Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute and Cumulative Effects of Haze Fine Particles on Mortality and the Seasonal Characteristics in Beijing, China, 2005–2013: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Study

We observed significant effects of particulate matter (PM2.5) on cause-specific mortality by applying a time-stratified case-crossover and lag-structure designs in Beijing over a nine-year study period (2005–2013). The year-round odds ratio (OR) was 1.005 on the current day with a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 for all-cause mortality. For cardiovascular mortality and stroke, the ORs were 1.007 and 1.008 on the current day, respectively. Meanwhile, during a lag of six days, the cumulative effects of haze on relative risk of mortality, respiratory mortality and all-cause mortality was in the range of 2~11%. Moreover, we found a significant seasonal pattern in the associations for respiratory mortality: significant associations were observed in spring and fall, while for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, cardiac and stroke, significant associations were observed in winter. Moreover, increasing temperature would decrease risks of mortalities in winter taking fall as the reference season. We concluded that in summer, temperature acted as a direct enhancer of air pollutants; while in winter and spring, it was an index of the diameter distribution and composition of fine particles.
Topology highlights mesoscopic functional equivalence between imagery and perception

The functional equivalence between mental images and perception or motion has been proposed on the basis of neuroimaging evidence of large spatially overlapping activations between real and imagined sensori-motor conditions. However, similar local activation patterns do not imply the same mesoscopic integration of brain regions active during imagery and perception or action. Here we present the first EEG evidence of topological equivalence between functional network organization at intermediate and global scales during tasks. We show that the degree of functional equivalence varies in the population and is associated with different magnitudes in the restructuring of the functional connectivity between imagery and real tasks. In particular, changes observed during imagery with respect to basal conditions account for the cognitive effort experienced during imagery, and subjects characterized by stronger functional equivalence exhibit smaller topological deviations in the imagination tasks performed after real tasks, thus showing learning effects. Altogether, our findings point to different sensori-cognitive information processing in the subjects showing different functional equivalence. We anticipate our results to be a starting point for a novel dynamical description of functional equivalence, which will be relevant for socio-cognitive theories of embodiment and cognitive formulations of how different selves emerge from neurophysiological assets.
Toxoplasma gondii in edible fishes captured in the Mediterranean basin

The issue of whether market fish can be involved in the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in the marine environment is highly debated since toxoplasmosis has been diagnosed frequently in cetaceans stranded along the Mediterranean coastlines in recent times. To support the hypothesis that fishes can harbour and effectively transmit the parasite to top‐of‐the‐food‐chain marine organisms and to human consumers of fishery products, a total of 1,293 fishes from 17 species obtained from wholesale and local fish markets were examined for T. gondii DNA. Real‐time PCR was performed in samples obtained by separately pooling intestines, gills and skin/muscles collected from each fish species. Thirty‐two out of 147 pooled samples from 12 different fish species were found contaminated with T. gondii DNA that was detected in 16 samples of skin/muscle and in 11 samples of both intestine and gills. Quantitative analysis of amplified DNA performed by both real‐time PCR and digital PCR (dPCR) confirmed that positive fish samples were contaminated with Toxoplasma genomic DNA to an extent of 6.10 × 10−2 to 2.77 × 104 copies/ml (quantitative PCR) and of 1 to 5.7 × 104 copies/ml (dPCR). Fishes are not considered competent biological hosts for T. gondii; nonetheless, they can be contaminated with T. gondii oocysts flowing via freshwater run‐offs (untreated sewage discharges, soil flooding) into the marine environment, thus acting as mechanical carriers. Although the detection of viable and infective T. gondii oocysts was not the objective of this investigation, the results here reported suggest that fish species sold for human consumption can be accidentally involved in the transmission route of the parasite in the marine environment and that the risk of foodborne transmission of toxoplasmosis to fish consumers should be further investigated.
Survival analysis of intraoperative blood salvage for patients with malignancy disease

Abstract Background: Intraoperative blood salvage as a blood-saving strategy has been widely used in surgery. Considering its theoretic risk of malignant tumor cells being reinfused and the corresponding blood metastases, the safety of intraoperative blood salvage in cancer surgery remains controversial. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), we searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE to November 2017. We included only studies comparing intraoperative blood salvage with allogeneic blood transfusion. Results: This meta-analysis included 9 studies with 4354 patients with 1346 patients in the intraoperative blood salvage group and 3008 patients in the allogeneic blood transfusion group. There were no significant differences in the 5-year overall survival outcome (odds ratio [OR] 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80–1.58), 5-year disease-free survival outcome (OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.86–1.35), or 5-year recurrence rate (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.71–1.05) between the 2 study groups. Subgroup analysis also showed no significant differences in the 5-year overall survival outcome (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.57–1.67) of hepatocellular carcinoma patients in liver transplantation. Conclusions: For patients with malignant disease, intraoperative blood salvage did not increase the tumor recurrence rate and had comparable survival outcomes with allogeneic blood transfusion.
NF-κB/Rel Transcription Factors in Pancreatic Cancer: Focusing on RelA, c-Rel, and RelB

Regulation of Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)/Rel transcription factors (TFs) is extremely cell-type-specific owing to their ability to act disparately in the context of cellular homeostasis driven by cellular fate and the microenvironment. This is also valid for tumor cells in which every single component shows heterogenic effects. Whereas many studies highlighted a per se oncogenic function for NF-κB/Rel TFs across cancers, recent advances in the field revealed their additional tumor-suppressive nature. Specifically, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), as one of the deadliest malignant diseases, shows aberrant canonical-noncanonical NF-κB signaling activity. Although decades of work suggest a prominent oncogenic activity of NF-κB signaling in PDAC, emerging evidence points to the opposite including anti-tumor effects. Considering the dual nature of NF-κB signaling and how it is closely linked to many other cancer related signaling pathways, it is essential to dissect the roles of individual Rel TFs in pancreatic carcinogenesis and tumor persistency and progression. Here, we discuss recent knowledge highlighting the role of Rel TFs RelA, RelB, and c-Rel in PDAC development and maintenance. Next to providing rationales for therapeutically harnessing Rel TF function in PDAC, we compile strategies currently in (pre-)clinical evaluation.
Using Recurrent Neural Networks to Compare Movement Patterns in ADHD and Normally Developing Children Based on Acceleration Signals from the Wrist and Ankle

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects, among other things, the movement patterns of children suffering it. Inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors, major symptoms characterizing ADHD, result not only in differences in the activity levels but also in the activity patterns themselves. This paper proposes and trains a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) to characterize the moment patterns for normally developing children and uses the trained RNN in order to assess differences in the movement patterns from children with ADHD. Each child is monitored for 24 consecutive hours, in a normal school day, wearing 4 tri-axial accelerometers (one at each wrist and ankle). The results for both medicated and non-medicated children with ADHD, and for different activity levels are presented. While the movement patterns for non-medicated ADHD diagnosed participants showed higher differences as compared to those of normally developing participants, those differences were only statistically significant for medium intensity movements. On the other hand, the medicated ADHD participants showed statistically different behavior for low intensity movements.
Subnanometer resolution cryo-EM structure of Arabidopsis thaliana ATG9

ABSTRACT Macroautophagy/autophagy is an essential process for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis by recycling macromolecules under normal and stress conditions. ATG9 (autophagy related 9) is the only integral membrane protein in the autophagy core machinery and has a central role in mediating autophagosome formation. In cells, ATG9 exists on mobile vesicles that traffic to the growing phagophore, providing an essential membrane source for the formation of autophagosomes. Here we report the three-dimensional structure of ATG9 from Arabidopsis thaliana at 7.8 Å resolution, determined by single particle cryo-electron microscopy. ATG9 organizes into a homotrimer, with each protomer contributing at least six transmembrane α-helices. At the center of the trimer, the protomers interact via their membrane-embedded and C-terminal cytoplasmic regions. Combined with prediction of protein contacts using sequence co-evolutionary information, the structure provides molecular insights into the ATG9 architecture and testable hypotheses for the molecular mechanism of autophagy progression regulated by ATG9. Abbreviations 2D: 2-dimensional; 3D: 3-dimensional; AtATG9: Arabidopsis ATG9; Atg: autophagy-related; ATG9: autophagy-related protein 9; cryo-EM: cryo-electron microscopy; DDM: dodecyl maltoside; GraDeR: gradient-based detergent removal; LMNG: lauryl maltose-neopentyl glycol; PAS: phagophore assembly site; PtdIns3K: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.
A systematic review and meta-analysis

New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) remains common arrhythmia in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and is closely associated with increased subsequent cardiovascular mortality. Our meta-analysis aims to summarize more clinical risk factors for NOAF. Comprehensive systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were carried out to find relevant studies inception to December 2017. Pooled mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to evaluate the value of clinical risk factors in the prediction of NOAF after AMI. Eleven studies containing 9570 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, older age and increased heart rate (HR) levels had a significant positive association with NOAF in patients with AMI. The MD in age between the patients with, and those without NOAF, was 8.22 units (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.44–9.01), test for overall effect z score = 20.51 (P < .00001, I = 0%). Moreover, the MD in a subgroup analysis for HR levels between the patients with, and those without NOAF was 4.34 units (95% Cl: 2.56–6.11), test for overall effect z score = 4.78 (P < .00001, I = 31%). In patient with AMI, our meta-analysis demonstrated that older age and increased HR levels on admission are related to greater risk of NOAF. Abbreviations: AF = atrial fibrillation, AMI = acute myocardial infarction, CI = confidence interval, DBP = diastolic blood pressure, HR = heart rate, MD = mean difference, MeSH = medical subject heading, NOAF = new-onset atrial fibrillation, NOS = NewcastleOttawa Scale, SBP = systolic blood pressure, SE = standard error.
Synthesis and Performance of 6FDA-Based Polyimide-Ionenes and Composites with Ionic Liquids as Gas Separation Membranes

Three new isomeric 6FDA-based polyimide-ionenes, with imidazolium moieties and varying regiochemistry (para-, meta-, and ortho- connectivity), and composites with three different ionic liquids (ILs) have been developed as gas separation membranes. The structural-property relationships and gas separation behaviors of the newly developed 6FDA polyimide-ionene + IL composites have been extensively studied. All the 6FDA-based polyimide-ionenes exhibited good compatibility with the ILs and produced homogeneous hybrid membranes with the high thermal stability of ~380 °C. Particularly, [6FDA I4A pXy][Tf2N] ionene + IL hybrids having [C4mim][Tf2N] and [Bnmim][Tf2N] ILs offered mechanically stable matrixes with high CO2 affinity. The permeability of CO2 was increased by factors of 2 and 3 for C4mim and Bnmim hybrids (2.15 to 6.32 barrers), respectively, compared to the neat [6FDA I4A pXy][Tf2N] without sacrificing their permselectivity for CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 gas pairs.
Lobar location of lesions in computed tomography-guided lung biopsy is correlated with major pneumothorax

Abstract Pneumothorax is a common complication in computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous lung biopsy (CPLB). Whether the lobar location of lesions contributes to the incidence of pneumothorax should be further clarified. A total of 1452 consecutive patients who underwent CPLB between January 2010 and March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of pneumothorax was compared among 5 different lobe biopsies. Minor pneumothorax was defined as pneumothorax without chest tube placement and major pneumothorax was defined as pneumothorax with chest tube placement. The positive diagnosis rate of pathology for this cohort was approximately 84%, with 22.5% (326/1452) of the patients experiencing pneumothorax. The rates of pneumothorax were 19.5%, 24.5%, 33.9%, 21.4%, and 23.9% for the right upper lobe, right lower lobe, right middle lobe, left upper lobe, and left lower lobe, respectively (P = .09). Chest tube placement was necessary in 19.0% (62/326) of the patients with pneumothorax. The rates of major pneumothorax were 5.3%, 2.6%, 10.2%, 4.7%, and 2.6% for the right upper lobe, right lower lobe, right middle lobe, left upper lobe, and left lower lobe biopsies, respectively (P = .02). This result was further confirmed by the propensity score-matching method. Moreover, 8.7% (127/1452) of the patients experienced puncture of fissure, the rates of which were 13.5%, 5%, 10.2%, 9.1%, and 4.3% for the right upper lobe, right lower lobe, right middle lobe, left upper lobe, and left lower lobe, respectively (P < .001). Within the pneumothorax patient group, the rate of lobe fissure puncture (15.2%) was significantly lower in patients with minor pneumothorax than (51.6%) in those with major pneumothorax (P < .001). Upper and middle lobe lesion biopsies show a significantly high rate of major pneumothorax, which may be due to more puncture of fissure. It is crucial to carefully distinguish the fissure around lesions and bypass it to avoid major pneumothorax.
Older Adults’ Perceptions of ICT: Main Findings from the Technology In Later Life (TILL) Study

Technology is entwined in 21st Century society, and within the lives of people across all ages. The Technology In Later Life (TILL) study is the first piece of work contributing to the impact, behavior, and perception of technology use, by adults aged ≥70 years, residing in rural and suburban areas. TILL is an international, multi-centred, multi-methods study investigating and conceptualizing how various technologies impact the lives of older adults; residing in urban and rural locations in the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada. This in-depth study recruited 37 participants via a multi-methods approach. Analysis of the findings ascertained two overarching themes: facilitators of technology use (i.e., sharing of information and feeling secure), and detractors of technology (i.e., feelings of apprehension of use). Proposed recommendations include promotion of technology from a strengths-based perspective focusing on positive opportunities technology to improve health and wellbeing, creating a peer support network to assist with learning of new technology, and the need to examine further how intergenerational relationships may be enhanced through the use of technology. The distinction of these themes narrates to the originality of this initial study and milieu of recruited participants, intersecting across the fields of gerontology, geography, social sciences, and gerontechnology.
Cyclic Olefin Copolymer Microfluidic Devices for Forensic Applications

Microfluidic devices offer important benefits for forensic applications, in particular for fast tests at a crime scene. A large portion of forensic applications require microfluidic chip material to show compatibility with biochemical reactions (such as amplification reactions), and to have high transparency in the visible region and high chemical resistance. Also, preferably, manufacturing should be simple. The characteristic properties of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) fulfills these requirements and offers new opportunities for the development of new forensic tests. In this work, the versatility of COC as material for lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems in forensic applications has been explored by realizing two proof-of-principle devices. Chemical resistance and optical transparency were investigated for the development of an on-chip presumptive color test to indicate the presence of an illicit substance through applying absorption spectroscopy. Furthermore, the compatibility of COC with a DNA amplification reaction was verified by performing an on-chip multiple displacement amplification (MDA) reaction.
Clinical Impact of Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Localized Prostate Cancer

The main issue concerning localized prostate cancers is the lack of a suitable marker which could help patients’ stratification at diagnosis and distinguish those with a benign disease from patients with a more aggressive cancer. Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) are spread in the blood by invasive tumors and could be the ideal marker in this setting. Therefore, we have compiled data from the literature in order to obtain clues about the clinical impact of CTC in patients with localized prostate cancer. Forty-three publications have been found reporting analyses of CTC in patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer. Of these, we have made a further selection of 11 studies targeting patients with clinical or pathological stages T1 and T2 and reporting the clinical impact of CTC. The results of this search show encouraging data toward the use of CTC in patients with early-stage cancer. However, they also highlight the lack of standardized methods providing a highly sensitive and specific approach for the detection of prostate-derived CTC.
Cell competition: the winners and losers of fitness selection

ABSTRACT The process of cell competition results in the elimination of cells that are viable but ‘less fit’ than surrounding cells. Given the highly heterogeneous nature of our tissues, it seems increasingly likely that cells are engaged in a ‘survival of the fittest’ battle throughout life. The process has a myriad of positive roles in the organism: it selects against mutant cells in developing tissues, prevents the propagation of oncogenic cells and eliminates damaged cells during ageing. However, ‘super-fit’ cancer cells can exploit cell competition mechanisms to expand and spread. Here, we review the regulation, roles and risks of cell competition in organism development, ageing and disease. Summary: This Review summarises key discoveries in the field of cell competition and outlines exciting future directions for this area of research.
Integrating TB and non-communicable diseases services: Pilot experience of screening for diabetes and hypertension in patients with Tuberculosis in Luanda, Angola

Background In the face of the rising burden of non-communicable diseases like diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa, where infectious diseases like Tuberculosis (TB) are still endemic, the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases appears to be increasing rapidly. However, the size of the problem and what is the proper health system approach to deal with the double burden is still unclear. The aim of this project was to estimate the double burden of DM hypertension and TB and to pilot the integration of the screening for DM and hypertension in the TB national programs in six TB centers in Luanda, Angola. Methods All newly diagnosed pulmonary TB (PTB) patients accessing six directly observed treatment (DOT) centers in Luanda were screened for diabetes and hypertension. TB diagnosis was made clinically and/or with sputum microscopy DM diagnosis was made through estimation of either fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (considered positive if ≥ 7∙0mmol/l) or random plasma glucose (considered positive if ≥ 11∙1mmol/l). Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) of ≥ 140 mm of Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of ≥ 90 mm of Hg, irrespective of use of antihypertensive drug. Results Between January 2015 and December 2016, a total of 7,205 newly diagnosed patients with PTB were included in the analysis; 3,598 (49∙9%) were males and 3,607 females. Among 7,205 PTB patients enrolled, blood pressure was measured in 6,954 and 1,352 (19∙4%) were found to have uncontrolled hypertension, more frequently in females (23%) compared to males (16%). In multivariate logistic regression analysis uncontrolled hypertension was associated with increasing age and BMI and ethnic group. The crude prevalence of DM among TB patients was close to 6%, slightly higher in males (6∙3%) compared to females (5∙7%). Age adjusted prevalence was 8%. Impaired fasting glucose (>6∙1 to <7∙0 mmol/L) was detected in 414 patients (7%). In multivariate logistic regression analysis DM prevalence was higher in males and increased with increasing age and BMI. Interpretation TB patients have a considerable hypertension and diabetes co-morbidity. It is possible to screen for these conditions within the DOTs centres. Integration of health services for both communicable and non-communicable diseases is desirable and recommended.
Coworking Spaces: The Better Home Office? A Psychosocial and Health-Related Perspective on an Emerging Work Environment

With the ongoing flexibilization of work, new trends concerning work outside the company’s premises such as coworking spaces are on the rise. Coworking spaces are designed to offer collaboration and community in furnished and equipped workspaces on a rental base. There is a growing body of scientific literature on coworking spaces with empirical results of qualitative and quantitative research. The present study adds to the latter by examining psychosocial demands experienced by coworkers in Germany based on a quantitative survey (n = 112). Among coworkers the home office was or still is another frequently used workplace. However, can the coworking space be seen as a better alternative to the home office in terms of work- and performance-related, social, environmental and health-related aspects? Results showed moderate to low psychosocial demands regarding quantitative workloads. Compared to the home office, the coworking space proved to be the preferred work arrangement. Results are discussed with regard to current literature and workplace design. In conclusion, coworking spaces can be seen as an alternative to the home office that was highly valued in the present sample. It is recommended to further emphasize aspects of work environment and ergonomics in order to create health-promoting and satisfying workplaces.