Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seroreactivity of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Recombinant S Protein, Receptor-Binding Domain, and Its Receptor-Binding Motif in COVID-19 Patients and Their Cross-Reactivity With Pre-COVID-19 Samples From Malaria-Endemic Areas

Despite the global interest and the unprecedented number of scientific studies triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, few data are available from developing and low-income countries. In these regions, communities live under the threat of various transmissible diseases aside from COVID-19, including malaria. This study aims to determine the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroreactivity of antibodies from COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 samples of individuals in Mali (West Africa). Blood samples from COVID-19 patients (n = 266) at Bamako Dermatology Hospital (HDB) and pre-COVID-19 donors (n = 283) from a previous malaria survey conducted in Dangassa village were tested by ELISA to assess IgG antibodies specific to the full-length spike (S) protein, the receptor-binding domain (RBD), and the receptor-binding motif (RBM436–507). Study participants were categorized by age, gender, treatment duration for COVID-19, and comorbidities. In addition, the cross-seroreactivity of samples from pre-COVID-19, malaria-positive patients against the three antigens was assessed. Recognition of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins by sera from COVID-19 patients was 80.5% for S, 71.1% for RBD, and 31.9% for RBM (p < 0.001). While antibody responses to S and RBD tended to be age-dependent, responses to RBM were not. Responses were not gender-dependent for any of the antigens. Higher antibody levels to S, RBD, and RBM at hospital entry were associated with shorter treatment durations, particularly for RBD (p < 0.01). In contrast, higher body weights negatively influenced the anti-S antibody response, and asthma and diabetes weakened the anti-RBM antibody responses. Although lower, a significant cross-reactive antibody response to S (21.9%), RBD (6.7%), and RBM (8.8%) was detected in the pre-COVID-19 and malaria samples. Cross-reactive antibody responses to RBM were mostly associated (p < 0.01) with the absence of current Plasmodium falciparum infection, warranting further study.
The Potential Mechanism Behind Native and Therapeutic Collaterals in Moyamoya

Background and Purpose To explore the genetic basis and molecular mechanism of native arteriogenesis and therapeutic synangiosis in moyamoya disease (MMD). Methods An angiography-based study using patients from a prospective trial of encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (EDAS) surgery was performed. The spontaneous collaterals grades were evaluated according to the system described by a new grading system. Blood samples were collected from all the recruited patients before EDAS and during the second hospitalization 3 months post-EDAS. We performed Boolean analysis using a combination of specific cell surface markers of CD34briCD133+CD45dimKDR+. Genotyping of p.R4810K was also performed. The correlation of age, sex, initial symptoms at diagnosis, collateral grade, Suzuki stages, the RNF213 genotype, time to peak (TTP), and endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) count with good collateral circulation was evaluated. Results Eighty-five patients with MMD were included in this study. The mutation rate of RNF213 p.R4810K in our study was 25.9% (22/85). The heterozygous mutations were occurred significantly more frequently in the cases that were presented with infarction, worse neurological status, severe posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stenosis, and longer TTP delay. Further, the heterozygous mutations occurred significantly more frequently in the poor collateral stage group. Lower grades were significantly correlated with severe ischemia symptoms, worse neurological status, and a longer TTP delay. The post-operative angiographic findings showed that a good Matsushima grade was correlated with heterozygous mutations, a lower collateral stage, and a longer TTP delay. The CD34briCD133+CD45dimKDR+ cell count in patients 3 months post-EDAS was significantly higher as compared to the count before EDAS in the good Matsushima grade group. However, this change was not observed in the poor Matsushima grade group. Conclusions These data imply that mutations of RNF213 p.R4810K affect the establishment of spontaneous collateral circulation, and EPCs are involved in the process of formation of new EDAS collaterals.
Which Innovative Cropping System for Which Farmer? Supporting Farmers' Choices Through Collective Activities

Designing innovative cropping systems is an active field of agricultural research challenged by the agroecological transition. One of the challenges is to adapt cropping systems to the diversity of farms and contexts. For instance, in the cotton production zone of Burkina Faso differences between farm resources, agricultural situations and agronomic constraints have resulted in a wide range of farming systems. In this context, to break with the trend toward cotton production, we co-designed eight legume-based innovative cropping systems (ICS) likely to meet the objectives sought and the constraints faced by a wide range of local farmers, thus constituting a “basket of options”. Our approach was to enable each farmer to choose the option they considered best suited to their conditions. To that end, the ICSs were implemented and discussed with farmers in participatory prototyping trials. After one season of co-evaluating the different ICSs, the farmers taking part in the co-evaluation were able to test an ICS on their own farm, by choosing and adapting one of the options. Thirty-nine farmers out of seventy-three chose an ICS to test. They were asked the reasons for their choice. Their selection criteria were analyzed in relation to comments made during collective activities organized in the participatory prototyping trials. To complete this analysis, we built an expert-based farming system typology and a statistical typology based on data collected in a rural household multi-indicator survey (RHoMIS) of 63 farms participating in this study. The two farming system typologies were compared, and the relationships between farming system types and the ICS tested on the farm were analyzed. We found that farmers did not really base their choice on their farming system. Rather, they used a wide range of criteria that varied from farmer to farmer, and they were influenced by what they had learned during the collective activities organized in the participatory prototyping trials.
Electron Streaming Effect Associated With the Elekta Unity Anterior Imaging Coil

The presence of the static field in magnetic resonance guided radiation therapy (MRgRT) systems, such as the Elekta Unity MR-Linac (MRL), influences charged particle motion due to the Lorentz force in and around patients. Consequently, for the Unity, changes to out-of-field dose (OFD) relative to conventional linacs occur due to the electron streaming effect (ESE) and spiraling contaminant electrons (SCE). This work investigates OFD associated with irradiation of the anterior MR imaging coil, which is in situ for all treatments on the Unity. Film measurements and Monaco simulations were performed to quantify the magnitude of OFD at the superior and inferior ends of the coil as a function of coil tilt relative to the beam direction. The dependence of OFD on field size and the relative electron density (RED) assigned to the coil and surrounding air are reported. The doses at both coil ends were clinically significant, with nearly 23.0% of the Dmax dose to water being recorded for the largest field (8.0 × 22.0 cm2) and 6.8% for the smallest field (3.0 × 3.0 cm2). Monaco simulations of OFD agreed with film within 5.0%, when appropriate calculation conditions were set. OFD decreases as coil tilt is reduced, and there is no evidence of ESE when the coil is horizontal. Clinically, the potential magnitude of cranio–caudal streaming dose from a tilted coil necessitates the use of appropriate shielding. A clinical case involving coil-induced ESE during treatment of a lesion in the right angle is presented. The planning-based investigation revealed that ESE doses associated with the coil and an immobilization vacuum bag can be clinically significant.
Post-stroke Dysphagia: Prognosis and Treatment–A Systematic Review of RCT on Interventional Treatments for Dysphagia Following Subacute Stroke

Purpose Post-stroke dysphagia is an underdiagnosed but relevant complication, associated with worse outcome, dependency and quality of life of stroke survivors. Detailed mechanisms of post-stroke dysphagia are not very well understood, but established therapeutic concepts are needed. Different interventional studies have been published dealing with post-stroke dysphagia. This systematic review wants to collect and give an overview over the published evidence. Methods PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL were searched for relevant interventional studies on post-stroke dysphagia in the (sub-)acute setting (within 3 months of stroke onset). The search has been filtered for randomized trials with an inactive control and the relevant data extracted. Results After initially finding 2,863 trials, finally 41 trials have been included. Seven different therapeutic concepts have been evaluated (Acupuncture, behavioral/physical therapy, drug therapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, pharyngeal electrical stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation). Studies of all modalities have shown some effect on post-stroke dysphagia with several studies raising concerns about the potential bias. Conclusion The amount and quality of studies are not enough to suggest certain therapies. Some therapeutical concepts (intensive physical therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, drug therapy) seem to be good potential therapeutic options, but further research is needed.
Top 100 Cited Publications in the Field of Temporomandibular Disorders: A Bibliometric Analysis

Background The aim of this bibliometric research was to identify and analyze the top 100 cited publications in the field of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in order to guide any professional level with interest in this topic by mapping the current trends in the field of TMD. Materials and Methods The Clarivate Analytics' Web of Science database was used to find the top 100 most cited papers in the field of TMD, published from the year 2000 to November 18, 2021, with MeSH terms in the search strategy. Data extracted were ranking, title, main author, institution, publication year, a total of citations, citation average per year, the journal the study was published, journal impact factor, and the number of studies that each journal published. Further, also the percentage of the different study designs, the number of studies regarding a specific area within the field of TMD, and the number of studies per country were also calculated. A ranking of authors was also performed. Results The top cited paper was a study on diagnostic criteria for TMD, with 1,287 citations published in 2014 in the Journal of Oral and Facial Pain and Headache which also had most of the top 100 cited publications. Eighty-one percent of the most cited studies were from the USA and Europe and 33% of the included studies were review articles. Conclusion Taken together, since all papers were considered classic, one can draw the conclusion that researchers in 2000 onward in the field of TMD are interested in (a) diagnostic criteria, (b) TMD symptoms and mainly pain-related symptoms, (c) etiology and risk factors of TMD and mainly bruxism, and (d) treatment of TMD. However, topics such as imaging, occlusion, tissue engineering, and disk displacements are presently not as popular.
Implantable Biomaterials for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration–Technology Trends and Translational Tribulations

The use of autografted nerve in surgical repair of peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) is severely limited due to donor site morbidity and restricted tissue availability. As an alternative, synthetic nerve guidance channels (NGCs) are available on the market for surgical nerve repair, but they fail to promote nerve regeneration across larger critical gap nerve injuries. Therefore, such injuries remain unaddressed, result in poor healing outcomes and are a limiting factor in limb reconstruction and transplantation. On the other hand, a myriad of advanced biomaterial strategies to address critical nerve injuries are proposed in preclinical literature but only few of those have found their way into clinical practice. The design of synthetic nerve grafts should follow rational criteria and make use of a combination of bioinstructive cues to actively promote nerve regeneration. To identify the most promising NGC designs for translation into applicable products, thorough mode of action studies, standardized readouts and validation in large animals are needed. We identify design criteria for NGC fabrication according to the current state of research, give a broad overview of bioactive and functionalized biomaterials and highlight emerging composite implant strategies using therapeutic cells, soluble factors, structural features and intrinsically conductive substrates. Finally, we discuss translational progress in bioartificial conduits for nerve repair from the surgeon’s perspective and give an outlook toward future challenges in the field.
Assessing the Empirical Linkage Among Access to Finance, Firm Quality, and Firm Performance: New Insight From Bangladeshi SMEs’

Access to finance plays a central pillar on the sustainable firm growth of developing and developed nations. This study depicts the linkage between access to external finance, firm quality, and firms’ performance as measured by labor productivity for sustainable small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs’) development by employing the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and propensity score matching (PSM) techniques to alleviate the selection bias and endogeneity issue on Word bank enterprise survey (WBES) cross-sectional firm-level data of 3,196 Bangladeshi SMEs for 2007–2013 period. Empirical evidence linking access to external finance and labor productivity has been positive and significant. However, our finding explores a negative but significant relationship between exports and SME labor productivity. A further look into the results also exhibits no statistical significance in the interaction effect between firm quality and access to finance on labor productivity. Moreover, the study anticipates novel empirical support that, the disintegration effect of export sales between direct and indirect exports with labor productivity for credit-accessed firms, is also found statistically insignificant. Then, several policies are drawn from the results to gain international competitiveness, and to ensure more external finance channels for enhancing SMEs’ performance and sustainable firm growth.
The Picture of #Mentalhealth on Instagram: Congruent vs. Incongruent Emotions in Predicting the Sentiment of Comments

This study explores the effects of sentiment of Instagram images and captions on the sentiment of comments. All Instagram posts with the hashtag #mentalhealth and the associated metadata were scraped on World Mental Health Day. A mixed-method approach of a sentiment classifier and a quantitative content analysis of Instagram posts (N = 7,078) was used. Overall, our sample contained more positive sentiment posts and comments than negative ones, indicating a possible connection between mental health-related discourse and positive sentiment on Instagram. Images containing faces elicited more likes, comments and positive comments compared with images without faces. MANCOVA analyses of images with human faces found that emotional contagion from Instagram posts to comments was only observed when considering the sentiment of both images and captions. Congruency effects were seen for posts with both negative captions and images, which elicited more negative comments compared to emotionally incongruent posts. Theoretical implications of emotional contagion and real-life implications for mental health social media campaign design are discussed.
Hua-Tan-Sheng-Jing Decoction Treats Obesity With Oligoasthenozoospermia by Up-Regulating the PI3K-AKT and Down-Regulating the JNK MAPK Signaling Pathways: At the Crossroad of Obesity and Oligoasthenozoospermia

Background: Oligoasthenozoospermia is the leading cause of male infertility, seriously affecting men’s health and increasing the societal medical burden. In recent years, obesity-related oligoasthenozoospermia has attracted increased attention from researchers to find a cure. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Hua-Tan-Sheng-Jing decoction (HTSJD) in treating obesity with oligoasthenozoospermia, determine its active ingredients and identify its mechanism of action. Methods: The ingredients of HTSJD were determined by combining the ultra-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and systems pharmacology approach. The common pathogenesis of obesity and oligoasthenozoospermia and the potential mechanism of HTSJD against obesity with oligoasthenozoospermia were obtained through target fishing, network construction, and enrichment analyses. Further, molecular docking of the key ingredients with the upstream receptors of the key signaling pathways of the potential mechanism was used to predict their affinity. Finally, high-fat-induced obesity with oligoasthenozoospermia rat model was constructed to determine the effects of HTSJD on semen concentration, sperm motility, body weight, and serum lipid metabolism. The key proteins were validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: A total of 70 effective components and 847 potential targets of HTSJD (H targets) were identified, of which 743 were common targets related to obesity and oligoasthenozoospermia (O-O targets) mainly enriched in the pathways related to inflammation, oxidative stress and hormone regulation. Finally, 143 common targets (H-O-O targets) for HTSJD against obesity with oligoasthenozoospermia were obtained. Combining the hub genes and the results of Gene Ontology (GO) functional and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of H-O-O targets, PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling pathways were identified as the key pathways. Molecular docking results showed that Diosgenin, Kaempferol, Quercetin, Hederagenin, Isorhamnetin may act on the related pathways by docking EGFR, IGF1R and INSR. The animal-based in vivo experiments confirmed that HTSJD improves the sperm quality of high-fat diet-fed rats by reducing their body weight and blood lipid levels, influencing the PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling pathways and altering the corresponding protein expressions. Conclusion: HTSJD treats obesity with oligoasthenozoospermia by up-regulating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and down-regulating the MAPK signaling pathway, which are at the crossroad of obesity and oligoasthenozoospermia.
Comparison of [3H]-Thymidine, Carboxyfluorescein Diacetate Succinimidyl Ester and Ki-67 in Lymphocyte Proliferation

Background Patients with T cell deficiency <10% of normal proliferation are indicated to receive immune reconstruction by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This study aimed to investigate whether non-radioactive assays can be used to quantitatively detect the lymphocyte proliferation <10% of normal as radioactive [3H]-thymidine. ” Methods Radioactive [3H]-thymidine, non-radioactive carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE), and Ki-67 protein expressions were used to measure the lymphocyte proliferation as calculated using the stimulation index (SI), subtraction percentage, and proliferation index (FlowJo software). Normal references were established for comparison in the absence of parallel healthy controls. Results Normal ranges of mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation were established as a SI of 15–267 (CSFE 47–92%, Ki-67 42–79%) with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) 5 μg/ml stimulation; 19–139 (CFSE 62–83%, 45–74% Ki-67) with concanavalin-A (ConA) 5 μg/ml stimulation; 7–53 (CFSE 6–23%, Ki-67 10–24%) with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) 0.1 ug/ml stimulation; 3–28 (CFSE 4–10%, Ki-67 5–14%) with candida 10 ug/ml stimulation; and 2–27 (CFSE 6–41%, Ki-67 6–30%) with bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) 0.02 ng/ml stimulation. The normalized CFSE-proliferation index was between 2.1 and 3.0. Although there was no significant correlation between these three assays in the healthy controls, the SI value for <10% [3H]-thymidine proliferation in those with T cell deficiency was compatible with CFSE- and Ki-67-stained lymphocyte percentages, and validated in patients with IL2RG, RAG1, and ZAP70 mutations. When calculating [3H]-thymidine <10% of normal lymphocyte proliferation, the threshold of parallel controls was more reliable than previously established normal references. Conclusion The large quantitative value of radioactive [3H]-thymidine was more easily recognizable than that for non-radioactive CFSE and Ki-67. Even though the correlation was not significant, those identified to have <10% of normal proliferation by [3H]-thymidine could be consistently detected by CFSE and Ki-67, and consequently indicated for HSCT.
Blue Carbon Storage in a Northern Temperate Estuary Subject to Habitat Loss and Chronic Habitat Disturbance: Cowichan Estuary, British Columbia, Canada

Vegetated coastal ecosystems can contribute greatly to long-term carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emission mitigation, providing a strong argument for their protection and restoration. We investigated carbon sequestration in the Cowichan Estuary, a temperate estuary on Vancouver Island, Canada, in relation to habitat type (salt marsh, eelgrass, mudflats, and oyster shell beds) and habitat degradation. Stored organic carbon and inorganic carbon were quantified in the top 20 cm of sediment as well as in eelgrass and salt marsh vegetation. Sedimentation and carbon sequestration rates were quantified by 210Pb radiometric dating, and organic matter sources and quality were assessed by δ13C, C:N ratios and photopigment content. We also examined the potential impact of habitat disturbance by industrial activity (log booms) on the estuary’s carbon storage capacity. The salt marsh was the most important carbon reservoir, with a mean sediment organic carbon stock of 58.78 ± 19.30 Mg C ha-1. Sediment organic carbon stocks in the upper mudflats, lower mudflats, eelgrass meadow, and oyster shell beds were 19.30 ± 3.58, 17.33 ± 3.17, 18.26 ± 0.86 and 9.43 ± 1.50 Mg C ha-1, respectively. Carbon accumulation rates in the salt marsh and eelgrass meadows were 68.21 ± 21 and 38 ± 26 g C m-2 yr-1, whereas 210Pb profiles indicated that mudflat sediments were subject to erosion and/or mixing. While eelgrass was absent from the log boom area, likely due to disturbance, sediments there had similar carbon sequestration and bulk properties to adjacent mudflats. Carbon stocks in the eelgrass meadow were similar to those of the mudflats and consistent with the relatively low values reported for other temperate Zostera marina meadows, compared with tropical eelgrass meadows. Stable isotope evidence was suggestive of substantial outwelling and/or decomposition of eelgrass vegetation. Finally, we compared the carbon sequestration potential of the estuary to selected sources and sinks of CO2 in the surrounding region. We estimated that annual carbon sequestration in the estuary offsets approximately twice the greenhouse gas emission increases attributable to local population growth, and is equivalent to approximately twice that of a 20-year-old stand forest.