Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of Erythroferrone Response to Erythropoietin in Rats

Background: Erythroferrone (ERFE) is a hormone identified recently as a master regulator connecting iron homeostasis and erythropoiesis. Serum ERFE concentrations significantly increase in animals and humans with normal or impaired kidney function after receiving exogenous erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), which suggests it might be a predictive factor for erythropoiesis. To evaluate whether ERFE is an early, sensitive biomarker for long-term erythropoietic effects of ESAs, we investigated the relationship between ERFE dynamics and time courses of major erythropoietic responses to ESA treatment. Methods: Healthy rats received single dose and multiple doses (thrice a week for 2 weeks) of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) at three dose levels (100, 450, and 1350 IU/kg) intravenously. The rHuEPO and ERFE concentrations in plasma were determined at a series of time points after dosing. Erythropoietic effects including red blood cell count and hemoglobin concentrations were continuously monitored for 24 days (single dose) or 60 days (multiple doses). The expansion of erythroblasts in bone marrow was quantified by flow cytometry analysis. Results: ERFE significantly increased within a few hours and return to baseline at 24 h after rHuEPO treatment. The ERFE response was enhanced after repeated treatment, which was consistent with the observed expansion of erythroblasts in the bone marrow. In addition, the dynamics of ERFE showed double peaks at approximately 2 and 10 h after rHuEPO stimulation, and the ERFE baseline displayed a significant circadian rhythm. There was a strong positive correlation between peak values of short-term ERFE responses and the long-term hemoglobin responses. Conclusion: The stimulated release of ERFE is a rapid process within 24 h. The second peak in the ERFE response to rHuEPO suggests the presence of a feedback mechanism counterregulating the ESA stimulation. The early increase of ERFE at 2 h appears to be a predictor of the hemoglobin response at 14 days after single dose of rHuEPO. Under multiple-dose regimen, the enhanced ERFE responses still correlate with the peak hemoglobin responses. The ERFE baseline also exhibits a circadian rhythm.
Effects of Levetiracetam on the Serum C-Reactive Protein in Children With Epilepsy: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of levetiracetam on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in children with epilepsy. Articles published up to April 15, 2021 were searched from Google Scholar databases, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer, Wiely, NIH and Baidu Scholar databases to analyzed the difference of serum CRP in epilepsy children compared to healthy controls, and the effect of levetiracetam on serum CRP in children with epilepsy was also assessed. All the included studies met the inclusion criteria. 103 publications were selected and eight articles were included in this study with sample size n = 246. The serum CRP level in childhood epilepsy was significantly higher than the healthy controls (pooled standardized mean difference (SMD): 6.930, 95% CI: 2.716–11.143, z = 3.22, p < 0.01). A significant level of between-study heterogeneity was found (τ2 = 17.911, Chi2 = 148.67, df = 3, p < 0.01, I2 = 98.0%). Besides, serum CRP level was significantly decreased by the treatment of levetiracetam in childhood epilepsy (pooled SMD: 3.505, 95% CI: 1.638–5.373, z = 3.68, p < 0.01). A significant level of between-study heterogeneity was found (τ2 = 4.346, Chi2 = 97.17, df = 4, p < 0.01, I2 = 95.9%). The funnel plot showed there was no significant publication bias in the meta-analysis. Serum CRP levels are upregulated in childhood epilepsy and reduced by levetiracetam in children with epilepsy.
Social Capital as Protection Against the Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The corona pandemic has a huge impact on the mental wellbeing of the Dutch population. Based on a large-scale panel survey (N = 22,696) on the social impact of COVID-19, this article firstly examines which social groups are most susceptible to the mental health consequences of the pandemic. Secondly, we examine whether social capital provides protection against this impact. We find that the mental health impact of COVID-19 is considerable and that it increased over the course of 2020. Women, young people, respondents with low incomes and/or poor self-perceived health, experience relatively more fear and stress due to the pandemic. We do not find a difference between respondents with or without a migration background. Social capital (received support, trust in people and in institutions) has the expected effect: the more support and trust, the less fear and stress. There is a mediation effect. Older people, respondents with high incomes and/or good health experience less fear and stress, partly because they have more social capital. This is different for females. They would experience even more fear and stress, compared to men, were it not for the fact that they have more social capital. Hence we conclude that social capital indeed provides some protection against the negative mental health consequences of COVID-19.
12 Weeks of Physical Exercise Attenuates Oxidative Stress, Improves Functional Tests Performance, and Reduces Fall Risk in Elderly Women Independently on Serum 25(OH)D Concentration

The study aimed to evaluate if the 25(OH)D concentration is related to physical training responses. Moreover, to determine the association between serum 25(OH)D concentration and older women’s physical performance, oxidative stress markers, inflammation, and bone metabolism. 37 older women (age 72.9 ± 5.2 years) were assigned into two groups: supplemented (SG) and non-supplemented (NSG). Then, the participants from SG and NSG were randomly assigned into exercised and non-exercised groups: exercise sufficient vitamin D group (ESD; n = 10), exercise insufficient vitamin D group (EID; n = 9), control sufficient vitamin D group (CSD; n = 9), and control insufficient vitamin D group (CID; n = 9). To assess the study aims time up and go test (TUG), 6 min walk test (6MWT), fall risk test (FRT), blood osteocalcin (OC), parathormone (PTH), calcium (Ca2+), sulfhydryl groups (SH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were performed. The results showed that a higher 25(OH)D concentration was in line with better physical performance and bone metabolism as well as lower inflammation. After 12 weeks of training we noted an improvement in 6MWT (from 374.0 ± 17.3 to 415.0 ± 18.8; p = 0.001 and from 364.8 ± 32.8 to 419.4 ± 32.3; p = 0.001 for EID and ESD, respectively), TUG (from 7.9 ± 0.5 to 6.8 ± 0.8; p = 0.001 and from 7.3 ± 1.5 to 6.4 ± 0.9; p = 0.002, for EID and ESD, respectively), reduction of fall risk (from 2.8 ± 0.8 to 1.9 ± 0.4; p = 0.003 and from 2.1 ± 1.1 to 1.6 ± 0.5; p = 0.047, for EID and ESD, respectively) and increase in SH groups (from 0.53 ± 0.06 to 0.58 ± 0.08; p = 0.012 and from 0.54 ± 0.03 to 0.59 ± 0.04; p = 0.005, for EID and ESD, respectively), regardless of the baseline 25(OH)D concentration. A decrease in PTH and OC concentration was observed only in EID group (from 57.7 ± 15.7 to 49.4 ± 12.6; p = 0.013 for PTH and from 27.9 ± 17.2 to 18.0 ± 6.2; p = 0.004 for OC). To conclude, vitamin D concentration among older women is associated with physical performance, fall risk, inflammation, and bone metabolism markers. Moreover, 12 weeks of training improved physical performance and antioxidant protection, regardless of baseline vitamin D concentration.
Patterns of Recurrent Thrombosis in Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome—Multicenter, Real-Life Long-Term Follow-Up

Background Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired hypercoagulable condition associated with antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) presence. Data on re-thrombosis following APS-diagnosis are limited. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of new thrombotic events among primary APS (pAPS) patients followed for up to 15 years in three medical centers in Israel. Results Among 312 primary-APS patients, 143 (46%) had new thrombotic event classified to three patterns: (1) Arterial—associated with heart valve disease (OR 7.24, 95% C.I. 2.26–24.6), hypertension (OR 3, 95% C.I. 1.44–6.25), elevated anti-B2-GPI IgM (OR 1.04, 95% C.I. 0.996–1.08), arterial thrombosis at presentation (OR 1.74 95% C.I. 0.992–3.26), and older age (41 vs. 34 years, p < 0.001). (2) Venous—linked with venous thrombosis at presentation (OR 12.9, 95% C.I. 5.27–31.6, p < 0.001), heart valve disease (OR 9.81 95% C.I. 1.82–52.9, p = 0.018), aGAPSS (OR 1.15 95% C.I. 1.02–1.29), and younger age (31 vs. 36.5 years, p = 0.001); and (3) Combined pattern—associated with heart valve disease (OR 40.5 95% C.I. 7.7–212) and pulmonary embolism (OR 7.47 95% C.I. 1.96–28.5). A 4th variant “the Breakthrough pattern” defined by re-thrombosis despite prophylactic therapy was observed in 100/143 (70%) patients and linked with heart valve disease (OR 8. 95% C.I. 2.43–26.3), venous thrombosis at presentation (OR 2.61 95% C.I. 1.47–4.66), leg ulcers (OR 12.2, 95% C.I. 1.4–107), hypertension (OR 1.99, 95% C.I. 0.92–4.34), and higher aGAPSS (OR 1.08, 95% C.I. 0.99–1.18). Conclusion In this real-life observation, re-thrombosis was common among pAPS patients including in those recommended to receive prophylactic therapy. Different patterns of recurrence were identified and linked with presenting symptoms, specific serological markers, APS manifestations, and comorbidities. Studies that will address interventions to prevent recurrences of APS-related events are needed.
Synthetic MRI for Radiotherapy Planning for Brain and Prostate Cancers: Phantom Validation and Patient Evaluation

Purpose We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of T1 and T2 mappings derived from a multispectral pulse sequence (magnetic resonance image compilation, MAGiC®) on 1.5-T MRI and with conventional sequences [gradient echo with variable flip angle (GRE-VFA) and multi-echo spin echo (ME-SE)] compared to the reference values for the purpose of radiotherapy treatment planning. Methods The accuracy of T1 and T2 measurements was evaluated with 2 coils [head and neck unit (HNU) and BODY coils] on phantoms using descriptive statistics and Bland–Altman analysis. The reproducibility and repeatability of T1 and T2 measurements were performed on 15 sessions with the HNU coil. The T1 and T2 synthetic sequences obtained by both methods were evaluated according to quality assurance (QA) requirements for radiotherapy. T1 and T2 in vivo measurements of the brain or prostate tissues of two groups of five subjects were also compared. Results The phantom results showed good agreement (mean bias, 8.4%) between the two measurement methods for T1 values between 490 and 2,385 ms and T2 values between 25 and 400 ms. MAGiC® gave discordant results for T1 values below 220 ms (bias with the reference values, from 38% to 1,620%). T2 measurements were accurately estimated below 400 ms (mean bias, 8.5%) by both methods. The QA assessments are in agreement with the recommendations of imaging for contouring purposes for radiotherapy planning. On patient data of the brain and prostate, the measurements of T1 and T2 by the two quantitative MRI (qMRI) methods were comparable (max difference, <7%). Conclusion This study shows that the accuracy, reproducibility, and repeatability of the multispectral pulse sequence (MAGiC®) were compatible with its use for radiotherapy treatment planning in a range of values corresponding to soft tissues. Even validated for brain imaging, MAGiC® could potentially be used for prostate qMRI.
Standards for Collection, Preservation, and Transportation of Fecal Samples in TCM Clinical Trials

Background Unlike chemical drugs with a single or a few kinds of active compounds, traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs)uses herbal formulas composed of numerous kinds of chemical constituents. Therefore, TCM clinical trials require unique and stricter standards for collecting, preserving, and transporting fecal samples than those used for chemical drugs. Unfortunately, there are no special standards for processing fecal samples in TCM clinical trials. Methods We invited interdisciplinary experts within TCM clinical trials and gut microbiome research to help formulate this standard. After more than a year’s in-depth discussion and amendments, we achieved a standard via expert interviews, literature research, questionnaire surveys, and public opinion solicitation. This standard has been reviewed and approved by the Standards Office of China of the Association of Chinese medicine. Results We established a sample information processing method prior to TCM clinical sample collection, which is adapted to the unique features of TCM. The method formulates detailed processing requirements for TCM information in addition to the factors that may disturb the gut microbiome. We also constructed a set of methods for collecting, preserving, and transporting fecal samples that meet the characteristics of TCM. These methods formulate detailed operating specifications on the collection approaches, storage conditions, transportation requirements, and management of fecal samples. Conclusions This standard guides the information processing prior to sample collection and the standard operating procedures for the collection, preservation, and transportation of fecal samples in TCM clinical trials, which also can be used as a reference by clinicians and researchers in modern medicines.
Distribution of passengers on railway platforms

Railway platforms are used simultaneously as walking and waiting areas. These two functions cannot easily be separated in space, as they can alternate with time. Up until now, the evaluation of the capacity of platforms was mainly done by considering the whole platform area without further considering the real distribution of waiting and walking areas. But in reality, the distribution of passengers along platforms is strongly uneven. The aim of the work was to get a better understanding where passengers tend to wait on railway platforms and what are the main influences for this behaviour. Therefore, manual observations were performed at two railway platforms in the city of Zurich (Zurich Wiedikon and Zurich Stadelhofen). In order to determine the effects not related to the station layout but to specific trains, several observations were made for the same platform. These observations were done for different rail lines, but also for the same rail line at different times. The observations showed that the waiting area distribution changes with an increase of passengers on the platform and with the time to the next train departure. At first, areas next to obstacles and walls were used for waiting. Typically these are the areas along ramps and stairs, walls and columns and other features where it is possible to lean against. Shortly before the train arrival, when the amount of passengers on the platform is higher, the areas next to the platform entrances are heavily used for waiting. As a result, the platform areas are classified according to their local pedestrian densities for a different overall amount of people on the platform. These results can be used as a first approach for the design of pedestrian facilities and the evaluation of pedestrian density on railway platforms.
The development of pavement deterioration models on the state highway network of New Zealand

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Local Certification of Reachability

Motivated by self-stabilising algorithms, the objective of local certification is to verify whether a (global) property holds while being restricted to a local view of the graph. Roughly speaking, this works as follows: a prover assigns a certificate to every vertex of a graph. Subsequently a verifier checks, for every vertex, whether its local view of the graph is consistent with the property we wish to verify. If this is the case at all vertices, then it accepts and it rejects otherwise. For a prover-verifier pair to locally certify a graph property, the verifier must accept any graph with this property that received certificates from the prover and it must reject any proof on a graph that does not have the desired property. The quality of such a pair is measured by the prover’s size which is the length of the longest certificate it uses. One common model for local certification is that of proof labelling schemes. This is a prover-verifier pair in which the verifier at a vertex 𝑣 has access to the information at 𝑣 as well as the certificates of all its neighbours. Determining whether an undirected graph has an 𝑠𝑡 -path (for specified nodes 𝑠 and 𝑡 ) can be done with a prover of size 1 and in the directed case it is known that O( log Δ ( 𝐺 )) bits suffice, where Δ ( 𝐺 ) denotes the maximum degree of 𝐺 . We prove a matching lower bound, in particular, showing that a constant amount of bits does not suffice.
Pilot study of engineered biofiltration as pretreatment for ultrafiltration: Effects on fouling and disinfection by-products

This study examined biological pretreatment of river and lake water to mitigate subsequent ultrafiltration (UF) fouling. Biofiltration, consisting of media filtration in the absence of chlorine backwash, produced water with lower turbidity and less variability than the more commonly used pretreatment coagulation and settling. Pretreatment with biofiltration resulted in less UF fouling when compared to the untreated raw water. Biofiltration’s ability to lower turbidity, reduce biopolymer and humic concentrations, and decrease membrane fouling was improved by the addition of low coagulant doses in-line (<1 mg/L alum or polyaluminium chloride). Some evidence is provided that more conventional coagulation pretreatment can result in increased irreversible UF fouling during upset conditions. Biopolymer concentration in lake water, river water, and biofilter effluent was correlated to the magnitude of reversible membrane fouling, indicating that biopolymers are likely the key membrane foulants. Evidence is provided that biopolymer concentration can be approximated using turbidity measurements, especially when the particles are predominantly biological, as is the case for raw water or biofilter effluents
On the planar flow development and structural loading of cylinders with circular fins in cross-flow

Finned cylinders are commonly encountered in the design of heat exchangers. Critical to the design and performance of a heat exchanger are the mean and fluctuating loading on the tubes, as they relate to pressure losses across the model and may lead to structural vibrations. The loading characteristics are related to the vortex shedding phenomena in the wakes of finned tubes, which motivates the need to understand their relationship in detail. The flow development and structural loading characteristics of cylinders with equispaced circular fins were studied experimentally in the University of Waterloo water flume facility. Finned cylinders of diameter ratio Df/D = 2.0, fin thickness ratio t/D = 0.028 and range of fin pitch ratios 0.083 ≤ c/D ≤ 1.0 were investigated using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV), and force balance measurements. The Reynolds number ranged from ReDeff = 1020− 2040 based on the effective diameter of the models, corresponding to the shear layer transition turbulent shedding regime. For c/D ≥ 1.0, the vortex development resembles that of a uniform base cylinder, besides a region of affected flow near each fin. Further reduction of c/D results in similar scales of vortex formation, but with increased unsteady flapping of the separated shear layers. Following that, for c/D ≤ 0.083, boundary layer coalescence between the fins leads to the flow redirection and separation at the fin diameter. The generation of lateral vorticity between the fins leads to the progressive weakening of the spanwise shear layers with decreasing c/D. However, the bleeding of low-energy fluid into the near wake from the viscous regions between the fins has a stabilizing effect on the mixing of vorticity during vortex formation, thereby augmenting the structure of turbulence in the wake and inducing stronger wake vortex shedding. Linear increases in the mean drag with increasing fin density are attributed to the independent viscous shear contributions introduced by each finned surface, and the fall off of the linear trend with high fin density is due to the loss of this independence with lateral boundary layer coalescence. The RMS of the fluctuating lift is shown to increase initially for decreasing c/D → 0.33, as the wake vortices increase in strength and flow unsteadiness increases near the cylinder surface. However, the fluctuating lift is severely diminished for low c/D = 0.083, with vortex formation displaced much further downstream, despite exhibiting stronger wake vortices. The vortex shedding frequency is shown to decrease with decreasing c/D. A modification of the definition of the Strouhal number based on the cylinders effective diameter is proposed which incorporates Reynolds numbers effects associated with the differences in the added flow blockage created by the boundary layers developing on the fin surfaces. This definition is found to universally collapse the shedding frequency data in the study and literature onto a constant StDeff∗ ≈ 0.2 with little scatter.