Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variability in the primary emissions and secondary gas and particle formation from vehicles using bioethanol mixtures

ABSTRACT Bioethanol for use in vehicles is becoming a substantial part of global energy infrastructure because it is renewable and some emissions are reduced. Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions and total hydrocarbons (THC) are reduced, but there is still controversy regarding emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), aldehydes, and ethanol; this may be a concern because all these compounds are precursors of ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The amount of emissions depends on the ethanol content, but it also may depend on the engine quality and ethanol origin. Thus, a photochemical chamber was used to study secondary gas and aerosol formation from two flex-fueled vehicles using different ethanol blends in gasoline. One vehicle and the fuel used were made in the United States, and the others were made in Brazil. Primary emissions of THC, CO, carbon dioxide (CO2), and nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC) from both vehicles decreased as the amount of ethanol in gasoline increased. NOx emissions in the U.S. and Brazilian cars decreased with ethanol content. However, emissions of THC, CO, and NOx from the Brazilian car were markedly higher than those from the U.S. car, showing high variability between vehicle technologies. In the Brazilian car, formation of secondary nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) was lower for higher ethanol content in the fuel. In the U.S. car, NO2 and O3 had a small increase. Secondary particle (particulate matter [PM]) formation in the chamber decreased for both vehicles as the fraction of ethanol in fuel increased, consistent with previous studies. Secondary to primary PM ratios for pure gasoline is 11, also consistent with previous studies. In addition, the time required to form secondary PM is longer for higher ethanol blends. These results indicate that using higher ethanol blends may have a positive impact on air quality. Implications: The use of bioethanol can significantly reduce petroleum use and greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Given the extent of its use, it is important to understand its effect on urban pollution. There is a controversy on whether there is a reduction or increase in PM emission when using ethanol blends. Primary emissions of THC, CO, CO2, NOx, and NMHC for both cars decreased as the fraction of ethanol in gasoline increased. Using a photochemical chamber, the authors have found a decrease in the formation of secondary particles and the time required to form secondary PM is longer when using higher ethanol blends.
A systematic review of the outcomes reported in multimodal pain therapy for chronic pain

There are no recommendations provided for the outcome domains of chronic pain that should be explicitly considered in each clinical trial to describe the efficacy and effectiveness of multimodal pain therapy (MPT). Our aims were to summarize all reported outcome domains in studies assessing the effects of MPT for chronic pain, and to subsequently inform a consensus‐based development of a core outcome set of domains in this field.
Sociodemographic Moderators of Environment-Physical Activity Associations: Results From the International Prevalence Study.

BACKGROUND Associations between the built environment and physical activity (PA) may vary by sociodemographic factors. However, such evidence from international studies is limited. This study tested the moderating effects of sociodemographic factors on associations between perceived environment and self-reported total PA among adults from the International Prevalence Study. METHODS Between 2002 and 2003, adults from 9 countries (N = 10,258) completed surveys assessing total PA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short), perceived environment, and sociodemographics (age, gender, and education). Total PA was dichotomized as meeting/not meeting (a) high PA levels and (b) minimum PA guidelines. Logistic models tested environment by sociodemographic interactions (24 total). RESULTS Education and gender moderated the association between safety from crime and meeting high PA levels (interaction P < .05), with inverse associations found only among the high education group and men. Education and gender also moderated associations of safety from crime and the presence of transit stops with meeting minimum PA guidelines (interaction P < .05), with positive associations found for safety from crime only among women and presence of transit stops only among men and the high education group. CONCLUSIONS The limited number of moderating effects found provides support for population-wide environment-PA associations. International efforts to improve built environments are needed to promote health-enhancing PA and maintain environmental sustainability.
Pulmonary Laser Metastasectomy by 1318-nm Neodymium-Doped Yttrium-Aluminum Garnet Laser: A Retrospective Study About Laser Metastasectomy of the Lung

Background. The lungs are among the first organ affected by remote metastases from many primary tumors. The surgical resection of isolated pulmonary metastases represents an important and effective element of therapy. This is a retrospective study about our entire experience with pulmonary resection for metastatic cancer using 1318-nm neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum garnet laser. Method. In this single-institution study, we retrospectively analyzed a group of 209 patients previously treated for primary malignant solid tumors. We excluded 103 patients. The number and location of lesions in the lungs was determined using chest computed tomography and positron emission tomography-computed tomography. Disseminated malignancy was excluded. All pulmonary laser resections are performed via an anteroaxillary muscle-sparing thoracotomy. All lesions were routinely removed by laser with a small (5-10 mm) margin of the healthy lung. Patients received systematic lymph node sampling with intraoperative smear cytology of sampled lymph nodes. Results. Mortality at 2 years from the first surgery is around 20% (10% annually). This value increases to 45% in the third year. The estimated median survival for patients who underwent the first surgery is reported to be approximately 42 months. Conclusion. Our results show that laser resection of lung metastases can achieve good result, in terms of radical resection and survival, as conventional surgical metastasectomy. The great advantage is the possibility of limiting the damage to the lung. Stapler resection of a high number of metastases would mutilate the lung.
The ST6Gal-I sialyltransferase protects tumor cells against hypoxia by enhancing HIF-1α signaling

Aberrant cell surface glycosylation is prevalent in tumor cells, and there is ample evidence that glycans have functional roles in carcinogenesis. Nonetheless, many molecular details remain unclear. Tumor cells frequently exhibit increased α2–6 sialylation on N-glycans, a modification that is added by the ST6Gal-I sialyltransferase, and emerging evidence suggests that ST6Gal-I–mediated sialylation promotes the survival of tumor cells exposed to various cell stressors. Here we report that ST6Gal-I protects cancer cells from hypoxic stress. It is well known that hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) is stabilized in hypoxic cells, and, in turn, HIF-1α directs the transcription of genes important for cell survival. To investigate a putative role for ST6Gal-I in the hypoxic response, we examined HIF-1α accumulation in ovarian and pancreatic cancer cells in ST6Gal-I overexpression or knockdown experiments. We found that ST6Gal-I activity augmented HIF-1α accumulation in cells grown in a hypoxic environment or treated with two chemical hypoxia mimetics, deferoxamine and dimethyloxalylglycine. Correspondingly, hypoxic cells with high ST6Gal-I expression had increased mRNA levels of HIF-1α transcriptional targets, including the glucose transporter genes GLUT1 and GLUT3 and the glycolytic enzyme gene PDHK1. Interestingly, high ST6Gal-I–expressing cells also had an increased pool of HIF-1α mRNA, suggesting that ST6Gal-I may influence HIF-1α expression. Finally, cells grown in hypoxia for several weeks displayed enriched ST6Gal-I expression, consistent with a pro-survival function. Taken together, these findings unravel a glycosylation-dependent mechanism that facilitates tumor cell adaptation to a hypoxic milieu.
Incidence and Characteristics of Adrenal Crisis in Children Younger than 7 Years with 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency: A Nationwide Survey in Japan

Background/Aims: We aimed to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of adrenal crisis in Japanese children with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). Methods: We conducted a retrospective nationwide survey for the councilors of the Japanese Society for Pediatric Endocrinology (JSPE) regarding adrenal crisis in children under 7 years with 21-OHD, admitted to hospitals from 2011 through 2016. We defined adrenal crisis as the acute impairment of general health due to glucocorticoid deficiency with at least two of symptoms, signs, or biochemical abnormalities. Results: The councilors of the JSPE in 83 institutions responded to this survey (response rate, 60.1%). Data analyses of 378 patients with 1,101.4 person-years (PYs) revealed that 67 patients (17.7%) experienced at least 1 episode of hospital admission for adrenal crisis at the median age of 2 years. The incidence of adrenal crisis was calculated as 10.9 per 100 PYs (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.6–12.2). Infections were the most common precipitating factors, while no factor was observed in 12.5%. Hypoglycemia occurred concomitantly in 27.4%. One patient died from severe hypoglycemia, resulting in a mortality rate of 0.09 per 100 PYs (95% CI 0.0–0.2). Conclusion: Adrenal crisis is not rare and can be accompanied by disastrous hypoglycemia in children with 21-OHD.
Evidence from cost-effectiveness research

SummaryEconomic evaluations are a set of outcomes and health services research methods to inform the debate about the rising cost of health care and include cost-of-illness studies and cost-effectiveness research. Cost-effectiveness research is the comparative analysis of two or more alternative interventions in terms of their health and economic consequences, whose results are expressed as an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, the ratio of differences in cost between a pair of medical interventions to the differences in the corresponding health effects. These research methods are particularly important to neurological diseases with debilitating natural histories, long-term courses, and a growing number of exciting, yet costly, treatment options available. The results of economic evaluations of neurological conditions influence resource allocation decisions, help set reimbursement rates, estimate future healthcare expenses, and improve the quality and efficiency of delivering neurological care. For these research methods to achieve their potential, continued methodological advances within the field are needed, as well as a more systematic integration of these methods into mainstream research to address critical questions regarding the health and well-being of patients with neurological illness.
A Comprehensive Review of Eggs, Choline, and Lutein on Cognition Across the Life-span

ABSTRACT In 2030, one in five Americans will be older than 65 years, and with that an increase in the number of individuals who experience loss in cognitive capacity is to be expected. At the same time, nutrition within the first 1000 days postconception has been suggested to strongly influence cognitive outcomes across the life-span in humans. Eggs are a primary source of both choline and the xanthophyll carotenoid lutein in the western diet, and both have been suggested to influence cognitive function in humans. This comprehensive review critically examines the effects of eggs, choline, and lutein on cognition across the life-span. There seems to be clear scientific evidence to suggest that both choline and lutein play a vital role in brain and neurological development during the first 1000 days postconception. The extent to which higher intakes of choline have the potential to enhance or influence cognition during childhood, adulthood, and/or age-related cognitive decline needs further investigation. Emerging but consistent research suggests that lutein has the potential to influence cognition across the life-span and that sufficient intakes during mid to late adulthood may help to ward off age-related cognitive decline. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) seems to be a reliable and consistent biomarker of brain lutein concentrations across the life-span and potentially one for clinically assessing cognitive status. This review summarizes the current peer-reviewed literature and existing gaps in research.
Effects of Honey and Hydroxyapatite on Bone Healing in Rats

Background: Bone defect healing in orthopedic surgery is a huge challenge. Nowadays, scaffolds are frequently used for tissue regeneration and engineering. One of these scaffolds, hydroxyapatite, is the most important inorganic material in bone, and a good option for promoting healing of bone defects. Honey has long been used for various wound healing with beneficial outcomes in the healing process. However, limited studies have addressed its use in repairing hard tissue lesions. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of honey and hydroxyapatite on the restoration of bone defect in rats. Methods: In this study, 15 adult male rats weighing 200 to 300 grams were used. Rats were randomly assigned to three groups. A segment of the radius bone twice the size of the radius bone width was removed. In the first group (N = 5), the induced defect in the right hand was replaced with autograft bone using the same piece of bone, while the left hand remained empty without any implantation. In the second group (N = 5), defect in the right hand was filled with 0.5 g of honey and in the left hand with honey and autograft bone. In the third group (N = 5), defects in the right hand were filled with granules of hydroxyapatite and those in the left hand with 0.5 g combination of granules and honey. Radiographs in rats were taken at weeks two, four, six, and eight after surgery and bone biopsy for histopathological study was performed at week eight. Results: Radiographs and tissue samples were statistically analyzed in terms of bone formation, union and remodeling. Analyses showed that in the second week, honey-autograft was significantly better than the other groups (P < 0.05). The honey-alone treated group at all times was weaker than others. Histopathological investigations revealed that the hydroxyapatite-alone group was significantly different from hydroxyapatite-honey, autograft, honey, and negative control counterparts in terms of bone marrow formation (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Overall, this study showed that honey and hydroxyapatite alone is not effective in repairing bone defect yet in combination they function more effectively.
Junctional tachycardia in a child with non-rheumatic fever streptococcal pharyngitis

Abstract Accelerated junctional rhythm has been reported in children in the setting of acute rheumatic fever; however, we describe a hitherto unreported case of isolated junctional tachycardia in a child with streptococcal pharyngitis, not meeting revised Jones criteria for rheumatic fever. A previously healthy, 9-year-old girl presented to the emergency department with complaints of sore throat, low-grade fever, and intermittent chest pain. She was found to have a positive rapid streptococcal antigen test. The initial electrocardiogram showed junctional tachycardia with atrioventricular dissociation in addition to prolonged and aberrant atrioventricular conduction. An echocardiogram revealed normal cardiac anatomy with normal biventricular function. The patient responded to treatment with amoxicillin for streptococcal pharyngitis. The junctional tachycardia and other electrocardiogram abnormalities resolved during follow-up.
Ultrasonography Assessments of Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter as a Noninvasive and Dynamic Method of Detecting Changes in Intracranial Pressure

Importance The crtierion standard method for monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) can result in complications and pain. Hence, noninvasive, repeatable methods would be valuable. Objective To examine how ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) correlated with noninvasive and dynamically monitored ICP changes. Design, Setting, and Participants The ONSD was measured before the lumbar puncture (LP) in 60 patients on admission. Patients with elevated ICP were divided into group 1 (200 < LP ⩽ 300 mm H2O) and group 2 (LP > 300 mm H2O). Patients underwent follow-up ONSD and LP measurements within 1 month. We analyzed the correlations between the ONSD and ICP on admission and between the changes in ONSD and ICP, which were the respective changes in ONSD and ICP from admission to follow-up. Main Outcomes and Measures The ultrasonographic ONSD and ICP were measured on admission and follow-up. The correlations between the ONSD and ICP on admission and between the changes in ONSD and ICP were analyzed using Pearson correlation analyses. Results For 60 patients (Han nationality; mean [SD] age, 36.2 [12.04] years; 29 [48%] female) on admission, the ONSD and ICP values were strongly correlated, with an r of 0.798 (95% CI, 0.709-0.867; P < .001). Twenty-five patients with elevated ICP who completed the follow-up were included. The mean (SD) ONSD and ICP on admission were 4.50 (0.54) mm and 302.40 (54.26) mm H2O, respectively. The ONSD and ICP values obtained on admission were strongly correlated , with an r of 0.724 (95% CI, 0.470-0.876; P < .001). The mean (SD, range) changes in ICP and ONSD were 126.64 (52.51 mm H2O, 20-210 mm H2O) (95% CI, 106.24-146.07) and 1.00 (0.512 mm, 0.418-2.37 mm) (95% CI, 0.83–1.20), respectively. The change in ONSD was strongly correlated with the change in ICP, with an r of 0.702 (95% CI, 0.425–0.870; P < .001). The follow-up evaluations revealed that the elevated ICP and dilated ONSD had returned to normal, and no evidence of difference was found in the mean ONSDs between group 1 (3.49 mm; 95% CI, 3.34–3.62 mm) and group 2 (3.51 mm; 95% CI, 3.44–3.59 mm) (P = .778) at follow-up. Conclusions and Relevance The dilated ONSDs decreased along with the elevated ICP reduction. Ultrasonographic ONSD measurements may be a useful, noninvasive tool for dynamically evaluating ICP.
Information provision and information needs in adult survivors of childhood cancer

Knowledge about their past medical history is central for childhood cancer survivors to ensure informed decisions in their health management. Knowledge about information provision and information needs in this population is still scarce. We thus aimed to assess: (1) the information survivors reported to have received on disease, treatment, follow‐up, and late effects; (2) their information needs in these four domains and the format in which they would like it provided; (3) the association with psychological distress and quality of life (QoL).
Information-theoretic tools for mining database structure from large data sets

Data design has been characterized as a process of arriving at a design that maximizes the information content of each piece of data (or equivalently, one that minimizes redundancy). Information content (or redundancy) is measured with respect to a prescribed model for the data, a model that is often expressed as a set of constraints. In this work, we consider the problem of doing data redesign in an environment where the prescribed model is unknown or incomplete. Specifically, we consider the problem of finding structural clues in an instance of data, an instance which may contain errors, missing values, and duplicate records. We propose a set of information-theoretic tools for finding structural summaries that are useful in characterizing the information content of the data, and ultimately useful in data design. We provide algorithms for creating these summaries over large, categorical data sets. We study the use of these summaries in one specific physical design task, that of ranking functional dependencies based on their data redundancy. We show how our ranking can be used by a physical data-design tool to find good vertical decompositions of a relation (decompositions that improve the information content of the design). We present an evaluation of the approach on real data sets.
Feasibility of Continuous Actigraphy in Patients in a Medical Intensive Care Unit

Background Poor sleep and immobility are common in patients in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) and are associated with adverse outcomes. Interventions to promote sleep and mobilization in the MICU are gaining popularity, but feasible instruments to measure their effectiveness are lacking. Actigraphy may be useful for large‐scale, continuous measurement of sleep and activity, but its feasibility in MICU patients has not been rigorously evaluated. Objective To evaluate the feasibility of continuous actigraphy measurement in consecutive MICU patients. Methods Wrist and ankle actigraphy data were collected for 48 hours in consenting MICU patients. Actigraphybased measures of estimated sleep and activity were summarized by using descriptive statistics. Agreement between wrist and ankle measurements was evaluated using Cohen &kgr; statistics (for sleep quantity) and intraclass correlation coefficients (for activity). Results Overall, 35 of 48 (73%) eligible patients were enrolled, including 10 requiring mechanical ventilation. Of these patients, 34 (97%) completed the 48‐hour actigraphy period; 20 (57%) found the devices comfortable. Wrist devices logged a mean (SD) of 33.4 (8.8) hours of estimated sleep (72% [19%] of recording period) and 19.6 (17.2) movements per 30‐second epoch. Ankle devices recorded 43.2 (4.1) hours of estimated sleep (93% [7%] of recording period) and 5.1 (6.0) movements per 30 seconds. Conclusions Uninterrupted actigraphy is feasible and generally well tolerated by MICU patients and may be considered for future large‐scale studies. Wrist and ankle actigraphy measurements of sleep and activity in this setting agree poorly and cannot be used interchangeably.
The dynamic immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D3 during Mycobacterium infection

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is a highly infectious airborne bacterium. Previous studies have found vitamin D3 to be a key factor in the defense against Mtb infection, through its regulation of the production of immune-related cytokines, chemokines and effector molecules. Mycobacterium smegmatis was used in our study as a surrogate of Mtb. We hypothesized that the continuous presence of vitamin D3, as well as the level of severity of infection would differentially modulate host cell immune response in comparison with control and the vehicle, ethanol. We found that vitamin D3 conditioning promotes increased bacterial clearance during low-level infection, intracellular containment during high-level infection, and minimizes host cytotoxicity. In the presence of vitamin D3 host cell production of cytokines and effector molecules was infection-level dependent, most notably IL-12, which increased during high-level infection and decreased during low-level infection, and NO, which had a rate of change positively correlated to IL-12. Our study provides evidence that vitamin D3 modulation is context-dependent and time-variant, as well as highly correlated to level of infection. This study furthers our mechanistic understanding of the dual role of vitamin D3 as a regulator of bactericidal molecules and protective agent against host cell damage.