Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statin Use May Be Associated With Reduced Active Tuberculosis Infection: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Background: Tuberculosis remains one of the leading causes of mortality among the infectious diseases, while statins were suggested to confer anti-infective efficacy in experimental studies. We aimed to evaluate the association between statin use and tuberculosis infection in a meta-analysis. Method: Relevant studies were obtained via systematically search of PubMed and Embase databases. A random or a fixed effect model was applied to pool the results according to the heterogeneity among the included studies. Subgroup analyses according to the gender and diabetic status of the participants were performed. We assessed the quality of evidence with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results: Nine observational studies were included. Significant heterogeneity was detected among the studies (p for Cochrane's Q test <0.001, I2 = 93%). The GRADE approach showed generally low quality of evidence. Pooled results showed that statin use was associated with reduced active tuberculosis infection (risk ratio [RR]: 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45 to 0.75, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that the negative association between statin use and active tuberculosis infection was consistent in men (RR: 0.63, p = 0.01) and women (RR: 0.58, p < 0.001), in participants with (RR: 0.63, p = 0.02) and without diabetes (RR: 0.50, p < 0.001), in retrospective cohort studies (RR: 0.56, p = 0.02), prospective cohort studies (RR: 0.76, p = 0.03), nested case-controls studies (RR: 0.57, p < 0.001), and case-control studies (RR: 0.60, p < 0.001), and in studies with statin used defined as any use within 1 year (RR: 0.59, p < 0.001) or during follow-up (RR: 0.61, p < 0.001). Significant publication bias was detected (p for Egger's regression test = 0.046). Subsequent “trim and fill” analyses retrieved an unpublished study to generate symmetrical funnel plots, and meta-analysis incorporating this study did not significantly affect the results (RR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.76, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Statin use may be associated with reduced active tuberculosis infection. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to confirm the potential preventative role of statin use on tuberculosis infection.
JCB_201406068 1..14

The Rockefeller University Press $30.00 J. Cell Biol. Vol. 207 No. 6 753–766 www.jcb. org/cgi/doi/10.1083/jcb.201406068 JCB 753 Correspondence to Hao Ying: yinghao@sibs.ac. cn Abbreviations used in this paper: ant-133a, miR-133a antagomir; ChIP, chromatin immunoprecipitation; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GAS, gastrocnemius; MMI, methimazole; MRE, miRNA response element; MyHC, myosin heavy chain; SOL, soleus; T3, 3,3,5-triiodo-l-thyronine; TA, tibialis anterior; TEAD1, TEA domain family member 1; TH, thyroid hormone; TR, thyroid hormone receptor; TRE, thyroid hormone response element. Introduction
Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction using a partial-thickness quadriceps tendon graft: Short-term clinical outcome retrospective case series

Background: The medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is considered the primary restraint to lateral patellar translation. Many of the reconstruction techniques proposed recently for patellar instability require bony procedures and implant use on the patellar or femoral side. The aim of this study was to describe the short-term clinical outcomes of MPFL reconstruction using a partial-thickness quadriceps tendon graft. Methods: Seven patients (two men, five women; mean age 23.7±4.1 yr) with chronic patellar instability had MPFL reconstruction using a partial-thickness quadriceps tendon graft. Patients were clinically and radiographically evaluated, and a Tegner-Lysholm score obtained preoperatively and at 6 and 12 mo postoperatively. Results: The mean follow-up period was 18.8 mo (range, 12–30 mo). The mean Tegner-Lysholm score improved from 63±7.9 preoperatively to 89.2±6.1 postoperatively (at 12 mo). Apprehension test was negative in all patients. No redislocation, subluxation, or complications were reported during the follow-up period. Conclusions: MPFL reconstruction with a partial-thickness quadriceps tendon graft was effective and was associated with good short-term clinical outcomes without the need for patellar bone tunnels and without complications. Level of Evidence: Level IV.
Nuanced changes in insect abundance

Trends in insect abundance vary across time, ecosystems, and continents Drastic declines in insect biomass, abundance, and diversity reported in the literature have raised concerns among scientists and the public (1–3). If extrapolated across Earth, biomass losses of ∼25% per decade (1) project a potential catastrophe developing unnoticed under our noses. The phrase “insect Armageddon” has captured the collective attention and shined a spotlight on one of the most numerous and diverse groups of organisms on the planet. Yet, insects are critically understudied. For example, the BioTIME database (4)—a compilation of biodiversity time series—contains records for 22% of known bird species but only 3% of arthropods (the phylum that includes insects and spiders). On page 417 of this issue, van Klink et al. conduct a thorough global assessment of insect abundance and biomass trends and paint a more nuanced picture than that predicted by extrapolations (5).
Structural basis for transcriptional start site control of HIV-1 RNA fate

One guanosine determines transcript fate Transcripts of the HIV-1 RNA genome can be either spliced and translated into viral proteins or packaged into new virions as a progeny genome. The path taken depends on whether the transcript contains one guanosine at the 5′ terminus (1G) rather than two or three (2G or 3G). Brown et al. used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to show that 1G transcripts adopt a dimeric structure that sequesters a terminal cap required for translation and splicing but exposes sites that bind to the HIV-1 Gag protein, which recruits the genome during viral assembly. Conversely, 2G or 3G transcripts have the cap accessible, but Gag-binding sites are sequestered. Therefore, a single guanosine acts as a conformational switch to determine the fate of HIV-1 transcripts. Science, this issue p. 413 HIV-1 transcripts that differ by one or two 5′-guanosines adopt distinct structures that modulate RNA function and fate. Heterogeneous transcriptional start site usage by HIV-1 produces 5′-capped RNAs beginning with one, two, or three 5′-guanosines (Cap1G, Cap2G, or Cap3G, respectively) that are either selected for packaging as genomes (Cap1G) or retained in cells as translatable messenger RNAs (mRNAs) (Cap2G and Cap3G). To understand how 5′-guanosine number influences fate, we probed the structures of capped HIV-1 leader RNAs by deuterium-edited nuclear magnetic resonance. The Cap1G transcript adopts a dimeric multihairpin structure that sequesters the cap, inhibits interactions with eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E, and resists decapping. The Cap2G and Cap3G transcripts adopt an alternate structure with an elongated central helix, exposed splice donor residues, and an accessible cap. Extensive remodeling, achieved at the energetic cost of a G-C base pair, explains how a single 5′-guanosine modifies the function of a ~9-kilobase HIV-1 transcript.
Antenatal management of twin anemia-polycythemia sequence -

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and recently discovered twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS) are well-known severe complications of monochorionic pregnancies which are associated with placental anastomoses. TAPS may occur spontaneously with a prevalence of 3% to 5% in monochorionic pregnancies. It also can occur iatrogenically after laser treatment of TTTS in 2% to 13% of monochorionic pregnancies. Optimal perinatal management for TAPS has not been established yet. It has been reported that early well-timed diagnosis of the disease is very important for reducing fetal adverse events Because of the rarity, the literature is limited to the description of small series or case reports of twins affected by TAPS. Here, we describe diagnosis and management of TAPS case that was diagnosed after laser treatment of TTTS and review the literature about clinical characteristics including clinical features, prenatal characteristics, diagnosis, treatments and short-term outcomes of the TAPS.
Nber Working Paper Series Why Inflation Rose and Fell: Policymakers' Beliefs and Us Postwar Stabilization Policy Why Inflation Rose and Fell: Policymakers' Beliefs and Us Postwar Stabilization Policy

for their comments, and especially to Alejandro Justiniano, Andrea Tambalotti and Thijs van Rens for countless discussions about my work. Remaining errors are my own. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research. ABSTRACT This paper provides an explanation for the run-up of U.S. inflation in the 1960s and 1970s and the sharp disinflation in the early 1980s, which standard macroeconomic models have difficulties in addressing. I present a model in which rational policymakers learn about the behavior of the economy in real time and set stabilization policy optimally, conditional on their current beliefs. The steady state associated with the self-confirming equilibrium of the model is characterized by low inflation. However, prolonged episodes of high inflation ending with rapid disinflations can occur when policymakers underestimate both the natural rate of unemployment and the persistence of inflation in the Phillips curve. I estimate the model using likelihood methods. The estimation results show that the model accounts remarkably well for the evolution of policymakers' beliefs, stabilization policy and the postwar behavior of inflation and unemployment in the United States.
Fault diagnosis and model predictive fault-tolerant control for stochastic distribution collaborative systems based on the T–S fuzzy model

ABSTRACT This paper presents a fault-tolerant control scheme for a class of nonlinear stochastic distribution collaborative control systems, which are composed of two nonlinear subsystems connected in series to complete the target. The Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy model is applied to approximate the nonlinear dynamics of a subsystem. The output of the whole system is the output probability density function (PDF) of the second subsystem. The fuzzy logic systems (FLS) is used to approximate the output PDF. To diagnose the fault that occurred in the first subsystem, an adaptive diagnostic observer and linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique are used to obtain the adaptive tuning law to estimate the fault. When a fault occurs, the fault itself cannot be compensated in the first subsystem and a model predictive fault-tolerant controller is designed in the second subsystem to compensate the fault, making the post-fault output PDF still track the desired PDF as close as possible. A simulated example is given, and the desired results have been obtained.
Comparison of Off the Shelf Data Mining Methodologies in Educational Game Analytics

In this paper we compare the accuracy of nine common machine learning algorithms in predicting quitting and performance on knowledge assessment tests in the context of two middle school science learning games. The games being studied, the Crystal Cave and Wave Combinator , are both short duration (played for an average of 25 and 28 minutes respectfully), web-based games designed for use in classroom contexts. We used samples of 1,254 and 5,308 anonymous internet players respectively collected during Fall of 2018. We recorded raw clickstream data and used feature engineering methods to calculate simple descriptive features such as average timings between events and the number and types of player moves. We then used these features to model players quitting the game at each level, as well as content knowledge measured by subsequent assessment. We found that logistic regression produced the best models overall and model quality was influenced by specific game levels and assessment items. We conclude by discussing future work to improve predicting player quitting and player knowledge assessment.
Virtual Reality and Immersive Environments on Sensory Perception of Chocolate Products: A Preliminary Study

Traditional booths where sensory evaluation usually takes place are highly controlled and therefore have limited ecological validity. Since virtual reality (VR) is substantially interactive and engaging, it has the potential to be applied in sensory science. In this preliminary study, three chocolate types (milk, white, and dark) were evaluated under three contextual settings, including sensory booths (control) and two VR environments (360-degree videos using VR headsets: (i) a pleasant sightseeing tour, and (ii) a live music concert). Untrained participants (n = 67) were asked to rate their liking and the intensity of different chocolate attributes based on the 9-point hedonic scale and just-about-right-scale (JAR). Emotions were evaluated using the check-all-that-apply (CATA) method. Results showed that there were no significant effects of context type on the tasting experience; however, there were significant effects of chocolate type. Milk and white chocolates were preferred over dark chocolate irrespective of the context type. Additionally, more positive emotions were elicited for the dark chocolate in the “virtual live concert” environment. Dark chocolate under the other two environments was associated with negative emotional terms, such as “bored” and “worried. ” In terms of more reliable and ecologically valid sensory responses, further research is needed to match suitable VR environments to different chocolate types.
Effects of Cholesterol in Stress-Related Neuronal Death—A Statistical Analysis Perspective

The association between plasma cholesterol levels and the development of dementia continues to be an important topic of discussion in the scientific community, while the results in the literature vary significantly. We study the effect of reducing oxidized neuronal cholesterol on the lipid raft structure of plasma membrane. The levels of plasma membrane cholesterol were reduced by treating the intact cells with methyl-ß-cyclodextrin (MßCD). The relationship between the cell viability with varying levels of MßCD was then examined. The viability curves are well described by a modified form of the empirical Gompertz law of mortality. A detailed statistical analysis is performed on the fitting results, showing that increasing MßCD concentration has a minor, rather than significant, effect on the cellular viability. In particular, the dependence of viability on MßCD concentration was found to be characterized by a ~25% increase per 1 μM of MßCD concentration.
Oxidized Phospholipids in Healthy and Diseased Lung Endothelium

Circulating and cell membrane phospholipids undergo oxidation caused by enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms. As a result, a diverse group of bioactive oxidized phospholipids generated in these conditions have both beneficial and harmful effects on the human body. Increased production of oxidized phospholipid products with deleterious effects is linked to the pathogenesis of various cardiopulmonary disorders such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, acute lung injury (ALI), and inflammation. It has been determined that the contrasting biological effects of lipid oxidation products are governed by their structural variations. For example, full-length products of 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine oxidation (OxPAPC) have prominent endothelial barrier protective and anti-inflammatory activities while most of the truncated oxidized phospholipids induce vascular leak and exacerbate inflammation. The extensive studies from our group and other groups have demonstrated a strong potential of OxPAPC in mitigating a wide range of agonist-induced lung injuries and inflammation in pulmonary endothelial cell culture and rodent models of ALI. Concurrently, elevated levels of truncated oxidized phospholipids are present in aged mice lungs that potentiate the inflammatory agents-induced lung injury. On the other hand, increased levels of full length OxPAPC products accelerate ALI recovery by facilitating production of anti-inflammatory lipid mediator, lipoxin A4, and other molecules with anti-inflammatory properties. These findings suggest that OxPAPC-assisted lipid program switch may be a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment of acute inflammatory syndromes. In this review, we will summarize the vascular-protective and deleterious aspects of oxidized phospholipids and discuss their therapeutic potential including engineering of stable analogs of oxidized phospholipids with improved anti-inflammatory and barrier-protective properties.
A Call to Action: The Need for a Cultural Psychological Approach to Discrimination on the Basis of Skin Color in Asia

A strong preference for fair skin appears to be the norm across the Asian continent and may pervade many aspects of social life. Yet scholarly work on this ubiquitous phenomenon is rare within psychological science. This article is a call for a psychological investigation into colorism in Asia. I argue that colorism has firm systemic roots as a result of the sociohistorical trajectories of different Asian societies that have attached cultural meanings to skin color. Consequently, similarities and differences in such trajectories may account for variability in the expression of colorism within contemporary Asian societies. Directions for a cultural psychological approach to colorism are suggested.
Identifying the Roles of Healthcare Leaders in HIT Implementation: A Scoping Review of the Quantitative and Qualitative Evidence

Despite major investment, health information technology (HIT) implementation often tends to fail. One of the reasons for HIT implementation failure is poor leadership in healthcare organisations, and thus, more research is needed on leaders’ roles in HIT implementation. The aim of the review was to identify the role of healthcare leaders in HIT implementation. A scoping review with content analysis was conducted using a five-step framework defined by Arksey and O’Malley. Database searches were performed using CINAHL, Business Source Complete, ProQuest, Scopus and Web of Science. The included studies were written either in English or Finnish, published between 2000 and 2019, focused on HIT implementation and contained leadership insight given by various informants. In total, 16 studies were included. The roles of healthcare leaders were identified as supporter, change manager, advocate, project manager, manager, facilitator and champion. Identifying healthcare leaders’ roles in HIT implementation may allow us to take a step closer to successful HIT implementation. Yet, it seems that healthcare leaders cannot fully realise these identified roles and their understanding of HIT needs enforcement. Also, healthcare leaders seem to need more support when actively participating in HIT implementation.
A Pilot Randomised Clinical Trial of a Novel Approach to Reduce Sedentary Behaviour in Care Home Residents: Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of the GET READY Study

Care-home residents are among the most sedentary and least active of the population. We aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary effects of an intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour (SB) co-created with care home residents, staff, family members, and policymakers within a pilot two-armed pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial (RCT). Four care homes from two European countries participated, and were randomly assigned to control (usual care, CG) or the Get Ready intervention (GR), delivered by a staff champion one-to-one with the care home resident and a family member. A total of thirty-one residents participated (51.6% female, 82.9 (13.6) years old). GR involves six face to face sessions over a 12-week period with goal-oriented prompts for movement throughout. The feasibility and acceptability of the intervention were assessed and adverse events (AEs) were collected. The preliminary effects of the GR on SB, quality of life, fear of falling, and physical function were assessed. Means and standard deviations are presented, with the mean change from baseline to post-intervention calculated along with 95% confidence intervals. The CG smoked more, sat more, and had more functional movement difficulties than the GR at baseline. The GR intervention was feasible and acceptable to residents and staff. No AEs occurred during the intervention. GR participants showed a decrease in daily hours spent sitting/lying (Cohen’s d = 0.36) and an increase in daily hours stepping, and improvements in health-related quality of life, fear of falling, and habitual gait speed compared to usual care, but these effects need confirmation in a definitive RCT. The co-created GR was shown to be feasible and acceptable, with no AEs.
ANGPTL4 inactivates lipoprotein lipase by catalyzing the irreversible unfolding of LPL’s hydrolase domain

The ANGPTL proteins regulate the catalytic activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) by catalyzing the unfolding of LPL’s amino-terminal hydrolase domain. Intravascular processing of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins depends on lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and GPIHBP1 (an endothelial cell protein that binds LPL and transports it to the capillary lumen). A deficiency of either protein severely impairs triglyceride hydrolysis, resulting in markedly elevated plasma triglyceride levels and a substantial risk of acute pancreatitis. Angiopoietin-like proteins 3, 4, and 8 (ANGPTL) regulate LPL activity. Biophysical studies, but in particular hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), revealed that the ANGPTL proteins inactivate LPL activity by catalyzing the unfolding of LPL’s hydrolase domain (1, 2). HDX-MS quantifies the mass increase resulting from protium( 1 H)−deuterium( 2 H) exchange in the presence of deuterium oxide (D 2 O). Deuterium exchange is faster in protein regions that are exposed to solvent; thus, HDX-MS is useful for defining regional differences in solvent exposure within a protein. Changes in protein conformation alter solvent exposure and hence the extent of deuterium uptake. Regional changes in protein conformation are identified by changes in uptake
High expression of JC polyomavirus-encoded microRNAs in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy tissues and its repressive role in virus replication

JC polyomavirus (JCPyV, JCV) causes progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in immunocompromised hosts. JCPyV replicates in oligodendrocytes within the brain tissue of patients with PML. The JCPyV genome encodes a microRNA (miRNA) in the region encoding the large T antigen. JCPyV-encoded miRNA (miR-J1) has been detected in the tissue and cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with PML; however, there are no reports describing the localization of polyomavirus-encoded miRNA in histological samples of patients with virus-associated diseases. In the present study, we detected high miR-J1 expression in the nuclei of JCPyV-infected cells in PML tissue samples via in situ hybridization. Additionally, in situ hybridization also revealed the expression of BK polyomavirus (BKPyV, BKV)-encoded miRNA in lesions of BKPyV-associated nephropathy. In situ hybridization for miR-J1-5p and -3p showed positive signals in 24/25 (96%) of PML tissues that were positive for JCPyV by immunohistochemistry. Higher copy numbers of miR-J1 were detected in PML tissues than in non-PML tissues by real-time reverse transcription PCR. Next generation sequencing showed that miR-J1-5p, a mature miRNA of primary miRNA, was predominant in the lesions compared with miR-J1-3p, another mature miRNA. Deletion or mutation of miR-J1 in recombinant JCPyV promoted the production of JCPyV-encoded proteins in cells transfected with JCPyV DNA, suggesting that polyomavirus-encoded miRNA may have a repressive role in viral replication in PML tissues. In situ hybridization for viral miRNA may be a useful diagnostic tool for PML.