Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A simple hydrothermal route for synthesizing SnO2 quantum dots

A simple hydrothermal process is proposed for synthesizing SnO2 quantum dots (QDs), in which hydrazine hydrate is used as the mineralizer instead of NaOH. X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) were employed to characterize the product. The HRTEM image shows that the diameters of the SnO2 nanoparticles fall into a small range of 2.3–3.1 nm, with the majority being less than the exciton Bohr radius of SnO2 (∼2.7 nm). Analysis of the DRS spectrum showed the band gap of the SnO2 QDs to be 3.88 eV, exhibiting a 0.28 eV blue shift from that of the bulk SnO2 (3.6 eV). The mechanism for hydrothermal synthesis of the SnO2 QDs using hydrazine hydrate as the mineralizer is discussed.
Computerized occlusal forces analysis in complete dentures fabricated by additive and subtractive techniques.

BACKGROUND Fabrication of complete dentures by computer-aided designing and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) techniques are now common. Subtractive and Additive are the two principal CAD-CAM techniques used for this purpose. However, studies that evaluated the occlusal forces by CDs manufactured by these techniques are lacking. OBJECTIVES To compare the occlusal forces in complete dentures fabricated by additive, subtractive and conventional techniques with different occlusal schemes, using computerized occlusal force analysis system [Tech-Scan III (T-scan III)]. METHODS Three groups (Gr) were made on the basis of techniques of fabrication of CDs: Conventional CDs (CCD), Subtractive CDs (SCD), and Additive CDs (ACD). Each Group CDs were further divided into three sub groups based on occlusion schemes: bilateral balanced occlusion (BBO), lingualized occlusion (LO) and mono plane occlusion (MO). A total of 45 CDs were made: 15 in each group with 5 CDs of each occlusal scheme. For all samples, occlusal force analysis (percentage of occlusal force applied on the right and left sides of the arch, centralization of forces and percentage of maximum occlusal force) was done using computerized occlusal analysis system: T-scan III. Univariate regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to find the effects of the technique of fabrication and occlusion scheme over the occlusal forces (p< 0.05). RESULTS The intergroup comparison revealed statistically significant differences (p< 0.01) in Right - Left side force difference, maximum bite force in CDs fabricated by various techniques and with different occlusion schemes. Though the effect of occlusion scheme was more than the technique of fabrication (according to effect size estimation). The maximum force difference between Right - Left side was observed in combination of CCD technique and MO scheme (36.88 ± 2.82 N). Furthermore, the maximum bite force was observed for SCD technique (89.14 ± 6.08 N) and LO scheme (92.17 ± 3.22 N). In comparison to ACD, the chances of centre of force out of ellipse was 2.53 time more in CCS and 0.75 times less in SCD techniques and in comparison to MO, the chances of out of ellipse was 0.298 times less in BBO and 0.396 times less in LO schemes, though these chances were not statistically significant (p> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The digital CDs fabricated by subtractive technique were proved to be superior to additive technique in terms of occlusal force analysis on tested parameters. However, further research is needed on patients to determine the exact superiority of one technique over the other.
Reimagining School Nursing: Lessons Learned From a Virtual School Nurse

The COVID-19 pandemic has required thousands of public schools to quickly adapt to hybrid or fully remote models. These new models have presented unprecedented challenges for school nurses as they learn how to optimize their interactions with parents and students to provide ongoing support and monitoring of health. The growing reliance on virtual and hybrid public education is also placing new demands on school nurses to be versed in telehealth and school physicians to support their work. Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual School (GCVS) and other public virtual schools have been meeting these challenges for many years prior to the pandemic and have “lessons learned” to share with traditional “brick-and-mortar” nursing staff. GCVS students benefit from a climate that rewards collaboration between the health team, parents, teachers, and administrators, and this article will describe the role, job description, and other practices related to school nursing in a primarily virtual world.
Incidence of Hip and Subtrochanteric/Femoral Shaft Fractures in Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis in the Phase 3 Long‐Term Odanacatib Fracture Trial

We prospectively assessed, with predefined criteria, the location and rates of all femur fractures (hip, subtrochanteric/femoral shaft [ST/FS], including atypical [AFF] and distal fractures) in women at increased fracture risk during treatment with the cathepsin K inhibitor, odanacatib (ODN), or placebo over 5 years in the Long‐Term ODN Fracture Trial (LOFT and LOFT Extension [NCT00529373, EudraCT 2007‐002693‐66]). ODN was an investigational antiresorptive agent previously in development as an osteoporosis treatment that, unlike bisphosphonates, reduces bone formation only transiently. Women aged ≥65 years with a bone mineral density (BMD) T‐score ≤−2.5 at the total hip (TH) or femoral neck (FN) or with a radiographic vertebral fracture and T‐scores ≤−1.5 at the TH or FN were randomized (1:1) to receive ODN 50 mg/week or placebo. All patients received vitamin D3 (5600 IU/week) and calcium (total 1200 mg/d); the analysis included 16,071 women. Rates of all adjudicated low‐energy femoral fractures were 0.38 versus 0.58/100 patient‐years for ODN and placebo, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51–0.82; nominal p < .001), and for low‐energy hip fractures were 0.29 versus 0.56/100 patient‐years, respectively (HR = 0.52; 95% CI 0.40–0.67; p < .001). The cumulative incidence of combined hip and ST/FS or hip fractures alone in the ODN group was consistently lower than in the placebo group (1.93% versus 3.11% for combined fractures and 1.53% versus 3.03% for hip fractures at 5 years, respectively). However, low‐energy ST/FS fractures were more frequent in ODN‐treated women than in placebo‐treated women (24 versus 6, respectively). Among these, 12 fractures were adjudicated as AFF in 10 patients treated with ODN (0.03/100 patient‐years) compared with none in the 6 placebo‐treated women (estimated difference 0.03; 95% CI 0.02–0.06). These results provide insight into possible pathogeneses of AFF, suggesting that the current criteria for diagnosing these fractures may need to be reconsidered. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
The relative importance of women’s education on fertility desires in sub-Saharan Africa: A multilevel analysis

Lowering desired family size is a necessary precondition for fertility declines in high-fertility settings. Although accumulated evidence links socio-economic developments to changing fertility desires, little research has disentangled the relative importance of key socio-economic determinants. Combining individual- and community-level data from Demographic and Health Surveys in 34 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, we compare the relative role of different socio-economic factors on fertility desires at the individual, community, and country levels. Results show that at the individual level, women’s education has a stronger effect than household wealth and area of residence. The high levels of reported desired family size in rural parts of SSA are mainly a consequence of relatively lower levels of education. The relative impact of women’s education is even stronger at the community level. Our findings are robust to alternative measures of fertility preferences and strengthen previous findings regarding the relationship between fertility and women’s education.
Piperlongumine attenuates oxidative stress, inflammatory, and apoptosis through modulating the GLUT‐2/4 and AKT signaling pathway in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats

The current study was done to measure the role of piperlongumine (PL) on hyperglycemia interrelated oxidative stress‐mediated inflammation and apoptosis, inflammatory stress, and the diabetic insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2), protein kinase B (AKT), and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT‐2)/4 signaling pathway in streptozotocin (STZ)‐persuaded diabetic animals. Diabetes was initiated in experimental animals via a single dose intraperitoneal inoculation of STZ. Diabetic rats revealed an augmented blood‐glucose level with drastically diminished plasma‐insulin status. The functions of antioxidants were diminished with enhanced lipid peroxidation, conjugated dienes, and protein carbonyls noticed in diabetic rats' plasma and pancreatic tissues. An elevation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB), tumor necrosis factor‐α, and interleukin‐6 proteins was noticed in pancreatic tissues as well as IRS2, AKT, GLUT‐2, and GLUT‐4 marker expressions were quantified in the hepatic tissue of control and diabetic rats. Oral administration of PL for 30 days drastically lowered glucose and higher insulin status in STZ‐induced diabetic rats. Impressively, PL oral supplementation considerably restored the antioxidant levels and reduced inflammation and diabetic marker expressions in STZ‐diabetic rats. These results were supported through a histological study. Moreover, PL also augmented the level of B‐cell lymphoma 2 and diminished the level of Bcl‐2‐associated X protein in STZ‐treated rat's hepatic tissues. Thus, we concluded that PL excellently rescued pancreatic β cells through mitigating hyperglycemia via dynamic insulin secretion, activating antioxidants, and inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis in the pancreatic and hepatic tissue of diabetic rats.
Extreme diversification driven by parallel events of massive loss of heterozygosity in the hybrid lineage of Candida albicans

Abstract Candida albicans is the most commonly reported species causing candidiasis. The taxonomic classification of C. albicans and related lineages is controversial, with Candida africana (syn. C. albicans var. africana) and Candida stellatoidea (syn. C. albicans var. stellatoidea) being considered different species or C. albicans varieties depending on the authors. Moreover, recent genomic analyses have suggested a shared hybrid origin of C. albicans and C. africana, but the potential parental lineages remain unidentified. Although the genomes of C. albicans and C. africana have been extensively studied, the genome of C. stellatoidea has not been sequenced so far. In order to get a better understanding of the evolution of the C. albicans clade, and to assess whether C. stellatoidea could represent one of the unknown C. albicans parental lineages, we sequenced C. stellatoidea type strain (CBS 1905). This genome was compared to that of C. albicans and of the closely related lineage C. africana. Our results show that, similarly to C. africana, C. stellatoidea descends from the same hybrid ancestor as other C. albicans strains and that it has undergone a parallel massive loss of heterozygosity.
Atomistic simulation of the sol formation during synthesis of organic/inorganic hybrid materials

Atomistic modelling was employed to investigate interactions between the precursors used in preparation of organic/inorganic polymer hybrids. Three molecular systems composed of different kinds of organofunctionalised silanes and an organic polymer in aqueous solution have been simulated, representing various model stages of the hydrolysis reaction during the sol/gel processing. The equilibrium configurations obtained by Molecular Dynamics were analysed in order to elucidate the extent of the hydrogen bonding network and clustering of components within the systems. Diffusion coefficients were obtained to estimate the mobility of the components and the stability of the molecular associations. It has been concluded that the molecular mechanism of the initial stages of the sol/gel process used for preparation of the organic/inorganic hybrids involves clustering of the organofunctionalysed inorganic components as a first step and then progressive hydrolysis as consequent steps. The organic polymer component plays a role of the cluster "wrap" and thus prevents the particles from unlimited growth and precipitation from the solution.
Particle transfer and adherence to human skin compared with cotton glove and pre-moistened polyvinyl alcohol exposure sampling substrates

Abstract Measurement of skin exposure to particles using interception (e.g., cotton gloves) and removal (e.g., wiping) sampling techniques could be inaccurate because these substrates do not have the same topography and adhesion characteristics as skin. The objective of this study was to compare particle transfer and adherence to cotton gloves, cotton gloves with artificial sebum, and a pre-moistened polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) material with bare human skin (fingertip, palm). Experiments were performed with aluminum oxide powder under standardized conditions for three types of surfaces touched, applied loads, contact times, and powder mass levels. In the final mixed model, the fixed effects of substrate, surface type, applied load, and powder mass and their significant two-way interaction terms explained 71% (transfer) and 74% (adherence) of the observed total variance in measurements. For particle mass transfer, compared with bare skin, bias was −77% (cotton glove with sebum) to +197% (PVA material) and for adherence bias ranged from −40% (cotton glove) to +428% (PVA material), which indicated under- and over-sampling by these substrates, respectively. Dermal exposure assessment would benefit from sampling substrates that better reflect human skin characteristics and more accurately estimate exposures. Mischaracterization of dermal exposure has important implications for exposure and risk assessment.
A Multicenter Cohort Study From India of 75 Kidney Transplants in Recipients Recovered After COVID-19

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background. There is limited current knowledge on feasibility and safety of kidney transplantation in coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) survivors. Methods. We present a retrospective cohort study of 75 kidney transplants in patients who recovered from polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–confirmed COVID-19 performed across 22 transplant centers in India from July 3, 2020, to January 31, 2021. We detail demographics, clinical manifestations, immunosuppression regimen, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcomes. Patients with a previous diagnosis of COVID-19 were accepted after documenting 2 negative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 PCR tests, normal chest imaging with complete resolution of symptom for at least 28 d and significant social distancing for 14 d before surgery. Results. Clinical severity in patients ranged from asymptomatic (n = 17, 22.7%), mild (n = 36.48%), moderate (n = 15.20%), and severe (n = 7.9.3%) disease. Median duration between PCR positive to transplant was 60 d (overall) and increased significantly from asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe disease (49, 57, 83, 94 d, P 0.019), respectively. All recipients and donors were asymptomatic with normal creatinine after surgery at a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 81 (56–117) d without any complications relating to surgery or COVID-19. Patient and graft survival was 100%, and acute rejection was reported in 6.6%. Conclusions. Prospective kidney transplant recipients post-COVID-19 can be considered for transplantation after comprehensive donor and recipient screening before surgery using a combination of clinical, radiologic, and laboratory criteria, careful pretransplant evaluation, and individualized risk-benefit analysis. Further large-scale prospective studies with longer follow-up will better clarify our initial findings. To date, this remains the first and the largest study of kidney transplantation in COVID-19 survivors.
Phonemic Verbal Fluency and Midbrain Atrophy in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

BACKGROUND The neuropsychological profile of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients is mainly characterized by executive dysfunction, but the relationship between the latter and midbrain atrophy is still unclear. OBJECTIVE The aims of the study were to investigate which test evaluating executive functioning is more frequently impaired in PSP patients and to evaluate the relationship between midbrain-based MRI morphometric measures and executive dysfunction. METHODS PSP patients who had undergone a neuropsychological battery assessing executive functioning with the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), the phonemic verbal fluency F-A-S, the Raven's Progressive Colored Matrix, and the Stroop word colors test (time and errors) were enrolled in the study. A group of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients matched by age, sex, education, and global cognitive status was selected. All the enrolled patients also underwent a volumetric T1-3D brain MRI. RESULTS Thirty-five PSP patients and 35 PD patients were enrolled. Patients with PSP as compared to patients with PD showed a significant greater impairment in verbal fluency (16.0±7.9 and 23.4±8.7 words/180 s; p < 0.001) and a significant lower score at the FAB total score (11.5±3.8 and 13.7±3.4; p = 0.013). Midbrain area was significantly smaller in PSP patients than in PD patients (83.9±20.1 and 134.5±19.9 mm2; p < 0.001). In PSP patients, a significant positive correlation between verbal fluency and the midbrain area (r = 0.421; p = 0.028) was observed. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the phonemic verbal fluency is among the most frequently impaired executive functions in PSP patients and is strongly correlated to midbrain atrophy.
Does saffron supplementation have favorable effects on liver function indicators? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Several pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical approaches have been suggested to improve liver health. There is a large discrepancy in the effects of saffron supplementation on liver function in adults. To fill this knowledge gap, this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assess the effects of saffron supplementation on liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). A systematic search current to August 2020 was performed in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords to detect eligible articles. A random-effects model was used to estimate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence (95% CI). Nine eligible trials were included in the final analysis. The pooled analysis revealed that serum ALT concentrations were significantly reduced using saffron compared to placebo (WMD: −2.39 U/L; 95% CI: −4.57 to −0.22; P = 0.03, I2 = 87.9%, P < 0.001). However, saffron supplementation did not affect levels of serum AST (WMD: 1.12 U/L; 95% CI: −1.42 to 3.65; P = 0.39) or ALP (WMD: 4.32 U/L; 95% CI: −6.91 to 15.54; P = 0.78). In the dose-response analysis, we did not find a significant dose-response relationship between dosage and duration of saffron supplementation on serum levels of ALT, AST, and ALP. We found that saffron supplementation can reduce ALT serum concentrations without significant effects on other liver function indicators, including AST and ALP. Nevertheless, future large RCTs on diverse populations are needed to understand better the effects of saffron and its constituents on these enzymes.
Represent me: please! Towards an ethics of digital twins in medicine

Simulations are used in very different contexts and for very different purposes. An emerging development is the possibility of using simulations to obtain a more or less representative reproduction of organs or even entire persons. Such simulations are framed and discussed using the term ‘digital twin’. This paper unpacks and scrutinises the current use of such digital twins in medicine and the ideas embedded in this practice. First, the paper maps the different types of digital twins. A special focus is put on the concrete challenges inherent in the interactions between persons and their digital twin. Second, the paper addresses the questions of how far a digital twin can represent a person and what the consequences of this may be. Against the background of these two analytical steps, the paper defines first conditions for digital twins to take on an ethically justifiable form of representation.
Changing trends of mental and behavioral responses and associations during the COVID-19 epidemic in China: a panel study

Abstract This prospective observational study examined changing trends in mental and behavioral responses, and their association with perceived risk, severity, self-efficacy and isolation status during the Chinese COVID-19 epidemic. There were five waves of interviews. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric test methods were used for data analysis. Participants numbered 150 for the linkable baseline survey and 102 completed all 5 survey waves and were included in the analysis. Mental stress, emotional status and lifestyle manifested a statistically significant downwards trend across the total period of this panel study. The number of reported new confirmed patients perceived high risk and perceived severity were positively associated with mental stress, emotional status and lifestyle. Self-efficacy was negatively associated with each type of mental and behavioral response. The more time people were confined to their home, the more serious the emotional and lifestyle problems. Dose-response relationships were noted between the number of reported new confirmed patients and mental stress, emotional status and lifestyle during the five observation points. This study yielded new information about mental and behavioral responses among Chinese people during the COVID-19 epidemic. Policy changes and health education are essential for minimizing the adverse health effects of these responses.
Environmental analysis of organic compounds in water using solid phase micro extraction

Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) involves exposing a fused silica fiber coated with stationary phase to a contaminated water sample. The organic analytes become partitioned between the stationary phase and the water and when equilibrium is reached the fiber is removed from the solution and the analytes are thermally desorbed in the injector of a gas chromatograph. The fiber is contained in a syringe to facilitate handling. Factors which affect linear range, limit of detection, and total analysis time are discussed with regard to the development of a method for analysis of volatile compounds in environmental water samples. The sensitivity of the method was determined by the thickness of the film of stationary phase; the equilibration time, however, increased with the film thickness, although it can be minimized by use of a cross-shaped stirrer bar. Increasing the thickness of stationary phase in the analytical column enables the cryofocusing temperature to be increased from −40 to −15°C. With an ion trap mass spectrometer, detection limits required by the US Environmental Protection Agency are met for all compounds except chloromethane and chloroethane. The method has been applied to environmental water samples.