Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outpatient respiratory outcomes in children with BPD on supplemental oxygen

Preterm children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) frequently require supplemental oxygen in the outpatient setting. In this study, we sought to determine patient characteristics and demographics associated with need for supplemental oxygen at initial hospital discharge, timing to supplemental oxygen liberation, and associations between level of supplemental oxygen and likelihood of respiratory symptoms and acute care usage in the outpatient setting.
Meta-analysis on the Effectiveness of ECG Screening for Conditions Related to Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes

Controversy exists over the use of electrocardiograms (ECGs) in sports pre-participation screening. We performed a meta-analysis comparing the effectiveness of history and physical examination (H&P) with ECG at detecting both cardiac disease and sudden cardiac death–associated conditions (SCD-AC). Pre-participation studies published from 2015 to 2020 with athletes 10 to 35 years old were included. This yielded 28 011 athletes screened and 124 cardiac diagnoses, 103 of which were SCD-AC. A meta-analysis of log odds ratios (ORs) was conducted using a random-effects model. The ORs for the association between H&P and detecting both cardiac disease and SCD-AC were not statistically significant (OR = 3.4, P = .076; OR = 2.9, P = .078). The ORs for the association between ECG and detecting both cardiac disease and SCD-AC were statistically significant (60, P < .001; 148, P < .0001). In conclusion, the odds of detecting both cardiac disease and conditions related to SCD with ECG are greater than with H&P during sports pre-participation screening.
The inhibition and recovery mechanisms of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum in response to high light stress – A study combining physiological and transcriptional analysis

By combining physiological/biochemical and transcriptional analysis, the inhibition and recovery mechanisms of Phaeodactylum tricornutum in response to extreme high light stress (1300 μmol photons · m−2 · s−1) were elucidated. The population growth was inhibited in the first 24 h and started to recover from 48 h. At 24 h, photoinhibition was exhibited as the changes of PSII photosynthetic parameters and decrease in cellular pigments, corresponding to the downregulation of genes encoding light‐harvesting complex and pigments synthesis. Changes in those photosynthetic parameters and genes were kept until 96 h, indicating that the decrease of light absorption abilities might be one strategy for photoacclimation. In the meanwhile, we observed elevated cellular ROS levels, dead cells proportions, and upregulation of genes encoding antioxidant materials and proteasome pathway at 24 h. Those stress‐related parameters and genes recovered to the controls at 96 h, indicating a stable intracellular environment after photoacclimation. Finally, genes involving carbon metabolisms were upregulated from 24 to 96 h, which ensured the energy supply for keeping high base and nucleotide excision repair abilities, leading to the recovery of cell cycle progression. We concluded that P. tricornutum could overcome photoinhibition by decreasing light‐harvesting abilities, enhancing carbon metabolisms, activating anti‐oxidative functions, and elevating repair abilities. The parameters of light harvesting, carbon metabolisms, and repair processes were responsible for the recovery phase, which could be considered long‐term adaptive strategies for diatoms under high light stress.
Perfectly matched layers for radio wave propagation in inhomogeneous magnetized plasmas

We present 1D and 2D numerical models of the propagation of high-frequency (HF) radio waves in inhomogeneous magnetized plasmas. The simulations allow one to describe the process of linear conversion of HF electromagnetic waves into electrostatic waves. The waves, launched from the lower boundary normally or at a specified angle on a layer of a magnetostrictive plasma, can undergo linear conversion of the incident O-mode into a Z-mode at appropriate locations in an inhomogeneous prescribed plasma density. The numerical scheme for solving 2D HF wave propagation equations is described. The model employed the Maxwellian perfectly matched layers (PML) technique for approximating nonreflecting boundary conditions. Our numerical studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the PML technique for transparent boundary conditions for an open-domain problem.
A Bayesian Approach for Estimating the Survivor Average Causal Effect When Outcomes Are Truncated by Death in Cluster-Randomized Trials

Abstract Many studies encounter clustering due to multicenter enrollment and nonmortality outcomes, such as quality of life, that are truncated due to death—that is, missing not at random and nonignorable. Traditional missing-data methods and target causal estimands are suboptimal for statistical inference in the presence of these combined issues, which are especially common in multicenter studies and cluster-randomized trials (CRTs) carried out among the elderly or seriously ill. Using principal stratification, we developed a Bayesian estimator that jointly identifies the always-survivor principal stratum in a clustered/hierarchical data setting and estimates the average treatment effect among them (i.e., the survivor average causal effect (SACE)). In simulations, we observed low bias and good coverage with our method. In a motivating CRT, the SACE and the estimate from complete-case analysis differed in magnitude, but both were small, and neither was incompatible with a null effect. However, the SACE estimate has a clear causal interpretation. The option to assess the rigorously defined SACE estimand in studies with informative truncation and clustering can provide additional insight into an important subset of study participants. Based on the simulation study and CRT reanalysis, we provide practical recommendations for using the SACE in CRTs and software code to support future research.
Discrete interval system reduction using Pade approximation to allow retention of dominant poles

This brief presents a method of reduction for discrete interval systems using Pade approximation to allow the retention of dominant poles. For a given system, the denominator of the reduced model is formed by retaining the dominant poles of the original system, while the numerator is obtained by matching interval time moments. Two numerical examples illustrate the procedure.
Cardiomyocyte Pdk4 response is associated with metabolic maladaptation in aging

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of death, with age range being the primary factor for development. The mechanisms by which aging increases vulnerability to ischemic insult are not well understood. We aim to use single‐cell RNA sequencing to discover transcriptional differences in various cell types between aged and young mice, which may contribute to aged‐related vulnerability to ischemic insult. Utilizing 10× Genomics Single‐Cell RNA sequencing, we were able to complete bioinformatic analysis to identity novel differential gene expression. During the analysis of our collected samples, we detected Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 4 (Pdk4) expression to be remarkably differentially expressed. Particularly in cardiomyocyte cell populations, Pdk4 was found to be significantly upregulated in the young mouse population compared to the aged mice under ischemic/reperfusion conditions. Pdk4 is responsible for inhibiting the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase, resulting in the regulation of glucose metabolism. Due to decreased Pdk4 expression in aged cardiomyocytes, there may be an increased reliance on glucose oxidization for energy. Through biochemical metabolomics analysis, it was observed that there is a greater abundance of pyruvate in young hearts in contrast to their aged counterparts, indicating less glycolytic activity. We believe that Pdk4 response provides valuable insight towards mechanisms that allow for the young heart to handle ischemic insult stress more effectively than the aged heart.
Prevalence and incidence of hypertension in a heavily treatment-experienced cohort of people living with HIV in Uganda

Introduction The effect of long-term exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART) on hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa remains unclear. We aimed to determine the prevalence and incidence of hypertension in people living with HIV (PLWH) with more than 10 years of ART in Uganda. Methods The analysis was performed within a cohort of adult PLWH with more than 10 years of ART at an HIV clinic in Kampala, Uganda. Participants were eligible for this analysis if they had ≥2 follow-up visits. Hypertension was defined as two consecutive systolic blood pressure (SBP) measures greater than 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) greater than 90 mmHg, and/or documented diagnosis and/or the initiation of antihypertensives. We determined the proportion of PLWH with hypertension at baseline and used multivariable logistic regression to determine the factors associated with prevalent hypertension. To determine the incidence of hypertension, follow-up began from the cohort baseline date and was censored at the last clinic visit or date of the event, whichever occurred earlier. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to determine the adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) of hypertension according to demographic, ART, and clinical characteristics. Results Of the 1000 ALT participants, 970 (97%) had ≥2 follow-up visits, and 237 (24.4%) had hypertension at baseline. The odds of prevalent hypertension were 1.18 for every 5-year increase in age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.18, 95% CI 1.10–1.34) and were higher among males (aOR 1.70, 95% CI 1.20–2.34), participants with diabetes mellitus (aOR 2.37, 95% CI 1.10–4.01), obesity (aOR 1.99, 95% CI 1.08–3.60), high cholesterol (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.16–2.01), and those with prior exposure to stavudine (aOR 2.10, 95% CI 1.35–3.52), or nevirapine (aOR 1.90, 95% CI 1.25–3.01). Of the 733 participants without hypertension at baseline, 116 (15.83%) developed hypertension during 4671.3 person-years of follow-up (incidence rate 24.8 per 1000 person-years; 95% CI 20.7–29.8). The factors associated with incident hypertension were obesity (adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) 1.80, 95% CI 1.40–2.81), older age (aIRR 1.12 per 5-year increase in age, 95% CI 1.10,1.25), and renal insufficiency (aIRR1.80, 95% CI 1.40–2.81). Conclusion The prevalence and incidence of hypertension were high in this heavily treated PLWH cohort. Therefore, with increasing ART coverage, HIV programs in SSA should strengthen the screening for hypertension in heavily treated PLWH.
Mortality among those certified under lunacy legislation in Scotland during World War I

Mortality in asylum populations increased during World War I. This paper seeks to analyse the mortality data from Scotland, where governmental statistics allow comparison between different lunacy institutions, poorhouses and prisons, as well as people certified under lunacy legislation but living in the community. Detailed study is made of two Lothian asylums, the Royal Edinburgh Asylum and the Midlothian and Peebles District Asylum, and the 1918 influenza pandemic is considered in the asylum context. Similarities and differences between the situation in Scotland and that in England and Wales are discussed, and parallels are drawn with the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland.
Permanent magnet properties of rapidly quenched rare earth-iron alloys

Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of producing rare earth-iron permanent magnets by rapid quench processing. High coercivity, unachievable by traditional powder-metallurgy methods, has been obtained either by crystallization of an amorphous or rapidly quenched precursor or by direct-quenching. Results obtained by both techniques on a variety of rare earth-iron alloys are discussed. In particular, melt-spun Nd-Fe and Pr-Fe alloys develop an appreciable maximum (7-9 kOe) in room temperature coercivity (H ci ) as a function of quench rate, which is controlled by varying the surface velocity of the melt-spinner substrate. Even higher H ci (>20 kOe) has been observed in Sm-Fe. Magnetic and crystallization properties suggest that the coercive force of these materials is related to the formation of one or more metastable rare earth-iron phases.
Purposive Program Placement and the Estimation of Family Planning Program Effects in Tanzania

Abstract Most studies evaluating the impact of family planning on fertility treat the presence of family planning clinics as being “randomly” assigned among the areas included in the study. They tend to ignore the possibility that the distribution of services may be related to the fertility level observed in a particular area. In some cases the distribution of services may respond to a conscious effort by public authorities or funding agencies to target areas with observed higher fertility. Even in absence of program planning, the factors determining service placement might be related to the determinants of high, or low, fertility in a particular area. If that is the case, and one fails to account for the endogeneity of family planning services, then the estimated impact of family planning programs will be biased. This article presents a modeling approach to address this issue. The model extends the simultaneous equation framework by integrating an individual-level model of timing and spacing of children .
Imiquimod induces skin inflammation in humanized BRGSF mice with limited human immune cell activity

Human immune system (HIS) mouse models can be valuable when cross-reactivity of drug candidates to mouse systems is missing. However, no HIS mouse models of psoriasis have been established. In this study, it was investigated if imiquimod (IMQ) induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation was driven by human immune cells in human FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (hFlt3L) boosted (BRGSF-HIS mice). BRGSF-HIS mice were boosted with hFlt3L prior to two or three topical applications of IMQ. Despite clinical skin inflammation, increased epidermal thickness and influx of human immune cells, a human derived response was not pronounced in IMQ treated mice. However, the number of murine neutrophils and murine cytokines and chemokines were increased in the skin and systemically after IMQ application. In conclusion, IMQ did induce skin inflammation in hFlt3L boosted BRGSF-HIS mice, although, a limited human immune response suggest that the main driving cellular mechanisms were of murine origin.
Lifestyle risks associated with brain functional connectivity and structure

Some lifestyle factors are related to health and brain function and structure, but the brain systems involved are incompletely understood. A general linear model was used to test the associations of the combined and separate lifestyle risk measures of alcohol use, smoking, diet, amounts of physical activity, leisure activity, and mobile phone use, with brain functional connectivity with the high resolution Human Connectome Project (HCP) atlas in 19,415 participants aged 45–78 from the UK Biobank, with replication with HCP data. Higher combined lifestyle risk scores were associated with lower functional connectivity across the whole brain, but especially of three brain systems. Low physical, and leisure and social, activity were associated with low connectivities of the somatosensory/motor cortical regions and of hippocampal memory‐related regions. Low mobile phone use, perhaps indicative of poor social communication channels, was associated with low functional connectivity of brain regions in and related to the superior temporal sulcus that are involved in social behavior and face processing. Smoking was associated with lower functional connectivity of especially frontal regions involved in attention. Lower cortical thickness in some of these regions, and also lower subcortical volume of the hippocampus, amygdala, and globus pallidus, were also associated with the sum of the poor lifestyle scores. This very large scale analysis emphasizes how the lifestyle of humans relates to their brain structure and function, and provides a foundation for understanding the causalities that relate to the differences found here in the brains of different individuals.
Can ChatGPT draft a research article? An example of population-level vaccine effectiveness analysis

We reflect on our experiences of using Generative Pre-trained Transformer ChatGPT, a chatbot launched by OpenAI in November 2022, to draft a research article. We aim to demonstrate how ChatGPT could help researchers to accelerate drafting their papers. We created a simulated data set of 100 000 health care workers with varying ages, Body Mass Index (BMI), and risk profiles. Simulation data allow analysts to test statistical analysis techniques, such as machine-learning based approaches, without compromising patient privacy. Infections were simulated with a randomized probability of hospitalisation. A subset of these fictitious people was vaccinated with a fictional vaccine that reduced this probability of hospitalisation after infection. We then used ChatGPT to help us decide how to handle the simulated data in order to determine vaccine effectiveness and draft a related research paper. AI-based language models in data analysis and scientific writing are an area of growing interest, and this exemplar analysis aims to contribute to the understanding of how ChatGPT can be used to facilitate these tasks.
Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews

Objective To synthesise the evidence on the effects of physical activity on symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adult populations. Design Umbrella review. Data sources Twelve electronic databases were searched for eligible studies published from inception to 1 January 2022. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Systematic reviews with meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials designed to increase physical activity in an adult population and that assessed depression, anxiety or psychological distress were eligible. Study selection was undertaken in duplicate by two independent reviewers. Results Ninety-seven reviews (1039 trials and 128 119 participants) were included. Populations included healthy adults, people with mental health disorders and people with various chronic diseases. Most reviews (n=77) had a critically low A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews score. Physical activity had medium effects on depression (median effect size=−0.43, IQR=−0.66 to –0.27), anxiety (median effect size=−0.42, IQR=−0.66 to –0.26) and psychological distress (effect size=−0.60, 95% CI −0.78 to –0.42), compared with usual care across all populations. The largest benefits were seen in people with depression, HIV and kidney disease, in pregnant and postpartum women, and in healthy individuals. Higher intensity physical activity was associated with greater improvements in symptoms. Effectiveness of physical activity interventions diminished with longer duration interventions. Conclusion and relevance Physical activity is highly beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety and distress across a wide range of adult populations, including the general population, people with diagnosed mental health disorders and people with chronic disease. Physical activity should be a mainstay approach in the management of depression, anxiety and psychological distress. PROSPERO registration number CRD42021292710.
Heparan sulfate regulates IL-21 bioavailability and signal strength that control germinal center B cell selection and differentiation

In antibody responses, mutated germinal center B (BGC) cells are positively selected for reentry or differentiation. As the products from GCs, memory B cells and antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) support high-affinity and long-lasting immunity. Positive selection of BGC cells is controlled by signals received through the B cell receptor (BCR) and follicular helper T (TFH) cell–derived signals, in particular costimulation through CD40. Here, we demonstrate that the TFH cell effector cytokine interleukin-21 (IL-21) joins BCR and CD40 in supporting BGC selection and reveal that strong IL-21 signaling prioritizes ASC differentiation in vivo. BGC cells, compared with non-BGC cells, show significantly reduced IL-21 binding and attenuated signaling, which is mediated by low cellular heparan sulfate (HS) sulfation. Mechanistically, N-deacetylase and N-sulfotransferase 1 (Ndst1)–mediated N-sulfation of HS in B cells promotes IL-21 binding and signal strength. Ndst1 is down-regulated in BGC cells and up-regulated in ASC precursors, suggesting selective desensitization to IL-21 in BGC cells. Thus, specialized biochemical regulation of IL-21 bioavailability and signal strength sets a balance between the stringency and efficiency of GC selection. Description Low sulfation of heparan sulfate in BGC cells supports the desensitization to IL-21 and stringent selection for ASC differentiation. An IL-21 reservoir for B cells B cells undergo antigen-driven selection in germinal centers (GCs), enabling some GC B cells to exit and differentiate into antibody-secreting cells (ASC). Positive selection of GC B cells depends on successful integration of signals from the B cell receptor as well as CD40 ligand and IL-21 signals originating from follicular helper T cells. Chen et al. discovered that IL-21 bioavailability is dynamically regulated by heparan sulfate on B cells. Enzymatic N-sulfation of heparan sulfate is suppressed in GC B cells to ensure selection stringency and subsequently upregulated in ASC precursors, establishing a reservoir of bound IL-21 that increases IL-21 signaling and ASC differentiation. These findings provide fresh insights into how IL-21 availability and signal strength influence the fate of GC B cells. —IRW
Building a Compiled Query Engine in Python

The simplicity of Python and its rich set of libraries has made it the most popular language for data science. Moreover, the interpreted nature of Python offers an easy debugging experience for the developers. However, it comes with the price of poor performance compared to the compiled code. In this paper, we adopt and extend state-of-the-art research in query compilers to propose an efficient query engine embedded in Python. Our open-sourced framework enables the developers to do the debugging in Python, while being able to easily build a compiled version of the code for deployment. Our benchmark results on the entire set of TPC-H queries show that our approach covers different types of relational workloads and is competitive with state-of-the-art in-memory engines in both single- and multi-threaded settings.
Toxicity and Enzymatic Activity of Reduced Doses of Insecticides in Chrysoperla carnea and Bactericera cockerelli

Abstract. The objective of this research was to compare the toxicity of reduced doses and enzymatic activity associated with insecticide tolerance to abamectin and profenofos on Chrysoperla carnea Stephens and its prey Bactericera cockerelli Sulc. Residual toxicity was measured at 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0% of the recommended dose of abamectin and profenofos for controlling B. cockerelli. Measured were α-esterases, β-esterases, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and oxidase content of larvae and nymphs of C. carnea and B. cockerelli exposed to the insecticides. The three abamectin concentrations killed more nymphs of the pest than did larvae of green lacewing. Profenofos at 1.0% concentration was very toxic to the pest and its predator. At concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0, fewer died and was similar for both species. Abamectin killed fewer C. carnea than did profenofos at the three doses. Enzymatic activity of α and β-esterase was greater for C. carnea compared with B. cockerelli exposed to abamectin and profenofos. Activity of the enzyme glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and oxidase content where greater for B. cockerelli than C. carnea. The study demonstrated that abamectin was less toxic to C. carnea and more to B. cockerelli, suggesting the insecticide was very selective, which could be related to greater esterase enzymatic activity.