Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative contributions of TNF receptor superfamily members to CD8+ T‐cell responses

T‐cell responses to infections and cancers are regulated by co‐signalling receptors grouped into the binary categories of co‐stimulation or co‐inhibition. The co‐stimulation TNF receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) members 4‐1BB, CD27, GITR and OX40 have similar signalling mechanisms raising the question of whether they have similar impacts on T‐cell responses. Here, we screened for the quantitative impact of these TNFRSFs on primary human CD8+ T‐cell cytokine production. Although both 4‐1BB and CD27 increased production, only 4‐1BB was able to prolong the duration over which cytokine was produced, and both had only modest effects on antigen sensitivity. An operational model explained these different phenotypes using shared signalling based on the surface expression of 4‐1BB being regulated through signalling feedback. The model predicted and experiments confirmed that CD27 co‐stimulation increases 4‐1BB expression and subsequent 4‐1BB co‐stimulation. GITR and OX40 displayed only minor effects on their own but, like 4‐1BB, CD27 could enhance GITR expression and subsequent GITR co‐stimulation. Thus, different co‐stimulation receptors can have different quantitative effects allowing for synergy and fine‐tuning of T‐cell responses.
UK Women’s Views of the Concepts of Personalised Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Risk-Stratified Breast Screening: A Qualitative Interview Study

Simple Summary Risk-based breast screening will involve tailoring the amount of screening to women’s level of risk. Therefore, women at high-risk may be offered more frequent screening and over a longer period of time than those at low risk for whom less screening may be recommended. As this will involve considerable changes to the NHS Breast Screening Programme, it is important to explore what women in the UK think and feel about this approach. Analysis of in-depth interviews revealed that some women would find both high and low-risk screening options acceptable whereas others were resistant to the prospect of reduced screening if they were assessed as low-risk. We also found that the idea of risk-based screening had little influence on the attitudes of women who were already sceptical about breast screening. These findings highlight the communication challenges that will be faced by those introducing risk-based screening and suggest a need for tailored support and advice. Abstract Any introduction of risk-stratification within the NHS Breast Screening Programme needs to be considered acceptable by women. We conducted interviews to explore women’s attitudes to personalised risk assessment and risk-stratified breast screening. Twenty-five UK women were purposively sampled by screening experience and socioeconomic background. Interview transcripts were qualitatively analysed using Framework Analysis. Women expressed positive intentions for personal risk assessment and willingness to receive risk feedback to provide reassurance and certainty. Women responded to risk-stratified screening scenarios in three ways: ‘Overall acceptors’ considered both high- and low-risk options acceptable as a reasonable allocation of resources to clinical need, yet acceptability was subject to specified conditions including accuracy of risk estimates and availability of support throughout the screening pathway. Others who thought ‘more is better’ only supported high-risk scenarios where increased screening was proposed. ‘Screening sceptics’ found low-risk scenarios more aligned to their screening values than high-risk screening options. Consideration of screening recommendations for other risk groups had more influence on women’s responses than screening-related harms. These findings demonstrate high, but not universal, acceptability. Support and guidance, tailored to screening values and preferences, may be required by women at all levels of risk.
Application of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Process to Select Waste-to-Energy Technology in Developing Countries: The Case of Ghana

Municipal solid waste (MSW) in the Accra region of Ghana has created the need for innovative ways to deal with waste management crises facing the city. The goal of this study is to use the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to select an appropriate waste-to-energy (WtE) technology for Accra. The AHP methodology is used to assess four WtE technologies, namely landfill biogas, incineration, anaerobic digestion, and aerobic composting. Three main criteria and nine sub-criteria are identified for pair-wise comparison and assessed by 10 experts. The results show that incineration is the most preferred technology, followed by anaerobic digestion and aerobic digestion, with landfilled gas being the least preferred technology. Stakeholders in waste management development in Ghana can utilize the findings of the study to develop implementation strategies for capacity and institutional capabilities for both thermochemical and biochemical processes in the country.
Anxiety attenuates learning advantages conferred by statistical stability and induces loss of volatility‐attuning in brain activity

Anxiety can alter an individual’s perception of their external sensory environment. Previous studies suggest that anxiety can increase the magnitude of neural responses to unexpected (or surprising) stimuli. Additionally, surprise responses are reported to be boosted during stable compared to volatile environments. Few studies, however, have examined how learning is impacted by both threat and volatility. To investigate these effects, we used threat-of-shock to transiently increase subjective anxiety in healthy adults during an auditory oddball task, in which the regularity could be stable or volatile, while undergoing functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scanning. We then used Bayesian Model Selection (BMS) mapping to pinpoint the brain areas where different models of anxiety displayed the highest evidence. Behaviourally, we found that threat-of-shock eliminated the accuracy advantage conferred by environmental stability over volatility in the task at hand. Neurally, we found that threat-of-shock led to both attenuation and loss of volatility-attuning of neural activity evoked by surprising sounds across most subcortical and limbic brain regions including the thalamus, basal ganglia, claustrum, insula, anterior cingulate, hippocampal gyrus and also the superior temporal gyrus. Conversely, within two small clusters in the left medial frontal gyrus and extrastriate area, threat-of-shock boosted the neural activity (relative to the safe and volatile condition) to the levels observed during the safe and stable condition, while also inducing a loss of volatility-attuning. Taken together, our findings suggest that threat eliminates the learning advantage conferred by statistical stability compared to volatility. Thus, we propose that anxiety disrupts behavioural adaptation to environmental statistics, and that multiple subcortical and limbic regions are implicated in this process.
Interception of Signaling Circuits of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Cells by Resveratrol Reveals Molecular and Immunomodulatory Signatures

Simple Summary Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus has been on the rise lately. Increase in mortality due to a paucity of efficacious drugs for this cancer prompted us to discover molecular signatures to combat this malady. To this end, we chose resveratrol—a polyphenol and studied its impact on three esophageal adenocarcinoma cell lines (OE33, OE19 and FLO-1) by multilevel profiling. Here, we show the impact of resveratrol on the viability of the three cell systems studied, at the cellular, molecular level and by proteomic analysis. Impact on programmed cell death pathway resulting in an increase in apoptotic and caspase-positive cells were observed. Decrease in Bcl2. levels and impact on reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also observed. Moreover, proteomic profiling highlighted pivotal differentially regulated signaling molecules. Notably, the downregulation of Ku80 by resveratrol could be harnessed for chemo-radiation therapy to prevent DNA break repair after radiation therapy. Additionally, protein profiling has shed light on molecular and immune-modulatory signatures with implications for discovering novel treatments such as chemo-immunotherapy. Abstract Deregulation of signaling pathways due to mutations sets the cell on a path to neoplasia. Therefore, recent reports of increased mutations observed in esophageal tissue reflects the enhanced risk of tumor formation. In fact, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus has been on the rise lately. Increase in mortality due to a paucity of efficacious drugs for this cancer prompted us to discover molecular signatures to combat this malady. To this end, we chose resveratrol—a polyphenol with anticancer property—and studied its impact on three esophageal adenocarcinoma cell lines (OE33, OE19 and FLO-1) by multilevel profiling. Here, we show the impact of resveratrol on the viability of the three adenocarcinoma esophageal cell systems studied, at the cellular level. Furthermore, an analysis at the molecular level revealed that the action was through the programmed cell death pathway, resulting in an increase in apoptotic and caspase-positive cells. The impact on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decrease in Bcl2 levels were also observed. Moreover, proteomic profiling highlighted pivotal differentially regulated signaling molecules. The phenotypic effect observed in resveratrol-treated esophageal cells could be due to the stoichiometry per se of the fold changes observed in entities of key signaling pathways. Notably, the downregulation of Ku80 and other pivotal entities by resveratrol could be harnessed for chemo-radiation therapy to prevent DNA break repair after radiation therapy. Additionally, multilevel profiling has shed light on molecular and immune-modulatory signatures with implications for discovering novel treatments, including chemo-immunotherapy, for esophageal adenocarcinomas which are known to be aggressive cancers.
The electromagnetic field of an improved lightning return-stroke representation

An analytical technique for correlating ground level return-stroke currents to the produced surface electromagnetic fields is discussed. The ground is realistically assumed to have finite conductivity. The lossless nonuniform transmission line model with cross section exponentially decreasing upward turns out to be a powerful, as well as plausible, discharge channel representation. By virtue of the analytical nature of this approach, a number of details typically ascribed to the electromagnetic performance of lightning appear on the whole suitably counted for. Therefore, the hypotheses employed and the results found for this investigation can be assumed to be useful for studying the discharge phenomenon. >
Determinants of acute care discharge in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to identify if AM-PAC “6-clicks” could predict discharge from an acute hospitalization to home with home health services or inpatient rehabilitation as compared to discharge to self-care at home in adults with COPD. A retrospective review of electronic medical record data comprised of AM-PAC “6-clicks” basic mobility or daily activity scores at physical or occupational therapy evaluation and discharge was completed. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to determine if AM-PAC “6-clicks” scores could predict discharge to inpatient rehabilitation or home health services with the reference of home with self-care while controlling for age, insurance type, and gender. Receiver operating characteristic curves were created to determine the AM-PAC “6-clicks” scores with the best sensitivity/specificity to determine discharge to home with/without further rehab services. Logistic regression models indicated that basic mobility scores at discharge had the best sensitivity and specificity for discharge home with or without home health-care services. Daily activity scores at either evaluation or discharge are similar in their contribution to discharge status. Conclusions In adults with COPD basic mobility scores on the AM-PAC “6-clicks” measure completed at discharge had the best sensitivity and specificity for predicting discharge to home and need for rehab services.
Effects of Weight Carried by Soldiers: Combined Analysis of Four Studies on Maximal Performance, Physiology, and Biomechanics

Abstract : Data from four studies of standard and prototype load-carriage equipment were analyzed to determine the effects of the weight borne by male and female load carriers on time to traverse a 3.2-km course at maximal speed and on energy expenditure and kinetic and kinematic variables during externally paced walking at 4.8 km-1 hr. The equipment configurations included fighting, approach, and sustainment loads, with masses varying from 12 kg to 50 kg. It was found that course completion times and energy expenditure were directly related to the weight carried. Kinetic variables, including ground and joint reaction forces, generally evidenced substantial linear relationships with the weight carried. Increases in maximum ankle, knee and hip joint reaction forces approached 1 N for each 1 N increase in the weight. The effects of weight carried on the kinematic variables were more complex. They included evidence of adaptations in walking gait that are likely to aid the load carrier in maintaining stability and in absorbing the increased forces associated with increased load on the body.
Adaptive Implementation of Integrated Spatial Plans: A Game.

“Spatial Development Veilen; A Simulation Game” (NL: Gebiedsontwikkeling Veilen: Een Simulatiespel) is a comparative experiment and a simulation game to educate students about the complexity of rural spatial planning. Two normative models of implementation strategies were compared: a serial strategic approach and a parallel adaptive approach based on Interactive Implementation. The game comprises four main roles: the province, the municipality, the water authority and the agricultural population. The task of the governmental organizations is to design and implement an integrated spatial plan that complies to all policy goals of the different governmental actors involved. In interaction with each other and the local community they try to realize their goals. The game has an experimental set up. The teams face several surprises to simulate the complexity of reality. The games are analyzed on process and outcome. In the analysis of the two implementation approaches we see that the teams using the strategic approach come to more innovative outcomes, but the parallel adaptive approach showed more innovations in the process. Observing the process and outcome it is noticed that the serial strategic approach faced much more obstruction and conflict in their interactions with the local population. The parallel adaptive approaches was characterised by cooperation and negotiation. Both approaches showed characteristics of cooperation and creativity, negotiation and bargaining, and conflict and obstruction. The outcome of the serial strategic approach showed more function combinations, but is realized for higher costs and more struggle. Because of the latter, it is concluded that the experiment shows that the adaptive approach fits better to the complex reality and implementing complex integrated spatial policy. The paper ends with some notes on the game as a learning tool.
Recent Findings Related to Cardiomyopathy and Genetics

With the development and advancement of next-generation sequencing (NGS), genetic analysis is becoming more accessible. High-throughput genetic studies using NGS have contributed to unraveling the association between cardiomyopathy and genetic background, as is the case with many other diseases. Rare variants have been shown to play major roles in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy, which was empirically recognized as a monogenic disease, and it has been elucidated that the clinical course of cardiomyopathy varies depending on the causative genes. These findings were not limited to dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; similar trends were reported one after another for peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD), and alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM). In addition, as the association between clinical phenotypes and the causative genes becomes clearer, progress is being made in elucidating the mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic agents. Recently, it has been suggested that not only rare variants but also common variants contribute to the development of cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy and genetics are approaching a new era, which is summarized here in this overview.
Knowledge of Undergraduate Medical Students of College of Medicine/ University of Baghdad Regarding Medical Ethics 2021

Background: It is important to prepare the future doctors who are ethically competent to avoid medico legal issues in practice. Subjects and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 373 students from (15 January -15 April 2021) in Baghdad college of medicine where students in different stages from (1st to 6th Stage) were asked to fulfil a pretested questionnaire which was distributed through internet and social media groups, it includes socio demographic variables of studied students in addition questions about knowledge of medical ethics , and data was introduced into spss v.23 statistical software. Results: shows that college curriculum was the source of information for 51.7% of the students, internet was the source in 38.1% and there was significant association between level of ethical knowledge and gender, in favor of female were (59.4%) have good knowledge ,while (43.7%) for the male studied students. All the students have either good or fair knowledge in general and there was significant association between stage of students and level of ethical knowledge which was (83.8%) good for the sixth stage students and significantly more than other stages (75.6%), (73.2%), (63.3%), (48.7%) and (23.8%) for the fifth, fourth ,third, second and first year students respectively , p value =0.001. There was no significant association between gender and autonomy ,justice and dignity ,beneficence ,non-maleficence and veracity knowledge level P value = (0.303),(0.064),(0.462),(0.114),(0.054) respectively. Conclusion: There is a good to fair knowledge in all stages regarding the medical ethics principles.
A Decade and a Half of Fast Radio Burst Observations

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) have a story which has been told and retold many times over the past few years as they have sparked excitement and controversy since their pioneering discovery in 2007. The FRB class encompasses a number of microsecond- to millisecond-duration pulses occurring at Galactic to cosmological distances with energies spanning about 8 orders of magnitude. While most FRBs have been observed as singular events, a small fraction of them have been observed to repeat over various timescales leading to an apparent dichotomy in the population. ∼50 unique progenitor theories have been proposed, but no consensus has emerged for their origin(s). However, with the discovery of an FRB-like pulse from the Galactic magnetar SGR J1935+2154, magnetar engine models are the current leading theory. Overall, FRB pulses exhibit unique characteristics allowing us to probe line-of-sight magnetic field strengths, inhomogeneities in the intergalactic/interstellar media, and plasma turbulence through an assortment of extragalactic and cosmological propagation effects. Consequently, they are formidable tools to study the Universe. This review follows the progress of the field between 2007 and 2020 and presents the science highlights of the radio observations.
The feeding ecology and microbiome of the pteropod Limacina helicina antarctica

The pteropod (pelagic snail) Limacina helicina antarctica is a dominant grazer along the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) and plays an important role in regional food web dynamics and biogeochemical cycling. For the first time, we examined the gut microbiome and feeding ecology of L. h. antarctica based on 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequences of gut contents in the WAP during austral summer. Eukaryotic gut contents of L. h. antarctica indicate that this species predominantly feeds on diatoms and dinoflagellates, supplementing its diet with ciliates and fora minifera. Mollicutes bacteria were a consistent component of the gut microbiome. Determining the gut microbiome and feeding ecology of L. h. antarctica aids in identifying the underlying mechanisms controlling pteropod abundance and distribution in a region of rapid environmental change.
Determinants for Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine in Nigeria

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic heralded an unprecedented race to the development of several vaccine candidates at record speeds never seen in global health. Within nine months, Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine was approved by the United States FDA. Unfortunately, while these advances were ongoing, there was a burgeoning epidemic of disinformation about the virus and the vaccines that affected the willingness of people, especially minority groups, to get vaccinated. In Nigeria, this wave of vaccine hesitancy was happening against the backdrop of landmark pharmaceutical litigations such as the 2007 Pfizer trovafloxacin lawsuit in the country. Aim: To assess the determinants of the COVID-19 vaccine's acceptability among Nigerians. Materials and methods: Following ethical approval, a population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to January 2021 using an adapted pretested, self-administered questionnaire originally designed by Amyn Malik and colleagues who conducted a similar study at Yale University School of Public Health. The participants were recruited through simple random sampling using a list of community and corporate sites obtained from Google Maps in the three regional zones of Nigeria (north, east, and west) in diverse occupational and residential settings. Information obtained includes socio-demographics, medical history related to COVID-19, level of knowledge, risk perception, and attitudes toward COVID-19 and the vaccines. Descriptive and inferential statistics were done, and results were summarized into percentages and associations. The level of statistical significance was set at a p-value of <0.05. Using the open EpiR package (Emory), we determined a minimum of 340 participants for a statistical power of 80%. Results: A total of 358 responses were obtained out of the 120 questionnaires distributed in each of the three regions, of which 189 (53%) were females. The mean age of respondents was 32 years (±11.2 SD). About 75% of the participants had at least a college education. The majority (66.2%) of the participants were willing to accept the approved vaccine. The mean risk perception score for COVID-19 was 5.1 (±2.2 SD) out of 10, while the mean COVID-19 symptom knowledge score was 8.6 (±4.1 SD) out of 19. Variables such as being male, identifying as Christian, Hausa ethnicity, and living in northern Nigeria had a statistically significant relationship with the willingness to get vaccinated. Conclusion: Over 60% of Nigerians are willing to take the COVID-19 vaccines if recommended by health workers. We found male gender, religion, ethnicity, and geographical location to positively influence the willingness of Nigerians to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Health workers should be supported to go beyond the confines of the hospital to educate the general public in schools, marketplaces, churches, and corporate organizations on the efficacy and safety of the approved vaccines.