Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity Analysis of the Dynamical Transmission and Control of Lassa Fever Virus

DOI: 10.9734/ARJOM/2018/37441 Editor(s): (1) Radoslaw Jedynak, Department of Computer Science and Mathematics, Kazimierz Pulaski University of Technology and Humanities, Poland. Reviewers: (1) Joshua Kiddy K. Asamoah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. (2) Timothy Terfa Ashezua, Federal University of Agriculture, Nigeria. (3) Grienggrai Rajchakit, Maejo University, Thailand. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain. org/review-history/24250
Seasonal Variations in Game Activity Profiles and Players' Neuromuscular Performance in Collegiate Division I Basketball: Non-conference vs. Conference Tournament

Basketball has a high demand on a player's neuromuscular system due to a high volume of explosive high-intensity actions. This study aimed to examine the seasonal variations on game demands and players' neuromuscular performance during the Non-Conference (NON-CONF) and Conference (CONF) seasons in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball. Seven NCAA Division I Basketball players' (20 ± 1.2 years, 1.95 ± 0.1 m, and 94 ± 15 kg) match activity profiles were tracked in 17 home games (7 NON-CONF; 10 CONF); furthermore, players performed a repeat hop test on a force platform the day before competition to assess neuromuscular performance. A t-test for paired samples was used to analyze the differences between NON-CONF and CONF. Results indicated no significant differences in Total Distance, Peak Speed, Acceleration, and Deceleration loads when comparing NON-CONF and CONF match-play. Regarding neuromuscular performance, Jump Height (p = 0.03; ES = 0.43) was negatively affected during CONF. Moreover, a trend toward a decline in Peak Force (p = 0.06; ES = 0.38) was found in CONF. Conversely, no differences were obtained regarding Reactive Strength Index and Contact Time. In conclusion, match-play demands remained constant across the season whilst neuromuscular outputs were inhibited during the CONF season.
Comparison of Environmental Control Strategies for Historic Buildings

ABSTRACT Different environmental control types (background heating, electric and wet humidistatic heating, dehumidification and air-conditioning) have been assessed in more than 60 historic buildings. Performance in terms of climate and corrosion rates achieved, and energy consumption, were measured. An intensive series of trials compared dehumidification and humidistatic heating for stores. Damage to the wall surfaces and surface evaporation rates were measured. The impact of two types of evaporation rate equipment on surface temperatures and airflows was assessed. Humidistatic heating was found to generate a greater distribution in temperature and relative humidity across the room. It also caused increased surface damage rates in buildings with sulphate salts. The surface evaporation rates and energy used were lower for dehumidification.
Risedronate to Prevent Bone Loss After Sleeve Gastrectomy: Study Design and Feasibility Report of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Mounting evidence implicates bariatric surgery as a cause of increased skeletal fragility and fracture risk. Bisphosphonate therapy reduces osteoporotic fracture risk and may be effective in minimizing bone loss associated with bariatric surgery. The main objective of this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT; Clinical Trial No. NCT03411902) was to determine the feasibility of recruiting, treating, and following 24 older patients who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy in a 6 month RCT examining the efficacy of 150‐mg once‐monthly risedronate (versus placebo) in the prevention of surgical weight‐loss–associated bone loss. Feasibility was defined as: (i) >30% recruitment yield, (ii) >80% retention, (iii) >80% pills taken, (iv) <20% adverse events (AEs), and (v) >80% participant satisfaction. Study recruitment occurred over 17 months. Seventy participants were referred, with 24 randomized (34% yield) to risedronate (n = 11) or placebo (n = 13). Average age was 56 ± 7 years, 83% were female (63% postmenopausal), and 21% were black. The risedronate group had a higher baseline BMI than the placebo group (48.1 ± 7.2 versus 41.9 ± 3.8 kg/m2). The 10‐year fracture risk was low (6.0% major osteoporotic fracture, 0.4% hip fracture); however, three individuals (12.5%, all risedronate group) were osteopenic at baseline. Twenty‐one participants returned for 6‐month follow‐up testing (88% retention) with all (n = 3) loss to follow‐up occurring in the risedronate group. Average number of pills taken among completers was 5.9 ± 0.4 and 6.0 ± 0.0 in the risedronate and placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.21), with active participants taking >80% of allotted pills. Five AEs (3.7% AE rate) were reported; one definitely related, four not related, and none serious. All participants reported high satisfaction with participation in the study. Use of bisphosphonates as a novel therapeutic to preserve bone density in patients who had undergone a sleeve gastrectomy appears feasible and well‐tolerated. Knowledge gained from this pilot RCT will be used to inform the design of an appropriately powered trial.
The Two Faces of Wheat

Wheat-based foods have been staple foods since about 10,000 years and constitute a major source of energy, dietary fiber, and micronutrients for the world population. The role of wheat in our diet, however, has recently been scrutinized by pseudoscientific books and media reports promoting the overall impression that wheat consumption makes people sick, stupid, fat, and addicted. Consequently, numerous consumers in Western countries have started to question their dietary habits related to wheat consumption and voluntarily decided to adopt a wheat-free diet without a medical diagnosis of any wheat-related disorder (WRD), such as celiac disease, wheat allergy, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. The aim of this review is to achieve an objective judgment of the positive aspects of wheat consumption as well as adverse effects for individuals suffering from WRDs. The first part presents wheat constituents and their positive nutritional value, in particular, the consumption of products from whole-grain flours. The second part is focused on WRDs that affect predisposed individuals and can be treated with a gluten-free or -reduced diet. Based on all available scientific knowledge, wheat consumption is safe and healthy for the vast majority of people. There is no scientific evidence to support that the general population would benefit from a wheat-free diet.
Impaired Topographical Organization of Functional Brain Networks in Parkinson’s Disease Patients With Freezing of Gait

Objective: This study aimed to explore alterations in the topological properties of the functional brain network in primary Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with freezing of gait (PD-FOG). Methods: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (Rs-fMRI) data were obtained in 23 PD-FOG patients, 33 PD patients without FOG (PD-nFOG), and 24 healthy control (HC) participants. The whole-brain functional connectome was constructed by thresholding the Pearson correlation matrices of 90 brain regions, and topological properties were analyzed by using graph theory approaches. The network-based statistics (NBS) method was used to determine the suprathreshold connected edges (P < 0.05; threshold T = 2.725), and statistical significance was estimated by using the non-parametric permutation method (5,000 permutations). Statistically significant topological properties were further evaluated for their relationship with clinical neurological scales. Results: The topological properties of the functional brain network in PD-FOG and PD-nFOG showed no abnormalities at the global level. However, compared with HCs, PD-FOG patients showed decreased nodal local efficiency in several brain regions, including the bilateral striatum, frontoparietal areas, visual cortex, and bilateral superior temporal gyrus, increased nodal local efficiency in the left gyrus rectus. When compared with PD-nFOG patients and HCs, PD-FOG showed increased betweenness centrality in the left hippocampus. Moreover, compared to HCs, both PD-FOG and PD-nFOG patients displayed reduced network connections by using the NBS method, mainly involving the sensorimotor cortex (SM), visual network (VN), default mode network (DMN), auditory network (AN), dorsal attention network (DAN), subcortical regions, and limbic network (LIM). The local node efficiency of the right temporal pole: superior temporal gyrus in PD-FOG patients was positively correlated with the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOGQ) scores. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the disrupted regional topological organization in PD-FOG patients, especially associated with damage to the subcortical regions and multiple cortical regions. Our results provide insights into the dysfunctional mechanisms of the relevant networks and indicate potential neuroimaging biomarkers of PD-FOG.
What is at stake in the information sphere? Anxieties about malign information influence among ordinary Swedes

ABSTRACT Scholars, states and organisations have warned that authoritarian regimes and other hostile actors are projecting information to inflict harm upon others. Yet, there is little agreement on the nature of this threat. This is mirrored in the plethora of labels in use, ranging from “disinformation” to “sharp power” and “information warfare”. In order to investigate this menace further, we turn our focus to ordinary people’s anxieties, since a better understanding of threat perceptions will also provide a better understanding of the problem. We conducted a comprehensive case study comprising focus group discussions (n: 97) and an extensive survey (n: 2046) among Swedish citizens. We asked: To what extent do people worry about information influence and why? What can this tell us about the nature of this problem or threat? The empirical results suggest that respondents were first and foremost worried about societal cohesion and democracy. They also identified a risk that information influence can undermine trust in societal institutions and the EU. Based on our findings, we suggest that “malign information influence” is an appropriate label to be used in future research. Finally, we propose directions for future systematic research on how malign information infuence is received and processed in different national contexts.
Why Not Just Features? Reconsidering Infants’ Behavior in Individuation Tasks

It counts as empirically proven that infants can individuate objects. Object individuation is assumed to be fundamental in the development of infants’ ontology within the object-first account. It crucially relies on an object-file (OF) system, representing both spatiotemporal (“where”) and categorical (“what”) information about objects as solid, cohesive bodies moving continuously in space and time. However, infants’ performance in tasks requiring them to use featural information to detect individuation violations appears to be at odds with the object-first account. In such cases, infants do not appear to be able to develop correct expectations about the numerosity of objects. Recently, proponents of the object-first account proposed that these individuation failures result from integration errors between the OF system and an additional physical reasoning system. We are going to argue that the predictions of a feature-based physical-reasoning (PR) system are sufficient for explaining infants’ behavior. The striking predictive power of the PR system calls into question the relevance of the OF system and, thereby, challenges the assumption that infants can individuate objects early on.
Mycorrhiza Fungus Rhizophagus intraradices Mediates Drought Tolerance in Eleusine coracana Seedlings

Affiliations: 4 Jaagriti Tyagi 5 1. Amity Institute of Microbial technology, 6 Amity University Uttar Pradesh, 7 Sector 125, Noida Express Way, 8 Noida, U.P 201313, India 9 Neeraj Shrivastava 10 1. Amity Institute of Microbial technology, 11 Amity University Uttar Pradesh, 12 Sector 125, Noida Express Way, 13 Noida, U.P 201313, India 14 A. K. Sharma 15 2. Department of Biological Sciences, 16 College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, 17 G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, 18 Pantnagar 263 145, India 19 Ajit Varma 20 1. Amity Institute of Microbial technology, 21 Amity University Uttar Pradesh, 22 Sector 125, Noida Express Way, 23 Noida, U.P 201313, India 24 Ramesh Namdeo Pudake, 25 3. Amity Institute of Nanotechnology, 26 Amity University Uttar Pradesh, 27 Sector 125, Noida Express Way, 28 Noida, U.P 201313, India 29 * Corresponding author, Email: rnpudake@amity.edu 30 Ph: 0091-7503149960 31 32 Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 3 May 2018 doi:10.20944/preprints201805.0064. v1
The role of Wnt signalling in development of coronary artery disease and its risk factors

The Wnt signalling pathways are composed of a highly conserved cascade of events that govern cell differentiation, apoptosis and cell orientation. Three major and distinct Wnt signalling pathways have been characterized: the canonical Wnt pathway (or Wnt/β-catenin pathway), the non-canonical planar cell polarity pathway and the non-canonical Wnt/Ca2+ pathway. Altered Wnt signalling pathway has been associated with diverse diseases such as disorders of bone density, different malignancies, cardiac malformations and heart failure. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. Atherosclerosis is a multi-step pathological process, which starts with lipid deposition and endothelial cell dysfunction, triggering inflammatory reactions, followed by recruitment and aggregation of monocytes. Subsequently, monocytes differentiate into tissue-resident macrophages and transform into foam cells by the uptake of modified low-density lipoprotein. Meanwhile, further accumulations of lipids, infiltration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and deposition of the extracellular matrix occur under the intima. An atheromatous plaque or hyperplasia of the intima and media is eventually formed, resulting in luminal narrowing and reduced blood flow to the myocardium, leading to chest pain, angina and even myocardial infarction. The Wnt pathway participates in all different stages of this process, from endothelial dysfunction to lipid deposit, and from initial inflammation to plaque formation. Here, we focus on the role of Wnt cascade in pathophysiological mechanisms that take part in coronary artery disease from both clinical and experimental perspectives.
How Shocks Affect International Reserves? A Quasi-Experiment of Earthquakes

We evaluate the change in international reserves in the aftermath of significant external shocks. We examine the response of international reserves to shocks by using a quasi-experimental setup and focusing on earthquakes. The estimation is done on a panel of 103 countries over the period 1979–2016. We find that in the five years following a large earthquake (i) countries exposed accumulate reserves, for precautionary reasons, (ii) trade openness is positively associated with the post-earthquake reserves accumulation, (iii) episodes of reserves depletion are observed in countries under the fixed exchange rate and/or inflation targeting regimes, and (iv) the patterns of reserves holding post-earthquake vary with a country’s income level.
An extreme cold event leads to community-wide convergence in lower temperature tolerance in a lizard community

Extreme climate events are predicted to increase in frequency and severity due to contemporary climate change. Recent studies have documented the evolutionary impacts of extreme events on single species, but no studies have yet investigated whether such events can drive community-wide patterns of trait shifts. On 22 January 2020, subtropical south Florida experienced an extreme cold episode during which air temperatures dropped below the lower thermal limit of resident lizard populations. In the week immediately after the cold event, we documented decreased lower thermal limits (CTmin) of six co-occurring lizard species that vary widely in ecology, body size and thermal physiology. Although cold tolerance of these species differed significantly before the cold snap, lizards sampled immediately after had converged on the same new, lower limit of thermal tolerance. Here, we demonstrate that extreme climate events can drive substantial and synchronous community-wide trait changes and provide evidence that tropical and subtropical ectotherms—often characterized as unable to withstand rapid changes in climatic conditions—can endure climatic conditions that exceed their physiological limits. Future studies investigating the mechanisms driving these trait shifts will prove valuable in understanding the ability of ectotherm communities to mitigate climate change.
PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES AGAINST SARS-CoV-2 IN PROFESSIONALS OF A PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY AT SAO PAULO, SP, BRAZIL

Background: Covid-19 Serology may document exposure and perhaps protection to the virus, and serological test may help understand epidemic dynamics. To evaluate previous exposure to the virus we estimated the prevalence of antibodies against-SARS-CoV-2 among HPs in Adolfo Lutz Institute, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods: This study was performed among professionals of Adolfo Lutz Institute in Sao Paulo, Brazil and some administrative areas of the Secretary of Health that shares common areas with the institute. We used a lateral flow immunoassay (rapid test) to detect IgG and IgM for SARS-CoV-2; positive samples were further evaluated using Roche Electrochemiluminescence assay and SARS-CoV-2 RNA by real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was also offered to participants. Results: A total of 406 HPs participated. Thirty five (8.6%) tested positive on rapid test and 32 these rapid test seropositive cases were confirmed by ECLIA. 43 HPs had SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected at a median of 33 days, and the three cases not reactive at Roche ECLIA had a previous positive RNA. Outsourced professionals (34% seropositive), males (15%) workers referring COVID-19 patients at home (22%) and those living farther form the institute tended to have higher prevalence of seropositivity, but in multivariable logistic analysis only outsourced workers and those with COVID patients at home remained independently associated to seropositivity. We observed no relation of seropositivity to COVID samples handling. Presence of at least one symptom was common but some clinical manifestations as anosmia/dysgeusia. Fatigue, cough and fever were associated to seropositivity. Conclusions: We documented a relatively high (8.6%) of anti-SARS-CoV-2 serological reactivity in this population, with higher rates among outsourced workers and those with referring cohabitation with COVID-19 patients. COVID samples handling was not related to increased seropositivity. Some symptoms how strong association to COVID-19 serology and may be used in scoring tools for screening or diagnosis in resort limited settings.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in a population from Veracruz (Southeastern Mexico).

Introduction/Aim: Recent studies have shown that seroprevalence is quite variable depending on the country, the population and the time of the pandemic in which the serological tests are performed. Here, we investigated the prevalence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in a population living in Veracruz City, Mexico. Methods: From of June 1 to July 31, 2020, the consecutive adult patients that attended 2 ambulatory diagnostic private practice centers for testing were included. Samples were run on the Abbott Architect instrument using the commercial Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay. The main outcome was seroprevalence. Demographics, previous infection to SARS-CoV-2 (according to a previous positive polymerase-chain reaction nasopharyngeal swab), self-suspicious of virus of infection (according to have in the previous 4 weeks either fever, headache, respiratory symptoms but not a confirmatory PCR) or no having symptoms were also evaluated. Results: A total of 2174 subjects were tested, included 53.6% women (mean age 41.8, range 18-98 years). One thousand and forty-one (52.5%) subjects were asymptomatic, 722 (33.2%) had suspicious of infection and 311 (14.3%) had previous infection. Overall, 642 of 2174 (29.5% [95% CI 27.59%-31.47%]) of our population were seropositive. Seropositivity among groups was 21.3% in asymptomatic, 23.4% in self-suspicious patients and 73.9% in previous infection patients. Conclusions: We found one of the highest seroprevalences reported for SARS-CoV-2 worldwide in asymptomatic subjects (21.3%) as well in subjects with self-suspicious of COVID-19 (23.4%). The number of infected subjects in our population is not encouraging and it should be interpreted with caution.
The Effect of Information on Market Activity: Evidence from Vehicle Recalls

Abstract We evaluate the effect of vehicle recalls on vehicle transactions in the second-hand market. Using a rich data set of Dutch vehicle registrations, we exploit the quasiexperimental variation in recalls across nearly identical cars. We find strong heterogeneities across market segments: transactions increased for cars with lower listed price or with defects, and decreased for those with higher price or no defects. Based on our theoretical model, this suggests that recalls increase sorting in low-end markets, yet exacerbate adverse selection in high-end markets. Our results shed light on the effect of information arrival in markets subject to uncertainty and information asymmetries.
Translating Research on Diabetes and Obesity in Pregnancy Into Prevention: The 2019 Norbert Freinkel Award Lecture

Epidemiological studies on the intergenerational transmission of hyperglycemia and obesity via in utero exposure have established the scientific foundation for the vicious cycle of diabetes and obesity. The findings compel us to address an urgent public health question: how do we break this vicious cycle and implement upstream prevention strategies that are feasible for patients and health care delivery systems? To address this question, it is necessary to work across a continuum of translational research from basic science, epidemiology, and efficacy trials to pragmatic trials, which, along with evaluations of health programs, may lead to implementation of positive changes in clinical care. Three strategies for translating research on diabetes and obesity in pregnancy into prevention are discussed: 1) identifying diagnostic criteria of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) practicable in clinical settings to implement treatment and prevention, 2) examining trends in the prevalence of diabetes in pregnancy and related complications across racial/ethnic groups to plan prevention efforts, and 3) developing and evaluating scalable upstream diabetes and obesity prevention interventions. Upstream preventive interventions aimed at breaking the vicious cycle are discussed. Areas of future research needed to break the vicious cycle are identified. Evaluating the effectiveness of programs for the management of pregnancy hyperglycemia is necessary to reduce complications. Understanding racial/ethnic differences in the pathophysiology of GDM and its complications will be important for risk stratification. Pragmatic trials in real-world clinical settings for upstream prevention are needed to break the vicious cycle at the population level. Finally, leveraging basic science with intergenerational studies will inform targeted interventions.