Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Reverse Bias on Dye-Sensitized Technology: Lessons for Application in PV-Integrated Textile Fabric Designs Useable in Wajir, Vihiga, Kitui and Kajiado Counties in Kenya

: This paper reports on the effect of reverse bias (RB) on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) that were investigated outdoor in Wajir (1 o 44’50’’ North, 40 o 4’ 8’’ East), Vihiga (35 o 0’ East, 0 o 15’ North), Kitui (3 o 0’ South, 37 o 50’ East) and Kajiado (360 o 5’ East, 30 o 0’ South) in Kenya. The DSSCs’ J-V characteristics, namely, V oc , J sc , FF and η , were studied under varied RB potentials. This was achieved through partial, as well as complete shading of the DSSCs during their operation in the study sites, using a thick piece of black cloth, and measuring the obtaining J-V characteristics. Findings of the study reveal that subjecting the DSSC module that was investigated in Wajir to RB of between 1V and 4V triggered between 25.53% and 23.53% drop in the module’s efficiency ( η ), followed by its total breakdown thereafter. The modules studied in Vihiga, Kitui and Kajiado exhibited a similar trend, but with variations in η under the different RB regimes. The DSSCs’ breakdown under RB regimes of over half their voltage ratings could be attributed to the damaging of their dye constituents. These findings are important for context-informed DSSC dye choices, as well as DSSC-integrated designs that appeal to local cultural textile fabrics, like shawls, kanzu (long robes) and light coats that women and men dress in, respectively, in Wajir, and blankets that both men and women wrap around their shoulders in Kajiado, as well as in local architectures. The findings underscore the existence of vast prospects for localized industries that innovate in DSSC-integrated designs for local espousal. They could form foundations for programs that mentor people, especially children and youths at local levels to engage in climate change-mitigating enterprises.
Demographic factors associated with joint supplement use in dogs from the Dog Aging Project

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent age-related chronic conditions that afflict companion dogs, and multiple joint supplements are available to prevent or treat OA, though the efficacy of these treatments is controversial. While the demographic factors that are associated with OA diagnosis are well established, the factors that are associated with joint supplement use are not as well studied. Using data collected from the Dog Aging Project, we analyzed owner survey responses regarding joint supplement administration and OA diagnosis for 26,951 adult dogs. In this cross-sectional analysis, logistic regression models and odds-ratios (OR) were employed to determine demographic factors of dogs and their owners that were associated with joint supplement administration. Forty percent of adult dogs in our population were given some type of joint supplement. Perhaps not surprisingly, dogs of older age, larger size, and those that were ever overweight were more likely to receive a joint supplement. Younger owner age, urban living, owner education, and feeding commercial dry food were associated with a reduced likelihood of administration of joint supplements to dogs. Interestingly, mixed breed dogs were also less likely to be administered a joint supplement (OR: 0.73). Dogs with a clinical diagnosis of OA were more likely to receive a joint supplement than those without a reported OA diagnosis (OR: 3.82). Neutered dogs were more likely to have a diagnosis of OA, even after controlling for other demographic factors, yet their prevalence of joint supplement administration was the same as intact dogs. Overall, joint supplement use appears to be high in our large population of dogs in the United States. Prospective studies are needed to determine if joint supplements are more commonly administered as a preventative for OA or after an OA clinical diagnosis.
Identifying α-KG-dependent prognostic signature for lower-grade glioma based on transcriptome profiles

The inhibition of alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG)-dependent dioxygenases is thought to contribute to isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation-derived malignancy. Herein, we aim to thoroughly investigate the expression pattern and prognostic significance of genes encoding α-KG-dependent enzymes for lower-grade glioma (LGG) patients. In this retrospective study, a total of 775 LGG patients were enrolled. The generalized linear model, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression, and nomogram were applied to identify the enzyme-based signature. With the use of gene set enrichment analysis and Gene Ontology, the probable molecular abnormalities underlying high-risk patients were investigated. By comprehensively analyzing mRNA data, we observed that 41 genes were differentially expressed between IDHMUT and IDHWT LGG patients. A risk signature comprising 10 genes, which could divide samples into high- and low-risk groups of distinct prognoses, was developed and independently validated. This enzyme-based signature was indicative of a more malignant phenotype. The nomogram model incorporating the risk signature, molecular biomarkers, and clinicopathological parameters proved the incremental utility of the α-KG-dependent signature by achieving a more accurate prediction impact. Our study demonstrates that the α-KG-dependent enzyme-encoding genes were differentially expressed in relation to the IDH phenotype and may serve as a promising indicator for clinical outcomes of LGG patients.
Understory plant communities show resistance to drought, hurricanes, and experimental warming in a wet tropical forest

Global climate change has led to rising temperatures and to more frequent and intense climatic events, such as storms and droughts. Changes in climate and disturbance regimes can have non-additive effects on plant communities and result in complicated legacies we have yet to understand. This is especially true for tropical forests, which play a significant role in regulating global climate. We used understory vegetation data from the Tropical Responses to Altered Climate Experiment (TRACE) in Puerto Rico to evaluate how plant communities responded to climate warming and disturbance. The TRACE understory vegetation was exposed to a severe drought (2015), 2 years of experimental warming (4°C above ambient in half of the plots, 2016–2017 and 2018–2019), and two major hurricanes (Irma and María, September 2017). Woody seedlings and saplings were censused yearly from 2015 to 2019, with an additional census in 2015 after the drought ended. We evaluated disturbance-driven changes in species richness, diversity, and composition across ontogeny. We then used Bayesian predictive trait modeling to assess how species responded to disturbance and how this might influence the functional structure of the plant community. Our results show decreased seedling richness after hurricane disturbance, as well as increased sapling richness and diversity after warming. We found a shift in species composition through time for both seedlings and saplings, yet the individual effects of each disturbance were not significant. At both ontogenetic stages, we observed about twice as many species responding to experimental warming as those responding to drought and hurricanes. Predicted changes in functional structure point to disturbance-driven functional shifts toward a mixture of fast-growing and drought-tolerant species. Our findings demonstrate that the tropical forest understory community is more resistant to climatic stressors than expected, especially at the sapling stage. However, early signs of changes in species composition suggest that, in a warming climate with frequent droughts and hurricanes, plant communities might shift over time toward fast-growing or drought-tolerant species.
Integrative identification of immune-related key genes in atrial fibrillation using weighted gene coexpression network analysis and machine learning

Background The immune system significantly participates in the pathologic process of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this participation are not completely explained. The current research aimed to identify critical genes and immune cells that participate in the pathologic process of AF. Methods CIBERSORT was utilized to reveal the immune cell infiltration pattern in AF patients. Meanwhile, weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to identify meaningful modules that were significantly correlated with AF. The characteristic genes correlated with AF were identified by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression and support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithm. Results In comparison to sinus rhythm (SR) individuals, we observed that fewer activated mast cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs), as well as more gamma delta T cells, resting mast cells, and M2 macrophages, were infiltrated in AF patients. Three significant modules (pink, red, and magenta) were identified to be significantly associated with AF. Gene enrichment analysis showed that all 717 genes were associated with immunity- or inflammation-related pathways and biological processes. Four hub genes (GALNT16, HTR2B, BEX2, and RAB8A) were revealed to be significantly correlated with AF by the SVM-RFE algorithm and LASSO logistic regression. qRT–PCR results suggested that compared to the SR subjects, AF patients exhibited significantly reduced BEX2 and GALNT16 expression, as well as dramatically elevated HTR2B expression. The AUC measurement showed that the diagnostic efficiency of BEX2, HTR2B, and GALNT16 in the training set was 0.836, 0.883, and 0.893, respectively, and 0.858, 0.861, and 0.915, respectively, in the validation set. Conclusions Three novel genes, BEX2, HTR2B, and GALNT16, were identified by WGCNA combined with machine learning, which provides potential new therapeutic targets for the early diagnosis and prevention of AF.
Disease burden and long-term trends of urinary tract infections: A worldwide report

Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections worldwide, but little is known about their global scale and long-term trends. We aimed to estimate the spatiotemporal patterns of UTIs' burden along with its attributable risk factors at a global level, as well as the variations of the burdens according to socio-demographic status, regions, nations, sexes, and ages, which may be helpful in guiding targeted prevention and treatment programs. Methods Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 were analyzed to depict the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of UTIs in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019 by socio-demographic status, nations, region, sex, and age. Results Globally, 404.61 million cases, 236,790 deaths, and 520,200 DALYs were estimated in 2019. In particular, 2.4 times growth in deaths from 1990 to 2019 was observed, along with an increasing age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) from 2.77/100,000 to 3.13/100,000. Age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was consistently pronounced in regions with higher socio-demographic index (SDI), which presented remarkable upward trends in ASMR and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR). In contrast, countries with a low SDI or high baseline burden achieved a notable decline in burden rates over the past three decades. Although the ASIR was 3.6-fold higher in females than males, there was no sex-based difference in ASMR and ASDR. The burden rate typically increased with age, and the annual increasing trend was more obvious for people over 60 years, especially in higher SDI regions. Conclusions The burden of UTIs showed variations according to socio-demographic status, nation, region, sex, and age in the last three decades. The overall increasing burden intimates that proper prevention and treatment efforts should be strengthened, especially in high-income regions and aging societies.
Selection of parental lines for plant breeding via genomic prediction

A set of superior parental lines is imperative for the development of high-performing inbred lines in any biparental crossing program for crops. The main objectives of this study are to (a) develop a genomic prediction approach to identify superior parental lines for multi-trait selection, and (b) generate a software package for users to execute the proposed approach before conducting field experiments. According to different breeding goals of the target traits, a novel selection index integrating information from genomic-estimated breeding values (GEBVs) of candidate accessions was proposed to evaluate the composite performance of simulated progeny populations. Two rice (Oryza sativa L.) genome datasets were analyzed to illustrate the potential applications of the proposed approach. One dataset applied to the parental selection for producing inbred lines with satisfactory performance in primary and secondary traits simultaneously. The other one applied to demonstrate the application of producing inbred lines with high adaptability to different environments. Overall, the results showed that incorporating GEBV and genomic diversity into a selection strategy based on the proposed selection index could assist in selecting superior parents to meet the desired breeding goals and increasing long-term genetic gain. An R package, called IPLGP, was generated to facilitate the widespread application of the approach.
Ferroptosis in COVID-19-related liver injury: A potential mechanism and therapeutic target

The outbreak and worldwide spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been a threat to global public health. SARS-CoV-2 infection not only impacts the respiratory system but also causes hepatic injury. Ferroptosis, a distinct iron-dependent form of non-apoptotic cell death, has been investigated in various pathological conditions, such as cancer, ischemia/reperfusion injury, and liver diseases. However, whether ferroptosis takes part in the pathophysiological process of COVID-19-related liver injury has not been evaluated yet. This review highlights the pathological changes in COVID-19-related liver injury and presents ferroptosis as a potential mechanism in the pathological process. Ferroptosis, as a therapeutic target for COVID-19-related liver injury, is also discussed. Discoveries in these areas will improve our understanding of strategies to prevent and treat hepatic injuries caused by COVID-19.
Predictors of problem-solving skills among emergency medical services staff in Iran: A cross-sectional correlational study

Background and aims Pre-hospital emergency technicians face many problems in the workplace daily, so the ability to solve or overcome them in the workplace is essential. This article aimed to assess the predictors of problem-solving skills among emergency medical services staff in Iran. Methods This study was cross-sectional correlational research. Using convenience sampling methods, 140 emergency medical services (EMS) staff were enrolled in the study. Response time was assessed using ASAYAR software, problem-solving skills (PSS) were measured using the Hepner Petersen Problem Solving Questionnaire (PSI), and cognitive emotion regulation strategies were assessed using the Garnfsky Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson's r correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis were applied using SPSS 14.0. Results The results of our study showed that the total mean score for problem-solving skills was 136.84 (14.65) (range, 175–107 points). Multiple linear regression indicated that refocusing on planning, positive evaluation, stress management courses, delays and their causes, positive refocusing, catastrophizing, and acceptance were effective predictors of problem-solving skills in emergency personnel, accounting for 54% of the total variances. Conclusion This study is one of the first studies in this field. Based on our findings, individuals who consider their emotions and feelings when solving problems are better able to use the process of thinking and problem-solving skills. Therefore, by training people in the field of emotional regulation skills, the skills to solve problems technicians can be increased.
Genome characterization and comparative analysis among three swimming crab species

In this study we sequenced the genomes of three economically important swimming crabs Portunus trituberculatus, Charybdis japonica, and Callinectes sapidus using the next-generation sequencing approach and made a basic assembly. The genomes of the three species are characterized with high heterozygosity (>1.2%) and high repeat content (>50%). Genome comparative analysis revealed 40 long conserved fragments (>5,000 bp) among the three species, most of them are involved in cardiac-related biological process. Relative higher genome similarity was found between P. trituberculatus and C. japonica that are belong to different subfamilies, compared to that between P. trituberculatus and C. sapidus which are from the same subfamily. It is inconsistent with their phylogenetic evolutionary trees inferred from previous mitochondrial DNA coding fragments and a conserved ANK2 protein fragment from this study. We speculated that the high genome similarity between P. trituberculatus and C. japonica might be attributed to their same inhabit range in which the genome is subject to the same environment selection, and the inconsistence between genome similarity and phylogenetic relationship is caused by the different evolutionary rates of coding DNA and non-coding DNA under environment selection.
A survey of statistical methods for inequalities in access to healthcare—Kermanshah in West Iran

Background: Access to medical care is one of the major issues affecting human health. This study aims to investigate inequality in access to medical care in the townships in Kermanshah, Iran. Methods Methodology approach includes a descriptive-analytic study followed by determining the degree of development of the townships calculated in terms of access to medical care through the hierarchical cluster analysis and the combined model of human development index. Additionally, the mean center and standard distance tests are handled in a geographic information system software to identify the deployment pattern of the status of access to medical care indexes. Results As for the ratio of physicians, nursing staff, paramedical staff, administrative staff of health care, dentists, pharmacists, hospitals, general and specialized clinics, radiology, rehabilitation centers and laboratories to a population of 10,000, the results of analyzing the findings were indicative of unequal distribution of facilities at the level of townships. This is based on The results of comparing the mean centers of population and health facilities showed that the centers of both data categories were located in Kermanshah. The two standard distances (i.e., population and health facilities) demonstrated that the health facilities witnessed more dispersion in the northwestern regions than the concentration of population in the central and southeastern regions of the province. Conclusions The results indicated that the indexes of development of facilities and healthcare resources were not distributed equitably and with a balance between the townships of the Kermanshah Province.
Onco-immunomodulatory properties of pharmacological interference with RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway hyperactivation

Hyperactivation of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK cascade - a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway – has a well-known association with oncogenesis of leading tumor entities, including non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal carcinoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and malignant melanoma. Increasing evidence shows that genetic alterations leading to RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway hyperactivation mediate contact- and soluble-dependent crosstalk between tumor, tumor microenvironment (TME) and the immune system resulting in immune escape mechanisms and establishment of a tumor-sustaining environment. Consequently, pharmacological interruption of this pathway not only leads to tumor-cell intrinsic disruptive effects but also modification of the TME and anti-tumor immunomodulation. At the same time, the importance of ERK signaling in immune cell physiology and potentiation of anti-tumor immune responses through ERK signaling inhibition within immune cell subsets has received growing appreciation. Specifically, a strong case was made for targeted MEK inhibition due to promising associated immune cell intrinsic modulatory effects. However, the successful transition of therapeutic agents interrupting RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK hyperactivation is still being hampered by significant limitations regarding durable efficacy, therapy resistance and toxicity. We here collate and summarize the multifaceted role of RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling in physiology and oncoimmunology and outline the rationale and concepts for exploitation of immunomodulatory properties of RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK inhibition while accentuating the role of MEK inhibition in combinatorial and intermittent anticancer therapy. Furthermore, we point out the extensive scientific efforts dedicated to overcoming the challenges encountered during the clinical transition of various therapeutic agents in the search for the most effective and safe patient- and tumor-tailored treatment approach.
Prevalence and prognosis of molecularly defined familial hypercholesterolemia in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) can elevate serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, which can promote the progression of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the effect of FH on the prognosis of ACS remains unclear. Methods In this prospective cohort study, 223 patients with ACS having LDL-C ≥ 135.3 mg/dL (3.5 mmol/L) were enrolled and screened for FH using a multiple-gene FH panel. The diagnosis of FH was defined according to the ACMG/AMP criteria as carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. The clinical features of FH and the relationship of FH to the average 16.6-month risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) were assessed. Results The prevalence of molecularly defined FH in enrolled patients was 26.9%, and coronary artery lesions were more severe in patients with FH than in those without (Gensini score 66.0 vs. 28.0, respectively; P < 0.001). After lipid lowering, patients with FH still had significantly higher LDL-C levels at their last visit (73.5 ± 25.9 mg/dL vs. 84.7 ± 37.1 mg/dL; P = 0.013) compared with those without. FH increased the incidence of CVEs in patients with ACS [hazard ratio (HR): 3.058; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.585–5.900; log-rank P < 0.001]. Conclusion FH is associated with an increased risk of CVEs in ACS and is an independent risk factor for ACS. This study highlights the importance of genetic testing of FH-related gene mutations in patients with ACS.