Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Refractory Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Diagnosis to Consider

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with multiple comorbidities, and its association with lymphoma has recently been a topic of debate. However, it is still controversial whether this risk can be attributed to the disease itself or whether it has any relationship with immunosuppressive treatment. Here, we describe the case of a patient with severe perianal hidradenitis suppurativa treated with methotrexate and infliximab, whose exacerbation with persistence of severe symptoms refractory to adequate treatment led to the diagnosis of diffuse large non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma. It was decided to perform a colostomy to improve perianal sepsis, and immunochemotherapy was proposed.
Structures of atmospheric precipitation systems: A global survey

A survey of atmospheric precipitation systems, ranging from mid-latitude cyclones and thunderstorms to tropical cloud clusters, hurricanes, and monsoons, shows that all these systems are well described in terms of the rather traditional concepts of stratiform and convective precipitation. In stratiform precipitation, ice particles grow as they drift downward from high levels and pass through a well-defined melting layer. In convective precipitation, particles begin growing at low levels and are carried upward by strong updrafts and fall out in intense vertically oriented showers. Modern observations show that all the major types of precipitation observed over the globe can be and often are combinations of these two basic types of precipitation. Extratropical cyclonic precipitation is basically stratiform. However, it is typically intensified in regions called rainbands. Some rainbands are highly convective features which move through the basic stratiform precipitation. In other rainbands, shallow convective cells occur aloft and help to enhance the basic stratiform precipitation. Mid-latitude thunderstorms and tropical precipitation systems are basically convective. However, stratiform precipitation can develop in the middle to late stages of development. This type of stratiform precipitation, which can become quite extensive in both tropical and mid-latitude systems, apparently arises as groups or successions of active convective cells leave ice particles aloft to settle downward gradually after the cells' updrafts die out.
Tramadol and Tapentadol Induce Conditioned Place Preference with a Differential Impact on Rewarding Memory and Incubation of Craving

Tramadol and tapentadol, synthetic opioids commonly prescribed for moderate-to-severe pain, have a unique pharmacology that optimizes their analgesia and safety. However, they are not devoid of risks, presenting addictive, abuse, and dependence potential. While tramadol-reinforcing properties have been documented by various studies with human and animal models, including conditioned place preference (CPP) assays, no similar studies have been performed with tapentadol. In the present study, we performed CPP assays by intraperitoneally administering Wistar rats with a tramadol/tapentadol therapeutic dose. Animal permanence and the number of entries in the CPP compartments were recorded in the preconditioning phase and then 1 (T1), 7 (T7), and 14 (T14) days after conditioning. Both opioids induced a change in place preference (T1), suggesting that they have short-term reinforcing properties. However, only tramadol was associated with place preference retention (T7 and T14), with an increase in the number of entries in the opioid-paired compartment (T1 and T7), showing that it causes rewarding memory and incubation of craving. The results indicate that at therapeutic doses: (1) both drugs cause short-term rewarding effects and (2) as opposed to tramadol, tapentadol does not cause CPP retention, despite its higher central nervous system activity and stricter scheduling.
An Extended Model for Analyzing the Heat Transfer in the Skin–Microenvironment–Fabric System during Firefighting

This study proposed an extended multi–layer heat transfer model to simulate skin burns of firefighters during firefighting. The proposed model takes into account the effect of fabric movement frequencies, fabric movement amplitudes and human body movement speeds on the heat transfer between the skin and the heat source under low–level radiative exposure. The simulation performance was validated against the simulations in the published literature in terms of the heat transfer in the multi–layer fabric system, skin temperature and skin burns. The results indicated that the fabric periodic movement caused by human body movement decreased the time to skin burns and the skin temperature increased with increasing fabric movement amplitude. During firefighting, the time to 2nd degree burn was 33.3–35.2% shorter at medium human body movement speed than at low and high movement speeds. Furthermore, at low movement speeds, the time to 2nd degree burn was negatively associated with fabric movement amplitude, whereas it was delayed by 12.9–29.8% at the fabric movement amplitude of 2.5 mm at medium and high human body movement speeds. This research provides foundational knowledge for the development of a new generation of firefighters’ protective clothing (FPC) and the assessment of skin burns in firefighters.
Correlation between internal states and plasticity in bulk metallic glass

We report a close correlation between the internal states and plasticity in a bulk metallic glass (BMG) and discover that the optimization of copper-mold casting current can induce large plasticity stably in an otherwise brittle BMG. It is possible to confirm that larger plasticity corresponds to the internal states with more average free volume (FV) as revealed by lower density, higher enthalpy change, and higher Poisson’s ratio. The enhanced plastic deformation mechanism is interpreted based on the FV model of BMGs, and our results may have some implications for understanding the role of the FV during plastic deformation of BMGs.We report a close correlation between the internal states and plasticity in a bulk metallic glass (BMG) and discover that the optimization of copper-mold casting current can induce large plasticity stably in an otherwise brittle BMG. It is possible to confirm that larger plasticity corresponds to the internal states with more average free volume (FV) as revealed by lower density, higher enthalpy change, and higher Poisson’s ratio. The enhanced plastic deformation mechanism is interpreted based on the FV model of BMGs, and our results may have some implications for understanding the role of the FV during plastic deformation of BMGs.
Evaluation of the Performance of ACR TI-RADS Also Considering Those Nodules with No Indication of FNAC: A Single-Center Experience

Background: Several US risk stratification score systems (RSSs) have been developed to standardize a thyroid nodule risk of malignancy. It is still a matter of debate which RSS is the most reliable. The purpose of this study is to evaluate: (1) the concordance between the American College of Radiology TI-RADS (ACR TI-RADS) and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), (2) the cancer rate in the ACR TI-RADS categories, (3) the characteristics of nodules evaluated by FNAC even if not formally indicated according to ACR TI-RADS (‘not indicated FNACs”). Methods: From January 2021 to September 2022, patients attending the Endocrinology Unit of the CTO Hospital of Rome for evaluation of thyroid nodules were included. Results: 830 nodules had negative cytology, belonging to TIR2 and TIR1C. One hundred and thirteen nodules were determined to be suspicious for or consistent with malignancy belonging to TIR3B/TIR4/TIR5. Of this last group, 94% were classified as TR4/TR5 nodules. In total, 87/113 underwent surgery. Among these, 73 had histologically proven cancer, 14 turned out to be benign. “Not indicated FNACs” was 623. Among these, 42 cancers were present. Conclusions: This study confirmed the diagnostic power of ACR TI-RADS. In addition, these data suggest revising the ACR TI-RADS indication to FNAC, especially for TR4.
Immunogenicity and Safety of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 Vaccine in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis with or without Lung Transplantation

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by a progressive decline in lung function, which may be further impaired by viral infections. CF is therefore considered a comorbidity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine prioritization has been proposed for patients with (pw)CF. Poor outcomes have been reported in lung transplant recipients (LTR) after SARS-CoV-2 infections. LTR have also displayed poor immunization against SARS-CoV-2 after mRNA-based BNT162b2 vaccination, especially in those undergoing immunosuppressive treatment, mostly those receiving mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) therapy. We aimed to determine here the immunogenicity and safety of the BNT162b2 vaccine in our cohort of 260 pwCF, including 18 LTR. Serum levels of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA antibodies were quantified after the administration of two doses. PwCF displayed a vaccine-induced IgG and IgA antiviral response comparable with that seen in the general population. We also observed that the immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 vaccine was significantly impaired in the LTR subcohort, especially in patients undergoing MMF therapy. The BNT162b2 vaccine also caused minor adverse events as in the general population, mostly after administration of the second dose. Overall, our results justify the use of the BNT162b2 vaccine in pwCF and highlight the importance of a longitudinal assessment of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA neutralizing antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination.
Extended ionizing radiation cone from the nucleus of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068

Recent observations of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 using CCD images are reported. Emission-line images and a simple ionization map are presented which reveal a cone-shaped region of high-ionization gas emanating from the nucleus into the surrounding regions. The implications of these results for the hidden Seyfert 1 model of NGC 1068 and other Seyfert 2 galaxies are discussed. 14 references.
Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane over Nanostructured Mesoporous VOx/CexZr1-xO2 Catalysts

: High-surface-area mesoporous Ce x Zr 1-x O 2 materials synthesized through a surfactant-assisted approach of nanocrystalline particle assembly are utilized as a promising support for VO x -based catalysts. The catalytic properties of the resultant VO x /Ce x Zr1-x O 2 nanocatalysts are evaluated by the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane using a microreactor-GC system. It is indicated that the catalyst particles are on a nanoscale, having a mesoporous structure with uniform pore-size distribution and high surface area. The catalytic behavior of these mesoporous nanostructured VO x /Ce x Zr1-x O 2 catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane reaction relies on the vanadia loading amount, the calcination temperature, the surface area and the Ce/Zr ratio of the supports, the particle size of active compounds, and the additional contribution to the propylene formation derives from the contribution of the catalytic dehydrogenation of propane under oxygen-lean conditions. The catalyst prepared with 8 wt% vanadia loading on Ce 0.2 Zr 0.8 O 2 exhibits high and stable catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane reaction.
Facile Surface Treatment of 3D-Printed PLA Filter for Enhanced Graphene Oxide Doping and Effective Removal of Cationic Dyes

The structured adsorption filter material is one of the ways to enhance the practical applicability of powdered adsorbents, which have limitations in the real water treatment process due to difficulty in the separation process. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology was applied to prepare filter materials for water treatment processes. A 3D-printed graphene-oxide (GO)-based adsorbent is prepared on a polylactic acid (PLA) scaffold. The surface of the PLA scaffold was modified by subjecting it to strong alkaline or organic solvent treatment to enhance GO doping for realizing effective adsorption of cationic dye solutions. When subjected to 95% acetone treatment, the structural properties of PLA changed, and particularly, two main hydrophilic functional groups (carboxylic acids and hydroxyls) were newly formed on the PLA through cleavage of the ester bond of the aliphatic polyester. Owing to these changes, the roughness of the PLA surface increased, and its tensile strength decreased. Meanwhile, its surface was doped mainly with GO, resulting in approximately 75% methylene blue (MB) adsorption on the 3D-printed GO-based PLA filter. Based on the established optimal pretreatment conditions, a kinetic MB sorption study and an isotherm study were conducted to evaluate the 3D-printed GO-based PLA filter. The pseudo-second-order model yielded the best fit, and the MB adsorption was better fitted to the Langmuir isotherm. These results suggested that chemical adsorption was the main driver of the reaction, and monolayer sorption occurred on the adsorbent surface. The results of this study highlight the importance of PLA surface modification in enhancing GO doping and achieving effective MB adsorption in aqueous solutions. Ultimately, this study highlights the potential of using 3D printing technology to fabricate the components required for implementing water treatment processes.
Application of Immersive Virtual-Reality-Based Puzzle Games in Elderly Patients with Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study

Background: The society is aging in China, and the cognitive level of elderly post-stroke patients gradually declines. Face-to-face cognitive functional training is no longer sufficient. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) is a promising rehabilitation training device. In this study, we developed an IVR-based puzzle game to explore its effectiveness, feasibility, and safety in elderly stroke patients with cognitive dysfunction. Methods: A total of 30 patients with mild post-stroke cognitive impairment after stroke were randomly assigned to a control or IVR group. Patients in both groups received routine rehabilitation therapy. Patients in the control group received traditional cognitive training, and those in the IVR group received IVR-based puzzle game therapy. Before and after treatment, Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA), trail-making test-A (TMT-A), digit symbol substitution test (DSST), digital span test (DST), verbal fluency test (VFT), and modified Barthel index (MBI) were evaluated in both groups. In addition, the IVR group was administered a self-report questionnaire to obtain feedback on user experience. Results: There was no significant difference in the baseline data between the two groups. After six weeks of treatment, the cognitive assessment scores were improved in both groups. Moreover, the IVR group showed more improvements than the control group in the DSST (Z = 2.203, p = 0.028 < 0.05, η2 = 0.16); MOCA (T = 1.186, p = 0.246 > 0.05, d = 0.44), TMT-A (T = 1.791, p = 0.084 > 0.05, d = 0.65), MBI (T = 0.783, p = 0.44 > 0.05, d = 0.28), FDST (Z = 0.78, p = 0.435 > 0.05, η2 = 0.02), BDST (Z = 0.347, p = 0.728 > 0.05, η2 = 0.004), and VFT(Z = 1.087, p = 0.277 > 0.05, η2 = 0.039) did not significantly improve. The significant difference in DSST represents an improvement in executive function and visual–spatial cognitive characteristics. The other assessment scores did not show such features. Therefore, we did not observe significant differences through this measure. According to the results of the self-report questionnaire, most of the patients were satisfied with the equipment stability and training content. Several individuals reported mild adverse reactions. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that IVR-based puzzle games are a promising approach to improve post-stroke cognitive function, especially executive cognitive function, and visual–spatial attention in older adults.
Implications of Fresnel Corrections in a Non‐Gaussian Surface Scatter Channel

An investigation is made of the effect of the beam pattern of a source exciting an acoustic surface scatter channel using the Fresnel‐corrected geometric‐optics approximation. Results are presented for monochromatic and impulsive excitation using both deterministic and random boundaries. In the random case non‐Gaussian statistics are permitted for the surface deformations. This study concentrates on the limits of very narrow‐ and very broad‐beam patterns and specular geometry at moderate grazing angles. The results for the broad‐beam pattern are found to be simpler than the corresponding ones for narrow‐ and intermediate‐beam patterns. The theory is applied towards the calculation of impulse response convolutions and bifrequency spreading functions. An attempt is made to relate current and past physical results in a nomenclature suitable for application in signal processing and communication theory.
Variable-sample method for the computation of stochastic Nash equilibrium

Abstract This article proposes a variable-sample method for the computation of stochastic stable Nash equilibrium, in which the objective functions are approximated, in each iteration, by the sample average approximation with different sample sizes. We start by investigating the contraction mapping properties under the variable-sample framework. Under some moderate conditions, it is shown that the accumulation points attained from the algorithm satisfy the first-order equilibrium conditions with probability one. Moreover, we use the asymptotic unbiasedness condition to prove the convergence of the accumulation points of the algorithm into the set of fixed points and prove the finite termination property of the algorithm. We also verify that the algorithm converges to the equilibrium even if the optimization problems in each iteration are solved inexactly. In the numerical tests, we comparatively analyze the accuracy error and the precision error of the estimators with different sample size schedules with respect to the sampling loads and the computational times. The results validate the effectiveness of the algorithm.
The Effects of Food Environment on Obesity in Children: A Systematic Review

Childhood obesity is an epidemic connected with poor eating. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS), food deserts are geographical locations in which residents have restricted or nonexistent access to healthful and quality food. Restricted access to healthy food is commonly associated with poor nutrition-related health outcomes, including obesity. This review aims to highlight the relationship between residing in a food desert or a similar environment on body mass index (BMI) in school-aged children in North America, predominantly in the Midwest region of the United States and Mexico. In this study, 17 articles were included from PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, and Crossref. Most of these studies showed no association between the food environment and increased BMI. This discrepancy emphasizes the need for further research; the lack of access to healthful foods in food deserts is an issue that deserves additional attention.
On Peri-Implant Bone Loss Theories: Trying To Piece Together the Jigsaw

This review aims to explore the plausibility of new theories on the etiopathogenesis of marginal bone loss (MBL) and peri-implantitis (PI) and to discuss possible underlying pathogenic mechanisms. The former concept of osteointegration of dental implants can now be conceptualized as a foreign body response histologically characterized by a bony demarcation in combination with chronic inflammation. Different risk factors can provoke additional inflammation and, therefore, pro-inflammatory cytokine release in soft tissues and bone, leading to an overpass of the threshold of peri-implant bone defensive and regenerative capacity. Progressive bone loss observed in MBL and PI is ultimately due to a localized imbalance in the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL)/Receptor activator of nuclear factor κ B (RANK)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) pathway in favor of increased catabolic activity. The genetic background and the severity and duration of the risk factors could explain differences between individuals in the threshold needed to reach an imbalanced scenario. MBL and PI pathogenesis could be better explained by the “inflammation-immunological balance” theory rather than a solely “infectious disease” conception. The link between the effect of biofilm and other risk factors leading to an imbalanced foreign body response lies in osteoclast differentiation and activation pathways (over)stimulation.
Healthcare System Distrust and Non-Prescription Antibiotic Use: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Adult Antibiotic Users

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern driven by antibiotic overuse. Antibiotic stewardship programs are often limited to clinical settings and do little to address non-prescription antibiotic use in community settings. This study investigates the association between non-prescription antibiotic use and healthcare system distrust in the United States and Mexico. An online survey was deployed in the United States and Mexico with enhanced sampling through in-person recruiting in the border region. Non-prescription antibiotic use was defined as having bought or borrowed non-prescription oral or injectable antibiotics within the last 3 years. The survey included a previously validated 10-item scale to measure healthcare system distrust. Logistic regression was used to model the use of non-prescription antibiotics by the level of healthcare system distrust, adjusted for demographic characteristics and antibiotic knowledge. In total, 568 survey participants were included in the analysis, 48.6% of whom had used non-prescription oral or injectable antibiotics in the last 3 years. In the fully adjusted regression model, the odds of using non-prescription antibiotics were 3.2 (95% CI: 1.8, 6.1) times higher for those in the highest distrust quartile versus the lowest. These findings underscore the importance of community-based antibiotic stewardship and suggest that these programs are particularly critical for communities with high levels of healthcare system distrust.
Effects of training on the heart rate variability of competitive soccer players: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Heart rate variability (HRV) has become a popular method for monitoring readiness, recovery, and other training-derived parameters to optimize physical performance. This systematic review aimed to examine the impact of training interventions on HRV fluctuations in competitive soccer players. The EBSCO, Web of Sciences (WOS), and Cochrane databases were used for the search. After identifying 293 studies, 13 were included in a qualitative analysis and 6 in a quantitative analysis. Training had a small and nonsignificant effect on HRV in competitive soccer players (Effect Size (ES) = 0.143, Standard Error (SE) = . 108, p = . 186, 95% confidence interval (CI) [−0.69, 0.355]). Soccer-focused training resulted in higher HRV scores than combined training (Q(2) = 38.13, p = . 05). Higher ES were found for frequency domain parameters (p = .047; d = 0.059), night assessment (p = .016; d = 0.453), and soccer-focused training (p = .006; d = 0.366). HRV was also found to have a greater impact on females (p = .027; d = 0.275) and/or professional soccer players (p = .007; d = 0.302). Soccer training had a minimal and nonsignificant effect on HRV.