Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of smoking and cardiovascular disease with disease progression in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract The aim of this study was to systematically assess the association between smoking and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and disease progression among novel coronavirus pneumonia (coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)) cases. PubMed database and Cochrane Library database were searched by computer to seek the epidemiological data of COVID-19 cases and literatures regarding CVDs from 1 Jan to 6 October 2020. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening, data collection and the assessment of the risk of bias of the studies included. RevMan 5.2 software was employed for meta-analysis. Funnel plot was adopted to assess the publication bias. On the whole, 21 studies comprising 7041 COVID-19 cases were included. As revealed from the meta-analysis, 14.0% (984/7027) of cases had a history of smoking, and 9.7% (675/6931) were subject to underlying CVDs. Cases with a history of smoking achieved a higher rate of COVID-19 disease progression as opposed to those having not smoked (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.29–1.81, P < 0.00001), while no significant association could be found between smoking status and COVID-19 disease progression (OR 1.23, 95% CI 0.93–1.63, P = 0.15). Besides, smoking history elevated the mortality rate by 1.91-fold (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.35–2.69, P = 0.0002). Moreover, underlying CVD elevated the incidence of severe disease by 2.87-fold (OR 2.87, 95% CI 2.29–3.61, P < 0.00001) and mortality by 3.05-fold (OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.82–5.11, P < 0.0001) in COVID-19 cases. As demonstrated from the current evidence, smoking displays a strong association with COVID-19 disease progression and mortality, and intensive tobacco control is imperative. Moreover, cases with CVD show a significantly elevated risk of disease progression and death when subject to COVID-19. However, the association between COVID-19 and CVD, and the potential effect exerted by smoking in the development of the two still require further verifications by larger and higher quality studies.
Effect of coagulation conditions on solvent diffusions and the structures and tensile properties of solution spun polyacrylonitrile fibers

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers were spun by solution spinning. In this work, two coagulation compositions, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/water and methanol, were used, and coagulation temperatures were varied from −20 to 0 to 20°C. The coagulation compositions and temperatures strongly affected the solvent diffusion processes, the structures of as-spun fibers, and the tensile properties of final drawn fibers. When DMSO/water was used as coagulation bath, non-solvent (water) diffused into PAN fibers and led to a quick PAN solidification. By comparison, when methanol was used as coagulation bath, no or minimal amount of methanol diffused inward to the fibers. The different solvent diffusion behaviors in DMSO/water and methanol baths led to different structures of as-spun PAN fibers. It was observed that the tensile properties of final drawn fibers strongly depended on the coagulation conditions. When methanol was used as coagulation bath and the bath temperature was −20°C, PAN fibers was found to possess the best tensile properties, a tensile strength of 0.89 GPa and young modulus of 20.4 GPa. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44390.
Post-outbreak serological screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers at a Swedish University Hospital

Abstract Background Nosocomial outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can have devastating consequences from both a resource cost and patient healthcare perspective. Relying on reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for identifying infected individuals may result in missed cases. Screening for antibodies after an outbreak can help to find missed cases and better illuminate routes of transmission. Methods In this study, we present the results of a serological screening of the healthcare workers (HCWs) on a ward for infectious diseases in Sweden with a point-of-care antibody test 8 weeks after an outbreak of COVID-19. In all, 107/123 (87%) of HCWs who were tested with RT-PCR in the outbreak investigation participated in this study on seroprevalence. Participants were also asked to fill out a questionnaire entailing epidemiological data. The cohort was stratified by RT-PCR result and the resulting groups were compared to each other. Results Six (8%) HCWs who were tested RT-PCR negative during the outbreak investigation had developed specific IgG antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). These HCWs had all worked shifts with colleagues who later were tested RT-PCR positive during the outbreak. Conclusions Our results indicate that a serological follow-up screening after an outbreak may be used as a complement to virus detection in an outbreak situation. However, immunoglobulin (Ig) G-detection should also be performed at the start of an outbreak, to facilitate interpretation of the results.
Telemedicine consultations with physicians in Swedish primary care: a mixed methods study of users’ experiences and care patterns

Abstract Objective The study aimed to explore users’ experiences and care patterns concerning telemedicine consultations with physicians in Swedish primary care from 2017 to 2019. Design and participants: A mixed methods study involving 26 qualitative interviews with users of telemedicine consultations from a national sample, complemented by a quantitative registry study of data from 10,400 users in a Swedish region. Results Users mainly described telemedicine consultations as a positive experience and perceived that the service met their current health care needs. Users also valued high accessibility, timesaving, and the contribution to ecological sustainability. Users felt competent about choosing when to use telemedicine consultations, most commonly for less severe health care concerns. This was confirmed by the quantitative results; only a few users had other care contacts within physical primary care before, or after, the telemedicine consultation, attended acute care or phoned 1177 Health Care Guidance. Conclusions This study provides a rare account of users’ experiences of telemedicine consultations. Users expressed satisfaction with this up-to-date use of health care resources for them as individuals, the health care system, and the environment. Telemedicine consultations were perceived as efficient and safe according to users. In addition, the study shows a low degree of further physical contacts in primary care or in acute care related to the telemedicine consultations. Key points Users have positive experiences of telemedicine consultations with physicians and experienced that the service had meet their actual needs for health care. Users were mainly satisfied with the service and highlighted the value of high accessibility. Users experienced that telemedicine consultants provided an alternative care service for mostly minor health problems, perceiving them to save time and resources for themselves, the health care system, and the environment. Most telemedicine consultations did not result in additional contacts with 1177 Health Care Guidance, physical visits to primary care, or acute health care. Telemedicine consultations with physicians were mainly used by persons aged 0–30 years and need to be further developed to suit other age groups.
The varied role, scope of practice, and education of cardiovascular nurses in ESC-affiliated countries: an ACNAP survey.

AIMS Cardiovascular disease burden is increasing globally, pressuring nursing staff to deliver high-quality care across a diverse range of treatment areas. As such, an evaluation of the educational preparation of nurses is needed. To determine the current role, scope of practice, education level, and needs of cardiovascular nurses working across the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)-affiliated countries. METHODS AND RESULTS A short survey was distributed in paper (EuroHeartCare 2018) or electronic format to nurses delivering cardiovascular care. A total of 876 cardiovascular nurses from 26 ESC-affiliated countries completed the survey. Most respondents (79%), were educated to at least bachelor level, with 46% having a masters or doctorate, and were highly motivated to continue their educational development. Despite this, a large number (44.3%) of respondents believed they were not fully prepared for their job. The main areas where further education was requested included acute care in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factor management. Face-to-face courses/training were the most requested delivery mode, followed by E-learning-which appears to be underutilized in this population. Awareness of the existing curricula for cardiovascular nurse education was minimal, and therefore these resources require further promotion and implementation. CONCLUSIONS This international sample of cardiovascular nurses was generally educated to degree level and motivated to improve their cardiovascular knowledge. Many believed they were underprepared for their role, highlighting the need for increased investment in education. This should be focused on specific needs and delivered using a face-to-face, E-learning, or blended-learning format. Furthermore, increased signposting of existing resources is required.
Optimization and modeling for heat reflux extraction of total yield, stevioside and rebaudioside-A from Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) leaves

ABSTRACT Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) leaves consist of stevioside and rebaudioside-A (Reb-A). This research sought to improve extraction of target steviol glycosides from stevia leaf powder using response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural networking (ANN) under these independent variables: ethanol concentration, X1 (0–100%), extraction temperature, X2 (55–75°C), and extraction time, X3 (45–75 min). ANN outperformed as potential alternative to RSM in predicting optimum conditions. Maximum responses were obtained at 100% X1, 55°C X2, and 60 min X3. Heat reflux extraction proved superior to maceration extraction in terms of higher extraction yields with reduced energy consumption and CO2 emission.
Scaling up flammability from individual leaves to fuel beds

Wildfires play an important role in vegetation composition and structure, nutrient fluxes, human health and wealth, and are interlinked with climate change. Plants have an influence on wildfire behaviour and predicting this feedback is a high research priority. For upscaling from leaf traits to wildfire behaviour we need to know if the same leaf traits are important for the flammability of 1) individual leaves, and 2) multiple leaves packed in fuel beds. Based on a conceptual framework, we hypothesised that fuel packing properties, through airflow limitation, would overrule the effects of individual leaf morphology and chemistry. To test this hypothesis we compared the results of two experiments, respectively addressing individual leaf flammability and monospecific fuel bed flammability of 25 perennial species from eastern Australia. Across species, fuel bed packing ratio and bulk density scaled negatively with fire spread and positively with maximum temperature and burning time. Species with 'curlier' leaves, higher specific leaf area, lower tannin concentrations and lower tissue density promoted faster fire spread through fuel beds. We found that species with shorter individual leaf ignition times had a faster fire spread, shorter burning times and lower temperatures in fuel beds. Leaf traits that affect the flammability of individual leaves (e.g. specific leaf area), continue to do so even when packed in fuel beds. While previous studies have focused on either flammability of individual plant particles or fire behaviour in fuel beds, this is the first time that an overarching combination of the two approaches was made for a wide range of species. Our findings provide a better understanding of fuel bed flammability based on interspecific variation in morphological and some chemical leaf traits. This can be a first step in linking leaf traits to fire behaviour in the field.
Molecular dynamic simulations study of the effect of salt valency on structure and thermodynamic solvation behaviour of anionic polyacrylate PAA in aqueous solutions

Abstract The effect of salt concentration and valency on intermolecular structure and solvation thermodynamic properties of aqueous solution containing polyacrylicacid (PAA) chains and multi-valent salts calcium chloride (CaCl2) and aluminium chloride (AlCl3) as a function of charge density was investigated using atomistic molecular dynamic simulations with explicit solvent. Salt-free solution favours the self-association of uncharged (acidic form) PAA chains facilitated by inter-chain hydrogen bonds. The ionised (charged) PAA chains are not associated in salt-free aqueous solutions and undergo self-association in the salt solutions due to bridging effect induced by condensed salt ions in agreement with scattering investigations available in literature. The collapse behaviour of PAA in presence of CaCl2 and re-expansion behaviour of PAA chains in case of AlCl3 salt solutions are observed. The rigidity of PAA chains decrease with increase in salt concentration, in agreement with experimental results available in literature. The trivalent salt favours relatively the greater extent of shrinking of PAA chains as well as inter-chain interactions as compared to divalent salts as evident from radius-of-gyration, H-bond and pair-wise solvation enthalpy data. The conformation and hydration behaviour of the acid form of PAA chains are not significantly altered by added salt ions. The hydration behaviour of ionised PAA chains is significantly reduced by added salts due to screening effect of the condensed salt ions. The pair correlation functions of solutions species such as Ca2+, Al3+, Na+ and Cl− with respect to PAA oxygen show the greater affinity of PAA units with the higher valency Al3+ ions over Ca2+ and Na+ in solution. With increase in concentration of AlCl3 and CaCl2 salts, a decrease in effective charge density of ionised PAA chains is observed from the existence of unfavourable PAA–water, PAA–Ca2+ and PAA–Al3+ interactions.
Perceptions of people with mild intellectual disability and their family members about family‐based social capital in the Netherlands

Abstract Families play an important role in the lives of people with intellectual disability as they do for everyone. However, little research has addressed the views of people with intellectual disability about their families by using self‐report. Individual family members may hold different views about their family relationships. Therefore, we used a social capital theoretical perspective to examine (a) how perceptions of people with mild intellectual disability (MID) about their family support networks compare to those of their family members and (b) what factors are associated with any diverging perceptions. Randomly selected participants with MID (n = 111) and their family members (n = 111) were interviewed individually at their homes using the Family Network Method—Intellectual Disability (FNM‐ID). The FNM‐ID examines how people define their family groups and how they perceive existing supportive relationships within this group. The findings showed that participants with MID perceived that they had somewhat denser family networks (i.e., bonding social capital) than family members perceived them to have and were more likely to report bridging social capital. They reported more relationships that involved them providing support to family members. This difference in estimation was greater when the participant with MID displayed higher levels of externalizing behaviour problems. They also perceived more reciprocity in their relationships with family. No differences were found in the estimated numbers of significant family members and relationships in which support was received. It is concluded that people with MID and their family members have different perceptions on several aspects of the family support network. Family professionals and services should seek the views of people with intellectual disability and their family members when carrying out assessments or organizing supports.
Voluntary and magnetically evoked muscle contraction protocol in males with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Safety, feasibility, reliability, and validity

Clinical trials addressing treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) require reliable and valid measurement of muscle contractile function across all disease severity levels. In this work we aimed to evaluate a protocol combining voluntary and evoked contractions to measure strength and excitability of wrist extensor muscles for safety, feasibility, reliability, and discriminant validity between males with DMD and controls.
The three-way junction structure of the HIV-1 PBS-segment binds host enzyme important for viral infectivity

Abstract HIV-1 reverse transcription initiates at the primer binding site (PBS) in the viral genomic RNA (gRNA). Although the structure of the PBS-segment undergoes substantial rearrangement upon tRNALys3 annealing, the proper folding of the PBS-segment during gRNA packaging is important as it ensures loading of beneficial host factors. DHX9/RNA helicase A (RHA) is recruited to gRNA to enhance the processivity of reverse transcriptase. Because the molecular details of the interactions have yet to be defined, we solved the solution structure of the PBS-segment preferentially bound by RHA. Evidence is provided that PBS-segment adopts a previously undefined adenosine-rich three-way junction structure encompassing the primer activation stem (PAS), tRNA-like element (TLE) and tRNA annealing arm. Disruption of the PBS-segment three-way junction structure diminished reverse transcription products and led to reduced viral infectivity. Because of the existence of the tRNA annealing arm, the TLE and PAS form a bent helical structure that undergoes shape-dependent recognition by RHA double-stranded RNA binding domain 1 (dsRBD1). Mutagenesis and phylogenetic analyses provide evidence for conservation of the PBS-segment three-way junction structure that is preferentially bound by RHA in support of efficient reverse transcription, the hallmark step of HIV-1 replication.
Influence of the care of the self in the work of intensive care nurses.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the influence of the care of the self in the work of intensive care nurses. METHOD Qualitative study, carried out through thematic oral history. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with intensive care nurses who had worked in the area for at least one year and worked in a university hospital located in the south area of the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The script was composed by the guiding question "Does the care of the self affect your professional practice? In what way? ". Other questions related to the object of study were added according to the development of each narrative. The speeches were transcribed, transcreated, and analyzed using the Content Analysis Technique. RESULTS 13 nurses participated in the research. The following categories emerged in their speeches: "Caring for oneself means providing safer care" and "Care of the self and the leadership of intensive care nurses". CONCLUSION Practices related to the care of the self, had a positive influence on the work process of the intensive care nurse. This influence was mainly associated with patient safety and leadership development, an important managerial competence.
Understating the barriers to achievement of the UNAIDS 90–90–90 goal in Tanzania using a population-based HIV impact assessment survey 2016–2017

ABSTRACT The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and partners launched the 90–90–90 targets. We used Tanzania HIV Impact Survey (THIS) data in 2017 to study the barriers to achieve 90-90-90 targets. THIS was a population-based survey with a stratified multistage stage sampling design. We used weighted logistic regression to associate three targets with socio-demographics, HIV-related discrimination, fear and shame. We defined HIV awareness by a combination of self-reported of HIV status positive and detected antiretroviral (ARV) in blood among PLWH. On ARV was defined as those who self-reported among awareness. Viral load suppression was defined as 400 copies/ml or less in the blood sample. The three targets were estimated at 61–90–85 in Tanzania from the weighted analysis. The first target was far from being achieved. The weighted regression showed that being female, having attained higher education, married, having insurance, and living in urban areas were associated with a high likelihood of having ever tested for HIV. The results indicated that intervention programmes in Tanzania should focus on the first target. Intervention programmes should be designed for each target separately. Integrated strategies in the context of low and middle-income countries are needed to achieve these targets.
Galectin-1 impacts on glucose homeostasis by modulating pancreatic insulin release.

Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an expanding global health problem, involving defective insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells and peripheral insulin resistance, leading to impaired glucose regulation. Galectin-1, an endogenous lectin with affinity for N-acetyllactosamine (LacNAc)-containing glycans, has emerged as a regulator of inflammatory and metabolic disorders. However, the role of galectin-1 in glucose homeostasis and pancreatic β-cell function, independently of hypercaloric diets, has not been explored. Here, we identified a phenotype compatible with T2DM, involving alterations in glucose metabolism and pancreatic insulin release, in female but not male mice lacking galectin-1 (Lgals1-/-). Compared with age-matched controls, Lgals1-/female mice exhibited higher body weight and increased food intake ad libitum as well as after fasting and acute re-feeding. Although fasted serum insulin levels and insulin sensitivity were similar in both genotypes, Lgals1-/- female mice presented altered glucose tolerance and higher basal glucose levels depending on the fasting period. Insulin response to glucose overload was impaired, while pancreatic insulin content was enhanced in the absence of galectin-1. Accordingly, recombinant galectin-1 enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin release in vitro. Our study identifies a role for galectin-1 in regulating glucose metabolism through modulation of pancreatic insulin secretion, highlighting novel opportunities to control T2DM.
Surgical Treatment Outcomes of Acquired Benign Tracheoesophageal Fistula: A Literature Review

Background Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEFs) is a rare condition that requires complex surgical treatment. We analyzed the surgical outcomes of TEF reported in the literature and at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital using standardized techniques. Methods This retrospective study included 8 patients diagnosed with acquired benign TEF between March 2010 and December 2019. The surgical method was determined based on the size of the fistula observed within the endoscope. Results TEF occurred in 7 patients (87.5%) after intubation or tracheostomy and in 1 patient (12.5%) after esophageal surgery due to conduit necrosis. For tracheal management, 5 and 2 patients underwent tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis and primary repair, respectively. The median length of resection was 2.5 cm (range, 1.3–3.4 cm). For esophageal management, 6 patients underwent primary repair and 1 patient underwent esophageal diversion. One patient underwent TEF division with a stapler. Interposition of a muscle flap was performed in 2 patients. TEF recurrence, esophageal stenosis, and dehiscence or granulation occurred in 1, 1, and 2 patients, respectively. A long-term tracheostomy tube or T-tube was used in 2 patients for >2 months. Conclusion Although TEF surgery is complex and challenging, good results can be achieved if surgical standards are established and experience is accumulated.