Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neutralizing antibody responses over time in demographically and clinically diverse individuals recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in the United States and Peru: A cohort study

Background People infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) experience a wide range of clinical manifestations, from asymptomatic and mild illness to severe illness and death, influenced by age and a variety of comorbidities. Neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) are thought to be a primary immune defense against the virus. Large, diverse, well-characterized cohorts of convalescent individuals provide standardized values to benchmark nAb responses to past SARS-CoV-2 infection and define potentially protective levels of immunity. Methods and findings This analysis comprises an observational cohort of 329 HIV–seronegative adults in the United States (n = 167) and Peru (n = 162) convalescing from SARS-CoV-2 infection from May through October 2020. The mean age was 48 years (range 18 to 86), 54% of the cohort overall was Hispanic, and 34% identified as White. nAb titers were measured in serum by SARS-CoV-2.D614G Spike-pseudotyped virus infection of 293T/ACE2 cells. Multiple linear regression was applied to define associations between nAb titers and demographic variables, disease severity and time from infection or disease onset, and comorbidities within and across US and Peruvian cohorts over time. nAb titers peaked 28 to 42 days post-diagnosis and were higher in participants with a history of severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (p < 0.001). Diabetes, age >55 years, male sex assigned at birth, and, in some cases, body mass index were also independently associated with higher nAb titers, whereas hypertension was independently associated with lower nAb titers. nAb titers did not differ by race, underlying pulmonary disease or smoking. Two months post-enrollment, nAb ID50 (ID80) titers declined 3.5 (2.8)-fold overall. Study limitations in this observational, convalescent cohort include survivorship bias and missing early viral loads and acute immune responses to correlate with the convalescent responses we observed. Conclusions In summary, in our cohort, nAb titers after SARS-CoV-2 infection peaked approximately 1 month post-diagnosis and varied by age, sex assigned at birth, disease severity, and underlying comorbidities. Our data show great heterogeneity in nAb responses among people with recent COVID-19, highlighting the challenges of interpreting natural history studies and gauging responses to vaccines and therapeutics among people with recent infection. Our observations illuminate potential correlations of demographic and clinical characteristics with nAb responses, a key element for protection from COVID-19, thus informing development and implementation of preventative and therapeutic strategies globally. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04403880.
Anaesthetic choice for hip or knee arthroplasty in New Zealand: Risk of postoperative death and variations in use

Anaesthetic choice for large joint surgery can impact postoperative outcomes, including mortality. The extent to which the impact of anaesthetic choice on postoperative mortality varies within patient populations and the extent to which anaesthetic choice is changing over time remain under-explored both internationally and in the diverse New Zealand context. In a national study of 199,211 hip and knee replacement procedures conducted between 2005 and 2017, we compared postoperative mortality among those receiving general, regional or general plus regional anaesthesia. Focusing on unilateral (n=86,467) and partial (n=13,889) hip replacements, we assessed whether some groups within the population are more likely to receive general, regional or general plus regional anaesthesia than others, and whether mortality risk varies depending on anaesthetic choice. We also examined temporal changes in anaesthetic choice over time. Those receiving regional alone or general plus regional for unilateral hip replacement appeared at increased risk of 30-day mortality compared to general anaesthesia alone, even after adjusting for differences in terms of age, ethnicity, deprivation, rurality, comorbidity, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score and admission type (e.g. general plus regional: adjusted hazard ratio (adj. HR)=1.94, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.32 to 2.84). By contrast, we observed lower 30-day mortality among those receiving regional anaesthesia alone compared to general alone for partial hip replacement (adj. HR=0.86, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.97). The latter observation contrasts with declining temporal trends in the use of regional anaesthesia alone for partial hip replacement procedures. However, we recognise that postoperative mortality is one perioperative factor that drives anaesthetic choice.
Novel imaging findings in pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHc) deficiency—Results from a nationwide population‐based study

The vast clinical and radiological spectrum of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHc) deficiency continues to pose challenges both in diagnostics and disease monitoring. Prompt diagnosis is important to enable early initiation of ketogenic diet. The patients were recruited from an ongoing population‐based study in Sweden. All patients with a genetically confirmed diagnosis who had been investigated with an MRI of the brain were included. Repeated investigations were assessed to study the evolution of the MRI changes. Sixty‐two MRI investigations had been performed in 34 patients (23 females). The genetic cause was mutations in PDHA1 in 29, PDHX and DLAT in 2 each, and PDHB in 1. The lesions were prenatal developmental in 16, prenatal clastic in 18, and postnatal clastic in 15 individuals. Leigh‐like lesions with predominant involvement of globus pallidus were present in 12, while leukoencephalopathy was present in 6 and stroke‐like lesions in 3 individuals. A combination of prenatal developmental and clastic lesions was present in 15 individuals. In addition, one male with PDHA1 also had postnatal clastic lesions. The most common lesions found in our study were agenesis or hypoplasia of corpus callosum, ventriculomegaly, or Leigh‐like lesions. Furthermore, we describe a broad spectrum of other MRI changes that include leukoencephalopathy and stroke‐like lesions. We argue that a novel important clue, suggesting the possibility of PDHc deficiency on MRI scans, is the simultaneous presence of multiple lesions on MRI that have occurred during different phases of brain development.
Ambulatory electrocardiographic markers predict serious cardiac events in patients with chronic kidney disease: The Japanese Noninvasive Electrocardiographic Risk Stratification of Sudden Cardiac Death in Chronic Kidney Disease (JANIES‐CKD) study

Noninvasive electrocardiographic markers (NIEMs) are promising arrhythmic risk stratification tools for assessing the risk of sudden cardiac death. However, little is known about their utility in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and organic heart disease. This study aimed to determine whether NIEMs can predict cardiac events in patients with CKD and structural heart disease (CKD‐SHD).
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE TRIPLE BACKWARD SOMERSAULT AND THE DOUBLE BACKWARD SOMERSAULT ON THE HIGH BAR

Both the triple backward somersault in tuck position (TBS) and the double backward somersault in layout position (DBS) are considered the most difficult dismounts on the high bar. Although similarities and differences between TBS and DBS would be expected, they cannot be conclusive until relative data are compared. It would be beneficial for gymnasts and coaches to recognize the differences between TBS and DBS for performing both skills perfectly. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to investigate the differences between variables of the TBS and DBS. Five TBS and five DBS recorded during the 1990 United States Gymnastics Federation Championships with a NAC 400 HSV camera operating at 200 Hz, were analyzed utilizing an Ariel Performance Analysis System (APAS). Two dimensional position data of 6 body points (ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, and hand) were digitally smoothed before being submitted to further analysis and kinematic and kinetic data were compared. Paired t tests (p<.01) between TBS and DBS variables indicated that : 1) the peak height of the center of gravity (COG) and the release angle of COG are larger in TBS than in DBS, while the horizontal displacement of the body from the bar is smaller in the TBS than that of DBS, 2) the vertical and resultant linear velocity, and the average and maximum angular velocity of the body are larger in TBS than in DBS, but the horizontal linear velocity of TBS is smaller than that of DBS, 3) the total flight time 0of TBS is larger than that of DBS, and in relation to the TFT, the COG reaches peak height earlier in TBS than in DBS, and 4) the angular momentum of TBS is larger than that of DBS. Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in the COG displacement from the bar at release and in the height of COG above the mats at landing between TBS and DBS, respectively.
Extended and cumulative effects of experimentally induced intergroup conflict in a cooperatively breeding mammal

Conflict between rival groups is rife in nature. While recent work has begun exploring the behavioural consequences of this intergroup conflict, studies have primarily considered just the 1–2 h immediately after single interactions with rivals or their cues. Using a habituated population of wild dwarf mongooses (Helogale parvula), we conducted week-long manipulations to investigate longer-term impacts of intergroup conflict. Compared to a single presentation of control herbivore faeces, one rival-group faecal presentation (simulating a territorial intrusion) resulted in more within-group grooming the following day, beyond the likely period of conflict-induced stress. Repeated presentations of outsider cues led to further changes in baseline behaviour by the end of the week: compared to control weeks, mongooses spent less time foraging and foraged closer to their groupmates, even when there had been no recent simulated intrusion. Moreover, there was more baseline territorial scent-marking and a higher likelihood of group fissioning in intrusion weeks. Consequently, individuals gained less body mass at the end of weeks with repeated simulated intrusions. Our experimental findings provide evidence for longer-term, extended and cumulative, effects of an elevated intergroup threat, which may lead to fitness consequences and underpin this powerful selective pressure.
The Infectious Dose Shapes Vibrio cholerae Within-Host Dynamics

Determining the rates of bacterial migration, replication, and death during infection is important for understanding how infections progress. Separately measuring these rates is often difficult in systems where multiple processes happen simultaneously. ABSTRACT During infection, the rates of pathogen replication, death, and migration affect disease progression, dissemination, transmission, and resistance evolution. Here, we follow the population dynamics of Vibrio cholerae in a mouse model by labeling individual bacteria with one of >500 unique, fitness-neutral genomic tags. Using the changes in tag frequencies and CFU numbers, we inform a mathematical model that describes the within-host spatiotemporal bacterial dynamics. This allows us to disentangle growth, death, forward, and retrograde migration rates continuously during infection. Our model has robust predictive power across various experimental setups. The population dynamics of V. cholerae shows substantial spatiotemporal heterogeneity in replication, death, and migration. Importantly, we find that the niche available to V. cholerae in the host increases with inoculum size, suggesting cooperative effects during infection. Therefore, it is not enough to consider just the likelihood of exposure (50% infectious dose) but rather the magnitude of exposure to predict outbreaks. IMPORTANCE Determining the rates of bacterial migration, replication, and death during infection is important for understanding how infections progress. Separately measuring these rates is often difficult in systems where multiple processes happen simultaneously. Here, we use next-generation sequencing to measure V. cholerae migration, replication, death, and niche size along the mouse gastrointestinal tract. We show that the small intestine of the mouse is a heterogeneous environment, and the population dynamic characteristics change substantially between adjacent gut sections. Our approach also allows us to characterize the effect of inoculum size on these processes. We find that the niche size in mice increases with the infectious dose, hinting at cooperative effects in larger inocula. The dose-response relationship between inoculum size and final pathogen burden is important for the infected individual and is thought to influence the progression of V. cholerae epidemics.
More Than Just a Spearhead: Diverse Functions of PAAR for Assembly and Delivery of Toxins of the Contractile Injection Systems

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) belongs to the evolutionarily related group of contractile injection systems that employ a contractile outer sheath to inject a rigid spear-like inner tube into target bacterial and eukaryotic cells. The tip of the rigid tube is often decorated by a PAAR-repeat protein as a key structural component. ABSTRACT The type VI secretion system (T6SS) belongs to the evolutionarily related group of contractile injection systems that employ a contractile outer sheath to inject a rigid spear-like inner tube into target bacterial and eukaryotic cells. The tip of the rigid tube is often decorated by a PAAR-repeat protein as a key structural component. Many members of the PAAR protein family can also have additional and diverse functions by serving as toxins for those with extended domains or as carriers for interacting toxins. A plethora of toxin modules or modules of unknown functions have been bioinformatically predicted to be associated with PAAR either as a fused domain or as an interacting partner, and yet only a small number of PAAR proteins have been studied, highlighting the exciting and dire need for future research to better understand the diverse PAAR-mediated functions.
Prediction of the Aerodynamic and Thermal Environment in Turbines

A numerical study of the steady, viscous flow prediction capabilities of the three-dimensional turbine stage code R0T0R3 is presented. Computations were performed with RAI3DC, a cascade version of R0T0R3 capable of being run in a planar or annular mode. Computed results are compared with experimental data obtained for Hodson’s cascade, Kopper’s cascade, and United Technologies Research Center’s Large Scale Rotating Rig (LSRR) first-stage stator. The code’s predictive capability is assessed in terms of the accuracy of predicted airfoil loadings, performance (including secondary flows in the LSRR case), boundary layers, and heat transfer. A grid refinement study was conducted in the LSRR case in an effort to more accurately model the boundary layers on the airfoil and endwall surfaces. The effects of the inlet total pressure profile in secondary flow prediction were also assessed.Copyright © 1990 by ASME
Training, manpower development and job performance: Perception and relevance among civil servants in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The paper examined perception and relevance of influence of training and manpower development on employee performance, using civil servants in Ebonyi State, Nigeria as reference. A pre-coded questionnaire was administered on 300 civil servants stratified into three categories: GL 04-06; GL 07-12 and GL 13+. The purpose was to ensure equitable representation of civil servants in the study area and to elicit their opinion on the theme of study. Using chi-square (x2) as a significant test, training was perceived to influence job performance at µ 0.05 and = µ 0.25. Also manpower development was perceived to influence job performance at µ 0.05 and = µ 0.25, but the influence of type of training on job performance was inconclusive. When cross-tabulated, only 49.8% of those that had training and those exposed to manpower development had high job performance as against 21.2% for their counterparts with no training and manpower development. This is suggestive of spurious factors (that may include leadership, organizational climate, management development, salary etc) that may intervene as motivation factors for high job performance. Of significance, is that the primary aim of training and manpower development was rather to meet statutory requirements (60%), as against improvement on the job (31.2%) and has policy implications for training and manpower development relevant to organizational need or goal to be provided to employees. This was a sufficiently promising result to encourage further study, not only to re-visit the theoretical explanation that training and manpower development directly result to improved job performance, but also to verify the circumstance within which training and manpower development enhance job performance. Key words: Training, manpower development, performance, employee, Ebonyi, civil servants.
Peak-to-average power reduction for OFDM by repeated clipping and frequency domain filtering

It is shown that repeated clipping and frequency domain filtering of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal can significantly reduce the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the transmitted signal. The technique causes no increase in out-of-band power. Significant PAPR reduction can be achieved with only moderate levels of clipping noise.
Anisotropic Behaviour of AZ31B Sheet at High Strain Rates

The anisotropic effects on the mechanical response of AZ31B sheet at high strain rates have been analyzed. The experimental results indicate that the stress-strain behaviour of the alloy is highly anisotropic and rate sensitive. However, anisotropy of the mechanical properties of the alloy is less significant at higher strain rates. Under tensile loading, the anisotropic behaviour of the alloy is less significant as compare to its behaviour under compression. In both compression and tensile loading the alloy shows significant rate sensitivity as compare to quasi-static strain rates but at higher rates it is less significant. The maximum stress is observed to reach nearly 600 MPa for transverse direction impact. The tension-compression asymmetry is observed in the alloy.
Experimental study on circular eccentric cam–follower pairs

Experimental verifications of cam–follower contacts are very important owing to the difficulties faced during a reliable simulation due to the continuous variation of load, speed and geometry of the lubricated contact. Some experiments have been carried out with a new apparatus, specifically designed and realised for investigation on cam–follower and gear teeth contacts, in order to test its capability to measure film thickness and contact forces. Circular eccentric cams have been used because they feature lower transient effects and comparison of the results with the theoretical/numerical ones is easier. The tests have been performed using cams with two different eccentricities and surface roughness, and two different followers, one made of steel and one made of glass. The behaviour of the cam–follower contacts at several different rotational speeds, ranging from 50 to 500 r/min, and different pre-loads have been investigated. Lubrication regimes ranged from boundary to complete, with most of the tests being performed under mixed lubrication conditions. Localised wear has occurred during some tests. Data of all contact force and moment components as well as of the cam shaft driving torque have been acquired at high acquisition frequency. Some methodologies for numerical data elaboration have been identified. Optical interference images have been correctly recorded at the desired frequency. The trends of the normal and friction forces measured in the different tests as well as the evaluated trends of the friction coefficient are presented in the paper. Some sample optical interference images are also shown. The results furnish encouraging indications about the capabilities of the experimental apparatus.
Unsteady MHD plane couette-poiseuille flow of fourth-grade fluid with thermal radiation, chemical reaction and suction effects

Abstract This study investigates the unsteady MHD flow of a fourth-grade fluid in a horizontal parallel plates channel. The upper plate is oscillating and moving while the bottom plate is stationary. Solutions for momentum, energy and concentration equations are obtained by the He-Laplace scheme. This method was also used by Idowu and Sani [12] and there is agreement with our results. The effect of various flow parameters controlling the physical situation is discussed with the aid of graphs. Significant results from this study show that velocity and temperature fields increase with the increase in the thermal radiation parameter, while velocity and concentric fields decrease with an increase in the chemical reaction parameter. Furthermore, velocity, temperature and concentric fields decrease with an increase in the suction parameter. It is also interesting to note that when S4 = 0, our results will be in complete agreement with Idowu and Sani [12] results. The results of this work are applicable to industrial processes such as polymer extrusion of dye, draining of plastic films etc.
The impact of the IFRS 15 implementation on the revenue-based earnings management in Poland

Abstract Aim/purpose – This paper aims at investigating whether the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers implementation in Poland has affected earnings management that uses discretion in revenue recognition to avoid losses and earnings decreases. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical studies were conducted using a sample of 80 entities from four industries listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) in Poland from 2016 to 2019. Caylor’s (2010) revenue-based model was applied, and an econometric model describing the studied relation was built and verified to this end. Findings – The analyzed entities managed earnings using discretion in accrued revenue recognition to avoid reporting losses. The research results did not confirm that the IFRS 15 adoption in Poland influenced revenue-based earnings management aimed at avoiding losses and earnings decreases. Research implications/limitations – This study warns of the role played by discretion in revenue recognition and recommends careful recognition of revenue under IFRS 15. Limitations of this study are generally related to the models’ specification and a relatively small number of the entities studied. Originality/value/contribution – This study contributes to the literature on revenue- -based earnings management and is one of the first studies on the association between IFRS 15 adoption and revenue-based earnings management in Poland. Thus, this study bridges the research gap in Poland.