Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sleep health and cognitive function among people with and without HIV: the use of different machine learning approaches

Abstract Study Objectives We investigated associations between actigraphy-assessed sleep measures and cognitive function in people with and without HIV using different analytical approaches to better understand these associations and highlight differences in results obtained by these approaches. Methods Cognitive and 7-day/night actigraphy data were collected from people with HIV (PWH) and lifestyle-similar HIV-negative individuals from HIV and sexual health clinics in the United Kingdom/Ireland. A global cognitive T-score was obtained averaging the standardized individual cognitive test scores accounting for sociodemographics. Average and SD of 11 sleep measures over 7 days/nights were obtained. Rank regression, partial least-squares (PLS) regression, random forest, sleep dimension construct, and latent class analysis (LCA) were applied to evaluate associations between global T-scores and sleep measures. Results In 344 PWH (median age 57 years, 86% males), average sleep duration, efficiency, and wake after sleep onset were not associated with global T-scores according to rank regression (p = 0.51, p = 0.09, p = 0.16, respectively). In contrast, global T-scores were associated with average and SD of length of nocturnal awakenings, SD of maintenance efficiency, and average out-of-bed time when analyzed by PLS regression and random forest. No associations were found when using sleep dimensions or LCA. Overall, findings observed in PWH were similar to those seen in HIV-negative individuals (median age 61 years, 67% males). Conclusions Using multivariable analytical approaches, measures of sleep continuity, timing, and regularity were associated with cognitive performance in PWH, supporting the utility of newer methods of incorporating multiple standard and novel measures of sleep-wake patterns in the assessment of health and functioning.
Oxygenation pattern and compensatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia following bilateral carotid body resection in humans

Five years after bilateral carotid body resection (bCBR) performed in four patients, the absence of the hypoxic ventilatory response persisted, suggesting no compensatory regrowth. Breathing hypoxic gas mixtures (15% and 12%) results in a lower (by ∼10%) minimal blood oxygen saturation ( SpO2 ) in bCBR patients compared to heart failure subjects (CHF) with intact peripheral chemoreceptors. After bCBR, patients were characterized by a greater short‐term variability in SpO2 during mild hypoxia in comparison to the CHF group. The ventilatory response to hypercapnia was preserved following bCBR and was sufficient to maintain minimal SpO2 at levels comparable to controls when combined with hypoxia. Bilateral CBR – a novel treatment modality for sympathetically mediated diseases – should be used with caution due to the risk of significant desaturation even during mild hypoxia equivalent to that experienced during long‐haul air travel and high altitude.
Implementation status of national tuberculosis infection control guidelines in Bangladeshi hospitals

In response to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation to reduce healthcare workers’ (HCWs’) exposure to tuberculosis (TB) in health settings, congregate settings, and households, the national TB control program of Bangladesh developed guidelines for TB infection prevention and control (IPC) in 2011. This study aimed to assess the implementation of the TB IPC healthcare measures in health settings in Bangladesh. Between February and June 2018, we conducted a mixed-method study at 11 health settings. The team conducted 59 key-informant interviews with HCWs to understand the status of and barriers impeding the implementation of the TB IPC guidelines. The team also performed a facility assessment survey and examined TB IPC practices. Most HCWs were unaware of the national TB IPC guidelines. There were no TB IPC plans or committees at the health settings. Further, a presumptive pulmonary TB patient triage checklist was absent in all health settings. However, during facility assessment, we observed patient triaging and separation in the TB specialty hospitals. Routine cough-etiquette advice was provided to the TB patients mentioned during the key-informant interviews, which was consistent with findings from the survey. This study identified poor implementation of TB IPC measures in health settings. Limited knowledge of the guidelines resulted in poor implementation of the recommendations. Interventions focusing on the dissemination of the TB IPC guidelines to HCWs along with regular training may improve compliance. Such initiatives should be taken by hospital senior leadership as well as national policy makers.
Low Back Pain and Substance Use: Diagnostic and Administrative Coding for Opioid Use and Dependence Increased in U.S. Older Adults with Low Back Pain.

OBJECTIVE Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of pain and disability. Substance use complicates the management of LBP, and potential risks increase with aging. Despite implications for an aging, diverse U.S. population, substance use and LBP comorbidity remain poorly defined. The objective of this study was to characterize LBP and substance use diagnoses in older U.S. adults by age, gender, and race. DESIGN Cross-sectional study of a random national sample. SUBJECTS Older adults including 1,477,594 U.S. Medicare Part B beneficiaries. METHODS Bayesian analysis of 37,634,210 claims, with 10,775,869 administrative and 92,903,649 diagnostic code assignments. RESULTS LBP was diagnosed in 14.8±0.06% of those more than 65 years of age, more in females than in males (15.8±0.08% vs. 13.4±0.09%), and slightly less in those more than 85 years of age (13.3±0.2%). Substance use diagnosis varied by substance: nicotine, 9.6±0.02%; opioid, 2.8±0.01%; and alcohol, 1.3±0.01%. Substance use diagnosis declined with advancing age cohort. Opioid use diagnosis was markedly higher for those in whom LBP was diagnosed (10.5%) than for those not diagnosed with LBP (1.5%). Most older adults (54.9%) with an opioid diagnosis were diagnosed with LBP. Gender differences were modest. Relative rates of substance use diagnoses in LBP were modest for nicotine and alcohol. CONCLUSIONS Older adults with LBP have high relative rates of opioid diagnoses, irrespective of gender or age. Most older adults with opioid-related diagnoses have LBP, compared with a minority of those not opioid diagnosed. In caring for older adults with LBP or opioid-related diagnoses, health systems must anticipate complexity and support clinicians, patients, and caregivers in managing pain comorbidities. Older adults may benefit from proactive incorporation of non-opioid pain treatments. Further study is needed.
Retrograde enhancement of episodic learning by a postlearning stimulus

Evidence suggests encoding of recent episodic experiences may be enhanced by a subsequent salient event. We tested this hypothesis by giving rats a 3-min unsupervised experience with four odors and measuring retention after different delays. Animals recognized that a novel element had been introduced to the odor set at 24 but not 48 h. However, when odor sampling was followed within 5 min by salient light flashes or bedding odor, the memory lasted a full 2 d. These results describe a retroactive influence of salience to promote storage of episodic information and introduce a unique model for studying underlying plasticity mechanisms.
Quantifying Live Microbial Load in Human Saliva Samples over Time Reveals Stable Composition and Dynamic Load

Human microbiomes are dynamic ecosystems often composed of hundreds of unique microbial taxa. To detect fluctuations over time in the human oral microbiome, we developed a novel workflow to quantify live microbial cells with flow cytometry in parallel with next-generation sequencing, and applied this method to over 150 unstimulated, timed saliva samples. ABSTRACT Evaluating microbial community composition through next-generation sequencing has become increasingly accessible. However, metagenomic sequencing data sets provide researchers with only a snapshot of a dynamic ecosystem and do not provide information about the total microbial number, or load, of a sample. Additionally, DNA can be detected long after a microorganism is dead, making it unsafe to assume that all microbial sequences detected in a community came from living organisms. By combining relic DNA removal by propidium monoazide (PMA) with microbial quantification with flow cytometry, we present a novel workflow to quantify live microbial load in parallel with metagenomic sequencing. We applied this method to unstimulated saliva samples, which can easily be collected longitudinally and standardized by passive collection time. We found that the number of live microorganisms detected in saliva was inversely correlated with salivary flow rate and fluctuated by an order of magnitude throughout the day in healthy individuals. In an acute perturbation experiment, alcohol-free mouthwash resulted in a massive decrease in live bacteria, which would have been missed if we did not consider dead cell signal. While removing relic DNA from saliva samples did not greatly impact the microbial composition, it did increase our resolution among samples collected over time. These results provide novel insight into the dynamic nature of host-associated microbiomes and underline the importance of applying scale-invariant tools in the analysis of next-generation sequencing data sets. IMPORTANCE Human microbiomes are dynamic ecosystems often composed of hundreds of unique microbial taxa. To detect fluctuations over time in the human oral microbiome, we developed a novel workflow to quantify live microbial cells with flow cytometry in parallel with next-generation sequencing, and applied this method to over 150 unstimulated, timed saliva samples. Microbial load was inversely correlated with salivary flow rate and fluctuated by an order of magnitude within a single participant throughout the day. Removing relic DNA improved our ability to distinguish samples over time and revealed that the percentage of sequenced bacteria in a given saliva sample that are alive can range from nearly 0% up to 100% throughout a typical day. These findings highlight the dynamic ecosystem of the human oral microbiome and the benefit of removing relic DNA signals in longitudinal microbiome study designs.
Hospital Outbreak of Fluconazole-Resistant Candida parapsilosis: Arguments for Clonal Transmission and Long-Term Persistence

The worldwide emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic fungi is a threat to human health. At this very moment, an emergence of Candida parapsilosis isolates harboring a resistance to fluconazole, one of the most popular antifungal drugs, is being described in several countries. ABSTRACT The worldwide emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic fungi is a threat to human health. At this very moment, an emergence of Candida parapsilosis isolates harboring a resistance to fluconazole, one of the most popular antifungal drugs, is being described in several countries. We seek to better understand the epidemiology, pathogenicity, and transmission of resistant Candida parapsilosis. Faced with an outbreak of invasive infections due to resistant isolates of C. parapsilosis, we performed a 7-year retrospective and prospective analysis of 283 C. parapsilosis isolates collected in 240 patients, among whom 111 had invasive candidiasis. The study included a review of hospital records, genotyping analysis, and susceptibility testing that allowed us to determine the type and outcome of infections, as well as the spatial and temporal spread of clusters. Overall, the incidence of azole resistance was 7.5%. Genotyping analysis unveiled several previously undetected outbreaks and clonal spread of susceptible and resistant isolates over a long period of time. In comparison with susceptible isolates, resistant ones have a more restricted genetic diversity and seem to be more likely to spread and more frequently associated with invasive infections. In intensive care units, patients with invasive infections due to resistant isolates had poorer outcomes (overall mortality at day 30 of 40%; 4/10) than susceptible ones (overall mortality at day 30 of 26.5%; 9/34). Our results suggest that the propensity of C. parapsilosis to spread in an epidemic fashion is underestimated, which warrants reinforced control and epidemiological survey of this species.
Endemicity change of hepatitis A infection necessitates vaccination in food handlers: An Indian perspective

ABSTRACT In the last two decades, outbreaks due to the foodborne hepatitis A virus (HAV) have been frequently reported in India, with adolescents and adults primarily affected. In India, most food handlers are adolescents and young adults who might be exposed to unsatisfactory environmental conditions and poor water quality. This increases the risk of HAV infection and consequently compounds the risk of HAV transmission from food handlers to susceptible populations. Given the shift in hepatitis A endemicity from high to intermediate levels in India, implementing the vaccination of food handlers has become important as it can also contribute to the elimination of hepatitis A in India. This narrative review makes a case for hepatitis A immunization of food handlers in India considering the growing food industry, evolving food culture, and the substantial burden caused by hepatitis A outbreaks. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY What is the context? Hepatitis A disease is a common form of viral hepatitis and is transmitted through contaminated food and water or through close contact with an infected person. The virus with stands high temperature and can survive on surfaces for long periods of time. In India, the burden of hepatitis A has shifted from children to adolescents and adults who are more culnerable to infection. They present a high risk of complications, often requiring hopitalization. The prevention of the disease has often bee neglected, inadequate safety measures for the preparation of food (via food handlers) is a known risk factor for the transmission of hepatitis A. What is new? Our review highlights the relationship between food handling and hepatitis A infection among adolescents and adults in Inida. The lack of knowledge of food safety regulations and hygiene measures among food handlers and the organizations that guide them may contribute to the spread of hepatitis A. What is the impact? Sanitation efforts, awareness and educational programs for food are needed to help reduce the transmission of hepatitis A virus and disease, yet these measures alone may not be sufficient. Vaccination among high-risk populations such as food handlers can prevent hepatitis A infection and its complications as well as transmission.
Code Lavender: Designing Healthcare Spaces to Enhance Caregiver Wellness

The Year of the Nurse and COVID-19 will go down in history as being one of the most taxing times on our healthcare system and healthcare workers. No one could have predicted the ripple effect of the pandemic on medical equipment, personal protective equipment, caregiver demand, patient isolation, and clinician burnout. While caregiver wellness has been a subject discussed by healthcare designers in the past, it warrants a fresh discussion and a review of the current practices in healthcare organizations.
Controllable and Predictable Viscoelastic Behavior of 3D Boron‐Doped Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Sponges

3D carbon nanotube (CNT)‐based macrostructures are the subject of extensive attention because the outstanding properties of 1D and 2D nanostructures have not been fully translated into key engineering applications. Generation of 3D CNT architectures with covalent junctions could endow the new materials with extraordinary mechanical properties. In this study, detailed experimental characterization and statistical comparison are carried out on 3D boron‐doped multiwalled CNT (CBxMWNT) sponges with covalent junctions and undoped multiwalled CNT (undoped‐MWNT) sponges without junctions. By investigating the plastic, elastic, viscoelastic, and dynamic viscoelastic properties of both sponges, as well as the dependency of these mechanical properties on material morphology, the CBxMWNT sponge is found to be a more predictable and stable material than the undoped‐MWNT sponge. Statistical comparison proves that the excellent properties of the CBxMWNT are attributed to its “elbow‐like” junctions inside the 3D networks, which prevent permanent buckling and bundling of the CNTs under extreme loading. Thus, by optimizing the covalent junctions in 3D CNT sponges, their functional behavior can be controlled and regulated. These findings may promote applications of 3D CNT sponges in various fields, including biomedical or high‐precision devices in which lightweight, controllable, and reliable mechanical properties are always desirable.
Effect of Niobium Oxide on the Structure and Properties of Melt‐Derived Bioactive Glasses

The effects of adding Nb2O5 on the physical properties and glass structure of two glass series derived from the 45S5 Bioglass® have been studied. The multinuclear 29Si, 31P, and 23Na solid-state MAS NMR spectra of the glasses, Raman spectroscopy and the determination of some physical properties have generated insight into the structure of the glasses. The 29Si MAS NMR spectra suggest that Nb5+ ions create cross-links between several oxygen sites, breaking Si–O–Si bonds to form a range of polyhedra [Nb(OM)6−y(OSi)y], where 1 ≤ y ≤ 5 and M = Na, Ca, or P. The Raman spectra show that the Nb–O–P bonds would occur in the terminal sites. Adding Nb2O5 significantly increases the density and the stability against devitrification, as indicated by ΔT(Tx − Tg). Bioglass particle dispersions prepared by incorporating up to 1.3 mol% Nb2O5 by replacing P2O5 or up to 1.0 mol% Nb2O5 by replacing SiO2 in 45S5 Bioglass® using deionized water or solutions buffered with HEPES showed a significant increase in the pH during the early steps of the reaction, compared using the rate and magnitude during the earliest stages of BG45S5 dissolution.
Optimizing the selection of fillers in police lineups

Significance Eyewitness misidentifications have contributed to many wrongful convictions later overturned by DNA evidence. In response, many useful reforms have been introduced to protect the innocent. However, some police practices designed to protect the innocent also protect the guilty. We investigated a method for selecting fillers in a police lineup that protects the innocent while also making it easier to identify guilty suspects. Intuitively, fair lineups are created by choosing fillers who are similar in appearance to the suspect. However, we found that choosing fillers who match the description of the perpetrator but who are otherwise dissimilar to the suspect’s appearance yield fair lineups and enhance eyewitness identification performance. It does so by imperiling the guilty while protecting the innocent. A typical police lineup contains a photo of one suspect (who is innocent in a target-absent lineup and guilty in a target-present lineup) plus photos of five or more fillers who are known to be innocent. To create a fair lineup in which the suspect does not stand out, two filler selection methods are commonly used. In the first, fillers are selected if they are similar in appearance to the suspect. In the second, fillers are selected if they possess facial features included in the witness’s description of the culprit (e.g., “20-y-old white male”). The police sometimes use a combination of the two methods by selecting description-matched fillers whose appearance is also similar to that of the suspect in the lineup. Decades of research on which approach is better remains unsettled. Here, we tested a counterintuitive prediction made by a formal model based on signal detection theory: From a pool of acceptable description-matched photos, selecting fillers whose appearance is otherwise dissimilar to the suspect should increase the hit rate without affecting the false-alarm rate (increasing discriminability). In Experiment 1, we confirmed this prediction using a standard mock-crime paradigm. In Experiment 2, the effect on discriminability was reversed (as also predicted by the model) when fillers were matched on similarity to the perpetrator in both target-present and target-absent lineups. These findings suggest that signal-detection theory offers a useful theoretical framework for understanding eyewitness identification decisions made from a police lineup.
High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Healthcare Workers in Bukavu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

ABSTRACT Among 359 healthcare workers (HCW) employed in Panzi General Referral Hospital located in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 148 (41.2%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Thirty-three (22.3%) of the 148 personnel with positive serology reported symptoms evoking a prior COVID-19 illness. None of the infected HCWs reported COVID-related hospitalization, and all of them recovered. Our findings indicate high and underestimated circulation of SARS-CoV-2 within the Bukavu area.
The Grief of Relatives of Missing Migrants and Supportive Interventions: A Narrative Review

This review aims to determine the impact of the disappearance of migrants on their family members, to identify their grief management needs, and to describe interventions carried out to date, exploring reports on the grief of relatives of people who disappear in any context. A search of the literature retrieved 24 publications. It was found that the disappearance produced an impact at individual, family, and community level. The primary requisite of relatives was knowledge of the location of their loved one, besides the need for emotional, social, and economic support and recognition of their suffering. There have been few reports of family support interventions, although recommendations have been proposed for their design and implementation. The relatives of migrants are especially vulnerable due to geographic, political, and legal obstacles. The impact of the disappearance and the need for support were found to be highly varied. Further research and interventions on this issue are required.
Chromium III‐iron interaction in Fe‐deficient and Fe‐sufficient bean plants. I. Growth and nutrient content

Abstract The influence of low Cr III concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 μM as CrCl3–6H2O) on growth, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, the concentration of selected mineral nutrients (Fe, Mn, P), and Cr content was determined in both Fe‐control (10 μM Fe as Fe‐EDTA) and Fe‐deficient (no Fe supply) bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants grown hydroponically. Chromium significantly enhanced growth of both Fe‐control and Fe‐deficient plants. In Fe‐deficient plants, Cr significantly reduced chlorosis in young leaves, increasing the concentration of chlorophyll and carotenoids. This beneficial effect of low Cr concentrations was neither correlated to changes of Mn, P, or Fe tissue concentrations nor to Cr‐induced alterations of the Fe/Mn and P/Fe ratios. As total Fe was analyzed, the effect of Cr on the subcellular Fe distribution or on the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio can not be excluded.