Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding the needs of caregivers of persons with dementia: a scoping review

ABSTRACT Background: The number of people living with dementia (PWD) is increasing worldwide, corresponding with an increasing number of caregivers for PWD. This study aims to identify and describe the literature surrounding the needs of caregivers of PWD and the solutions identified to meet these needs. Method: A literature search was performed in: PsycInfo, Medline, CINAHL, SCIELO and LILACS, January 2007–January 2018. Two independent reviewers evaluated 1,661 abstracts, and full-text screening was subsequently performed for 55 articles. The scoping review consisted of 31 studies, which were evaluated according to sociodemographic characteristics, methodological approach, and caregiver’s experiences, realities, and needs. To help extract and organize reported caregiver needs, we used the C.A. R.E. Tool as a guiding framework. Results: Thirty-one studies were identified. The most common needs were related to personal health (58% emotional health; 32% physical health) and receiving help from others (55%). Solutions from the articles reviewed primarily concerned information gaps (55%) and the education/learning needs of caregivers (52%). Conclusion: This review identified the needs of caregivers of PWD. Caregivers’ personal health emerged as a key area of need, while provision of information was identified as a key area of support. Future studies should explore the changes that occur in needs over the caregiving trajectory and consider comparing caregivers’ needs across different countries.
Benefits of Motor Imagery for Human Space Flight: A Brief Review of Current Knowledge and Future Applications

Motor imagery (MI) is arguably one of the most remarkable capacities of the human mind. There is now strong experimental evidence that MI contributes to substantial improvements in motor learning and performance. The therapeutic benefits of MI in promoting motor recovery among patients with motor impairments have also been reported. Despite promising theoretical and experimental findings, the utility of MI in adapting to unusual conditions, such as weightlessness during space flight, has received far less attention. In this review, we consider how, why, where, and when MI might be used by astronauts, and further evaluate the optimum MI content. Practically, we suggest that MI might be performed before, during, and after exposure to microgravity, respectively, to prepare for the rapid changes in gravitational forces after launch and to reduce the adverse effects of weightlessness exposition. Moreover, MI has potential role in facilitating re-adaptation when returning to Earth after long exposure to microgravity. Suggestions for further research include a focus on the multi-sensory aspects of MI, the requirement to use temporal characteristics as a measurement tool, and to account for the knowledge-base or metacognitive processes underlying optimal MI implementation.
Multiplex Analysis Platform for Endocrine Disruption Prediction Using Zebrafish

Small fish are an excellent experimental model to screen endocrine-disrupting compounds, but current fish-based assays to detect endocrine disruption have not been standardized yet, meaning that there is not consensus on endpoints and biomarkers to be measured. Moreover, exposure conditions may vary depending on the species used as the experimental model and the endocrine pathway evaluated. At present, a battery of a wide range of assays is usually needed for the complete assessment of endocrine activities. With the aim of providing a simple, robust, and fast assay to assess endocrine-disrupting potencies for the three major endocrine axes, i.e., estrogens, androgens, and thyroid, we propose the use of a panel of eight gene expression biomarkers in zebrafish larvae. This includes brain aromatase (cyp19a1b) and vitellogenin 1 (vtg1) for estrogens, cytosolic sulfotransferase 2 family 2 (sult2st3) and cytochrome P450 2k22 (cyp2k22) for androgens, and thyroid peroxidase (tpo), transthyretin (ttr), thyroid receptor α (trα), and iodothyronine deiodinase 2 (dio2) for thyroid metabolism. All of them were selected according to their responses after exposure to the natural ligands 17β-estradiol, testosterone, and 3,3′,5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), respectively, and subsequently validated using compounds reported as endocrine disruptors in previous studies. Cross-talk effects were also evaluated for all compounds.
Experimental implementation of artificial neural network-based active vibration control & chatter suppression

Vibration control strategies strive to reduce the effect of harmful vibrations such as machining chatter. In general, these strategies are classified as passive or active. While passive vibration control techniques are generally less complex, there is a limit to their effectiveness. Active vibration control strategies, which work by providing an additional energy supply to vibration systems, on the other hand, require more complex algorithms but can be very effective. In this work, a novel artificial neural network-based active vibration control system has been developed. The developed system can detect the sinusoidal vibration component with the highest power and suppress it in one control cycle, and in subsequent cycles, sinusoidal signals with the next highest power will be suppressed. With artificial neural networks trained to cover enough frequency and amplitude ranges, most of the original vibration can be suppressed. The efficiency of the proposed methodology has been verified experimentally in the vibration control of a cantilever beam. Artificial neural networks can be trained automatically for updated time delays in the system when necessary. Experimental results show that the developed active vibration control system is real time, adaptable, robust, effective and easy to be implemented. Finally, an experimental setup of chatter suppression for a lathe has been successfully implemented, and the successful techniques used in the previous artificial neural network-based active vibration control system have been utilized for active chatter suppression in turning.
The effectiveness of whole-body cryotherapy and physical exercises on the psychological well-being of patients with multiple sclerosis: A comparative analysis.

BACKGROUND Due to the chronic character of multiple sclerosis (MS), non-pharmacological treatment can be applied. These therapies can be a good complementation to standard pharmacological treatment. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) and physical exercise training on the psychological and general well-being of patients with MS. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was carried out on 60 patients, who were divided into 3 groups: cryotherapy (Cryo), physical exercise training (Gym) and cryotherapy with physical exercise training (CryoGym). The Psychological General Well-Being Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Rivermead Mobility Index were used at 2 points in time: T1 - before the first therapy session and T2 - after 14 days of therapy. RESULTS Statistically significant differences in the psychosocial well-being were found in the Gym and CryoGym group. Reduction of depressive symptoms and improved functional status was noted in Cryo group. The most significant improvement was observed in the group using WBC with exercise training (CryoGym). CONCLUSIONS Whole-body cryotherapy with physical exercise training was an effective therapy for patients with MS. The introduction of WBC into the standard physiotherapy protocol for patients with MS is fully justified.
The nonsense mutation MSH2 c.2152C>T shows a founder effect in Portuguese Lynch syndrome families

The mutational spectrum of the MMR genes is highly heterogeneous, but specific mutations are observed at high frequencies in well‐defined populations or ethnic groups, due to founder effects. The MSH2 mutation c.2152C>T, p.(Gln718*), has occasionally been described in Lynch families worldwide, including in Portuguese Lynch syndrome families. During genetic testing for Lynch syndrome at the Portuguese Oncology Institutes of Porto and Lisbon, this mutation was identified in 28 seemingly unrelated families. In order to evaluate if this alteration is a founder mutation, haplotype analysis using microsatellite and SNP markers flanking the MSH2 gene was performed in the 28 probands and 87 family members. Additionally, the geographic origin of these families was evaluated and the age of the mutation estimated. Twelve different haplotypes were phased for 13 out of the 28 families and shared a conserved region of ∼3.6 Mb. Based on the mutation and recombination events observed in the microsatellite haplotypes and assuming a generation time of 25 years, the age estimate for the MSH2 mutation was 273 ± 64 years. The geographic origins of these families were mostly from the Northern region of Portugal. Concluding, these results suggest that the MSH2 c.2152C>T alteration is a founder mutation in Portugal with a relatively recent origin. Furthermore, its high proportion indicates that screening for this mutation as a first step, together with the previously reported Portuguese founder mutations, may be cost‐effective in genetic testing of Lynch syndrome suspects of Portuguese ancestry.
Identification of Characterizing Aroma Components of Roasted Chicory "Coffee" Brews.

The roasted and ground root of the chicory plant ( Cichorium intybus), often referred to as chicory coffee, has served as a coffee surrogate for well over 2 centuries and is still in common use today. Volatile components of roasted chicory brews were identified by direct solvent extraction and solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE) combined with gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O), aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 46 compounds were quantitated by stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA) and internal standard methods, and odor-activity values (OAVs) were calculated. On the basis of the combined results of AEDA and OAVs, rotundone was considered to be the most potent odorant in roasted chicory. On the basis of their high OAVs, additional predominant odorants included 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-2(5 H)-furanone (sotolon), 2-methylpropanal, 3-methylbutanal, 2,3-dihydro-5-hydroxy-6-methyl-4 H-pyran-4-one (dihydromaltol), 1-octen-3-one, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2 H)-furanone (HDMF), and 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone (maltol). Rotundone, with its distinctive aromatic woody, peppery, and "chicory-like" note was also detected in five different commercial ground roasted chicory products. The compound is believed to an important, distinguishing, and characterizing odorant in roasted chicory aroma. Collectively, a group of caramel- and sweet-smelling odorants, including dihydromaltol, cyclotene, maltol, HDMF, and sotolon, are also thought to be important aroma contributors to roasted chicory aroma.
Evaluation of antidiabetic activity of Morus nigra L. and Bauhinia variegata L. leaves as Egyptian remedies used for the treatment of diabetes

Abstract Morus nigra and Bauhinia variegata are used in the Egyptian folk medicine for their hypoglycemic effects. The standardized ethanolic extracts of both plants caused a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose level at two different doses (250 and 500 mg/kg) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats' model. Further, in vitro antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase inhibition assays were conducted as well as the measurement of insulin levels and the biomarkers for both liver and kidney functions in the treated animals. Beneficiary effects of BMLE and BVLE in the treatment of diabetes were found not to be limited to hypoglycemic effect but included preventing liver and kidney tissue damage that are associated with diabetes. A strong inhibition of the α-glucosidase enzyme by both extracts may be a contributing mechanism in the overall anti-diabetic effect that was observed. Further detailed study is needed in the future to explore the mechanism of action of both plants. Graphical Abstract
Essential Role of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 1 in Pancreas Development by Regulating Protein Stability of Neurogenin 3

Background Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) is a major enzyme responsible for the formation of methylarginine in mammalian cells. Recent studies have revealed that PRMT1 plays important roles in the development of various tissues. However, its role in pancreas development has not yet been elucidated. Methods Pancreatic progenitor cell-specific Prmt1 knock-out (Prmt1 PKO) mice were generated and characterized for their metabolic and histological phenotypes and their levels of Neurog3 gene expression and neurogenin 3 (NGN3) protein expression. Protein degradation assays were performed in mPAC cells. Results Prmt1 PKO mice showed growth retardation and a severely diabetic phenotype. The pancreatic size and β-cell mass were significantly reduced in Prmt1 PKO mice. Proliferation of progenitor cells during the secondary transition was decreased and endocrine cell differentiation was impaired. These defects in pancreas development could be attributed to the sustained expression of NGN3 in progenitor cells. Protein degradation assays in mPAC cells revealed that PRMT1 was required for the rapid degradation of NGN3. Conclusion PRMT1 critically contributes to pancreas development by destabilizing the NGN3 protein.
Preeclampsia link to gestational hypoxia

Abstract Complications of pregnancy remain key drivers of morbidity and mortality, affecting the health of both the mother and her offspring in the short and long term. There is lack of detailed understanding of the pathways involved in the pathology and pathogenesis of compromised pregnancy, as well as a shortfall of effective prognostic, diagnostic and treatment options. In many complications of pregnancy, such as in preeclampsia, there is an increase in uteroplacental vascular resistance. However, the cause and effect relationship between placental dysfunction and adverse outcomes in the mother and her offspring remains uncertain. In this review, we aim to highlight the value of gestational hypoxia-induced complications of pregnancy in elucidating underlying molecular pathways and in assessing candidate therapeutic options for these complex disorders. Chronic maternal hypoxia not only mimics the placental pathology associated with obstetric syndromes like gestational hypertension at morphological, molecular and functional levels, but also recapitulates key symptoms that occur as maternal and fetal clinical manifestations of these pregnancy disorders. We propose that gestational hypoxia provides a useful model to study the inter-relationship between placental dysfunction and adverse outcomes in the mother and her offspring in a wide array of examples of complicated pregnancy, such as in preeclampsia.
Structure-Shared Planar UWB MIMO Antenna With High Isolation for Mobile Platform

A two-port structure-shared planar ultrawideband (UWB) antenna with high isolation is presented in this communication. The proposed antenna consists of a planar monopole and two back-to-back tapered slots etched on the monopole. The monopole and the tapered slots are fed by the microstrip line and the differential feeding network, respectively. The differential feeding network of the tapered slots excites the modes, which are orthogonal to those of the monopole. Therefore, high isolation between the two ports can be achieved without additional decoupling structures. The measured results show that the proposed antenna can operate from 3 to 10 GHz with the reflection coefficient of the two ports lower than −10 dB and the isolation higher than 38 dB. The measured realized peak gains are above 2.6 dB, and the measured envelope correlation coefficients are less than $9 \times 10^{-5}$ . The proposed UWB multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna can be applied in the MIMO communication systems, especially those requiring high isolation.
Secrecy Outage Performance for DF Buffer-Aided Relaying Networks With a Multi-Antenna Destination

In this paper, we investigate the secrecy outage performance of decode-and-forward (DF) buffer-aided relaying networks with a multi-antenna destination in the presence of an eavesdropper. In order to take full advantage of the benefits provided by the multiple antennas at the destination and the available relays, we adopt the max-link relay selection scheme and propose a half-duplex and two full-duplex secure transmission schemes for secrecy improvement, i.e., 1) maximal-ratio combining (MRC), 2) maximal-ratio combining/cooperative jamming (MRC/CJ), and 3) zero-forcing beamforming/cooperative jamming (ZFB/CJ). For all proposed schemes, we present exact and asymptotic closed-form expressions of the secrecy outage probability by modeling the dynamic buffer state transitions as a Markov chain. Moreover, simple and informative asymptotic results are provided under both <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L\not \to \infty $ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L \to \infty $ </tex-math></inline-formula> scenarios (where <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L$ </tex-math></inline-formula> denotes the buffer size), from which we can obtain further insights on the secrecy diversity gain and the secrecy coding gain. The highlights of this paper can be summarized as follows: 1) Under <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L\not \to \infty $ </tex-math></inline-formula> scenario, the secrecy diversity gains of all proposed schemes both reach <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. When <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L \to \infty $ </tex-math></inline-formula>, the secrecy diversity gains of MRC, MRC/CJ and ZFB/CJ increase to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M\left ({{1 + N_{D} } }\right)$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$MN_{D}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> respectively, where <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is the number of relays and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N_{D}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> represents the number of antennas at the destination; 2) The secrecy coding gain of the system differs with different schemes, and it improves with the increase of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N_{D}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> under both the two scenarios; and 3) Under the scenario <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L\not \to \infty $ </tex-math></inline-formula>, ZFB/CJ outperforms MRC and MRC/CJ across the entire signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) range of interest, however, when <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L \to \infty $ </tex-math></inline-formula>, ZFB/CJ outperforms MRC/CJ and MRC in the low SNR regime, while the opposite holds in the high SNR regime.
Mechanisms, Detection, and Relevance of Protein Acetylation in Prokaryotes

Posttranslational modification of a protein, either alone or in combination with other modifications, can control properties of that protein, such as enzymatic activity, localization, stability, or interactions with other molecules. N-ε-Lysine acetylation is one such modification that has gained attention in recent years, with a prevalence and significance that rival those of phosphorylation. ABSTRACT Posttranslational modification of a protein, either alone or in combination with other modifications, can control properties of that protein, such as enzymatic activity, localization, stability, or interactions with other molecules. N-ε-Lysine acetylation is one such modification that has gained attention in recent years, with a prevalence and significance that rival those of phosphorylation. This review will discuss the current state of the field in bacteria and some of the work in archaea, focusing on both mechanisms of N-ε-lysine acetylation and methods to identify, quantify, and characterize specific acetyllysines. Bacterial N-ε-lysine acetylation depends on both enzymatic and nonenzymatic mechanisms of acetylation, and recent work has shed light into the regulation of both mechanisms. Technological advances in mass spectrometry have allowed researchers to gain insight with greater biological context by both (i) analyzing samples either with stable isotope labeling workflows or using label-free protocols and (ii) determining the true extent of acetylation on a protein population through stoichiometry measurements. Identification of acetylated lysines through these methods has led to studies that probe the biological significance of acetylation. General and diverse approaches used to determine the effect of acetylation on a specific lysine will be covered.
Noise spectroscopy to study the 1D electron transport properties in InAs nanowires

InAs nanowires (NWs) are recognized as a key material due to their unique transport properties. Despite remarkable progress in designing InAs NW device structures, there are still open questions on device variability. Here, we demonstrate that noise spectroscopy allows us to study not only the parameters of traps, but also to shed light on quantum transport in NW structures. This provides an important understanding of structural behavior as well as the background and strategy required to design NW structures with advanced properties.
Scalable Video Streaming over Wireless Access Networks

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Sickle cell carriers' unmet information needs: Beyond knowing trait status

Benefits of identifying sickle cell disease (SCD) carriers include detection of at‐risk couples who may be informed on reproductive choices. Studies consistently report insufficient knowledge about the genetic inheritance pattern of SCD among people with sickle cell trait (SCT). This study explored perspectives of adults with SCT on the information needed to make an informed reproductive decision and the recommendations for communicating SCT information. Five focus groups (N = 25) were conducted with African Americans with SCT ages 18–65 years old. Participants were asked about their knowledge of SCT, methods for finding information on SCT, impact of SCT on daily living, and interactions with healthcare providers. An inductive‐deductive qualitative analysis was used to analyze the data for emerging themes. Four themes emerged, highlighting the unmet information needs of African American sickle cell carriers: (a) SCT and SCD Education; (b) information sources; (c) improved communication about SCT and SCD; and (d) increased screening strategies. Future studies are needed to determine effective strategies for communicating SCT information and to identify opportunities for education within community and medical settings. Identifying strategies to facilitate access to SCT resources and education could serve as a model for meeting unmet information needs for carriers of other genetic conditions.