Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Limitations of Frailty Assessment Tools in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV) can be associated with a high burden of morbidity and mortality in an ageing population. It is increasingly recognised that individualised management is needed. Few studies have looked specifically at frailty related outcomes in AAV and a gap remains in understanding the application of frailty assessment tools in these patients. We carried out a single centre, cohort study between 2017 to 2022. Forty-one patients who had newly diagnosed or relapsing AAV and aged ≥65 years were included. The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) score at presentation was assessed by health care practitioners and interval CFS scores were carried out a minimum of 6 weeks from diagnosis. The aim was to determine if patients living with frailty had worse outcomes or if their perceived frailty improved with immunosuppressive treatment. The median CFS at diagnosis was 4 (vulnerable) and this remained at follow up. There was no significant interval change in CFS (P=0.16) suggesting that the patients did not become frailer and instead there was a tendency towards improved frailty scores at re-assessment. There was no significant difference in end stage kidney disease between those with higher (>5) or lower (≤5) CFS (P=1.0), although crude mortality was higher among those with an initial CFS >5 (P=0.03). Overall, we demonstrated that CFS has limitations in determining patients that may be frail as a result of disease burden with the potential to improve with treatment and clinicians should be mindful of this when making decisions relating to management.
Olfactory training reduces pain sensitivity in children and adolescents with primary headaches

Objective Headache prevalence among children and adolescents has increased over the last few years. Evidence-based treatment options for pediatric headaches remain limited. Research suggests a positive influence of odors on pain and mood. We investigated the effect of repeated exposure to odors on pain perception, headache-related disability, and olfactory function in children and adolescents with primary headaches. Methods Eighty patients with migraine or tension-type headache (mean 13.1 ± 3.29 years) participated, of whom 40 underwent daily olfactory training with individually selected pleasant odors for 3 months and 40 received state-of-the-art outpatient therapy as a control group. At baseline and after a 3-month follow-up, olfactory function [odor threshold; odor discrimination; odor identification; comprehensive Threshold, Discrimination, Identification (TDI) score], mechanical detection and pain threshold (quantitative sensory testing), electrical pain threshold, patient-reported outcomes on headache-related disability [Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment (PedMIDAS)], pain disability [Pediatric Pain Disability Index (P-PDI)], and headache frequency were assessed. Results Training with odors significantly increased the electrical pain threshold compared to the control group (U = 470.000; z = −3.177; p = 0.001). Additionally, olfactory training significantly increased the olfactory function (TDI score [t(39) = −2.851; p = 0.007], in particular, olfactory threshold, compared to controls (U = 530.500; z = −2.647; p = 0.008). Headache frequency, PedMIDAS, and P-PDI decreased significantly in both groups without a group difference. Conclusions Exposure to odors has a positive effect on olfactory function and pain threshold in children and adolescents with primary headaches. Increased electrical pain thresholds might reduce sensitization for pain in patients with frequent headaches. The additional favorable effect on headache disability without relevant side effects underlines the potential of olfactory training as valuable nonpharmacological therapy in pediatric headaches.
Configuration interaction and radiative decay rates in trebly ionized tungsten (W IV)

Radiative decay rates are obtained for the first time for allowed (E1) and forbidden (M1, E2) transitions in trebly ionized tungsten (W IV). Our calculations, motivated by strong interest for low-density plasmas and fusion research, illustrate in a convincing way the importance of core–valence correlation effects which substantially increase the lifetimes and, accordingly, decrease the transition probabilities of this heavy ion. Due to the lack of experimental data for W IV, the reliability of the theoretical ‘f’ values can only be tested by comparison of numerical results obtained with two independent (i.e. multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock and relativistic Hartree–Fock with core-polarization effects (HFR+CPOL)) methods well suited for investigating the atomic structure of heavy ions.
The Impact of In-Event Health Services at Europe’s Largest Electronic Dance Music Festival on Ems and Ed in the Host Community

Background: Electronic dance music festivals (EDMF) can cause a significant disruption in the standard operational capacity of emergency medical services (EMS) and hospitals. We determined whether or not the presence of in-event health services (IEHS) can reduce the impact of Europe’s largest EDMF on the host community EMS and local emergency departments (EDs). Methods: We conducted a pre-post analysis of the impact of Europe’s largest EDMF in July 2019, in Boom, Belgium, on the host community EMS and local EDs. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and χ2 analysis. Results: Of 400,000 attendees, 12,451 presented to IEHS. Most patients only required in-event first aid, but 120 patients had a potentially life-threatening condition. One hundred fifty-two patients needed to be transported by IEHS to nearby hospitals, resulting in a transport-to-hospital rate of 0.38/1000 attendees. Eighteen patients remained admitted to the hospital for >24 h; one died after arrival in the ED. IEHS limited the overall impact of the MGE on regular EMS and nearby hospitals. No predictive model proved optimal when proposing the optimal number and level of IEHS members. Conclusions: This study shows that IEHS at this event limited ambulance usage and mitigated the event’s impact on regular emergency medical and health services.
On the displacement of three-dimensional fluid droplets from solid surfaces in low-Reynolds-number shear flows

The yield conditions for the displacement of three-dimensional fluid droplets from solid boundaries are studied through a series of numerical computations. The study considers low-Reynolds-number shear flows over plane boundaries and includes interfacial forces with constant surface tension. A comprehensive study is conducted, covering a wide range of viscosity ratio γ, capillary number Ca and advancing and receding contact angles, θA and θR. This study seeks the optimal shape of the contact line which yields the maximum flow rate (or Ca) for which a droplet can adhere to the surface. The critical shear rates are presented as functions Ca(γ, θA, Δθ) where Δθ=θA−θR is the contact angle hysteresis. The solution of the optimization problem provides an upper bound for the yield condition for droplets on solid surfaces. Additional constraints based on experimental observations are considered, and their effect on the yield condition is determined. The numerical solutions are based on the spectral boundary element method, incorporating a novel implementation of Newton's method for the determination of equilibrium free surfaces and an optimization algorithm which is combined with the Newton iteration to solve the nonlinear optimization problem. The numerical results are compared with asymptotic theories (Dussan 1987) based on the lubrication approximation. While good agreement is found in the joint asymptotic limits Δθ[Lt ]θA[Lt ]1, the useful range of the lubrication models proves to be extremely limited. The critical shear rate is found to be sensitive to viscosity ratio with qualitatively different results for viscous and inviscid droplets.
Thyroxine changes in COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective COVID-19 infection may affect thyroid function. However, changes in thyroid function in COVID-19 patients have not been well described. This systematic review and meta-analysis assess thyroxine levels in COVID-19 patients, compared with non-COVID-19 pneumonia and healthy cohorts during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods A search was performed in English and Chinese databases from inception to August 1, 2022. The primary analysis assessed thyroid function in COVID-19 patients, comparing non-COVID-19 pneumonia and healthy cohorts. Secondary outcomes included different severity and prognoses of COVID-19 patients. Results A total of 5873 patients were enrolled in the study. The pooled estimates of TSH and FT3 were significantly lower in patients with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pneumonia than in the healthy cohort (P < 0.001), whereas FT4 were significantly higher (P < 0.001). Patients with the non-severe COVID-19 showed significant higher in TSH levels than the severe (I2 = 89.9%, P = 0.002) and FT3 (I2 = 91.9%, P < 0.001). Standard mean differences (SMD) of TSH, FT3, and FT4 levels of survivors and non-survivors were 0.29 (P= 0.006), 1.11 (P < 0.001), and 0.22 (P < 0.001). For ICU patients, the survivors had significantly higher FT4 (SMD=0.47, P=0.003) and FT3 (SMD=0.51, P=0.001) than non-survivors. Conclusions Compared with the healthy cohort, COVID-19 patients showed decreased TSH and FT3 and increased FT4, similar to non-COVID-19 pneumonia. Thyroid function changes were related to the severity of COVID-19. Thyroxine levels have clinical significance for prognosis evaluation, especially FT3.
Curcumin-Functionalized Graphene Oxide Strongly Prevents Candida parapsilosis Adhesion and Biofilm Formation

Candida parapsilosis is the major non-C. albicans species involved in the colonization of central venous catheters, causing bloodstream infections. Biofilm formation on medical devices is considered one of the main causes of healthcare-associated infections and represents a global public health problem. In this context, the development of new nanomaterials that exhibit anti-adhesive and anti-biofilm properties for the coating of medical devices is crucial. In this work, we aimed to characterize the antimicrobial activity of two different coated-surfaces, graphene oxide (GO) and curcumin-graphene oxide (GO/CU) for the first time, against C. parapsilosis. We report the capacity of GO to bind and stabilize CU molecules, realizing a homogenous coated surface. We tested the anti-planktonic activity of GO and GO/CU by growth curve analysis and quantification of Reactive Oxigen Species( ROS) production. Then, we tested the antibiofilm activity by adhesion assay, crystal violet assay, and live and dead assay; moreover, the inhibition of the formation of a mature biofilm was investigated by a viability test and the use of specific dyes for the visualization of the cells and the extra-polymeric substances. Our data report that GO/CU has anti-planktonic, anti-adhesive, and anti-biofilm properties, showing a 72% cell viability reduction and a decrease of 85% in the secretion of extra-cellular substances (EPS) after 72 h of incubation. In conclusion, we show that the GO/CU conjugate is a promising material for the development of medical devices that are refractory to microbial colonization, thus leading to a decrease in the impact of biofilm-related infections.
Quadratic Lagrangians and Palatini's device

The author deals with the mutual inequivalence of g-variation and P-variation of a given action S, the components of linear connection Gamma mkl being required to be symmetric. Under g-variation S is required to be stationary with respect to variations of the metric tensor gij, the Gamma mkl being taken to be Christoffel symbols from the outset, whereas under P-variations the gij and Gamma mkl are initially regarded as mutually independent of S is required to be stationary with respect to independent variations of these quantities. The discussion is illustrated at length by examples in which the Lagrangian of S is one or another of a set of homogeneous or inhomogeneous quadratic invariants of the Riemann tensor.
A note on chaos in product maps

In this paper, we mainly discuss how chaos conditions on semi-flows carry over to their products. We show that if two semi-flows (or even one of them) are sensitive, so does their product. On the other side, the product of two topologically transitive semi-flows need not be topologically transitive. We then provide several sufficient conditions under which the product of two chaotic semi-flows is chaotic in the sense of Devaney. Also, stronger forms of sensitivity and transitivity for product systems are studied. In particular, we introduce the notion of ergodic sensitivity and prove that for any given two (not-necessarily continuous) maps f : X → X and g : Y → Y (resp. semi-flows ψ : R + × X → X and φ : R + × Y → Y )o n the metric spacesX and Y , f × g (resp. ψ × φ ) is ergodically sensitive if and only if f or g (resp. ψ or φ ) is ergodically sensitive. Our results improve and extend some existing ones.
Do (Not!) Track Me: Relationship Between Willingness to Participate and Sample Composition in Online Information Behavior Tracking Research

This paper offers a critical look at the promises and drawbacks of a popular, novel data collection technique—online tracking—from the point of view of sample composition. Using data from two large-scale studies about political attitudes and information consumption behavior carried out in Germany and Switzerland, we find that the likelihood of participation in a tracking study at several critical dropout points is systematically related to the gender, age, and education of participants, with men, young, and more educated participants being less likely to dropout of the studies. Our findings also show that these patterns are incremental, as changes in sample composition accumulate over successive study stages. Political interest and ideology were also significantly related to the likelihood of participation in tracking research. The study explores some of the most common concerns associated with tracking research leading to non-participation, finding that they also differ across demographic groups. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Increased Density of Endogenous Adenosine A2A Receptors in Atrial Fibrillation: From Cellular and Porcine Models to Human Patients

Adenosine, an endogenous nucleoside, plays a critical role in maintaining homeostasis during stressful situations, such as energy deprivation or cellular damage. Therefore, extracellular adenosine is generated locally in tissues under conditions such as hypoxia, ischemia, or inflammation. In fact, plasma levels of adenosine in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are elevated, which also correlates with an increased density of adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) both in the right atrium and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The complexity of adenosine-mediated effects in health and disease requires simple and reproducible experimental models of AF. Here, we generate two AF models, namely the cardiomyocyte cell line HL-1 submitted to Anemonia toxin II (ATX-II) and a large animal model of AF, the right atrium tachypaced pig (A-TP). We evaluated the density of endogenous A2AR in those AF models. Treatment of HL-1 cells with ATX-II reduced cell viability, while the density of A2AR increased significantly, as previously observed in cardiomyocytes with AF. Next, we generated the animal model of AF based on tachypacing pigs. In particular, the density of the key calcium regulatory protein calsequestrin-2 was reduced in A-TP animals, which is consistent with the atrial remodelling shown in humans suffering from AF. Likewise, the density of A2AR in the atrium of the AF pig model increased significantly, as also shown in the biopsies of the right atrium of subjects with AF. Overall, our findings revealed that these two experimental models of AF mimicked the alterations in A2AR density observed in patients with AF, making them attractive models for studying the adenosinergic system in AF.
Effects of inoculation with active microorganisms derived from adult goats on growth performance, gut microbiota and serum metabolome in newborn lambs

This study evaluated the effects of inoculation with adult goat ruminal fluid on growth, health, gut microbiota and serum metabolism in lambs during the first 15 days of life. Twenty four Youzhou dark newborn lambs were selected and randomly distributed across 3 treatments (n = 8/group): autoclaved goat milk inoculated with 20 mL sterilized normal saline (CON), autoclaved goat milk inoculated with 20 mL fresh ruminal fluid (RF) and autoclaved goat milk inoculated with 20 mL autoclaved ruminal fluid (ARF). Results showed that RF inoculation was more effective at promoting recovery of body weight. Compared with CON, greater serum concentrations of ALP, CHOL, HDL and LAC in the RF group suggested a better health status in lambs. The relative abundance of Akkermansia and Escherichia-Shigella in gut was lower in the RF group, whereas the relative abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group tended to increase. Metabolomics analysis shown that RF stimulated the metabolism of bile acids, small peptides, fatty acids and Trimethylamine-N-Oxide, which were found the correlation relationship with gut microorganisms. Overall, our study demonstrated that ruminal fluid inoculation with active microorganisms had a beneficial impact on growth, health and overall metabolism partly through modulating the gut microbial community.
Multiple Representations in Number Line Estimation: A Developmental Shift or Classes of Representations?

Children's estimation patterns on a number line estimation task may provide information about the mental representation of the magnitude of numbers. Siegler and his colleagues concluded that children's mental representations shift from a logarithmic-ruler representation to a linear-ruler representation. However, there are important methodological issues with respect to their number-line studies that threaten the validity of the conclusions. We discuss these methodological issues and propose an alternative method to analyze estimation data. One hundred nineteen children from kindergarten, first, and second grade performed a number-line estimation task in which they had to estimate the position of 30 numbers on a 0-to-100 number line. The results supported the hypothesis that children show various kinds of estimation patterns. Five classes of children were distinguished, which were characterized by different estimation patterns. A remarkable result was that the logarithmic-ruler representation was not found. Although young children were more likely to show overestimation of small numbers than older children, this developmental trend was small and not significant.
Atypical Presentations of Collagenous Gastritis Mimicking Celiac Sprue

Collagenous gastritis has been reported as a rare cause of nausea, diarrhea, weight changes, and early satiety in female patients. Here, we describe two women aged 43 and 71 years who presented with similar symptoms. Gastric biopsies from both individuals showed thickened, irregular subepithelial collagen bands (>10 μm). The pathogenesis of collagenous gastritis is poorly understood, but it may be the presenting symptom for many underlying autoimmune conditions. In particular, there is a well-established connection between collagenous disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and celiac sprue, Sjögren syndrome, and lymphocytic colitis; however, none of these conditions had been diagnosed in our patients. The older woman had incidentally discovered hypogammaglobinemia and IgA deficiency, whereas the younger woman suffered from fibromyalgia. Although a gluten-free diet and budesonide have been effective in some cases, there is no standardized therapy for collagenous gastritis. Our patients trialed diet modification and have required no additional medical interventions.
Quantum simulation of topological insulator based spin transfer torque device

We developed a quantum transport model to simulate transport properties of topological insulator (TI)-based spintronic memory devices. The model captures the effects of spin-momentum locking, Klein tunneling, and coupled spin dynamics. Based on the model, we present a design of spin-transfer torque (STT) device, which consists of a thin layer TI coupled to a top ferromagnetic film. The device removes the requirement of spin-polarized contacts and magnetic tunnel junctions in conventional STT memory cells by exploiting intrinsic spin-momentum locking of the TI surface states. The analysis shows that by introducing partial perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, both fast switching and low switching current can be achieved.
Job Satisfaction and Teacher Education: Correlational Study in Postgraduate Graduates in Education

Teacher education is recognized as the process of improving teaching practices. During their postgraduate studies, aspiring teachers are encouraged to improve both their teaching practice and their working conditions. Therefore, an expectation for their Masters’ degrees is that upon graduation, they can achieve job satisfaction. This study had a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional and correlational non-experimental research design. Its objective was to analyze the level of job satisfaction of working teachers after graduating with a Master’s degree in Education, and with this, to correlate sociodemographic variables with the level of job satisfaction. As an information-collection technique, the Job Satisfaction Scale for Teachers (ESLA) was used, which has reliability for internal consistency of 0.88 in Cronbach’s alpha. The results show that teachers graduating with a Master’s degree in Education score significant levels of job satisfaction, ranging between high and moderate, confirming that, as in other studies, with greater possibilities of qualification and teacher preparation, job satisfaction is maintained or generated. The statistical hypothesis testing method of inferential statistics confirmed that moderate and high levels of job satisfaction can be maintained in working teachers after graduating from postgraduate training, without implying relationships with gender, the type of hiring, doctoral degrees, type of contracts or the type of educational institution where they work.
Lower Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Middle Eastern Population: Clinical Implications for Diagnosis and Prevention

Introduction Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in HNSCC varies across regions. Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence of high-risk HPV (hrHPV) among patients with HNSCC in the Middle East region. Methods Samples from patients with oropharyngeal or laryngeal lesions who underwent biopsy or resection at a tertiary care hospital from 2010 to 2015 were collected. Those confirmed as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on histopathology were identified as cases (n = 61), whereas benign lesions were used as controls (n = 83). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for p16, p53, Ki-67, and in situ hybridization (ISH) for hrHPV genotypes 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, and 66 were performed on all cases. Results A total of 154 cases were studied: 61 squamous cell cancers (cases), 83 benign lesions (control), and 10 dysplasia specimens. Among the cases, only five (8.6%) were positive for hrHPV, whereas only one control specimen tested positive. The SCC group had higher mean age, male sex, and history of cigarette smoking and alcohol usage. Among the hrHPV-positive SCC cases, 80% had a tumor in the oropharyngeal region. All hrHPV-positive cases were positive for p16 and p53 immunostains. Conclusion Among HNSCC cases, hrHPV was detected at a lower rate compared to other regions of the world. This study suggests that hrHPV plays a minor role in the pathogenesis of HNSCC in this region, compared to tobacco use and alcohol consumption.