Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparing cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches to tuberculosis patient cost surveys using Nepalese data

Abstract The World Health Organization has supported the development of national tuberculosis (TB) patient cost surveys to quantify the socio-economic impact of TB in high-burden countries. However, methodological differences in the study design (e.g. cross-sectional vs longitudinal) can generate different estimates making the design and impact evaluation of socio-economic protection strategies difficult. The objective of the study was to compare the socio-economic impacts of TB estimated by applying cross-sectional or longitudinal data collections in Nepal. We analysed the data from a longitudinal costing survey (patients interviewed at three time points) conducted between April 2018 and October 2019. We calculated both mean and median costs from patients interviewed during the intensive (cross-sectional 1) and continuation (cross-sectional 2) phases of treatment. We then compared costs, the prevalence of catastrophic costs and the socio-economic impact of TB generated by each approach. There were significant differences in the costs and social impacts calculated by each approach. The median total cost (intensive plus continuation phases) was significantly higher for the longitudinal compared with cross-sectional 2 (US$119.42 vs 91.63, P < 0.001). The prevalence of food insecurity, social exclusion and patients feeling poorer or much poorer were all significantly higher by applying a longitudinal approach. In conclusion, the longitudinal design captured important aspects of costs and socio-economic impacts, which were missed by applying a cross-sectional approach. If a cross-sectional approach is applied due to resource constraints, our data suggest that the start of the continuation phase is the optimal timing for a single interview. Further research to optimize methodologies to report patient-incurred expenditure during TB diagnosis and treatment is needed.
Central nervous system involvement (Bing-Neel Syndrome) in patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is an indolent lymphoma characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of bone marrow and circulating monoclonal igM protein [1,2]. the clinical course of WM can involve intriguing complications, including the development of symptomatic hyperviscosity, systemic light chain amyloidosis, cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, or transformation to aggressive lymphoma [3–7].
Testing with a nuisance parameter present only under the alternative: a score-based approach with application to segmented modelling

ABSTRACT We introduce a score-type statistic to test for a non-zero regression coefficient when the relevant term involves a nuisance parameter present only under the alternative. Despite the non-regularity and complexity of the problem and unlike the previous approaches, the proposed test statistic does not require the nuisance to be estimated. It is simple to implement by relying on the conventional distributions, such as Normal or t, and it justified in the setting of probabilistic coherence. We focus on testing for the existence of a breakpoint in segmented regression, and illustrate the methodology with an analysis on data of DNA copy number aberrations and gene expression profiles from 97 breast cancer patients; moreover some simulations reveal that the proposed test is more powerful than its competitors previously discussed in literature.
Magnetically insulated coaxial vacuum diode with partial space-charge-limited explosive emission from edge-type cathode

The vacuum current associated with any type of electron emission for arbitrary configuration of the diode depends on the combination of the applied electric field and vacuum space charge (VSC) field created by the current. Such fundamental statement should give very close links between the diode current and the normalized cathode field θ which has been introduced by Forbes in 2008 for planar diodes as a reduction in the cathode surface field: θ = field-with/field-without VSC. This article reports the universal approximation of the type of cos(πθ/2) that is the ratio of the actual current and the fully space-charge-limited current. Also, the theoretical treatment and the experimental method of determination of the dynamic emissive characteristics of the macroscopic explosive emission from edge-type cathodes in the coaxial diode are developed. The experimental results obtained with a picosecond time reference between the cathode voltage and the onset of the high-current electron beam exhibit a good coincide.
Workplace Environment Microaggressions in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: An International Survey.

OBJECTIVE To survey members of the otolaryngology community about their personal and observed experiences of being treated differently because of one's physical attributes, cultural norms, or preferences in the workplace. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SETTING International Electronic Survey. METHODS We invited members of the international otolaryngology community including 3 European or American otorhinolaryngological Societies to complete a survey about personal/observed experience of differential treatment in the workplace related to age, biological sex; disability, gender identity, language proficiency, military experience, citizenship, ethnicity/race, political belief, and sexual orientation. Results were analyzed according to participant ethnicity/race (white vs non-white) and gender (male vs female) RESULTS: Four hundred seven participants completed the evaluations: 301 white (74%) and 106 non-white (26%) participants. Non-white participants reported significantly more experiences of differential treatment (microaggressions) than white participants (p < .05). Non-white participants more frequently felt that they needed to work harder for the same opportunities as their peers and were more likely to consider leaving a position because of an unsupportive environment. In general, females reported more frequent experiences with differential treatment related to sexual orientation, biological sex, and gender identity than males. CONCLUSION We recognized reports of differential treatment as a proxy for microaggressions. Non-white members of the otolaryngology community self-report experiencing or observing more microaggressions than white members in the workplace. Acknowledging the existence and impact of microaggressions in the field of Otolaryngology is the first step towards cultivating an inclusive, diverse workforce where all members feel supported, validated, and welcomed.
Evaluation of a modified emergency surgical acuity score in predicting operative and non‐operative mortality and morbidity in an acute surgical unit

Emergency general surgery (EGS) patients have an increased risk of mortality and morbidity compared to other surgical patients. Limited risk assessment tools exist for use in both operative and non‐operative EGS patients. We assessed the accuracy of a modified Emergency Surgical Acuity Score (mESAS) in EGS patients at our institution.
Mapping global soil acidification under N deposition

Soil pH is critically important in regulating soil nutrients and thus influencing the biodiversity and ecosystem functions of terrestrial ecosystems. Despite the ongoing threat of nitrogen (N) pollution especially in the fast‐developing regions, it remains unclear how increasing N deposition affects soil pH across global terrestrial ecosystems. By conducting a global meta‐analysis with paired observations of soil pH under N addition and control from 634 studies spanning major types of terrestrial ecosystems, we show that soil acidification increases rapidly with N addition amount and is most severe in neutral‐pH soils. Grassland soil pH decreases most strongly under high N addition while wetlands are the least acidified. By extrapolating these relationships to global mapping, we reveal that atmospheric N deposition leads to a global average soil pH decline of −0.16 in the past 40 years and regions encompassing Eastern United States, Southern Brazil, Europe, and South and East Asia are the hotspots of soil acidification under N deposition. Our results highlight that anthropogenically amplified atmospheric N deposition has profoundly altered global soil pH and chemistry. They suggest that atmospheric N deposition is a major threat to global terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
Topic modelling for wildlife tourism online reviews: analysis of quality factors

ABSTRACT Improving the wildlife tourism experience of travellers is critical to achieving environmental sustainability. Therefore, it’s critical to investigate quality factors to raise experience quality. This study aims to identify the most salient quality factors and their relative importance to the wildlife tourism experience of travellers. In order to take advantage of big data and unprompted textual data, a machine learning method, namely, supervised latent Dirichlet allocation, was used in analysing online reviews of wildlife tourism. A total of 18 quality factors are extracted from data and cross-validated by comparing a prior theoretical framework. Results reveal that travellers’ perception of intensity, authenticity, species popularity, and operators’ rule management are crucial for enhancing traveller’s experience. In addition, the negative influences of wildlife attack and disease highlight the importance of control of encounter. These findings suggest some future research directions and provide practical implications.
The neurodevelopmental genes alan shepard and Neuroglian contribute to female mate preference in African Drosophila melanogaster

Mate choice is a key trait that determines fitness for most sexually reproducing organisms, with females often being the choosy sex. Female preference often results in strong selection on male traits that can drive rapid divergence of traits and preferences between lineages, leading to reproductive isolation. Despite this fundamental property of female mate choice, very few loci have been identified that contribute to mate choice and reproductive isolation. We used a combination of population genetics, quantitative complementation tests, and behavioral assays to demonstrate that alan shepard and Neuroglian contribute to female mate choice, and could contribute to partial reproductive isolation between populations of Drosophila melanogaster. Our study is among the first to identify genes that contribute to female mate preference in this historically important system, where female preference is an active premating barrier to reproduction. The identification of loci that are primarily known for their roles in neurodevelopment provides intriguing questions of how female mate preference evolves in populations via changes in sensory system and higher learning brain centers.
Distinct subtypes of grey matter heterotopia show subtype-specific morpho-electric neuronal properties and dynamics of epileptiform activity in mice

Grey matter heterotopia (GMH) are neurodevelopmental disorders associated with abnormal cortical function and epilepsy. Subcortical band heterotopia (SBH) and periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH) are two well-recognized GMH subtypes in which neurons are misplaced, either forming nodules lining the ventricles in PVNH, or forming bands in the white matter in SBH. Although both PVNH and SBH are commonly associated with epilepsy, it is unclear whether these two GMH subtypes differ in terms of pathological consequences or, on the contrary, share common altered mechanisms. Here, we studied two robust preclinical models of SBH and PVNH, and performed a systematic comparative assessment of the physiological and morphological diversity of heterotopia neurons, as well as the dynamics of epileptiform activity and input connectivity. We uncovered a complex set of altered properties, including both common and distinct physiological and morphological features across heterotopia subtypes, and associated with specific dynamics of epileptiform activity. Taken together, these results suggest that pro-epileptic circuits in GMH are, at least in part, composed of neurons with distinct, subtype-specific, physiological and morphological properties depending on the heterotopia subtype. Our work supports the notion that GMH represent a complex set of disorders, associating both shared and diverging pathological consequences, and contributing to forming epileptogenic networks with specific properties. A deeper understanding of these properties may help to refine current GMH classification schemes by identifying morpho-electric signatures of GMH subtypes, to potentially inform new treatment strategies.
The double-edged sword effect of telecommuting on employees’ work engagement: evidence from China during COVID-19

Purpose Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this study aims to explore how telecommuting affects employee’ work engagement, and consider how perceived supervisor support moderates this effect. Design/methodology/approach A time-lagged study was conducted on 286 employees from four enterprises in southern China. Findings The results showed that telecommuting both decreased work engagement by triggering work–family conflict and enhanced work engagement by increasing job autonomy. In addition, perceived supervisor support enhanced the positive direct effect of telecommuting on job autonomy and the indirect effect on employee’ work engagement, while perceived supervisor support weakened the negative direct effect of telecommuting on work–family conflict and the indirect effect on employee’ work engagement. Originality/value This study enrich the literature on telecommuting and employee engagement, and emphasize the importance of perceived supervisor support in this context. Additionally, this study provides some practical implications for companies to adapt and manage telecommuting.
Impact of renal tubular Cpt1a overexpression on the kidney metabolome in the folic acid-induced fibrosis mouse model

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by the progressive and irreversible deterioration of kidney function and structure with the appearance of renal fibrosis. A significant decrease in mitochondrial metabolism, specifically a reduction in fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in tubular cells, is observed in tubulointerstitial fibrosis, whereas FAO enhancement provides protection. Untargeted metabolomics offers the potential to provide a comprehensive analysis of the renal metabolome in the context of kidney injury. Methodology: Renal tissue from a carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1a (Cpt1a) overexpressing mouse model, which displays enhanced FAO in the renal tubule, subjected to folic acid nephropathy (FAN) was studied through a multiplatform untargeted metabolomics approach based on LC-MS, CE-MS and GC-MS analysis to achieve the highest coverage of the metabolome and lipidome affected by fibrosis. The expression of genes related to the biochemical routes showing significant changes was also evaluated. Results: By combining different tools for signal processing, statistical analysis and feature annotation, we were able to identify variations in 194 metabolites and lipids involved in many metabolic routes: TCA cycle, polyamines, one-carbon metabolism, amino acid metabolism, purine metabolism, FAO, glycerolipids and glycerophospholipids synthesis and degradation, glycosphingolipids interconversion, and sterol metabolism. We found several metabolites strongly altered by FAN, with no reversion induced by Cpt1a overexpression (v.g. citric acid), whereas other metabolites were influenced by CPT1A-induced FAO (v.g. glycine-betaine). Conclusion: It was implemented a successful multiplatform metabolomics approach for renal tissue analysis. Profound metabolic changes accompany CKD-associated fibrosis, some associated with tubular FAO failure. These results highlight the importance of addressing the crosstalk between metabolism and fibrosis when undertaking studies attempting to elucidate the mechanism of CKD progression. Graphical Abstract
EEG and peripheral markers of viewer ratings: a study of short films

Introduction Cinema is an important part of modern culture, influencing millions of viewers. Research suggested many models for the prediction of film success, one of them being the use of neuroscientific tools. The aim of our study was to find physiological markers of viewer perception and correlate them to short film ratings given by our subjects. Short films are used as a test case for directors and screenwriters and can be created to raise funding for future projects; however, they have not been studied properly with physiological methods. Methods We recorded electroencephalography (18 sensors), facial electromyography (corrugator supercilii and zygomaticus major), photoplethysmography, and skin conductance in 21 participants while watching and evaluating 8 short films (4 dramas and 4 comedies). Also, we used machine learning (CatBoost, SVR) to predict the exact rating of each film (from 1 to 10), based on all physiological indicators. In addition, we classified each film as low or high rated by our subjects (with Logistic Regression, KNN, decision tree, CatBoost, and SVC). Results The results showed that ratings did not differ between genres. Corrugator supercilii activity (“frowning” muscle) was larger when watching dramas; whereas zygomaticus major (“smiling” muscle) activity was larger during the watching of comedies. Of all somatic and vegetative markers, only zygomaticus major activity, PNN50, SD1/SD2 (heart rate variability parameters) positively correlated to the film ratings. The EEG engagement indices, beta/(alpha+theta) and beta/alpha correlated positively with the film ratings in the majority of sensors. Arousal (betaF3 + betaF4)/(alphaF3 + alphaF4), and valence (alphaF4/betaF4) - (alphaF3/betaF3) indices also correlated positively to film ratings. When we attempted to predict exact ratings, MAPE was 0.55. As for the binary classification, logistic regression yielded the best values (area under the ROC curve = 0.62) than other methods (0.51–0.60). Discussion Overall, we revealed EEG and peripheral markers, which reflect viewer ratings and can predict them to a certain extent. In general, high film ratings can reflect a fusion of high arousal and different valence, positive valence being more important. These findings broaden our knowledge about the physiological basis of viewer perception and can be potentially used at the stage of film production.
Repurposing agricultural waste as low-cost cultured meat scaffolds

Growing meat in vitro using tissue engineering and bioproduction techniques (cellular agriculture) has become an increasingly promising solution to the global food security challenge. Our lab has established methods to cultivate bovine muscle tissue on decellularized plants, representing a viable low-cost, sustainable method to grow meat on edible scaffolds. Most work in this area has focused on the use of edible plant materials (i.e., spinach leaves, apple, broccoli) with inherent economic value. Harvest waste such as corn husk or jackfruit represent abundant sources of cellulose for scaffold production and may be a viable alternative. The present study aims to investigate production of cultured meat through tissue engineering and bioproduction on decellularized, edible samples of corn husk and jackfruit rind. Corn husks and jackfruit rinds were exposed to immersion decellularization. DNA quantification and histological analysis demonstrated sufficient decellularization (0.17 ± 0.06 and 0.07 ± 0.00 ug DNA/g tissue for corn husk and jackfruit rinds, respectively). Following decellularization, corn husk scaffold stiffnesses decreased from 56.67±16.71 MPa to 12.95±2.43 MPa in fiber-aligned direction, while jackfruit decreased from 7.54 ±2.42 MPa to 2.47±1.47 MPa. Seeded scaffolds with bovine satellite cells (BSCs) (11.45±2.24 ug/ul lysate/Gram) and avian (QM7s) (12.90±1.99 ug/ul lysate/Gram) demonstrated increased protein yields on jackfruit scaffolds. QM7 cultured on corn husk scaffolds yielded increased protein but PBSCs seeded on corn husks did not yield protein content higher than controls (QM7 on corn husk: 16.28±3.55, PBSCs on corn husks: 9.57±1.56 ug/ul lysate/Gram, control: 6.35±1.43 ug/ul lysate/Gram). Additionally, cell transfer from scaffold to scaffold (bead-to-bead transfer) was observed on corn husk scaffolds in a dynamic environment. These results suggest that decellularized harvest waste scaffolds may aid in realization of cultured meat products that will contribute to a more robust and environmentally sustainable food supply.
Exploring potential applications of measles and rubella microarray patches (MR-MAPs): use case identification

Introduction Innovative vaccine products will be critical in helping to address the existing implementation barriers that have prevented the achievement of the measles and rubella (MR) vaccine coverage targets. Overcoming those barriers will be necessary to achieve the “Immunization Agenda 2030” goals. Microarray patches (MAPs), an innovative needle-free delivery device currently in clinical development, can be a potential game changer in this respect and contribute to the equitable delivery of vaccines in low- and middle-income countries and pandemic preparedness and response. Developing in-depth knowledge of the most desired and impactful uses of MRMAPs can prove critical to identifying the critical attributes of the target product profile, informing policy and adoption decisions, and helping to evaluate the potential public health and economic value of this technology. The first step in this process is the definition of the potential use cases for MR-MAPs, i.e., where and how this product is most likely to be used within the immunization programme. Methods By applying a design-based user-centric approach, we implemented a three-step process, including a desk review, a survey, and interviews, to define the most relevant use cases for MR MAPS. Results Six use cases have been identified as relevant across all different countries and immunization programme designs and validated by experts. Discussion The identified use cases have already informed the demand estimate for MR-MAPs and provided the foundation for developing an initial full vaccine value assessment. We believe that, in the future, they will be highly valuable in ensuring that the roll-out of this promising innovation is designed in a way that maximizes the impact, particularly in populations and countries that are most in need.
Stepped Hyperplane and Extension of the Three Distance Theorem

The three distance Theorem states that given a real number θ and an integer n, the fractional parts of θ, 2θ, . , nθ divide the unit interval [0, 1] into n + 1 intervals having three different lengths at most. Several two-dimensional extensions using triangulations instead of intervals already exist. We give a result improving these extensions. This result should be close to optimality.