PaO2 within physiological ranges, avoiding unnecessary oxygen administration, may be the basis for good clinical practice.
Editorial: The Cytoskeleton and Cellular Compartmentation: Cilia as Specialized Cellular Domains

Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain, 2 Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-UAM, Madrid, Spain, 3 Instituto de Investigación del Hospital Universitario de La Paz (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain, CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain, 5 Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, Centro de Química Estrutural Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Nova Medical School/Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States, Center for Cell Dynamics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
Meta-Analysis of Neurochemical Changes Estimated via Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

The changes of neurochemicals in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients has been observed via magnetic resonance spectroscopy in several studies. However, whether it exists the consistent pattern of changes of neurochemicals in the encephalic region during the progression of MCI to AD were still not clear. The study performed meta-analysis to investigate the patterns of neurochemical changes in the encephalic region in the progress of AD. We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases, and finally included 63 studies comprising 1,086 MCI patients, 1,256 AD patients, and 1,907 healthy controls. It showed that during the progression from MCI to AD, N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) decreased continuously in the posterior cingulate (PC) (SMD: −0.42 [95% CI: −0.62 to −0.21], z = −3.89, P < 0.05), NAA/Cr (creatine) was consistently reduced in PC (SMD: −0.58 [95% CI: −0.86 to −0.30], z = −4.06, P < 0.05) and hippocampus (SMD: −0.65 [95% CI: −1.11 to −0.12], z = −2.44, P < 0.05), while myo-inositol (mI) (SMD: 0.44 [95% CI: 0.26–0.61], z = 4.97, P < 0.05) and mI/Cr (SMD: 0.43 [95% CI: 0.17–0.68], z = 3.30, P < 0.05) were raised in PC. Furthermore, these results were further verified by a sustained decrease in the NAA/mI of PC (SMD: −0.94 [95% CI: −1.24 to −0.65], z = −6.26, P < 0.05). Therefore, the levels of NAA and mI were associated with the cognitive decline and might be used as potentially biomarkers to predict the possible progression from MCI to AD. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42020200308.
A Charge Balanced Neural Stimulator Silicon Chip for Human-Machine Interface

This paper proposes a neural stimulator silicon chip design with an improved charge balancing technology. The proposed neural stimulation integrated circuit (IC) uses two charge balancing modules including synchronous charge detection module and short-time pulse insertion module. The synchronous charge detection module is designed based on a current splitter with ultra-small output current and an integrator circuit for neural stimulation pulse width control, which greatly reduces the residual charge remained on the electrode-tissue interface. The short-time pulse insertion module is designed based on the electrode voltage detection and compensation current control, which further reduces the accumulated residual charge and keeps the electrode voltage within a safety range of ±25 mV during multiple stimulation cycles. Finally, this neural stimulator is implemented in TSMC 0.18-μm CMOS process technology, and the chip function is tested and verified in both experiments with the electrode-tissue RC model and the PBS saline solution environment. The measurement result shows the neural stimulator chip achieves improved charge balancing with the residual charge smaller than 0.95 nC, which is the lowest compared to the traditional neural stimulator chips.
The Effect of Martial Arts Training on Cognitive and Psychological Functions in At-Risk Youths

The current study assessed whether an extended program of martial arts training was a viable intervention for at-risk youths in improving cognitive and psychological functions. Adolescent boys attending specialized education facilities for at-risk youths took part in regular sport lessons or martial arts practice twice a week for 6 months. Hormonal reactivity was assessed during initial training, and measures of psychological (aggression, self-esteem) and cognitive (inhibition, flexibility, speed of processing, and attention) functions were assessed before and immediately following the intervention. Participants in the martial arts training demonstrated significant improvement in the domains of inhibition and shifting and speed of processing. Additionally, initial hormonal reactivity (oxytocin and cortisol) to the intervention predicted significant post-intervention change on several measures of cognitive and psychological functioning. Specifically, oxytocin reactivity predicted improvement in processing speed, as well as reduction of aggression, whereas cortisol reactivity predicted increases in self-esteem. This pioneering, ecologically valid study demonstrates the initial efficacy of this enjoyable, readily available, group intervention for at-risk boys and suggests potential mechanisms that may mediate the process of change.
Seed-Transmitted Bacteria and Fungi Dominate Juvenile Plant Microbiomes

Plant microbiomes play an important role in agricultural productivity, but there is still much to learn about their provenance, diversity, and organization. In order to study the role of vertical transmission in establishing the bacterial and fungal populations of juvenile plants, we used high-throughput sequencing to survey the microbiomes of seeds, spermospheres, rhizospheres, roots, and shoots of the monocot crops maize (B73), rice (Nipponbare), switchgrass (Alamo), Brachiaria decumbens, wheat, sugarcane, barley, and sorghum; the dicot crops tomato (Heinz 1706), coffee (Geisha), common bean (G19833), cassava, soybean, pea, and sunflower; and the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana (Columbia-0) and Brachypodium distachyon (Bd21). Unsterilized seeds were planted in either sterile sand or farm soil inside hermetically sealed jars, and after as much as 60 days of growth, DNA was extracted to allow for amplicon sequence-based profiling of the bacterial and fungal populations that developed. Seeds of most plants were dominated by Proteobacteria and Ascomycetes, with all containing operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to Pantoea and Enterobacter. All spermospheres also contained DNA belonging to Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Fusarium. Despite having only seeds as a source of inoculum, all plants grown on sterile sand in sealed jars nevertheless developed rhizospheres, endospheres, and phyllospheres dominated by shared Proteobacteria and diverse fungi. Compared to sterile sand-grown seedlings, growth on soil added new microbial diversity to the plant, especially to rhizospheres; however, all 63 seed-transmitted bacterial OTUs were still present, and the most abundant bacteria (Pantoea, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, and Massilia) were the same dominant seed-transmitted microbes observed in sterile sand-grown plants. While most plant mycobiome diversity was observed to come from soil, judging by read abundance, the dominant fungi (Fusarium and Alternaria) were also vertically transmitted. Seed-transmitted fungi and bacteria appear to make up the majority of juvenile crop plant microbial populations by abundance, and based on occupancy, there seems to be a pan-angiosperm seed-transmitted core bacterial microbiome. Further study of these seed-transmitted microbes will be important to understand their role in plant growth and health, as well as their fate during the plant life cycle and may lead to innovations for agricultural inoculant development.
Ordinal Prediction Model of 90-Day Modified Rankin Scale in Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose: Prediction models for functional outcomes after ischemic stroke are useful for statistical analyses in clinical trials and guiding patient expectations. While there are models predicting dichotomous functional outcomes after ischemic stroke, there are no models that predict ordinal mRS outcomes. We aimed to create a model that predicts, at the time of hospital discharge, a patient's modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score on day 90 after ischemic stroke. Methods: We used data from three multi-center prospective studies: CRISP, DEFUSE 2, and DEFUSE 3 to derive and validate an ordinal logistic regression model that predicts the 90-day mRS score based on variables available during the stroke hospitalization. Forward selection was used to retain independent significant variables in the multivariable model. Results: The prediction model was derived using data on 297 stroke patients from the CRISP and DEFUSE 2 studies. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at discharge and age were retained as significant (p < 0.001) independent predictors of the 90-day mRS score. When applied to the external validation set (DEFUSE 3, n = 160), the model accurately predicted the 90-day mRS score within one point for 78% of the patients in the validation cohort. Conclusions: A simple model using age and NIHSS score at time of discharge can predict 90-day mRS scores in patients with ischemic stroke. This model can be useful for prognostication in routine clinical care and to impute missing data in clinical trials.
The Contextual Essentiality of Mitochondrial Genes in Cancer

Mitochondria are key organelles in eukaryotic evolution that perform crucial roles as metabolic and cellular signaling hubs. Mitochondrial function and dysfunction are associated with a range of diseases, including cancer. Mitochondria support cancer cell proliferation through biosynthetic reactions and their role in signaling, and can also promote tumorigenesis via processes such as the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The advent of (nuclear) genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 deletion screens has provided gene-level resolution of the requirement of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes (NEMGs) for cancer cell viability (essentiality). More recently, it has become apparent that the essentiality of NEMGs is highly dependent on the cancer cell context. In particular, key tumor microenvironmental factors such as hypoxia, and changes in nutrient (e.g., glucose) availability, significantly influence the essentiality of NEMGs. In this mini-review we will discuss recent advances in our understanding of the contribution of NEMGs to cancer from CRISPR-Cas9 deletion screens, and discuss emerging concepts surrounding the context-dependent nature of mitochondrial gene essentiality.
Achieving Chinese Carbon Neutrality Based on Water–Temperature–Radiation–Land Coupling Use

Facing irreversible and catastrophic changes on the earth, China has committed to peak the net carbon emission by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The pledge requires significant mitigation immediately and sustainably. Considering this background, some perspectives are given in this article based on the comprehensive use of natural resources. First, utilizing the STIRPAT (stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence, and technology) model and statistical data, net carbon emissions of provinces in China are anticipated, which lays a foundation for the further “three-step” carbon neutralization route. Second, a strategy of water–temperature–radiation–land coupling use is proposed, considering 1) the carbon emission cut, which relies on comparing the energy intensity and energy structure in China with those in developed countries; 2) the carbon sink increase, which depends on the evaluation of constraints of hydrometeorological factors on ecological productivity. Finally, the necessity and possibility of carbon trading and redistribution of the natural resources are discussed to ensure that China's national net carbon emission would be reduced to zero by 2060.