Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Profiling metabolites and lipoproteins in COMETA, an Italian cohort of COVID-19 patients

Metabolomics and lipidomics have been used in several studies to define the biochemical alterations induced by COVID-19 in comparison with healthy controls. Those studies highlighted the presence of a strong signature, attributable to both metabolites and lipoproteins/lipids. Here, 1H NMR spectra were acquired on EDTA-plasma from three groups of subjects: i) hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients (≤21 days from the first positive nasopharyngeal swab); ii) hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients (>21 days from the first positive nasopharyngeal swab); iii) subjects after 2–6 months from SARS-CoV-2 eradication. A Random Forest model built using the EDTA-plasma spectra of COVID-19 patients ≤21 days and Post COVID-19 subjects, provided a high discrimination accuracy (93.6%), indicating both the presence of a strong fingerprint of the acute infection and the substantial metabolic healing of Post COVID-19 subjects. The differences originate from significant alterations in the concentrations of 16 metabolites and 74 lipoprotein components. The model was then used to predict the spectra of COVID-19>21 days subjects. In this group, the metabolite levels are closer to those of the Post COVID-19 subjects than to those of the COVID-19≤21 days; the opposite occurs for the lipoproteins. Within the acute phase patients, characteristic trends in metabolite levels are observed as a function of the disease severity. The metabolites found altered in COVID-19≤21 days patients with respect to Post COVID-19 individuals overlap with acute infection biomarkers identified previously in comparison with healthy subjects. Along the trajectory towards healing, the metabolome reverts back to the “healthy” state faster than the lipoproteome.
Performance of clinician prediction of survival in oncology outpatients with advanced cancer

Background We aimed to investigate the performance of clinician prediction of survival (CPS) and the association between CPS and the prognostic confidence of clinicians in ambulatory medical oncology outpatients. Methods Eight medical oncologists estimated the expected survival of their patients in a prospective cohort study. They were asked to provide a temporal type of CPS in weeks, together with their level of confidence for each prediction (0–100%). We analyzed the accuracy of CPS, the association between CPS and the prognostic confidence, and the characteristics of patients showing inaccurate CPS. Results A total of 200 advanced cancer patients were enrolled and the median overall survival was 7.6 months. CPS was accurate in 67 (33.5%) patients, underestimated in 87 (43.5%), and overestimated in 46 (23.0%). The overall accuracy of CPS for 12-week, 24-week, 36-week, and 48-week survival was 83.0%, 72.0%, 75.5%, and 74.0%, respectively. The specificity was highest for 12-week survival (90.2%) and the sensitivity was highest for 48-week survival (96.1%). The sensitivity of 12-week CPS was 51.4% and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.71–0.87). The prognostic confidence of clinicians was not significantly associated with the accuracy of prediction (P = 0.359). Patients with overestimated survival had significantly poorer global health status and physical/role/emotional functioning in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Additionally, they showed significantly higher levels of fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, and loss of appetite. Conclusion The overall accuracy of CPS in predicting 12-week to 48-week survival was high in medical oncology outpatients. However the sensitivity of 12-week CPS was low and prognostic confidence was not associated with the accuracy of CPS. Patients with overestimated CPS showed poorer quality of life and higher symptom burden.
Treatment of hand and finger fractures with the Stryker Hand Plating System

Objectives: 10% of all fractures occur in the fingers and metacarpal region. Early mobilization with preservation of grip function is the goal of any therapy for these injuries. Osteosyntheses with plates are used in complex fractures that do not allow any other treatment. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the performance and safety of the Stryker Hand System. Patients and methods: Between 2010 and 2019, 190 patients underwent surgical treatment with plates for fractures of the fingers and metacarpal region. Of these, 140 operations could be analyzed according to the inclusion criteria based on clinical and radiological parameters. Results: Three-quarters of the patients were male. The mean age at the time of surgery was 39.3±16 years. Falling was the leading cause for hand fractures, and the most common were fractures of the shaft (>52%). More than 15% were complex hand injuries with more than one fractured finger. The majority of patients were healthy non-smokers without systemic diseases and relevant medical history. Conclusion: The Stryker Finger Plates are safe implants with good results that are consistent with those reported in the literature. The trend is also toward stable-angle implants for fracture treatment of the finger, in order to enable the earliest possible functional, safe mobilization. Level of Evidence: Level: IV; outcome-study, retrospective
Management of distributed energy resources in energy systems

This thesis investigated the use cases of Electric Vehicles (EV) and stationary battery storage in a multi-level energy system with high penetration of renewable DER. The different energy system levels considered include large and local level, distribution network and customer premises. The reduction of excess electricity due to high shares of renewable energy technologies by using EV with Vehicle to Grid capability in a future GB energy system was investigated. It was found that with EV in vehicle to grid mode integrated into the energy system, the utilisation of fluctuating wind power was increased. This was realised by minimising the curtailment of excess electricity and CO2 emissions. Also in a local energy system with a high share of intermittent renewable energy, EV with Vehicle to Grid capability can reduce electricity import of about 34%. A microgrid was modelled for evaluating the impact of electrical vehicle charging on voltage profiles and energy losses in a local distribution network with a high share of distributed energy resources. The results show that with a smart charging scheme, the voltage profiles remain within distribution network operator’s defined limit. A reduction of energy losses in the microgrid was also noted. An optimisation tool using an optimisation technique was developed for optimising charging and discharging of a stationary battery storage. This was simulated to evaluate the revenue streams for an existing photovoltaic generation system. The key benefit of the photovoltaic generation system to the owner is the ability to maximise feed in tariff revenue streams by maximising self-consumption using a wholesale electricity tariff. The impact of storage unit cost on the adoption of battery storage for the photovoltaic generation system was also simulated using a time of use tariff. It was found that battery storage for the simulated system will only be economically viable when battery unit cost drops to £138/kWh. The impact of an optimised distributed energy system simulated in the Lawrence Berkeley’s Distributed Energy Resources Customer Adoption Model (DER-CAM) on distribution network constraints was investigated using a soft-linking power flow simulation procedure. It was found that voltage excursions occur mostly during peak day-types. It was found out that not all optimised distributed energy systems are feasible from the distribution network’s point of view.
Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on overall survival of patients with T2-4aN0M0 bladder cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis according to EAU COVID-19 recommendation

Purpose In the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines Rapid Reaction Group provided recommendations to manage muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) based on priority levels: neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) should be avoided for patients with T2-3N0M0 MIBC. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of NAC compared with radical cystectomy (RC) alone in improving the overall survival (OS) of patients with T2-4aN0M0 MIBC. Materials and methods A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. The primary outcome was OS of patients with T2-4aN0M0 MIBC, and the secondary outcome was OS of patients with only T2N0M0 MIBC. Results Eight studies were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the quality of all studies was relatively high, and little publication bias was demonstrated. The OS was significantly better in the NAC with RC group than in RC alone (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.68–0.92; p = 0.002). A subgroup analysis was performed on only patients with T2N0M0 MIBC, and five studies were included. There was no difference in the OS between the NAC with RC and the RC alone groups (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69–1.01 p = 0.06). Conclusions As recommended by the EAU guidelines Rapid Reaction Group, patients with T2N0M0 MIBC should strongly consider omitting NAC until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether to omit NAC in T3-4aN0M0 MIBC needs further discussion, and studies targeting only T2-3N0M0 MIBC are expected to proceed further.
Episodes as a Discourse Analysis Framework to Examine Feedback in an Industrially Situated Virtual Laboratory Project

Debra Gilbuena is a doctoral student in Chemical Engineering at Oregon State University. She currently has research focused on student learning in virtual laboratories. Debra has an MBA and MS as well as 4 years of industrial experience including a position in sensor development, an area in which she holds a patent. Debra was awarded the Teacher’s Assistant of the Year Award by the College of Engineering at Oregon State University for her work as a Teacher’s Assistant.
Smart district heating and electrification

District heating systems are prevailing in parts of Northern Europe and this editorial introduces work on the optimisation of such systems in Denmark, Britain and Norway. Focus of two of the articles are on low temperature systems. This is either directly through lowering the forward temperature and analysing system consequences and optimal forward temperatures as in the work of Lund et al. – or it is by the use of the return pipe water for heating in district heating system functioning at relatively high temperature levels, as in the work by Ianakiev on Nottingham. Analyses by Tromborg et al. probe into future Norwegian electricity market prices and their effects on the operation of district heating storage and electric boilers. Finally, Ogundari et al. compare photo voltaic systems to diesel systems in standalone systems for Abuja, Nigeria.
The impact of sexual violence in mid-adolescence on girls' mental health: evidence from a longitudinal population-based study

Background: A large gender gap appears in internalising mental health during adolescence. There is little high-quality longitudinal population-based research investigating the role of sexual violence experiences, which are disproportionately experienced by females. This study estimates the impact of sexual violence experiences in adolescent girls on mental ill-health. Methods: Longitudinal data from girls in the UK Millennium Cohort Study are used. The impact of sexual violence experiences on psychological distress, self-harm and attempted suicide at age 17 is examined using both multivariable confounder adjusted and propensity matching approaches. Findings: The analytic samples for multivariable and matched analyses were, respectively, 5,134 and 4,355 participants. In the final adjusted model, sexual violence was associated with greater mean psychological distress (mean difference 2.23 [1.67 - 2.79])), and higher risk of high distress (RR 1.74 [1.44 - 2.09]), self-harming (RR 2.04 [1.70 - 2.45]), and attempting suicide (RR 2.26 [1.64 - 3.11]) at age 17 years. Similar results were found for the matched analyses for all mental health outcomes: psychological distress (mean difference 1.97 [1.58 - 2.36]; RR 1.60 [1.41 - 1.81]), self-harm (RR 1.64 [1.48 - 1.82]), and attempted suicide (RR 1.81 [1.47 - 2.22]). Estimates of population attributable fractions suggested that, in a scenario with no sexual violence, we could expect 25-37% fewer incident mental health problems at this age. Interpretation: Our findings highlight the substantial role of sexual violence experiences in the poorer mental health outcomes experienced by adolescent girls and the substantial changes needed at societal and policy levels to prevent sexual violence and its impacts. Funding: Medical Research Council.
Visual gaze patterns in trainee endoscopists – a novel assessment tool

Abstract Background Colonoscopy proficiency is significantly influenced by skills achieved during training. Although assessment scores exist, they do not evaluate the impact of visual search strategies and their use is time and labour intensive. Eye-tracking has shown significant differences in visual gaze patterns (VGPs) between expert endoscopists with varying polyp detection rates, so may provide a means of automated assessment and guidance for trainees. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of eye-tracking as a novel assessment method for trainee endoscopists. Methods Eye-tracking glasses were used to record 26 colonoscopies from 12 endoscopy trainees who were assessed with directly observed procedural scores (DOPS), devised by the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on GI endoscopy, and a visual analogue score of overall competence. A ‘total weighted procedure score’ (TWPS) was calculated from 1 to 20. Primary outcomes of fixation duration (FixD) and fixation frequency (FixF) were analysed according to areas of interest (AOIs) with the bowel surface and lumen represented by three concentric rings. Correlation was assessed using Pearson’s coefficient. Significance was set at p<. 050. Results Trainees displayed a significant positive correlation between TWPS and FixD (R = 0.943, p<.0001) and FixF (R = 0.936, p<.0001) in the anatomical bowel mucosa peripheries. Conversely, they had significant negative correlations between TWPS and the anatomical bowel lumen (FixD: R= −0.546, p=.004; FixF: R= −0.568, p=.002). Conclusions Higher objective performance scores were associated with VGPs focussing on bowel mucosa. This is consistent with prior analysis showing peripheral VGPs correspond with higher polyp detection rates. Analysis of VGPs, therefore, has potential for training and assessment in colonoscopy.
Factors associated with prolonged intensive care stay among self-poisoned patients

Abstract Context Since recovery or death is generally observed within a few days after intensive care unit (ICU) admission of self-poisoned patients in the developed countries, reasons for the prolonged ICU stay are of interest as they have been poorly investigated. We aimed to identify the characteristics, risk factors, outcome, and predictors of death in self-poisoned patients requiring prolonged ICU management. Methods We conducted an eight-year single-center cohort study including all self-poisoned patients who stayed at least seven days in the ICU. Patients admitted with drug adverse events and chronic overdoses were excluded. Using multivariate analyses, we investigated risk factors for prolonged ICU stay in comparison with a group of similar size of self-poisoned patients with <7day-ICU stay and studied risk factors for death. Results Among 2,963 poisoned patients admitted in the ICU during the study period, the number who stayed beyond seven days was small (398/2,963, 13.1%), including 239 self-poisoned patients (125 F/114M; age, 51 years [38–65] (median [25th-75th percentiles]); SAPSII, 56 [43–69]). Involved toxicants included psychotropic drugs (59%), cardiotoxicants (31%), opioids (15%) and street drugs (13%). When compared with patients who stayed <7days in the ICU, acute kidney injury (odds ratio (OR), 3.15; 95% confidence interval (1.36–7.39); p = . 008), multiorgan failure (OR, 8.06 (3.43–19.9); p < . 001), aspiration pneumonia (OR, 8.48 (4.28–17.3); p < . 001), and delayed awakening related to the persistent toxicant effects, hypoxic encephalopathy and/or oversedation (OR, 8.64 (2.58–40.7); p = . 002) were independently associated with prolonged ICU stay. In-hospital mortality rate was 9%. Cardiac arrest occurring in the prehospital setting and during the first hours of ICU management (OR, 27.31 (8.99–158.76); p < . 001) and delayed awakening (OR, 14.94 (6.27–117.44); p < . 001) were independently associated with increased risk of death, whereas exposure to psychotropic drugs (OR, 0.08 (0.02–0.36); p = . 002) was independently associated with reduced risk of death. Conclusion Self-poisoned patients with prolonged ICU stay of ≥7days are characterized by concerning high rates of morbidities and poisoning-attributed complications. Acute kidney injury, multiorgan failure, aspiration pneumonia, and delayed awakening are associated with ICU stay prolongation. Cardiac arrest occurrence and delayed awakening are predictive of death. Further studies should focus on the role of early goal-directed therapy and patient-targeted sedation in reducing ICU length of stay among self-poisoned patients.
Psychosocial determinants of intention to seek palliative care among the public in lebanon: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the psychosocial determinants of intention to seek palliative care for the client themselves, or intention to enroll a family member in palliative care among the public in Lebanon. Methods: A cross-sectional study was initiated in 2020 on a convenience sample of adults permanently living in the Greater Beirut (GB) area; people with no current or previous experience with palliative care either for themselves or for someone dear to them were included. Verbal consent was obtained before data collection, and participants received a questionnaire to be self-completed, statistical analysis was performed using SPSS statistics version 23.0. Results: A total of 875 participants with a mean age of 42 years were interviewed, of whom 24 participants (2.7%) had had a previous experience with PC, either personally or with someone very close to them. The best-fit multivariate predictive model for intention to use PC included older age, positive attitude, and higher perceived control on one’s health. The multivariate model for intention to recommend use was significantly associated with a positive attitude, higher perceived control, and lower perceived barriers. Conclusions: Promotional activities should be conducted to provide the Lebanese public with accurate, detailed, and direct information about the benefits of PC, involving essentially physicians. Future research should explore the decision-making process in “real-time” situations, and within our specific psychosocial, cultural, and organizational context.
In vivo temporal resolution of acute promyelocytic leukemia progression reveals a role of Klf4 in suppressing early leukemic transformation

In this study, Mas et al. used primary hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and leukemic blasts that express the fusion protein PML-RARα as a paradigm to temporally dissect the dynamic changes in the epigenome, transcriptome, and genome architecture induced during oncogenic transformation. Their multiomics-integrated analysis identified Klf4 as an early down-regulated gene in PML-RARα-driven leukemogenesis, and they characterized the dynamic alterations in the Klf4 cis-regulatory network during APL progression and demonstrated that ectopic Klf4 overexpression can suppress self-renewal and reverse the differentiation block induced by PML-RARα.
Time Course of Motor Sleep Inertia Dissipation According to Age

Sleep inertia (SI) refers to a complex psychophysiological phenomenon observed after morning awakening that can be described as the gradual recovery of waking-like status after a night of sleep. The time course of SI dissipation in an everyday life condition is little studied. The present study aims to investigate the SI dissipation in motor activity, as a function of age, upon spontaneous morning awakening after a usual night-time sleep. To this end, we performed a retrospective study in a naturalistic setting in a wide life span sample: 382 healthy participants (219 females) from middle childhood (9 years old) to late adulthood (70 years old). Participants were required to wear the actigraph on the non-dominant wrist for at least seven consecutive nights. Results show that SI of motor activity is dissipated in 70 min. Mean motor activity in such a time window was significantly modulated by age: lower age corresponded to higher motor activity.
Serum Albumin to Creatinine Ratio and Short-Term Clinical Outcomes in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

There is a lack of evidence regarding the short-term predictive value of serum albumin to creatinine ratio (sACR) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study aims to investigate the relationship between sACR and short-term outcomes in these patients. We retrospectively enrolled 3057 patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) (median age was 58 years, and 74.3% were male). In-hospital mortality occurred in 114 (3.7%) patients. Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) was reported in 381 (12.4%) patients. During a 30-day follow-up, stent thrombosis (ST) occurred in 28 (.9%) patients and 30-day death in 147 (4.8%) patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis reported that sACR was inversely associated with 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): . 51, 95% confidence interval (CI) . 31–. 82, P < . 001). The sACR was also inversely associated with in-hospital mortality (aOR: .71, 95% CI .56–.90, P = .009), CIN (aOR: .60, 95% CI .52–.68, P < .001), congestive heart failure (CHF) (aOR: .64, 95% CI .47–.87, P = .007), and ST (aOR .61, 95% CI .41–.92, P = .001) at 30 days. Our findings suggest that sACR is inversely associated with short-term clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI after PCI.
Baroreflex sensitivity in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a common form of muscular dystrophy, is caused by a genetic mutation that alters DUX4 gene expression. This mutation contributes to significant skeletal muscle loss. Although it is suggested that cardiac muscle may be spared, people with FSHD have demonstrated autonomic dysregulation. It is unknown if baroreflex function, an important regulator of blood pressure (BP), is impaired in people with FSHD. We examined if baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is blunted in patients with FSHD. Thirty minutes of resting BP, heart rate, and cardiovagal BRS were measured in 13 patients with FSHD (age: 50 ± 13 years, avg ± SD) and 17 sex‐ and age‐matched controls (age: 47 ± 14 years, p > 0.05). People with FSHD were less active (Activity Metabolic Index, AMI) (FSHD: 24 ± 30; controls: 222 ± 175 kcal/day; p < 0.001) but had a similar body mass index compared with controls (FSHD: 27 ± 4; controls: 27 ± 4 kg/m2; p > 0.05). BRSup (hypertensive response), BRSdown (hypotensive response), and total BRS were similar between groups (BRSup: FSHD: 12 ± 8; controls: 12 ± 5 ms/mmHg; BRSdown: FSHD: 10 ± 4; controls: 13 ± 6 ms/mmHg; BRS: FSHD: 14 ± 9; controls: 13 ± 6 ms/mmHg; p > 0.05). Mean arterial pressure was similar between groups (FSHD: 96 ± 7; controls: 91 ± 6mmHg). Individuals with FSHD had an elevated heart rate compared with controls (FSHD: 65 ± 8; controls: 59 ± 8 BPM; p = 0.03), but when co‐varied for AMI, this relationship disappeared (p = 0.39). These findings suggest that BRS is not attenuated in people with FSHD, but an elevated heart rate may be due to low physical activity levels, a potential consequence of limited mobility.