Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MindingMe: A Feasibility Study on Conducting Neuroimaging Research Among Diverse Groups

Background Neuroimaging tools, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, are useful in understanding differences in brain activity that predict behavior change. Designing interventions based on brain activity and response may enhance current self-management regimens. Yet, diverse groups, such as Black women with chronic illness, have historically been left out of neuroimaging research. Objectives The aims of this study were to assess (a) the feasibility of conducting neuroimaging research among Black women with hypertension and (b) the predictors of willingness to participate in future studies. Methods A survey designed to assess interest in participating in neuroimaging research was distributed through a Facebook campaign targeting Metro-Detroit Blacks with hypertension. A 10-minute, 44-item survey queried the women regarding their perspectives related to participation in neuroimaging studies. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict willingness to participate in a future study; they included a range of predictors: demographic indicators, history of blood pressure diagnosis, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and availability of a support person who could accompany the participant to a future study session. Results Two hundred fifty-seven Black women completed the survey. On average, the women were 59 years old, had been diagnosed with hypertension for 14 years, and had a systolic blood pressure of 141 mmHg. Participants were willing to travel 40 miles to participate, and many preferred to drive a personal vehicle. Some women were claustrophobic (20%) or had metal in their bodies (13%) and, therefore, would likely be ineligible to participate in neuroimaging studies. Some were nervous about the “small space” of a scanner, but others stated they would “enjoy participating” and wanted to “help future people…get well. ” Women who had a support person to attend their appointment with them were almost 4 times more likely to state they would participate in future studies. Those who had been diagnosed with hypertension for more than 11 years (the median) were almost 3 times more likely to report interest in participating in a future study than those participants who had been diagnosed with hypertension for 11 years or less. Discussion Black women with hypertension were interested and eligible to participate in neuroimaging research. Despite some of the facilitators and barriers we identified, the women in our sample were interested in participating in future studies. The presence of a support person and length of time with a hypertension diagnosis are important predictors of willingness to participate in a future study.
STEADY STATES, LIMIT CYCLES, AND CHAOS IN MODELS OF COMPLEX BIOLOGICAL NETWORKS

Theoretical models of neural and genetic control networks consisting of N interacting elements are cast in the form of an N-dimensional system of piecewise linear (PL) ordinary differential equations. The state transition diagram of this system, which represents transitions between distinct volumes in the N-dimensional phase space, is given as a directed graph on an N-dimensional hypercube in which each edge has only one orientation. Analytical results establish steady-states and limit cycles in these systems, and numerical results have identified chaotic dynamics for N ≥ 6.
Exploring facial expressions and action unit domains for Parkinson detection

Background and objective Patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease (PD) present a reduction in facial movements called hypomimia. In this work, we propose to use machine learning facial expression analysis from face images based on action unit domains to improve PD detection. We propose different domain adaptation techniques to exploit the latest advances in automatic face analysis and face action unit detection. Methods Three different approaches are explored to model facial expressions of PD patients: (i) face analysis using single frame images and also using sequences of images, (ii) transfer learning from face analysis to action units recognition, and (iii) triplet-loss functions to improve the automatic classification between patients and healthy subjects. Results Real face images from PD patients show that it is possible to properly model elicited facial expressions using image sequences (neutral, onset-transition, apex, offset-transition, and neutral) with accuracy improvements of up to 5.5% (from 72.9% to 78.4%) with respect to single-image PD detection. We also show that our proposed action unit domain adaptation provides improvements of up to 8.9% (from 78.4% to 87.3%) with respect to face analysis. Finally, we also show that triplet-loss functions provide improvements of up to 3.6% (from 78.8% to 82.4%) with respect to action unit domain adaptation applied upon models created from scratch. The code of the experiments is available at https://github.com/luisf-gomez/Explorer-FE-AU-in-PD. Conclusions Domain adaptation via transfer learning methods seem to be a promising strategy to model hypomimia in PD patients. Considering the good results and also the fact that only up to five images per participant are considered in each sequence, we believe that this work is a step forward in the development of inexpensive computational systems suitable to model and quantify problems of PD patients in their facial expressions.
Transcriptomic congruence analysis for evaluating model organisms

Significance As human clinical studies are often expensive, lengthy, and with many constraints, model organisms, such as mouse and rat, play an indispensable role in almost all disease domains. Although instrumental and popular, the application of model organisms has raised caution. Two previous PNAS reports presented controversial conclusions of mouse model’s resemblance to humans in inflammatory transcriptomic responses, which triggered debates on its usefulness. To date, no objective and quantitative tools are available to describe the congruence of a mouse model to humans. The proposed methodology in this paper fills this gap to facilitate mechanistic understanding and hypothesis generation when evaluating an animal model.
Dual blockages of a broad and potent neutralizing IgM antibody targeting GH loop of EV‐As

The reported enterovirus A 71 (EVA71) vaccines and immunoglobin G (IgG) antibodies have no cross‐antiviral efficacy against other enterovirus A (EV‐A) which caused hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Here we constructed an IgM antibody (20‐IgM) based on our previous discovery to address the resistance encountered by IgG‐based immunotherapy. Although binding to the same conserved neutralizing epitope within the GH loop of EV‐As VP1, the antiviral breath and potency of 20‐IgM are still higher than its parental 20‐IgG1. The 20‐IgM blocks the interaction between the EV‐As and its receptors, scavenger receptor class B, member 2 (SCARB2) and Kringle‐containing transmembrane protein 1(KREMEN1) of the host cell. The 20‐IgM also neutralizes the EV‐As at the post‐attachment stages, including postattachment neutralization, uncoating and RNA release inhibition after internalization. Mechanistically, the dual blockage effect of 20‐IgM is dependent on both a conserved site targeting and high affinity binding. Meanwhile, 20‐IgM provides cross‐antiviral efficacy in EV‐As orally infected neonatal ICR mice. Collectively, 20‐IgM and its property exhibit excellent antiviral activity with a dual‐blockage inhibitory effect at both the pre‐ and post‐attachment stages. The finding enhances our understanding of IgM‐mediated immunity and highlights the potential of IgM subtype antibodies against enterovirus infections.
Image exploitation from encoded measurements

We consider a coded aperture imaging system which collects far fewer measurements than the underlying resolution of the scene we wish to exploit. Our sensing model considers an imaging system which subsamples pixel intensities with a SLM device. The theory of compressive imaging has been studied in the context of rebuilding high resolution imagery from a smaller set of image measurements, and thus is ideal for our application. We present a compressive imaging model to our proposed image measurement system and simulate image reconstruction performance. The compressive imaging sensing and reconstruction models are then modified to incorporate an exploitation task into the sensing and reconstruction process, the results being twofold: A more structured encoding for the measurement process, and an algorithm capable of reconstructing the processed imagery with the same computations as reconstructing the image itself. The equations are generated for an arbitrary linear filtering exploitation algorithm and we present some results based upon a quadratic correlation filtering target detection algorithm.
Replicating Maximum Periods of Play in Australian Football Matches Through Position-Specific Drills

Abstract Wing, C, Hart, NH, Ma’ayah, F, and Nosaka, K. Replicating maximum periods of play in Australian football matches through position-specific drills. J Strength Cond Res 37(8): 1628–1633, 2023—This study evaluated whether a position-specific drill replicates the running intensities of maximum ball in play (BiP) phases in competitive matches of Australian football (AF). Match data were collected on 32 AF players across 3 seasons (2019, 2020, 2021), with training session data collected from the same players across the 2021 season. Three position-specific training drills were created for defense, offense, and combination (defense and offense combined). Running intensities were compared between maximum BiP periods (e.g., periods with the highest metric per minute) from competitive matches and position-specific training drills, as well as between the 3 position-specific training drills using linear mixed models. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Measures of distance (offense: 44.4 m·minute−1, defense: 83.5 m·minute−1, combination: 50.4 m·minute−1), high-speed running (offense: 76.7 m·minute−1, defense: 134.6 m·minute−1, combination: 89.6 m·minute−1), very high–speed running (offense: 26.7 m·minute−1, defense: 56.2 m·minute−1, combination: 55.0 m·minute−1), and high-intensity efforts (offense: 2.3 efforts·minute−1, defense: 3.0 efforts·minute−1, combination: 2.8 efforts·minute−1), relative to time were greater (p < 0.001) in all 3 position-specific training drills compared with BiP phases. All measured metrics were significantly (p < 0.001) greater in the defense drill compared with the offense drill, whereas distance, high-speed running, PlayerLoad, and accelerations were significantly (p < 0.001) greater when compared with the combination drill. These demonstrate that position-specific training drills that we created replicated or exceeded the running intensities recorded during matches based on maximum BiP periods. Position-specific training drills seem to be an attractive addition to AF players training regimens because it concurrently provides training for physical and technical actions (e.g., handballs).
Effect of ospemifene on vaginal microbiome in postmenopausal women with vulvovaginal atrophy

This study analyzed the vaginal microbiome profiles in postmenopausal women with and without vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) and assessed the effect of ospemifene and systemic hormone treatment on the vaginal microbiome of women with VVA. Women with VVA were characterized by a signifi cant reduction of Lactobacillus and a significant increase of bacterial diversity compared to women without VVA; both treatments improved vaginal microbiota, and ospemifene reduced potential harmful bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Clostridium. Abstract Objectives This study aimed (i) to compare the vaginal microbiome profiles of women suffering from vulvovaginal atrophy with that of healthy postmenopausal women and to (ii) assess the effect of ospemifene and systemic hormone treatment on the composition of the vaginal microbiome. Methods Sixty-seven postmenopausal women attending the Gynecology Clinic of Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Bologna (Italy) were enrolled. Of them, 39 received a diagnosis of atrophy and 28 were considered healthy controls. In the group of atrophic women, 20 were prescribed ospemifene and 19 received hormone treatment. The vaginal health index was calculated, and a vaginal swab was collected for the assessment of vaginal maturation index and the analysis of vaginal microbiome through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Clinical/microbiological analyses were repeated after 3 months of treatment. Results The vaginal microbiome of atrophic women was characterized by a significant reduction of Lactobacillus (P = 0.002) and an increase of Streptococcus (P = 0.008) and Sneathia (P = 0.02). A positive correlation between vaginal health index/vaginal maturation index and Lactobacillus abundance was found (P = 0.002 and P = 0.035, respectively). Both therapeutic approaches effectively improved vaginal indices. Systemic hormone treatment induced changes in minority bacterial groups of the vaginal microbiome, whereas ospemifene was able to eliminate specific bacterial taxa, such as Staphylococcus (P = 0.04) and Clostridium (P = 0.01). Both treatments induced a trend in the increase of bifidobacteria. Conclusions The vaginal microbiome of atrophic women differs significantly from that of healthy postmenopausal women. Ospemifene may lead to a condition of vaginal health, likely characterized by the reduction of “potentially harmful” bacteria.
Swip-1 promotes exocytosis of glue granules in the exocrine Drosophila salivary gland

ABSTRACT Exocytosis is a fundamental cellular process by which cells secrete cargos from their apical membrane into the extracellular lumen. Cargo release proceeds in sequential steps that depend on coordinated assembly and organization of an actin cytoskeletal network. Here, we identified the conserved actin-crosslinking protein Swip-1 as a novel regulator controlling exocytosis of glue granules in the Drosophila salivary gland. Real-time imaging revealed that Swip-1 is simultaneously recruited with F-actin onto secreting granules in proximity to the apical membrane. We observed that Swip-1 is rapidly cleared at the point of secretory vesicle fusion and colocalizes with actomyosin network around the fused vesicles. Loss of Swip-1 function impairs secretory cargo expulsion, resulting in strongly delayed secretion. Thus, our results uncover a novel role of Swip-1 in secretory vesicle compression and expulsion of cargo during regulated exocytosis. Remarkably, this function neither requires Ca2+ binding nor dimerization of Swip-1. Our data rather suggest that Swip-1 regulates actomyosin activity upstream of Rho-GTPase signaling to drive proper vesicle membrane crumpling and expulsion of cargo.
On the Uniqueness of Wave Operators Associated with Non-Trace Class Perturbations

Abstract Voiculescu has previously established the uniqueness of the wave operator for the problem of ${{\mathcal{C}}^{(0)}}$ -perturbation of commuting tuples of self-adjoint operators in the case where the norm ideal $\mathcal{C}$ has the property ${{\lim }_{n\,\to \,\infty }}\,{{n}^{-1/2}}\,\left\| {{P}_{n}} \right\|\mathcal{C}\,=\,0$ , where $\{{{P}_{n}}\}$ is any sequence of orthogonal projections with rank $({{P}_{n}})\,=\,n$ . We prove that the same uniqueness result holds true so long as $\mathcal{C}$ is not the trace class. (It is well known that there is no such uniqueness in the case of trace-class perturbation.)
Testing and Case Rates of Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, and HIV among People with Substance Use Disorders in the Veterans Health Administration

Background Little is known about national patterns of sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and infections among people with substance use disorders (SUDs). Methods This study used a national retrospective analysis of people with SUDs receiving healthcare in the Veterans Health Administration in 2019 (N = 485,869). We describe testing rates, test positivity, and case rates for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV among individuals with alcohol, opioid, cocaine, and noncocaine stimulant use disorders in a national cohort of Veterans Health Administration patients. Results Test and case rates for all STIs were highest among people with noncocaine stimulant use. People with alcohol use disorder had the lowest testing rates but intermediate incidence for all STIs. People with multiple SUDs had higher incidence of all STIs than those with single SUDs. Mental health diagnoses and houselessness were common. The HIV test positivity was 0.14% to 0.36% across SUD groups. Conclusions Sexually transmitted infection testing rates between SUD groups were discordant with their respective case rates. High STI rates in people with SUDs suggest a need for more comprehensive testing, particularly for those with noncocaine stimulant use and those with comorbid houselessness or mental health diagnoses.
Efficacy of deep brain stimulation for the treatment of anorexia nervosa: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of patient-level data.

OBJECTIVE Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been approved as a therapy for movement disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Recently, DBS has been studied in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), which is a debilitating and life-threatening psychiatric disorder. Several stimulation locations have been tested without a clear indication of the best region. In this systematic review and network meta-analysis, the authors used patient-level data to identify stimulation targets with the greatest evidence for efficacy in increasing body mass index (BMI). METHODS A systematic search was performed on or before August 4, 2022, using PubMed/MEDLINE, Ovid, and Scopus. Articles were included if patient-level data were presented, patients were diagnosed with AN and treated with DBS, and 6 months or more of postoperative follow-up data were reported. Quality and risk of bias were assessed with the NIH assessment tools. Patient data were collected and stratified by stimulation location. A network meta-analysis was performed. This review was written in accordance with PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews. RESULTS Eleven studies consisting of 36 patients were included. The mean age and BMI at the time of surgery were 38.07 (SD 11.64) years and 12.58 (SD 1.4) kg/m2, respectively. After 6 months of DBS, a significant difference in percentage change in BMI was found between the nucleus accumbens and subcallosal cingulate cortex (SCC) (SMD 0.78; 95% CI 0.10, 1.45) and between the SCC and ventral anterior limb of the internal capsule (SMD -1.51; 95% CI -2.39, -0.62). Similarly, at 9-12 months, a significant difference in percentage change in BMI was found between the SCC and ventral anterior limb of the internal capsule (SMD -1.18; 95% CI -2.21, -0.15). With hierarchical ranking, this study identified SCC as the most supported stimulation location for BMI change at 6 and 9-12 months (P-scores 0.9449 and 0.9771, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Several DBS targets have been tested for AN, and this study identified the SCC as the most supported region for BMI change. However, further studies with blinded on/off periods are necessary to confirm this finding.
About the prospects of determining the degree of coherence

The situation when information on the degree of coherence of electromagnetic optical waves is contained both in intensity modulation and in spatial polarization modulation of the resulting distribution of superposing waves is considered. It is pointed out that such experimental situation is often realized in near-field optics. The possibility of experimental estimation of the degree of mutual coherence of waves polarized at the incidence plane is shown in this paper.
Material forces in micromorphic fracture mechanics

Abstract The physical foundation, the balance laws and the constitutive relations of microcontinuum field theories are briefly reviewed. The concept of material forces, which may also be referred as Eshelbian mechanics, is extended to micromorphic theory. The balance law of pseudo‐momentum is formulated. The detailed expressions of Eshelby stress tensor, pseudo‐momentum, and material forces are derived. It is found that, for micromorphic thermoelastic solid, the material forces are due to (1) body force and body moment, (2) temperature gradient, and (3) the material inhomogeneities in density, microinertia, and elastic coefficients. It is shown that, at the crack front, material forces are reduced to generalized vectorial J‐integral. The calculation of material forces, due to the presence of inhomogeneities or cracks, by finite element analysis and meshless analysis is discussed. Finite element analysis is performed for a multiphase material which is composed of randomly distributed and oriented grains and in between the grain boundaries in its amorphous phase. Each grain is modeled as a single crystal by specialized micromorphic theory. The grain boundaries are modeled with a thin and finite width by classical continuum mechanics. Numerical results, including Cauchy stresses, Eshelby stresses, and material forces, for a thin film of silicon subjected to thermal and/or mechanical loadings are obtained and discussed.
Influence of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury History and Mental Health Status on Alcohol and Cannabis Use in University Athletes

Objective: This study examined the relationship between mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) history, mental health, and sex with single and polysubstance use in university athletes. Design: Observational study. Setting: University in Ontario, Canada. Participants: Participants were identified from a dataset of 416 university athletes ages 18 to 21. Participants were classified based on their substance use habits and, 153 met criteria for the nonsubstance group, 195 for the alcohol use (AU) only group, and 64 polysubstance use group [ie, a combined substance use (AU+) group]. Independent Variables: Athletes received baseline assessments and completed self-reported questions regarding alcohol, cannabis, or other recreational substance use, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, self-reported mTBI history, and self-reported anxiety, and/or panic disorder endorsement information. Main Outcome Measures: Comparison of mTBI history and mental health status between individuals in the alcohol only or polysubstance use group. Results: Mild traumatic brain injury history was a significant predictor of AU (P < 0.001) and AU+ (P < 0.001). Anxiety endorsement was also a significant predictor of polysubstance use (P < 0.001) and there was a small but nonsignificant association of polysubstance use in men (P = 0.057). Conclusions: University athletes who experience mTBI are more likely to engage in single or polysubstance use and athletes who experience anxiety are more likely to engage in polysubstance use. Consideration of mTBI history and mental health may inform clinical concussion management for identifying potential high-risk behavior such as polysubstance use in university athletes and tailoring intervention strategies (eg, incorporating education about substance use).
Non-Lorentzian pump resonances in whispering gallery optical parametric oscillators

Whispering gallery optical parametric oscillators are millimeter-sized monolithic sources for tunable coherent light. Several experiments have revealed that during optical parametric oscillation the pump resonance strongly differs from a Lorentzian shape. We theoretically and experimentally analyze these line-shape distortions. It turns out that the line shape of the pump resonance strongly depends on the coupling strength of the pump light and on the loss ratio between generated light and pump light. The line-widths, i.e. the losses, for the light generated by the parametric process can be deduced without measuring them directly.