Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examining how Ethics in Relation to Health Technology is Described in the Research Literature: Scoping Review

Background Given the increased use of technology in health care, both in extent and application, the importance of understanding the ethical implications of new health technologies increases. Profound insight into the possible ethical implications of new health technologies enhances the research and development of such technologies and the likelihood of eventual successful implementation in clinical practice. Objective This study aimed to gain an understanding of how and if researchers focused on health technologies describe the actual or possible ethical aspects of their research findings. Methods An established framework for scoping reviews was used to guide the methodology. Studies published in PubMed over the last 10 years were included if they study or refer to ethics in relation to health technology as defined by established frameworks. In total, 14,532 articles were screened, 692 were retained for full-text evaluation, and 227 were included for data extraction. Results In total, 250 (80.9%, N=309) studies were conducted in North America and Europe; literature review studies were dominant. Most studies (52.9%, 120/227) had no direct reference to any of the 4 basic ethical principles: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice. In cases where studies referenced ethical theory, consequentialism dominated. Conclusions When research about technology and ethics is published, the predominant focus is on its intent rather than its actual effect on patients. This lack of insight is problematic considering the vast advancement of technology in which ethics cannot keep up with understanding and offer insights on addressing ethical issues. This finding has implications for practice, research, and education.
Pectin/poly(vinylpyrrolidone) composite sponges as wound dressings for delivery of silver sulfadiazine

: Wound dressings based on sponges with good antimicrobial performance could be suitable options to prevent wound infection and promote wound healing for exudative wounds. In the current study, silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) loaded ionically crosslinked pectin (PEC)/ polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) based composite sponges were fabricated by freeze-dried molding with tunable mechanical features for wound dressing application. The structure of composite sponges was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and they were characterized in terms of gel fraction, mechanical, swelling, degradation and drug release properties. In particular, the longer incubation of composite sponges in CaCl 2 solution resulted in enhanced mechanical properties. For instance, compressive moduli of PEC sponges were improved from 23.30 kPa to 37.24 kPa after 30 minutes and 120 minutes incubation in CaCl 2 solution, respectively. Moreover, the addition of PVP improved the mechanical property of pectin. All composite sponges exhibited higher gel fraction in distilled water compared to phosphate buffer saline (PBS, pH: 7.4). The composite sponges exhibited rapid and high swelling ability of 802.47±69.31% and 714.56±39.78% for PEC and PEC/PVP composite sponges, respectively. They degraded completely after 48 hours. AgSD entrapment efficiency was about 70% for all composite sponges. The AgSD release from PEC slightly reduced after blending PVP, and the cumulative release was 39.19% and 51.49% after 1 h, respectively. AgSD/PEC and AgSD/PEC/PVP composite sponges allowed AgSD release for six hours. In summary, AgSD/PEC/PVP composite sponges with antimicrobial activity have a favorable potential to accelerate wound healing by providing wound closure and effectively absorbing wound exudates.
The Safety and Clinical Validity of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer in Patients Aged More Than 85 Years

Simple Summary In this study, we elucidated whether endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer is safe and feasible in very old patients. We compared the characteristics and outcomes of patients aged ≥85 years with those of other patients. We found no significant differences in the incidence of adverse events between patients ≥85 years of age and other patients. However, the overall survival of patients aged ≥85 years was significantly lower than that of other patients. We found that poor nutritional status was correlated with poor prognosis in patients aged ≥85 years. Therefore, we conclude that endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer is safe and valid for patients aged ≥85 years. However, the indications should be carefully decided because it is difficult to estimate the survival benefits of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer in patients aged ≥85 years, especially those with poor nutritional status. Abstract Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a safe and minimally invasive method for the treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC). However, whether ESD for EGC is also safe and feasible in patients aged ≥85 years is unclear. The patients enrolled in this study were divided into three groups: age ≥85 years (44 patients, 49 lesions), age 65–84 years (624 patients, 687 lesions), and age ≤64 years (162 patients, 174 lesions). We evaluated the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). We analyzed the factors that had a significant impact on the prognosis of patients aged ≥85 years. No significant differences were found in the incidence of AEs among the three groups (p = 0.612). The OS was significantly lower in patients aged ≥85 years (p < 0.001). Conversely, DSS was not significantly worse in patients aged ≥85 years (p = 0.100). The poor Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index correlated with poor prognosis in patients aged ≥85 years (p < 0.001). ESD is a safe and valid treatment for EGC in patients aged ≥85 years. However, the indications should be carefully decided because it is difficult to estimate the survival contribution of ESD for EGC in patients aged ≥85 years, especially in those with poor nutritional status.
Model Re-Estimation: An Alternative for Poor Predictive Performance during External Evaluations? Example of Gentamicin in Critically Ill Patients

Background: An external evaluation is crucial before clinical applications; however, only a few gentamicin population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) models for critically ill patients included it in the model development. In this study, we aimed to evaluate gentamicin PopPK models developed for critically ill patients. Methods: The evaluated models were selected following a literature review on aminoglycoside PopPK models for critically ill patients. The data of patients were retrospectively collected from two Quebec hospitals, the external evaluation and model re-estimation were performed with NONMEM® (v7.5) and the population bias and imprecisions were estimated. Dosing regimens were simulated using the best performing model. Results: From the datasets of 39 and 48 patients from the two Quebec hospitals, none of the evaluated models presented acceptable values for bias and imprecision. Following model re-estimations, all models showed an acceptable predictive performance. An a priori dosing nomogram was developed with the best performing re-estimated model and was consistent based on recommended dosing regimens. Conclusion: Due to the poor predictive performance during the external evaluations, the latter must be prioritized during model development. Model re-estimation may be an alternative to developing a new model, especially when most known models display similar covariates.
Malaria Prevalence among Pregnant Women in Relation to Parity, Gestation Period and Age in Gombe, North Eastern Nigeria

This study was conducted in order to determine malaria prevalence in relation to parity, gestational period and age of the pregnant women in Gombe, Nigeria. Three hundred and eighty four (384) pregnant women who registered for antenatal care in five randomly selected health care facilities (Tudun Wada Primary Health Care, Idi Health Clinic, Madaki Health Clinic, Pantami Primary Health Care And Gombe Town Maternity) residing within Gombe Local Government Area, Gombe State, Nigeria, constituted the study population. Five (5) ml of the maternal peripheral blood was obtained from each participant by the use of a sterile syringe and placed in a sterile Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid (EDTA) container for laboratory analysis. The malaria parasite was detected by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thick blood films. A high prevalence of 78.4% was observed among the studied population, with the primigravidae having higher prevalence (87.8%) than the multigravidae (73.6%). Women in second trimester recorded the highest prevalence (81.6%) followed by those in third trimester (76.4%), then the first trimester (68.4%). In relation to age, younger women (17 – 20 years) had the highest prevalence (88.4%) of malaria parasitaemia followed by 21-25 years category (79.1%), while those above 25years had the lowest prevalence (67.7%). significant association between age and malaria infection was established. The vulnerable age group need to be cautious of their exposure to mosquitoes’ bites so as to reduce the pressure on the already overstretched health facilities.
Bv8 Blockade Sensitizes Anti-PD1 Therapy Resistant Tumors

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are known to promote tumor growth in part by their immunosuppressive activities and their angiogenesis support. It has been shown that Bv8 blockade inhibits the recruitment of MDSCs to tumors, thereby delaying tumor relapse associated with resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. However, the impact of Bv8 blockade on tumors resistant to the new immunotherapy drugs based on the blockade of immune checkpoints has not been investigated. Here, we demonstrate that granulocytic-MDSCs (G-MDSCs) are enriched in anti-PD1 resistant tumors. Importantly, resistance to anti-PD1 monotherapy is reversed upon switching to a combined regimen comprised of anti-Bv8 and anti-PD1 antibodies. This effect is associated with a decreased level of G-MDSCs and enrichment of active cytotoxic T cells in tumors. The blockade of anti-Bv8 has shown efficacy also in hyperprogressive phenotype of anti-PD1-treated tumors. In vitro, anti-Bv8 antibodies directly inhibit MDSC-mediated immunosuppression, as evidenced by enhanced tumor cell killing activity of cytotoxic T cells. Lastly, we show that anti-Bv8-treated MDSCs secrete proteins associated with effector immune cell function and T cell activity. Overall, we demonstrate that Bv8 blockade inhibits the immunosuppressive function of MDSCs, thereby enhancing anti-tumor activity of cytotoxic T cells and sensitizing anti-PD1 resistant tumors. Our findings suggest that combining Bv8 blockade with anti-PD1 therapy can be used as a strategy for overcoming therapy resistance.
Developing an Impact-Focused Typology of Socially Responsible Fund Providers

The concept of investor impact of socially responsible investments is relatively new. Our article expands knowledge in this field by analyzing how investor impact is implemented in the ethical investment policies of 45 providers of publicly traded, socially responsible funds. Based on a typological content analysis, we first develop an impact-focused category system, which in the second step is used to distinguish three types of fund providers: ESG hermits, ESG ambassadors and ESG evangelists. Our results suggest that socially responsible fund providers with a stronger impact orientation, such as ESG evangelists, also employ strategies that are more likely to achieve investor impact. In contrast, fund providers with a weaker impact orientation, such as ESG hermits, focus more on purity aspects and therefore tend to utilize strategies that defend the purity claim but also show a weaker investor impact.
HPV16 Induces Formation of Virus-p62-PML Hybrid Bodies to Enable Infection

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) inflict a significant burden on the human population. The clinical manifestations caused by high-risk HPV types are cancers at anogenital sites, including cervical cancer, as well as head and neck cancers. Host cell defense mechanisms such as autophagy are initiated upon HPV entry. At the same time, the virus modulates cellular antiviral processes and structures such as promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies (PML NBs) to enable infection. Here, we uncover the autophagy adaptor p62, also known as p62/sequestosome-1, as a novel proviral factor in infections by the high-risk HPV type 16 (HPV16). Proteomics, imaging and interaction studies of HPV16 pseudovirus-treated HeLa cells display that p62 is recruited to virus-filled endosomes, interacts with incoming capsids, and accompanies the virus to PML NBs, the sites of viral transcription and replication. Cellular depletion of p62 significantly decreased the delivery of HPV16 viral DNA to PML NBs and HPV16 infection rate. Moreover, the absence of p62 leads to an increase in the targeting of viral components to autophagic structures and enhanced degradation of the viral capsid protein L2. The proviral role of p62 and formation of virus-p62-PML hybrid bodies have also been observed in human primary keratinocytes, the HPV target cells. Together, these findings suggest the previously unrecognized virus-induced formation of p62-PML hybrid bodies as a viral mechanism to subvert the cellular antiviral defense, thus enabling viral gene expression.
Zn Nutrition of Vitis vinifera White Grapes: Characterization of Antagonistic and Synergistic Interactions by µEDXRF Tissue Analyses

: Nutritional status performs an essential role in agriculture, affecting productivity and keeping crops functioning properly. Despite being required in smaller amounts, micronutrients are also needed for adequate growth, namely Zn (zinc) with regulatory, catalytic and structural functions. Fertilization with Zn is used to ameliorate the deficits of this micronutrient in more suscepti-ble crops such as grapes. Yet, the management of this application must consider the antagonistic and synergistic interactions among nutrients, as it affects their uptake and translocation rates. Therefore, a workflow with three ZnO foliar applications (30% and 60%, 450 and 900 g ha −1 respectively) in the variety Vitis Vinifera cv. Fernão Pires, was implemented in a field located in Palmela, Portugal. The concentration of Zn in the tissues was therefore evaluated by microenergy X-ray dispersion fluorescence (µEDXRF), showing an increase of 1.82 and 2.54 times in the seed and flesh of grapes fertilized with a concentration of 60%, compared to control grapes, respectively. Using the same method, a synergistic relationship was observed for macronutrients such as Ca and K, and micronutrients such as Fe, P and Mn. In addition, a complementary analysis of grapes’ density was carried out to verify changes in quality, in which no negative impact was observed due to Zn application. This study allows us to verify that the concentration of the applied Zn fertilizer brings ben-efits in the amount of nutrients that are important for development and crops quality.
Comparative amino acid composition and quality parameters of Moringa oleifera testa and cotyledon

Introduction: Moringa oleifera is a drought-resistant plant, widely used in the tropical region. The leaves and stems have been extensively utilised in foods and neutraceuticals preparation, with less attention to the seeds. In this study, amino acid (AA) compositions of M. oleifera testa and cotyledon were examined comparatively. Methods: Samples were separately defatted, hydrolyed, and neutralised. The AA solution was purified by cation-exchange solid-phase extraction, derivatised and analysed by gas chromatography. Results: Glutamic (acidic amino acid) and phenylalanine (essential amino acid, EAA) were the most concentrated in both samples. Total EAA (g/100g crude protein, cp) was higher in cotyledon (51.0) than testa (41.9). Predicted protein efficiency ratios (P-PERs) were higher in testa (0.605-1.530) than cotyledon 0.286-1.460). EAA index ranged between 0.951-1.13 (soybean comparison) and 83.0-96.9 (egg comparison) with corresponding biological value of 78.7-93.9. The following AA had scores >1.0 in comparison to whole hen’s egg, testa: glycine (Gly), glutamic acid (Glu), phenylalanine (Phe), histidine (His), and cysteine (Cys); cotyledon (Gly), proline (Pro), Glu, Phe, His, arginine (Arg) and Cys. In comparison with requirements of pre-school children, six AA (6/9 or 66.7%) had scores >1.0 in each sample. In provisional AA scoring pattern, isoleucine (Ile) (1.25) and Phe + tyrosine (Tyr) (1.68) had scores >1.0 in testa while methionine (Met) + Cys, Phe+Tyr, and tryptophan (Trp) in cotyledon. However, tryptophan and lysine were the limiting AAs in testa and cotyledon, respectively. Conclusion: The study showed that both anatomical parts would complement each other in terms of amino acid supply.
Some molecular cytogenetic markers and classical chromosomal features of Spilopelia chinensis (Scopoli, 1786) and Tachybaptus ruficollis (Pallas, 1764) in Thailand

This study analyzed the karyological features of two bird species – Spilopelia chinensis and Tachybaptus ruficollis – from Northeastern Thailand. Mitotic chromosomes were indirectly prepared by fibroblast cell culture. The chromosomes were stained by conventional Giemsa staining and microsatellite repeat of fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques. Giemsa staining showed that the diploid chromosome number of S. chinensis was 2n=70 and T. ruficollis was 60. The types of chromosomes observed in S. chinensis were 4 large metacentric, 2 medium acrocentric, 2 small metacentric, 2 small submetacentric, 2 sex chromosomes and 58 microchromosomes; the karyotype of T. ruficollis comprised 2 large metacentric, 2 large submetacentric, 2 large acrocentric, 8 small metacentric, 4 small submetacentric, ZW sex chromosomes and 40 microchromosomes. The molecular cytogenetical features that were exhibited only on the male T. ruficollis chromosome included two microsatellites and telomeric sequences: two signals of d(CA)15 on two microchromosomes, one signal of d(GC)15 on one of the first pair, and signals of AGGGTTn sequences on each telomeric region of all macro- and microchromosomes. The karyotype formula was deduced as: 2n (70) = Lm4 + Ma2 + Sm2 + Ssm2 + 2 sex chromosomes (Sm1/Ssm1) + 58 microchromosomes for S. chinensis and 2n (60) = Lm2 +Lsm2 + La2 + Sm8 + Ssm4 + Z (Msm1) W (Ssm1) + 40 microchromosomes for T. ruficollis.
Coordination on Double-Integrator Antagonistic Dynamics Robust to Velocity Constraint

This article studies the coordination problem for second-order multiagent systems with the presence of antagonistic information among participating agents, while suffering from the lack of the velocity information. To this end, a coordination algorithm, involving an external variable that enables us to circumvent the velocity information, is proposed, of which nonzero scaling parameters are used to characterize whether the underlying interactions are antagonistic or not. A distinctive feature of the devised coordination algorithm, apart from the interest of its own, is that there does not necessitate the signed graph and structurally balanced theories that are commonly adopted in the literature. We show that the proposed setup is amenable for coordination of the agents, with the help of some newly introduced transformation relaxing the dependence of the weighted states of agents or some reference signals that are global information, and are commonly used in most of the existing studies where consensus problems are recast into the stability counterparts of the corresponded error systems. We also show that weighted gains used to assure the underlying Laplacian “like” matrix acting a normal Laplacian matrix, scaling parameters, and communication topology are of great importance for the investigated coordination problem, giving rise to that there does not enjoy any trivial equivalence between the devised setup and these in the literature. Finally, two numerical examples, including a multirobot system, are carried out to support the developed method.
The Growing Problem of Humanizing Robots

One thing that seems to unite many scholars that study robots is the goal of one day creating a fully autonomous human-like robot capable of mimicking all human behaviors and emotions. Advances in artificial intelligence and robotics are beginning to make what was once a thing of science fiction seem not only possible, but probable. To be fair, research has already demonstrated that humans do not need much in the way of prompting to treat and interact with technology as if it was human [1]. Yet, the current trend toward designing robots to be personal assistants, companions and even lovers may have unintended consequences that we have not fully considered.
Spatial-Temporal Driving Factors of Urban Landscape Changes in the Karst Mountainous Regions of Southwest China: A Case Study in Central Urban Area of Guiyang City

Rapid urban expansion has significantly altered the regional landscape pattern, posing a serious threat to the sustainable development of natural and social ecosystems. By using landscape patterns indices and an area transfer matrix, this study analyzed the spatial-temporal changes of landscape patterns in the karst mountainous cities of southwest China from 2000 to 2020, by taking the central urban area of Guiyang City (CUAG) as the study area. This study explored the spatial and temporal driving factors of landscape pattern changes by using stepwise multiple linear regression and geographic detector methods. The results show: (1) CUAG’s landscape types altered changed drastically, with the area of forestland and construction land rapid increment and cultivated land decrement significantly. (2) The patches of construction land and forestland tended to be aggregated, the degree of fragmentation was reduced, and the shape was complex; cultivated land fragmentation was intensified. The connectivity of the landscape was improved, while the level of landscape diversity declined, the trend of landscape homogenization was obvious. (3) Socioeconomic and geographical endowment drivers have determined landscape pattern changes. The findings of this study may be used to interpret other similar landscapes worldwide and may imply the protection of urban ecosystem and sustainable development.
Low-Cost Cranioplasty—A Systematic Review of 3D Printing in Medicine

The high cost of biofabricated titanium mesh plates can make them out of reach for hospitals in low-income countries. To increase the availability of cranioplasty, the authors of this work investigated the production of polymer-based endoprostheses. Recently, cheap, popular desktop 3D printers have generated sufficient opportunities to provide patients with on-demand and on-site help. This study also examines the technologies of 3D printing, including SLM, SLS, FFF, DLP, and SLA. The authors focused their interest on the materials in fabrication, which include PLA, ABS, PET-G, PEEK, and PMMA. Three-dimensional printed prostheses are modeled using widely available CAD software with the help of patient-specific DICOM files. Even though the topic is insufficiently researched, it can be perceived as a relatively safe procedure with a minimal complication rate. There have also been some initial studies on the costs and legal regulations. Early case studies provide information on dozens of patients living with self-made prostheses and who are experiencing significant improvements in their quality of life. Budget 3D-printed endoprostheses are reliable and are reported to be significantly cheaper than the popular counterparts manufactured from polypropylene polyester.