Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knowledge difference of sexually transmitted infections between Hong Kong undergraduates from local and international secondary schools: A cross-sectional study

Background Since the delivery of sex education is not standardized across local and international secondary schools in Hong Kong, this study aims to assess and compare the knowledge level of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) between university students who attended local and international secondary schools in Hong Kong. Methods From January to March 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among undergraduates at the University of Hong Kong. The primary outcome was STI knowledge as measured by a 29-item quiz. A higher quiz score meant a better STI knowledge level. Students' attitude toward sexual health and their sex education history was collected. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the association factor with a better STI knowledge level. Results Three hundred and ninety six students were included in the analysis. Three hundred thirty three (85.35%) students attended local secondary schools and 58 (14.65%) students attended international secondary schools in Hong Kong; 200 (50.51%) students were male and 196 (49.49%) students were female. Compared with students from local secondary school, those from international secondary schools had a significantly higher STI quiz score (18.19 vs. 15.4, p = 0.003). The results of multiple linear regression revealed that students in a higher year of study (β = 1.07, p < 0.001), from medical faculties (β = 6.96, p < 0.001), and from international secondary schools (β = 2.27, p = 0.003) achieved a higher STI quiz score. Conclusion University students who attended international secondary schools in Hong Kong possess a significantly higher knowledge level of STIs compared with those who attended local secondary schools. Nonetheless, the overall STI awareness among university students is inadequate. The inadequacy of STI awareness calls for the need to plan and implement satisfactory, comprehensive, and standardized sex education across the overall education system in Hong Kong.
Angiosarcoma of the breast with hypofibrinogenemia: A rare case report and review of the literature

Background Breast angiosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor, accounting for approximately 0.04% of all breast malignancies. Angiosarcoma of the breast with hypofibrinogenemia is even rarer and has not been described in man. Breast angiosarcoma is associated with high metastatic potential and poor prognosis, and there is no specific manifestation in imaging. At present, surgery is considered to be the only effective treatment. There is no unified standard for postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Case Presentation A 30-year-old female patient underwent left breast mass resection under local anesthesia on May 22, 2014. Postoperative pathology showed a vasogenic tumor. On November 10, 2017, she visited us again due to left breast swelling and pain during lactation, and underwent breast mass puncture. She was diagnosed with breast hematoma and fibrinogen reduction. On November 14, 2017, mastectomy was performed under tracheal intubation and general anesthesia, and the fibrinogen gradually returned to normal after surgery. Pathological examination showed a hemangiosarcoma with hematoma formation in the left breast. According to the pathological findings and after comprehensive evaluation, the patient underwent modified radical mastectomy for left breast cancer and right axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy on December 5, 2017. The patient died on January 28, 2018 due to rupture and hemorrhage of liver cancer and hemorrhagic shock. Conclusion Breast angiosarcoma with hypofibrinogenemia is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy. Clinicians should be familiar with its clinicopathological features and diagnostic criteria. Multidisciplinary approach is recommended to benefit the patients.
Dental caries and associated factors among diabetic and nondiabetic adult patients attending Bichena Primary Hospital’s Outpatient Department

Purpose Dental caries is a significant public health issue affecting both the diabetic and nondiabetic populations. However, the problem and associated factors of dental caries among diabetics and nondiabetics patients are not well-known in Ethiopia. This study aims to compare the prevalence of dental caries and associated factors among diabetic and nondiabetic patients at the Outpatient Department of Bichena Primary Hospital in Northwest, Ethiopia. Methods Institutional based, comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from October 7 to December 6, 2019, among 200 diabetes and 400 nondiabetic adult patients. A consecutive sampling technique was implemented to recruit study participants. Data were collected by a pretested structured questionnaire and analysis was performed in Statistical Package for Social Science version 20. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were employed and variables with a p-value < 0.05 were declared statistically significant. Results A total of 582 patients were involved in the study with a response rate of 97.0%. The prevalence of dental caries was 67.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 63.2%–72.8%] and 79.6% (95% CI: 74.0%–85.70%) in nondiabetic and diabetic group, respectively. Females gender [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.15–2.77], poor oral hygiene (AOR = 2.95, 95% CI: 1.71–5.11), lack of regular teeth cleaning habits (AOR = 3.26, 95% CI: 2.13–4.97), feeling dry mouth (AOR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.11–4.81), sugared tea drinking (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.18–3.38), inadequate oral health knowledge (AOR = 3.51, 95% CI: 2.19–5.62), and khat chewing (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.24–3.71) were significantly associated factors with high prevalence of dental caries. Conclusion The prevalence of caries was significantly higher among diabetics than nondiabetics. Oral health education with preventive measures such as improving teeth cleaning practice, reducing sugary foods and drinks intake, and improving oral hygiene practice of patients should be mainstreamed along with diabetic follow-up care.
MULTIWAVELENGTH OBSERVATIONS OF A PARTIALLY ERUPTIVE FILAMENT ON 2011 SEPTEMBER 8

In this paper, we report our multiwavelength observations of a partial filament eruption event in NOAA active region (AR) 11283 on 8 September 2011. A magnetic null point and the corresponding spine and separatrix surface are found in the AR. Beneath the null point, a sheared arcade supports the filament along the highly complex and fragmented polarity inversion line. After being activated, the sigmoidal filament erupted and split into two parts. The major part rose at speeds of 90–150 km s−1 before reaching the maximum apparent height of ∼115 Mm. Afterward, it returned to the solar surface in a bumpy way at speeds of 20–80 km s−1. The rising and falling motions were clearly observed in the extreme-ultraviolet, UV, and Hα wavelengths. The failed eruption of the main part was associated with an M6.7 flare with a single hard X-ray source. The runaway part of the filament, however, separated from and rotated around the major part for ∼1 turn at the eastern leg before escaping from the corona, probably along large-scale open magnetic field lines. The ejection of the runaway part resulted in a very faint coronal mass ejection that propagated at an apparent speed of 214 km s−1 in the outer corona. The filament eruption also triggered a transverse kink-mode oscillation of the adjacent coronal loops in the same AR. The amplitude and period of the oscillation were 1.6 Mm and 225 s. Our results are important for understanding the mechanisms of partial filament eruptions, and provide new constraints to theoretical models. The multiwavelength observations also shed light on space weather prediction.
The molecular biology of tubulinopathies: Understanding the impact of variants on tubulin structure and microtubule regulation

Heterozygous, missense mutations in both α- and β-tubulin genes have been linked to an array of neurodevelopment disorders, commonly referred to as “tubulinopathies. ” To date, tubulinopathy mutations have been identified in three β-tubulin isotypes and one α-tubulin isotype. These mutations occur throughout the different genetic domains and protein structures of these tubulin isotypes, and the field is working to address how this molecular-level diversity results in different cellular and tissue-level pathologies. Studies from many groups have focused on elucidating the consequences of individual mutations; however, the field lacks comprehensive models for the molecular etiology of different types of tubulinopathies, presenting a major gap in diagnosis and treatment. This review highlights recent advances in understanding tubulin structural dynamics, the roles microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) play in microtubule regulation, and how these are inextricably linked. We emphasize the value of investigating interactions between tubulin structures, microtubules, and MAPs to understand and predict the impact of tubulinopathy mutations at the cell and tissue levels. Microtubule regulation is multifaceted and provides a complex set of controls for generating a functional cytoskeleton at the right place and right time during neurodevelopment. Understanding how tubulinopathy mutations disrupt distinct subsets of those controls, and how that ultimately disrupts neurodevelopment, will be important for establishing mechanistic themes among tubulinopathies that may lead to insights in other neurodevelopment disorders and normal neurodevelopment.
Polyclonal antibody-induced downregulation of HER1/EGFR and HER2 surpasses the effect of combinations of specific registered antibodies

Background Antitumor therapies targeting HER1/EGFR and HER2, such as monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs), have demonstrated a significant clinical benefit, but the emergence of resistance limits long-term efficacy. While secondary HER1 mutations confer tolerance to TKI, compensatory upregulation of HER2 drives resistance to anti-HER1 MAbs, which identifies MAb combinations targeting both receptors as an attractive therapeutic strategy. Nevertheless, toxicity hampers the clinical validation of this approach. Alternatively, cancer vaccines may induce antibodies directed against several antigens with less concern about induced toxicity. Methods Polyclonal antibodies (PAbs) targeting HER1 and HER2 were induced in mice or rabbits through immunization. Recognition of different epitopes on targets by PAbs was validated by phage-display technology. Receptor downregulation was evaluated by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot. MTT assays assessed cytotoxicity, while the antitumor effect of PAbs was assayed in nude mice. Results PAbs promoted degradation of HER1 and HER2 regarding clinical MAbs or their combinations. As a result, inhibition of cytotoxicity on tumor cell lines was improved, even in the presence of oncogenic mutations in HER1, as well as in cetuximab-insensitive cells. Accordingly, the antitumor effect of vaccination-induced PAbs was observed in lung tumor lines representative of sensitivity or resistance to HER1 targeting therapies. Conclusions Immunization against HER1 and HER2 receptors offers an alternative to passive administration of combinations of MAbs, since vaccination-induced PAbs promote the downregulation of both receptors and they have a higher impact on the survival of tumor cells.
Sex-related differences in the response of anti-platelet drug therapies targeting purinergic signaling pathways in sepsis

Sepsis, a complex clinical syndrome resulting from a serious infection, is a major healthcare problem associated with high mortality. Sex-related differences in the immune response to sepsis have been proposed but the mechanism is still unknown. Purinergic signaling is a sex-specific regulatory mechanism in immune cell physiology. Our studies have shown that blocking the ADP-receptor P2Y12 but not P2Y1 receptor was protective in male mice during sepsis, but not female. We now hypothesize that there are sex-related differences in modulating P2Y12 or P2Y1 signaling pathways during sepsis. Male and female wild-type (WT), P2Y12 knock-out (KO), and P2Y1 KO mice underwent sham surgery or cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce sepsis. The P2Y12 antagonist ticagrelor or the P2Y1 antagonist MRS2279 were administered intra-peritoneally after surgery to septic male and female mice. Blood, lungs and kidneys were collected 24 hours post-surgery. Sepsis-induced changes in platelet activation, secretion and platelet interaction with immune cells were measured by flow cytometry. Neutrophil infiltration in the lung and kidney was determined by a myeloperoxidase (MPO) colorimetric assay kit. Sepsis-induced platelet activation, secretion and aggregate formation were reduced in male CLP P2Y12 KO and in female CLP P2Y1 KO mice compared with their CLP WT counterpart. Sepsis-induced MPO activity was reduced in male CLP P2Y12 KO and CLP P2Y1 KO female mice. CLP males treated with ticagrelor or MRS2279 showed a decrease in sepsis-induced MPO levels in lung and kidneys, aggregate formation, and platelet activation as compared to untreated male CLP mice. There were no differences in platelet activation, aggregate formation, and neutrophil infiltration in lung and kidney between female CLP mice and female CLP mice treated with ticagrelor or MRS2279. In human T lymphocytes, blocking P2Y1 or P2Y12 alters cell growth and secretion in vitro in a sex-dependent manner, supporting the data obtained in mice. In conclusion, targeting purinergic signaling represents a promising therapy for sepsis but drug targeting purinergic signaling is sex-specific and needs to be investigated to determine sex-related targeted therapies in sepsis.
Automatic measure and normalization of spinal cord cross-sectional area using the pontomedullary junction

Spinal cord cross-sectional area (CSA) is a relevant biomarker to assess spinal cord atrophy in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the considerable inter-subject variability among healthy participants currently limits its usage. Previous studies explored factors contributing to the variability, yet the normalization models required manual intervention and used vertebral levels as a reference, which is an imprecise prediction of the spinal levels. In this study we implemented a method to measure CSA automatically from a spatial reference based on the central nervous system (the pontomedullary junction, PMJ), we investigated factors to explain variability, and developed normalization strategies on a large cohort (N = 804). Following automatic spinal cord segmentation, vertebral labeling and PMJ labeling, the spinal cord CSA was computed on T1w MRI scans from the UK Biobank database. The CSA was computed using two methods. For the first method, the CSA was computed at the level of the C2–C3 intervertebral disc. For the second method, the CSA was computed at 64 mm caudally from the PMJ, this distance corresponding to the average distance between the PMJ and the C2–C3 disc across all participants. The effect of various demographic and anatomical factors was explored, and a stepwise regression found significant predictors; the coefficients of the best fit model were used to normalize CSA. CSA measured at C2–C3 disc and using the PMJ differed significantly (paired t-test, p-value = 0.0002). The best normalization model included thalamus, brain volume, sex and the interaction between brain volume and sex. The coefficient of variation went down for PMJ CSA from 10.09 (without normalization) to 8.59%, a reduction of 14.85%. For CSA at C2–C3, it went down from 9.96 to 8.42%, a reduction of 15.13 %. This study introduces an end-to-end automatic pipeline to measure and normalize cord CSA from a neurological reference. This approach requires further validation to assess atrophy in longitudinal studies. The inter-subject variability of CSA can be partly accounted for by demographics and anatomical factors.
On the age of information for non-preemptive queues in tandem

A monitoring system operates over a network of first-come, first-served queues in tandem, in which a source is transmitting its status to a monitor at the end of the tandem. To characterize the freshness performance of this monitoring system, we analyze the average Age of Information for this system, in which the status update arrivals are Poisson distributed and each queue is served by a non-preemptive, memoryless server. We first study the case of single-capacity queues that are modeled as a stochastic hybrid system, and we derive the average age for two queues with different service rates and three queues with equal service rate. We then study the infinite capacity queue case and use the graphical approach to derive the average age for two queues in tandem with equal service rates. Finally, we simulate the average age for intermediate cases of k capacity queues, which fall in between the two extreme cases of k = 1 and k = ∞.
Effect of cold ambient temperature on heat flux, skin temperature, and thermal sensation at different body parts in elite biathletes

Introduction When exercising in the cold, optimizing thermoregulation is essential to maintain performance. However, no study has investigated thermal parameters with wearable-based measurements in a field setting among elite Nordic skiers. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the thermal response and sensation measured at different body parts during exercise in a cold environment in biathletes. Methods Thirteen Swiss national team biathletes (6 females, 7 males) performed two skiing bouts in the skating technique on two consecutive days (ambient temperature: −3.74 ± 2.32 °C) at 78 ± 4% of maximal heart rate. Heat flux (HF), core (Tcore) and skin (Tskin) temperature were measured with sensors placed on the thigh, back, anterior and lateral thorax. Thermal sensation (TS) was assessed three times for different body parts: in protective winter clothing, in a race suit before (PRE) and after exercise (POST). Results HF demonstrated differences (p < 0.001) between sensor locations, with the thigh showing the highest heat loss (344 ± 37 kJ/m2), followed by the back (269 ± 6 kJ/m2), the lateral thorax (220 ± 47 kJ/m2), and the anterior thorax (192 ± 37 kJ/m2). Tcore increased (p < 0.001). Tskin decreased for all body parts (p < 0.001). Thigh Tskin decreased more than for other body parts (p < 0.001). From PRE to POST, TS of the hands decreased (p < 0.01). Conclusion Biathletes skiing in a race suit at moderate intensity experience significant heat loss and a large drop in Tskin, particularly at the quadriceps muscle. To support the optimal functioning of working muscles, body-part dependent differences in the thermal response should be considered for clothing strategy and for race suit design.
Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Chinese version of the Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire

Background context Patients with spinal metastases always have a poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and disease- and treatment-related adverse outcomes. The Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire (SOSGOQ) has been verified and validated in English for patients with spinal metastases but not in Chinese. Purpose This paper aimed to complete the cross-cultural adaptation of the Chinese version of the SOSGOQ, to verify its reliability and validity, and to report on the HRQoL of Chinese patients with spinal metastases. Study design/setting This is a single-center, prospective, observational cross-sectional study. Patient sample Seventy-six patients were enrolled in this study. Outcome measures The SOSGOQ is made up of five HRQoL domains (physical function, neurological function, pain, mental health, social function) and post-therapy questions. The EQ-5D 3L questionnaire covers five items in mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain discomfort, and anxiety-depression, each with three answer options. The SF-36 comprises 36 items divided into eight domains. Methods A single-center, prospective, observational cross-sectional study involving patients with spinal metastases who underwent surgery was conducted. HRQoL was evaluated using the Chinese version of the SOSGOQ, the Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), and the EuroQol 5-Dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D). Demographic, tumor, symptom, and treatment data, as well as Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) information, were collected. Internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, concurrent validity, and clinical validity were used to evaluate reliability. A Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between variables. Results This study enrolled 76 patients, with a mean age of 55.8 years. The kidney was the most common primary tumor site, and the thoracic spine was the most affected. The internal consistency of the overall SOSQOQ (0.907) was higher than the EQ-5D (0.819), and all items of the SOSQOQ had a high convergent validity (>0.40). The SOSGOQ was significantly correlated with the EQ-5D in respective domains (p < 0.001) and overall score (p < 0.001), whereas the SF-36 was related to the overall SOSGOQ score and most domains. Total SOSGOG was significantly sensitive to changes in ECOG (p = 0.017), prior surgery (p = 0.001), and tumor type (p = 0.026). Conclusions The SOSGOQ is a reliable and effective tool for evaluating HRQoL in patients with spinal metastases, with high sensitivity and specificity. Surgical treatment can significantly improve patients’ HRQoL.
Genome mining reveals abiotic stress resistance genes in plant genomes acquired from microbes via HGT

Colonization by beneficial microbes can enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. However, there are still many unknown fields regarding the beneficial plant-microbe interactions. In this study, we have assessed the amount or impact of horizontal gene transfer (HGT)-derived genes in plants that have potentials to confer abiotic stress resistance. We have identified a total of 235 gene entries in fourteen high-quality plant genomes belonging to phyla Chlorophyta and Streptophyta that confer resistance against a wide range of abiotic pressures acquired from microbes through independent HGTs. These genes encode proteins contributed to toxic metal resistance (e.g., ChrA, CopA, CorA), osmotic and drought stress resistance (e.g., Na+/proline symporter, potassium/proton antiporter), acid resistance (e.g., PcxA, ArcA, YhdG), heat and cold stress resistance (e.g., DnaJ, Hsp20, CspA), oxidative stress resistance (e.g., GST, PoxA, glutaredoxin), DNA damage resistance (e.g., Rad25, Rad51, UvrD), and organic pollutant resistance (e.g., CytP450, laccase, CbbY). Phylogenetic analyses have supported the HGT inferences as the plant lineages are all clustering closely with distant microbial lineages. Deep-learning-based protein structure prediction and analyses, in combination with expression assessment based on codon adaption index (CAI) further corroborated the functionality and expressivity of the HGT genes in plant genomes. A case-study applying fold comparison and molecular dynamics (MD) of the HGT-driven CytP450 gave a more detailed illustration on the resemblance and evolutionary linkage between the plant recipient and microbial donor sequences. Together, the microbe-originated HGT genes identified in plant genomes and their participation in abiotic pressures resistance indicate a more profound impact of HGT on the adaptive evolution of plants.