Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of the Rome severity classification of COPD exacerbations in a real-world cohort of hospitalised patients

Background Recently, the Rome classification was proposed in which objective and readily measurable variables were integrated to mark exacerbations of COPD (ECOPD) severity. The aim of this study is to investigate the distribution of a real-world patient population with hospitalised ECOPD according to the current classification across the newly proposed severity classification. We assume that a significant proportion of hospitalised patients will have a mild or moderate event. Methods The Rome classification was applied to a cohort of 364 COPD patients hospitalised at the Department of Respiratory Medicine of Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC) with a severe ECOPD. Differences in in-hospital, 30- and 90-day mortality were compared between mild, moderate and severe ECOPD according to the new classification. Moreover, data were stratified by the different severity classes and compared regarding general disease characteristics and clinical parameters. Results According to the Rome proposal, 52 (14.3%) patients had a mild ECOPD, 204 (56.0%) a moderate and 108 (29.7%) a severe ECOPD. In-hospital mortality in mild, moderate and severe events was 3.8%, 6.9% and 13.9%, respectively. Most clinical parameters indicated a significantly worse condition in patients classified in the severe group, compared to those in mild or moderate groups. Conclusion Most of the events, traditionally all classified as severe because of the hospitalisation, were classified as moderate, while almost 15% were mild. The results of this study provide insight into the heterogeneity of hospitalised ECOPD and show that the newly proposed Rome criteria can differentiate between events with different short-term mortality rates. Applying the newly proposed Rome criteria to a real-world cohort of hospitalised COPD patients provides insight into the heterogeneity of exacerbations and shows that these criteria can differentiate between events with different short-term mortality rates https://bit.ly/3l8DPep
Influence of a multiplicative noise on the threshold of helical dynamo

We study the effect of stochastic velocity fluctuations on the generation of magnetic field by a helical flow made of a mean steady flow plus a fluctuating flow assumed to behave like a Gaussian white noise. We calculate analytically, the threshold shift and the frequency shift induced by fluctuations of small amplitude that are geometrically optimized. It is found that the threshold is lowered, provided the steady part of the flow represented by a solid body screw motion with constant pitch satisfies the condition where m and k, respectively, are the axial and azimuthal wavenumbers of the magnetic field such that m = −k = 1. When there is no mean flow we extend the analysis to fluctuations with a finite correlation time and find that the dynamo threshold is higher than for a steady flow with the same geometry.
Impact of a nutrition education intervention on nutrition-related self-efficacy and locus of control among women in Lesotho

Introduction Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in the world with high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition. The aim was to evaluate the impact of a nutrition education intervention informed by self-efficacy and locus of control theories among women in Lesotho. Methods A randomized pre-test-post-test design was adopted to implement a systematically designed nutrition education intervention in women from Maseru and Berea districts in Lesotho. Women from selected villages were randomly assigned to comparison and intervention groups. Baseline and post assessments were conducted before, and 6 months after the intervention. Nutrition-related self-efficacy and locus of control were assessed using a semi-structured knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices (KABP) questionnaire. Results At baseline, 444 women aged 19–60 years were included. After the intervention, 259 women in the comparison (n = 105) and intervention groups (n = 154) were interviewed. Self-efficacy beliefs that improved significantly in the intervention group but not in the comparison group included increased confidence that they could eat a healthy diet every day [95% CI for the percentage difference (61.5; 76.7)]; an improved ability to secure several healthy foods in the home; increased confidence in engaging in physical activity [95% CI (29.5; 46.6)]; reducing the amount of salt they used in food [95% CI (2.1; 14.0)]; and compiling a budget for food purchases [95% CI (56.1; 72.1)]. Regarding locus of control, the belief in a personal capacity to take charge of one's health through the production and consumption of healthy food improved in the intervention group [95% CI (12.4; 25.0)] but not in the comparison group [95% CI (15.9; 0.4)]. At follow-up, a significantly larger percentage of participants in the intervention group also believed that they could take control of their health and that they could prevent some illnesses by the food they eat. Conclusion A nutrition education intervention that is systematically planned and framed on selected theories of health behavior improved nutrition-related beliefs in self-efficacy and locus of control.
Work Team Diversity and Work Team Performance

Factors that affect work team performance are the main topic of numerous research works that bring understanding of how teams can operate effectively in a constantly changing environment. The focus of this paper is on the relationship between work team diversity and team performance. The aim is to evaluate the influence of various work team diversity categories and characteristics on team performance. The research is executed on the sample of more than 940 sales work teams within international corporation with the global presence. Performance of sales work teams is measured by achieved revenue on country level and consequently consolidated in a form of global performance ranking. Linear regression is used to analyse the impact of work team diversity characteristics on team performance. The results confirm that team performance is influenced by gender, national, and mother tongue diversity of team members, but also by seniority and stability of work team. Team size and job specialization seem to be without any significant impact on team performance.
Effective Knowledge Transmission and Learning in Agriculture: Evidence from a Randomised Training Experiment in Ethiopia

In this article, we discuss a study to identify an effective agricultural knowledge transfer channel for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, using a randomised training experiment together with focus group discussions, key informant interviews and a survey. We also examine the factors that determine learning among smallholder farmers. Our results revealed that involving extension agents and model farmers leads to above-average knowledge transfer. However, learning from extension agents is significantly more effective than learning from model farmers. Additionally, we found that trust, effort, and locus of control are important determinants of learning. On the other hand, we found no evidence that farmers exert more effort when they are trained by extension agents, hence this rules out effort as a mechanism for higher learning from the extension agents. Based on these results, we conclude that, on average, the extension agent system is more effective at conveying agricultural knowledge than model farmers are and that policy-makers can use the two channels as complements rather than substitutes.
Innovations in mandibular advancement splint therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea

Mandibular advancement splint (MAS) therapy emerged as an effective therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in the mid 1990s, and is now the leading treatment alternative for OSA. Since its inception, the field has seen a suite of revisions and advances in relation to design and customisation, fabrication, titration methods, response prediction models and the integration of data collection technology. This paper reviews these current and emerging innovations in MAS therapy and their impact upon sleep apnoea management.
Maternal immunization with pneumococcal surface protein A provides the immune memories of offspring against pneumococcal infection

Introduction Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is one of the most widespread pathogens in the world and one of the largest infectious causes of infant mortality. Although current vaccines have various benefits, antibiotic resistance and the inability to vaccinate infants less than one year old demands the development of new protective strategies. One strategy, ‘maternal immunization’, is to protect infants by passive immunity from an immunized mother, although its mechanism is still not fully understood. Materials and methods The current study aimed to acquire immunity against S. pneumoniae in infants by maternal immunization with pneumococcal common antigen, pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA). Four-week-old female mice were immunized with recombinant PspA intranasally twice a week for three weeks. Females were mated with age-matched males after immunization, and delivered offspring. Results The week-old offspring derived from and fostered by immunized mothers had more anti-PspA-specific antibody producing cells in the spleen than those derived from sham-immunized mothers. The offspring were raised up to four weeks old and were subcutaneously stimulated with recombinant PspA. The levels of anti-PspA IgG in sera after stimulation were significantly higher in the offspring derived from the immunized mothers and the induced specific antibody to PspA showed protective efficacy against systemic pneumococcal infection. Discussion Maternal immunization is suggested to be able to provide a sustained immune memory to offspring. The current study would be a milestone in the field of maternal immunization toward a universal pneumococcal vaccine.
On the structure of nonlinear polynomial models: higher order correlation functions, spectra, and term clusters

A framework is established which relates the structure of nonlinear polynomial models to the dynamical properties of the estimation data. Such a framework uses the concepts of term clusters, higher order correlation functions and higher order spectra. The results discussed offer a new way of understanding and interpreting term clusters in structure selection problems for nonlinear polynomial models. A numerical example which uses real data is included to illustrate the new results.
A quality analysis of thyroid cancer videos available on TikTok

Background Thyroid cancer (TC) is becoming an increasing public health problem worldwide. TikTok is a global video-sharing social media app, which can be a source of information on TC. However, the information quality of these videos remains unknown. Methods A search of TikTok was performed with the term “甲状腺癌”and “甲状腺肿瘤” (“thyroid cancer” and “thyroid neoplasm” in Chinese). Videos included were independently assessed using six predefined questions for content scores and DISCERN scale for information quality, while the video popularity index (VPI) was also calculated. A correlation analysis was performed among duration, presence of animation, VPI, DISCERN scores, and content scores. Results A total of 56 videos were finally included, of which 49 were uploaded by physicians, 4 by health organizations, and 3 by hospitals. While 43 were real content videos, 13 were animated. The mean of DISCERN score and content score was 3.44 ± 0.72 and 5.19 ± 0.95, respectively. Good consistency was found between the two reviewers in terms of both DISCERN scores and content scores. The video duration and presence of animation were positively correlated with VPI, while DISCERN scores and content scores were not correlated with VPI. Conclusion The overall quality of TC-related videos was satisfactory, although the quality varies greatly depending on the type of source. Patients should be cautious when using TikTok as a source of TC-related information.
Time-dependent two-dimensional detonation: the interaction of edge rarefactions with finite-length reaction zones

A theory of time-dependent two-dimensional detonation is developed for an explosive with a finite-thickness reaction zone. A representative initial–boundary-value problem is treated that illustrates how the planar shock of an initially one-dimensional detonation becomes non-planar in response to the action of an edge rarefaction that is generated at the explosive's lateral surface. The solution of this time-dependent problem has a wave-hierarchy structure that at late times includes a weakly two-dimensional hyperbolic region and a fully two-dimensional parabolic region. The wave head of the rarefaction is carried by the hyperbolic region. We show that the shock locus is analytic at the wave head. The dynamics of the final approach to two-dimensional steady-state detonation is controlled by Burgers’ equation for the shock locus. We also present some results concerning the stability of the solutions to our problem.
Parallel High-Order FE-BI-MLFMA for Scattering by Large and Deep Coated Cavities Loaded with Obstacles

A parallelization approach of the finite element-boundary integral-multilevel fast multipole algorithm (FE-BI-MLFMA) is presented and implemented for scattering by large and deep coated cavities loaded with obstacles. Numerical experiments demonstrate the parallel efficiency of this parallelization approach. The capability of the parallel FE-BI-MLFMA is demonstrated by computing scattering by a big and deep brick cavity with 15λ×15λ×100λ. A three-layer meshing approach with the aid of commercial software 'ANSYS' is presented to facilitate the FE-BI-MLFMA to efficiently analyze cavities loaded with complex obstacles. Numerical examples of complex cavities are performed to validate the meshing approach. Comparisons of numerical results and measured data verify the accuracy of the FE-BI-MLFMA for complex cavities.
How much would reduced emigration mitigate ageing in Norway?

Population ageing is a topic of great concern in many countries. To counteract the negative effects of ageing, increased fertility or immigration are often proposed as demographic remedies. Changed emigration is, however, rarely mentioned. We explore whether reduced emigration could mitigate ageing in a country like Norway. Using cohort-component methods, we create hypothetical future demographic scenarios with lower emigration rates, and we present (prospective) old-age dependency ratios, population growth and shares of immigrants. We also estimate howmuch fertility and immigrationwould have to change to yield the same effects. In different scenarios, emigration is reduced for the total population and for subgroups, while also taking into account that reduced emigration of natives will entail reduced return migration. Our results show that even a dramatic 50% decrease in annual emigration would mitigate ageing only slightly, by lowering the old-age dependency ratio in 2060 from 0.54 to 0.52. This corresponds to the anti-ageing effect of 15% higher fertility, or one-quarter extra child per woman.
Pharmacomicrobiomics and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A novel perspective towards possible treatment

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a major driver of mortality worldwide, is more likely to develop other cardiometabolic risk factors, ultimately leading to diabetes-related mortality. Although a set of measures including lifestyle intervention and antidiabetic drugs have been proposed to manage T2DM, problems associated with potential side-effects and drug resistance are still unresolved. Pharmacomicrobiomics is an emerging field that investigates the interactions between the gut microbiome and drug response variability or drug toxicity. In recent years, increasing evidence supports that the gut microbiome, as the second genome, can serve as an attractive target for improving drug efficacy and safety by manipulating its composition. In this review, we outline the different composition of gut microbiome in T2DM and highlight how these microbiomes actually play a vital role in its development. Furthermore, we also investigate current state-of-the-art knowledge on pharmacomicrobiomics and microbiome’s role in modulating the response to antidiabetic drugs, as well as provide innovative potential personalized treatments, including approaches for predicting response to treatment and for modulating the microbiome to improve drug efficacy or reduce drug toxicity.
Global Morrey Regularity of Strong Solutions to the Dirichlet Problem for Elliptic Equations with Discontinuous Coefficients

Abstract Well-posedness is proved in the space W2, p, λ(Ω)∩W1, p0(Ω) for the Dirichlet problem -- EQUATION OMITTED -- if the principal coefficients aij(x) of the uniformly elliptic operator belong to VMO∩L∞(Ω).
Magnetic Structure of SrCo3P4O14 Determined from Neutron Powder Diffraction Results

The spin system in SrCo 3 P 4 O 14 was reported to be a J 1 – J 1 – J 2 trimerized spin-3/2 chain. The J 1 and J 2 exchange interactions were antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic, respectively. However, in spite of expectation for the trimerized spin chain, a 1/3 quantum magnetization plateau does not appear. To investigate the sign of exchange interactions, we determined the magnetic structure using neutron powder diffraction measurements. Both the J 1 and J 2 exchange interactions are ferromagnetic. The previously reported spin system is incorrect. Therefore, no 1/3 quantum magnetization plateau exists.
Hall effect and fine structures in magnetic reconnection with high plasma β

Magnetic reconnection with various plasma β (the ratio of plasma pressure to the magnetic pressure) is studied numerically using a 2.5 dimensional Hall magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) code developed from a multistep implicit scheme. The initial state of the Hall MHD simulation is an equilibrium Harris sheet with Lc=0.5di (where Lc is the half-width of the equilibrium current layer and di is the ion inertial length) and a zero guide field (i.e., By0=0 at t=0). Driven by a constant boundary inflow a quasisteady fast reconnection occurs in the plasma with a low uniform resistivity. The out-of-plane magnetic field component By is then spontaneously generated and its quadrupolar structure is shown around the X point. It is demonstrated by the comparing studies that the reconnection dynamics is controlled by the Hall effect and the effect of scalar electron pressure gradient is negligible in the generalized Ohm’s law. It is also found that the openness of the magnetic separatrix angle and associated quadrupolar By s.
Electronic structure of the high-temperature oxide superconductors

Since the discovery of superconductivity above 30 K by Bednorz and Mueller in the La copper oxide system, the critical temperature has been raised to 90 K in YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/ and to 110 and 125 K in Bi-based and Tl-based copper oxides, respectively. In the two years since this Nobel-prize-winning discovery, a large number of electronic structure calculations have been carried out as a first step in understanding the electronic properties of these materials. In this paper these calculations (mostly of the density-functional type) are gathered and reviewed, and their results are compared with the relevant experimental data. The picture that emerges is one in which the important electronic states are dominated by the copper d and oxygen p orbitals, with strong hybridization between them. Photon, electron, and positron spectroscopies provide important information about the electronic states, and comparison with electronic structure calculations indicates that, while many features can be interpreted in terms of existing calculations, self-energy corrections (''correlations'') are important for a more detailed understanding. The antiferromagnetism that occurs in some regions of the phase diagram poses a particularly challenging problem for any detailed theory. The study of structural stability, lattice dynamics, and electron-phonon coupling in themore » copper oxides is also discussed. Finally, a brief review is given of the attempts so far to identify interaction constants appropriate for a model Hamiltonian treatment of many-body interactions in these materials. « less
ANALYSIS OF FLUID FLOW IN CONSTRICTED TUBES AND DUCTS USING BODY-FITTED NON-STAGGERED GRIDS

SUMMARY A finite volume method for the calculation of laminar and turbulent fluid flows inside constricted tubes and ducts is described. The selected finite volume method is based on curvilinear non-orthogonal co-ordinates (body-fitted co-ordinates) and a non-staggered grid arrangement. The grids are either generated by transfinite interpolation or an elliptic grid generator. The method is employed for calculation of laminar flows through a tube, a converging-diverging duct and different constricted tubes by both a two- and a three-dimensional computer program. In addition, turbulent flow through an axisymmetric constricted tube is calculated. Both the power law scheme and the second-order upwind scheme are used. The calculated results are compared with the experimental data and with other numerical solutions.
A Systematic Review Discussing the Sustainability of Men and Women’s Work in Industry 4.0: Are Technologies Gender-Neutral?

The introduction of new technologies at work in the context of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) has led to the emergence of risks for health, even if they are still underexplored. However, their understanding does not usually adopt a gender perspective, even though the gendered division of work has differentiated health outcomes. As sustainability is at the top of the political agenda and in consideration of the gender segregation that exists at work, it is pertinent to question how I4.0 technologies are reconfiguring workplaces and impacting women and men’s health. Following a systematic review approach using the PRISMA protocol, this study explores how gender is integrated in I4.0-themed studies, exploring employment, work, and health. After the identification and screening phases were completed, a total of 16 papers were included. Literature exploring technological transformation from a gender point of view is scarce, as well as research developed in concrete work contexts. The literature in this domain tends to address employment prospects, and women are generally described as being more at risk for job loss through automation processes. Health risks in the literature found in this review were mostly neither considered nor differentiated for women and men. Future studies should consider the specificities of different work contexts through the development of case studies in different activity sectors so that the risks for women and men can become visible. This way, interventions at a work organization level are enabled to create more sustainable working conditions.