Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Removal of Prorocentrum minimum from seawater using dissolved air flotation

As world water resources struggle to support a growing population, desalination is attracting more attention. High algal removal rates achieved by dissolved air flotation (DAF) can protect down-stream reverse osmosis membranes from fouling and shutting down during high-biomass harmful algal bloom events. This study was designed to investigate the factors affecting algal cell removal using DAF in a simulated bloom of the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum. The addition of sodium hypochlorite and adjustment of the pH were also investigated as ways to reduce coagulant dosage. Prorocentrum minimum presented a negatively charged surface. The optimum FeCl 3 dose was 60 mg/L at the lowest density tested (∼5×103 cells/mL), removing 90% of cells. At a higher density (40–50×103 cells/mL), 90 mg/L of FeCl 3 removed over 90% of the cells. Results suggest that the dominant mechanism for P. minimum removal was sweeping flocs, with charge neutralization constituting an important step. Adding 1 mg/L of sodium hypochlorite may have reduced surface charge. pH appeared to be a determining factor for total organic carbon (TOC) removal. At a lower pH, TOC removal was maintained at 70% while the coagulant dosage was reduced by half and algae removal was not compromised.
Quercetin/Zinc complex and stem cells: A new drug therapy to ameliorate glycometabolic control and pulmonary dysfunction in diabetes mellitus: Structural characterization and genetic studies

Medicinal uses and applications of metals and their complexes are of increasing clinical and commercial importance. The ligation behavior of quercetin (Q), which is a flavonoid, and its Zn (II) (Q/Zn) complex were studied and characterized based on elemental analysis, molar conductance, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, electronic spectra, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), thermogravimetric analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR spectral data revealed that Q acts as a bidentate ligand (chelating ligand) through carbonyl C(4) = O oxygen and phenolic C(3)–OH oxygen in conjugation with Zn. Electronic, FTIR, and 1H-NMR spectral data revealed that the Q/Zn complex has a distorted octahedral geometry, with the following chemical formula: [Zn(Q)(NO3)(H2O)2]. 5H2O. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection. A total of 70 male albino rats were divided into seven groups: control, diabetic untreated group and diabetic groups treated with either MSCs and/or Q and/or Q/Zn or their combination. Serum insulin, glucose, C-peptide, glycosylated hemoglobin, lipid profile, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels were determined. Pancreatic and lung histology and TEM for pancreatic tissues in addition to gene expression of both SOD and CAT in pulmonary tissues were evaluated. MSCs in combination with Q/Zn therapy exhibited potent protective effects against STZ induced hyperglycemia and suppressed oxidative stress, genotoxicity, glycometabolic disturbances, and structural alterations. Engrafted MSCs were found inside pancreatic tissue at the end of the experiment. In conclusion, Q/Zn with MSC therapy produced a synergistic effect against oxidative stress and genotoxicity and can be considered potential ameliorative therapy against diabetes with pulmonary dysfunction, which may benefit against COVID-19.
A Diagnostic Algorithm for Posterior Fossa Tumors in Children: A Validation Study

These results establish a useful starting point for prospective clinical studies and for the development of automated algorithms, which may provide precise and adequate diagnostic tools for these tumors in clinical practice. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Primary posterior fossa tumors comprise a large group of neoplasias with variable aggressiveness and short and long-term outcomes. This study aimed to validate the clinical usefulness of a radiologic decision flow chart based on previously published neuroradiologic knowledge for the diagnosis of posterior fossa tumors in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted (from January 2013 to October 2019) at 2 pediatric referral centers, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, United States, and Great Ormond Street Hospital, United Kingdom. Inclusion criteria were younger than 18 years of age and histologically and molecularly confirmed posterior fossa tumors. Subjects with no available preoperative MR imaging and tumors located primarily in the brain stem were excluded. Imaging characteristics of the tumors were evaluated following a predesigned, step-by-step flow chart. Agreement between readers was tested with the Cohen κ, and each diagnosis was analyzed for accuracy. RESULTS: A total of 148 cases were included, with a median age of 3.4 years (interquartile range, 2.1–6.1 years), and a male/female ratio of 1.24. The predesigned flow chart facilitated identification of pilocytic astrocytoma, ependymoma, and medulloblastoma sonic hedgehog tumors with high sensitivity and specificity. On the basis of the results, the flow chart was adjusted so that it would also be able to better discriminate atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors and medulloblastoma groups 3 or 4 (sensitivity = 75%–79%; specificity = 92%–99%). Moreover, our adjusted flow chart was useful in ruling out ependymoma, pilocytic astrocytomas, and medulloblastoma sonic hedgehog tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The modified flow chart offers a structured tool to aid in the adjunct diagnosis of pediatric posterior fossa tumors. Our results also establish a useful starting point for prospective clinical studies and for the development of automated algorithms, which may provide precise and adequate diagnostic tools for these tumors in clinical practice.
Food availability, accessibility and dietary practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-country survey

Abstract Objective: To investigate the perceived effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown measures on food availability, accessibility, dietary practices and strategies used by participants to cope with these measures. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional multi-country online survey between May and July 2020. We used a study-specific questionnaire mainly based on the adaptation of questions to assess food security and coping strategies from the World Food Programme’s ‘Emergency Food Security Assessment’ and ‘The Coping Strategy Index’. Setting: The questionnaire was hosted online using Google Forms and shared using social media platforms. Participants: A total of 1075 adult participants from eighty-two countries completed the questionnaire. Results: As a prelude to COVID-19 lockdowns, 62·7 % of the participants reported to have stockpiled food, mainly cereals (59·5 % of the respondents) and legumes (48·8 %). An increase in the prices of staples, such as cereals and legumes, was widely reported. Price increases have been identified as an obstacle to food acquisition by 32·7 % of participants. Participants reported having lesser variety (50·4 %), quality (30·2 %) and quantity (39·2 %) of foods, with disparities across regions. Vulnerable groups were reported to be facing some struggle to acquire adequate food, especially people with chronic diseases (20·2 %), the elderly (17·3 %) and children (14·5 %). To cope with the situation, participants mostly relied on less preferred foods (49 %), reduced portion sizes (30 %) and/or reduced the number of meals (25·7 %). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted food accessibility and availability, altered dietary practices and worsened the food insecurity situation, particularly in the most fragile regions.
Abstinence Among Alcohol Use Disorder Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights From Spain.

BACKGROUND Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are likely to suffer disproportionate harms related to the COVID-19 pandemic and related policy measures. While many surveys have been conducted, most are focused on drinking changes in the general population and validation with biological markers is lacking. METHOD We performed a retrospective cohort study among patients with AUD attending a urine drug screening program. With mixed-effects logistic regression models, we assessed the probability of screening positive for ethyl glucuronide according to patients' main clinical characteristics and time of analysis (either prior to or after a lockdown was implemented in Spain). RESULTS A total of 362 patients provided 2,040 urine samples (1,295 prior to lockdown, 745 during lockdown). The mean age of participants was 52.0 years (SD 12.6), and 69.2% were men. Of the 43% of patients tested for other drugs 22% screened positive. After adjusting for all covariates, the odds of screening positive for ethyl glucuronide during lockdown almost doubled (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.33, p = 0.008). Other significant covariates included testing positive for other drugs (OR = 10.79, 95% CI 4.60 to 26.97) and length of treatment (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.74). CONCLUSIONS Our data support an association between the lockdown due to COVID-19 and increased alcohol use in patients with AUD. Thus, addiction healthcare systems could face significant challenges ahead. In light of these findings, it is essential to evaluate prospectively how patients with AUD are affected by the pandemic and how health systems respond to their needs.
Stressor anticipation and subsequent affective well-being: A link potentially explained by perseverative cognitions.

Anticipatory stress can prospectively and negatively influence diverse outcomes, including cognitive performance and emotional well-being. It has been suggested that perseverative cognitions (e.g., worry, rumination) during the anticipation period constitute a key mechanism driving these effects. The present study investigated the temporal dynamics among stressor anticipation, perseverative cognitions, and affective well-being. To accurately test the suggested mechanism, we focused on how these dynamics unfold within individuals over time. To that end, we analyzed data from an ecological momentary assessment study in an ethnically diverse sample (N = 243, 25-65 year olds, 68.7% Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black; 14 days, 5 measurement occasions per day) using dynamic structural equation modeling. Anticipating an upcoming stressor was linked to higher levels of perseverative cognitions approximately 3 hours later. At times when individuals reported higher levels of recent perseverative cognitions than typical for them, they also reported higher levels of negative affect and lower levels of positive affect. Mediational modeling indicated that perseverative cognitions accounted for the persistent effects of previous stressor anticipation on negative as well as positive affect several hours later. These findings suggest that perseverative cognitions may play an important role in explaining the detrimental effects of anticipatory stress on subsequent emotional well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Enhanced thermoelectric properties of p-type Ag2Te by Cu substitution

Enhanced thermoelectric properties of p-type Ag2Te have been achieved through partial substitution of Ag by Cu. The (Ag0.985−xCux)2Te alloy becomes a β-Ag2Te single-phase solid solution above the structural transition temperature, which is a superionic conductor with highly mobile ions and low lattice thermal conductivity. The substitution of Cu for Ag increases the band gap and hole concentration of the solid solution, leading to not only a suppressed bipolar effect but also greatly improved electrical transport properties. Meanwhile, a periodically modulated layered nanostructure is observed in (Ag0.985−xCux)2Te alloys, which may be attributed to the Cu substitution. As a result, the electrical conductivity increases with the Cu content, and the Seebeck coefficient at high temperature is substantially improved. Both the carrier and lattice thermal conductivities are decreased because of the suppressed bipolar effect and enhanced phonon scattering, respectively. The modified electrical and thermal transport properties enable a maximum ZT value of 1.39 for the sample with x = 0.3, indicating the great potential of superionic conductors as novel thermoelectric materials.
Distribution of body fat is associated with physical performance of male amateur triathlon athletes.

BACKGROUND Endurance sports are strongly associated with maximum oxygen uptake, anaerobic threshold, running economy and body fat percentage. Despite the importance for performance of the low-fat mass being a consensus in the literature, there are no data about the importance of the pattern of fat distribution. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association between fat mass distribution with triathlon performance and physiological determinants of performance: maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), ventilatory threshold (AT) and running economy (RE), and to verify the predictive value for performance of gynoid or android fat mass distribution. METHODS Thirty-nine triathletes (38.8±6.9 years, 174.8±6.5cm and 74.3±8.8kg) were evaluated for anthropometric (total body mass, fat mass, lean mass, android and gynoid fat mass) and physiological (VO2max, AT and RE) parameters. Split and overall race times were registered. RESULTS Overall race time relationship with gynoid fat mass (r=.529, p<.05) was classified as moderate higher than and with android fat mass (r=.416, p<.05) was classified as low. All split times and overall race time presented significant positive correlation with only total fat mass (%) (r =.329 to .574, p<.05) and with gynoid fat mass (%) (r=.359 to .529, p<.05). Overall race time can be better predicted by gynoid fat mass (ß=0.529, t=4.093, p<0.001, r2=0.28) than by android fat mass (ß =0.416, t=2.997, p=0.005, r2=0.17). CONCLUSIONS Fat mass distribution is associated with triathlon performance, and the gynoid fat pattern is worse for triathlon performance than the android pattern.
Impact of metformin use on the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after initial liver resection in diabetic patients

Background Metformin is proposed to have chemopreventive effect of various cancer currently. However, the anti-cancer effect of metformin for diabetic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing liver resection remains unclear. The aim of our cohort study was to assess whether metformin influence the recurrence of HCC. Methods We retrospectively enrolled 857 HCC patients who received primary resection from April 2001 to June 2016. 222 patients were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) from medical record. Factors influence the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed by multivariate analysis. Results During the follow-up period (mean, 75 months), 471 (54.9%) patients experienced recurrence, and 158 (18.4%) patients died. Multivariate analysis revealed that DM (p = 0.015), elevated AST (p = 0.006), hypoalbuminemia (p = 0.003), tumor number (p = 0.001), tumor size (p < 0.001), vascular invasion (p <0.001), high Ishak fibrosis score (p <0.001), hepatitis B (p = 0.014), hepatitis C (p = 0.001) were independent predictors for RFS. In diabetic patients, only HbA1c>9% (p = 0.033), hypoalbuminemia (p = 0.030) and vascular invasion (p = 0.001) were independent risk factors for HCC recurrence; but the metformin use revealed no significance on recurrence. DM is a risk factor of HCC recurrence after resection. Adequate DM control can reduce the recurrence of HCC. However, the use of metformin does not reduce the risk of HCC recurrence in diabetic patient after initial resection. Hence, metformin may not have protective influences on HCC recurrence in diabetic patients who undergo initial liver resection.
Guselkumab in the treatment of severe hidradenitis suppurativa, a promising role?

Dear Editor, Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic autoinflammatory skin disease that affects hair follicles in apocrine gland-bearing areas and leads to abscesses, nodules, fistulas, and scarring. Adalimumab is the only biologic agent currently approved for treating moderate and severe forms of HS but a percentage of patients experience a progressive response loss and up to 19.5% of them present a paradoxical psoriasiform reaction. Our patient, a 45 year-old female, presented with clinical signs of HS localized on axillas and groins bilaterally for 20 years (Hurley stage III). Her body mass index (BMI) was 26.7 kg/m and she was a smoker, without comorbidities. She was started on adalimumab 40 mg weekly in December 2019 with initial partial improvement. At a clinical revaluation in May 2020 she presented a sum of seven draining fistulas on the right and left axillary areas with an
Effect of COVID-19 on the clinical course of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Objective COVID-19 in people with diabetes is associated with a disproportionately worse prognosis. DKA is an acute complication of diabetes with a mortality rate of approximately 0.67%. Little is known about the natural history of DKA in the presence of COVID-19. This study aimed to explore the effects of COVID-19 on presentation, clinical course and outcome in patients presenting with DKA. Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods All patients treated for DKA between 1 March 2020 and 30 May 2020 were included. Patients were categorised as COVID-positive or COVID-negative based on the swab test. A pre-COVID group was established using data from 01 March 2019 to 30 May 2019 as external control. Data regarding demographics, diabetes type, pH, bicarbonate, lactate, glucose, DKA duration, complications and outcome were collected. Results A total of 88 DKA episodes were included in this study. There was no significant difference in the severity or duration of DKA between the three groups. COVID-positive T1DM were more hyperglycaemic on admission compared to COVID-negative and pre-COVID patients. There was an over representation of T2DM in COVID-positive patients with DKA than in pre-COVID or COVID-negative groups. Conclusion COVID-19 appears to influence the natural history of DKA differently in T1DM and T2DM. Patients with T1DM and COVID-19 presented with more hyperglycaemia (60 mmol/L (35.9–60.0) vs 31.4 mmol/L (28.0–39.1) vs 24 mmol/L (20.2–33.75), respectively). Patients with T2DM were unusually presenting in DKA when infected with COVID-19 with greater ICU need and higher mortality rates. A collaborative, multi-centre study is needed to provide more definitive results.
Psychophysiology during exposure to trauma memories: Comparative effects of virtual reality and imaginal exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder

This investigation involved an in‐depth examination of psychophysiological responses during exposure to the trauma memory across 10 sessions among active duty soldiers with combat‐related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treated by Prolonged Exposure (PE) or Virtual Reality Exposure (VRE). We compared psychophysiological changes, session‐by‐session, between VRE and traditional imaginal exposure.
Data-driven CAD-CAM vs traditional total contact custom insoles: A novel quantitative-statistical framework for the evaluation of insoles offloading performance in diabetic foot

Background Elevated plantar pressures represent a significant risk factor for neuropathic diabetic foot (NDF) ulceration. Foot offloading, through custom-made insoles, is essential for prevention and healing of NDF ulcerations. Objective quantitative evaluation to design custom-made insoles is not a standard method. Aims: 1) to develop a novel quantitative-statistical framework (QSF) for the evaluation and design of the insoles’ offloading performance through in-shoe pressure measurement; 2) to compare the pressure-relieving efficiency of traditional shape-based total contact customised insoles (TCCI) with a novel CAD-CAM approach by the QSF. Methods We recruited 30 neuropathic diabetic patients in cross-sectional study design. The risk-regions of interest (R-ROIs) and their areas with in-shoe peak pressure statistically ≥200kPa were identified for each patients’ foot as determined on the average of peak pressure maps ascertained per each stance phase. Repeated measures Friedman test compared R-ROIs’ areas in three different walking condition: flat insole (FI); TCCI and CAD-CAM insoles. Results As compared with FI (20.6±12.9 cm2), both the TCCI (7±8.7 cm2) and the CAD-CAM (5.5±7.3 cm2) approaches provided a reduction of R-ROIs mean areas (p<0.0001). The CAD-CAM approach performed better than the TCCI with a mean pressure reduction of 37.3 kPa (15.6%) vs FI. Conclusions The CAD-CAM strategy achieves better offloading performance than the traditional shape-only based approach. The introduced QSF provides a more rigorous method to the direct 200kPa cut-off approach outlined in the literature. It provides a statistically sound methodology to evaluate the offloading insoles design and subsequent monitoring steps. QSF allows the analysis of the whole foot’s plantar surface, independently from a predetermined anatomical identification/masking. QSF can provide a detailed description about how and where custom-made insole redistributes the underfoot pressure respect to the FI. Thus, its usefulness extends to the design step, helping to guide the modifications necessary to achieve optimal offloading insole performances.
Behavioural biometrics: Using smartphone keyboard activity as a proxy for rest–activity patterns

Rest–activity patterns are important aspects of healthy sleep and may be disturbed in conditions like circadian rhythm disorders, insomnia, insufficient sleep syndrome, and neurological disorders. Long‐term monitoring of rest–activity patterns is typically performed with diaries or actigraphy. Here, we propose an unobtrusive method to obtain rest–activity patterns using smartphone keyboard activity. The present study investigated whether this proposed method reliably estimates rest and activity timing compared to daily self‐reports within healthy participants. First‐year students (n = 51) used a custom smartphone keyboard to passively and objectively measure smartphone use behaviours and completed the Consensus Sleep Diary for 1 week. The time of the last keyboard activity before a nightly absence of keystrokes, and the time of the first keyboard activity following this period were used as markers. Results revealed high correlations between these markers and user‐reported onset and offset of resting period (r ranged from 0.74 to 0.80). Linear mixed models could estimate onset and offset of resting periods with reasonable accuracy (R2 ranged from 0.60 to 0.66). This indicates that smartphone keyboard activity can be used to estimate rest–activity patterns. In addition, effects of chronotype and type of day were investigated. Implementing this method in longitudinal studies would allow for long‐term monitoring of (disturbances to) rest–activity patterns, without user burden or additional costly devices. It could be particularly interesting to replicate these findings in studies amongst clinical populations with sleep‐related problems, or in populations for whom disturbances in rest–activity patterns are secondary complaints, such as neurological disorders.