Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Star in the storm: percutaneous stellate ganglion blockade for drug-refractory electrical storm in the emergency department

Electrical storms are an increasingly common presentation, especially in the developing world, where the incidence of coronary artery disease continues to increase. Prompt resuscitation and emergency care for these patients are critical and can determine whether they survive or not. We would like to highlight two scenarios where refractory ventricular arrhythmias were successfully treated with ultrasound-guided (USG) stellate ganglion block (SGB). Informed consents for publication of the research details and clinical images were obtained from the patients. The first was a 68-year-old female patient who presented to the emergency department (ED) with acute-onset palpitations and unresponsiveness for the last 1 hour. She had a history of ex-tensive anterior wall myocardial infarction and had undergone percutaneous coronary interven-tion 2 years prior. She had a history of similar palpitations in the previous 1 year, for which she received electrical cardioversion. She also had a history of high-grade fever with a cough over the 2 days prior to presentation. Her other comorbidities included hypothyroidism, diabetes mel-litus, and hypertension. On arrival, she was tachycardic with a heart rate of 220 beats/min and without recordable blood pressure. Her electrocardiogram revealed a monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) that was promptly cardioverted at 100 J and returned to a normal sinus rhythm. Hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia were excluded as the triggering etiology on laboratory investigations. She experienced another episode of unstable VT, for which multiple episodes of cardioversion at 200 J failed. She was subsequently treated with amiodarone (bolus and infusion) and propranolol. After no response, the patient was administered intravenous lidocaine 1.5
Horizontal Gene Transfer, Fitness Costs and Mobility Shape the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance Genes into Experimental Populations of Acinetobacter Baylyi

Abstract Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is important for microbial evolution, but how evolutionary forces shape the frequencies of horizontally transferred genetic variants in the absence of strong selection remains an open question. In this study, we evolve laboratory populations of Acinetobacter baylyi (ADP1) with HGT from two clinically relevant strains of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (AB5075 and A9844). We find that DNA can cross the species barrier, even without strong selection, and despite substantial DNA sequence divergence between the two species. Our results confirm previous findings that HGT can drive the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) without selection for that antibiotic, but not for all of the resistance genes present in the donor genome. We quantify the costs and benefits of horizontally transferred variants and use whole population sequencing to track the spread of ARGs from HGT donors into antibiotic-sensitive recipients. We find that even though most ARGs are taken up by populations of A. baylyi, the long-term fate of an individual gene depends both on its fitness cost and on the type of genetic element that carries the gene. Interestingly, we also found that an integron, but not its host plasmid, is able to spread in A. baylyi populations despite its strong deleterious effect. Altogether, our results show how HGT provides an evolutionary advantage to evolving populations by facilitating the spread of non-selected genetic variation including costly ARGs.
The Rate of star formation in normal disk galaxies

Photometry of the integrated H.cap alpha. emission in a large sample of field spiral and irregular galaxies has been used to obtain quantitative estimates of the total star formation rate (SFR) in the galaxies. The photoionization properties of a stellar population have been modeled for a variety of choices for the initial mass function (IMF). The observed UBV colors and H.cap alpha. emission equivalent widths place tight constraints on the slope of the IMF between 1 M /sub sun/ and 50 M /sub sun/ in the galaxies; excellent agreement with the observed galaxy colors and H.cap alpha. emission is obtained with models using an IMF slope close to Salpeter's original value. The properties of late-type galaxies are not well reproduced by the Miller-Scalo solar neighborhood IMF. The extinction-corrected star formation rates are large, as high as 20 M /sub sun/ yr/sup -1/ in giant Sc galaxies (H/sub 0/ = 50 km s/sup -1/ Mpc/sup -1/). The current rates in late-type galaxies are comparable to the past rates averaged over the age of the disk; late-type disk galaxies have evolved at a nearly constant rate, confirming earlier models by Searle, Sargent, and Bagnuolo. Little evidence is found for a strong correlationmore » between the SFR and average gas density; if the SFR proportional rho/sup n/, then the exponent n must be much less than 1, corroborating earlier studies of star formation in the solar neighborhood by Miller, Scalo, and Twarog. Comparison of the present SFRs with the remaining supply of interstellar gas yields consumption time scales of only a few times 10/sup 9/ years in most cases, in agreement with the model estimates of Larson, Tinsley, and Caldwell. « less
Cholesterol-rich domain formation mediated by ZO proteins is essential for tight junction formation

Significance Tight junctions (TJs) are membrane structures formed by the polymerization of the palmitoylated membrane protein claudin. It has been canonically thought that claudin polymerization is driven by the protein–protein interaction with the scaffolding proteins, ZO. In this study, we reveal that the ZO proteins’ contribution to TJ formation is not limited to their scaffolding function; just as importantly, they function as an organizer of cholesterol-rich membrane domains in the vicinity of apical junctional complexes (AJCs). This enables claudins to accumulate through the affinity between their palmitoylated moiety and the cholesterol-enriched membrane.
A study on the prediction of the mechanical properties of nanoparticulate composites using the homogenization method with the effective interface concept

A sequential multi‐scale homogenization method combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is developed for the mechanical characterization of nanoparticulate composites. In order to characterize the particle‐size effect of nanocomposites, the effective interface, which has been adopted in continuum micromechanics approaches, is considered as the characteristic phase. Owing to the existence of the interface and the size‐dependent elastic modulus that is observed from MD simulations, an analysis of the mechanical properties of nanocomposites with continuum micromechanics requires careful consideration of the particle‐concentration effect. Therefore, this study focuses on hierarchical information transfer from the molecular model to the continuum model through the homogenization method in lieu of an analytical micromechanics bridging method. Using the present multi‐scale homogenization method, the elastic properties of the effective interface are numerically evaluated and compared with the analytically obtained micromechanics solutions. In addition, the overall elastic modulus of nanocomposites is obtained from the present model and compared with the results of MD simulation, the micromechanics bridging model, and finite‐element analysis (FEA). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expected climate change consequences and their role in explaining individual risk judgments

This study examines what individuals expect will be the most important impacts of climate change on their respective countries, and how these expectations relate to individual risk judgments. Open-ended responses from representative samples in four European countries (each n > 1000), were sorted into six categories: expectations of climate change leading to changes in attitudes and goals, human activities, emissions and pollution, environmental changes, impacts on humans, or few or no impacts. The results showed that the most frequently mentioned climate change impacts were related to environmental changes. Although most results were consistent across the UK, Norway, Germany, and France, some differences were identified. For example, respondents in the UK and Norway more frequently mentioned changes in human actions and activities among the most important climate change impacts. We also found differences between demographic groups; men, those in the oldest age groups, and those placing themselves further right on the political spectrum were more likely to expect few or no consequences of climate change on their country. Additional analyses examined relationships between the six impact categories and two different measures of individual risk judgments. Those expecting climate change to lead to changes in attitudes and goals, environmental changes, or impacts on humans reported higher levels of worry about climate change and expected more negative effects on their country. Climate change worry, but not the evaluation of how positive or negative effects will be on one’s country, was further related to the number of consequences mentioned in response to the open-ended question and the specificity conveyed.
Academic Achievement and Satisfaction Among University Students With Specific Learning Disabilities: The Roles of Soft Skills and Study-Related Factors

Understanding the individual qualities sustaining students with and without specific learning disabilities (SLDs) is key to supporting their academic achievement and well-being. In this study, we investigated the differences between students with and without SLDs in terms of intraindividual factors (soft skills and study-related factors), academic and nonacademic outcomes (achievement, academic and life satisfaction), and the relationships between such intraindividual factors and the three outcomes. A total of 318 students (79 males; Mage = 22.7; SD = 3.56; age range = 19–45 years; 147 with SLDs) completed self-reported questionnaires and a measure of fluid intelligence. The results showed that students with SLDs reported higher creativity but lower academic self-efficacy, study resilience, and academic achievement, with small-to-medium effect sizes. In both groups, achievement significantly positively related to academic self-efficacy and negatively to creativity. Life satisfaction was positively related to study resilience; and academic satisfaction was related to critical thinking, curiosity, and academic self-efficacy. Nurturing such intraindividual factors can benefit students with and without SLDs.
The SET oncoprotein promotes estrogen-induced transcription by facilitating establishment of active chromatin

Significance The estrogen receptor ERα regulates expression of genes essential for growth of ERα+ breast cancer. Estrogen-mediated transcription is regulated by epigenetic changes to histones and chromatin architecture. Here, we demonstrate that the SET oncoprotein, an ATP-independent histone chaperone, whose functions in oncogenesis are not well understood, critically regulates ERα-mediated transcription by helping establish an active chromatin structure at key estrogen-regulated promoters and enhancers. SET knock down strongly inhibits estrogen-induced transcription. Because SET interacts with other transcription factors, including p53 and glucocorticoid, androgen, and thyroid receptors, SET also likely regulates transcription of other hormone-responsive genes. Our findings suggest that antagonizing SET is a potential therapeutic strategy for ERα+ breast cancer.
Development and validation of a practical machine learning model to predict sepsis after liver transplantation

Abstract Background Postoperative sepsis is one of the main causes of mortality after liver transplantation (LT). Our study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for postoperative sepsis within 7 d in LT recipients using machine learning (ML) technology. Methods Data of 786 patients received LT from January 2015 to January 2020 was retrospectively extracted from the big data platform of Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Seven ML models were developed to predict postoperative sepsis. The area under the receiver-operating curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and f1-score were evaluated as the model performances. The model with the best performance was validated in an independent dataset involving 118 adult LT cases from February 2020 to April 2021. The postoperative sepsis-associated outcomes were also explored in the study. Results After excluding 109 patients according to the exclusion criteria, 677 patients underwent LT were finally included in the analysis. Among them, 216 (31.9%) were diagnosed with sepsis after LT, which were related to more perioperative complications, increased postoperative hospital stay and mortality after LT (all p < .05). Our results revealed that a larger volume of red blood cell infusion, ascitic removal, blood loss and gastric drainage, less volume of crystalloid infusion and urine, longer anesthesia time, higher level of preoperative TBIL were the top 8 important variables contributing to the prediction of post-LT sepsis. The Random Forest Classifier (RF) model showed the best overall performance to predict sepsis after LT among the seven ML models developed in the study, with an AUC of 0.731, an accuracy of 71.6%, the sensitivity of 62.1%, and specificity of 76.1% in the internal validation set, and a comparable AUC of 0.755 in the external validation set. Conclusions Our study enrolled eight pre- and intra-operative variables to develop an RF-based predictive model of post-LT sepsis to assist clinical decision-making procedure. Key Messages Postoperative sepsis is one of the main causes of mortality after liver transplantation (LT). Our results revealed that a larger volume of red blood cell infusion, ascitic removal, blood loss and gastric drainage, less volume of crystalloid infusion and urine, longer anesthesia time, higher level of preoperative TBIL were the top 8 important variables contributing to the prediction of post-LT sepsis. The Random Forest Classifier (RF) model showed the best overall performance to predict sepsis after LT in our study, which could assist in the clinical decision-making procedure.
Checkpoint blockade and BRAF/MEK therapy in the therapeutic setting improved the overall survival after sentinel node biopsy: A retrospective study comparing patients with primary care between 1998‐2009 and 2010‐2017

Immunotherapies using checkpoint blockade and BRAF/MEK therapies have improved overall survival (OS) in patients with unresectable melanoma metastases. In this retrospective study, we aimed to demonstrate the resulting increase in melanoma‐specific survival (MSS) and OS after the excision of primary melanomas (≥1 mm thick) and sentinel lymph node (SN) biopsy (SNB). Using Kaplan‐Meier estimates and Cox models, we compared two consecutive cohorts. Patients in cohort 1 (N = 518) underwent SNB between 1998 and 2009, and patients in cohort 2 (N = 460) between 2010 and 2017, when checkpoint blockade and BRAF/(MEK) inhibition became available for the treatment of unresectable relapses. The median follow‐up times were 120 and 73 months, respectively. While recurrence‐free and distant metastasis‐free survival rates remained very similar, MSS and OS increased in favor of cohort 2. The estimated 5‐year OS rate of SN‐positive patients increased by 14.3% (78.5% vs 64.2%, logrank test: P = .005). The MSS benefit was significant even with low SN tumor burden (metastasis diameter < 1 mm). On multivariate analyses, the risk‐reduction in favor of cohort 2 was significant in the total population and in the SN‐negative and SN‐positive subgroups. In SN‐positive patients, besides the availability of modern therapies, SN metastasis diameter and ulceration were independent factors of MSS and OS. Treatment of unresectable melanoma recurrences with modern drug therapies results in significantly higher survival rates in a population with SNB. The survival benefit measured from primary melanoma affects both the SN‐positive and SN‐negative subpopulations.
The pandemic and changes in early career researchers’ career prospects, research and publishing practices

Introduction As part of the Harbnger-2 project, this study aimed to discover the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on junior researchers’ work-life, career prospects, research and publishing practices and networking. Methods An online international survey of 800 early career researchers (ECRs) was conducted in 2022. A questionnaire was developed based on three rounds of interviews and distributed using multiple channels including publishers, social media, and direct email to ECRs. Results The impact of the pandemic on career prospects, morale, job security, productivity, ability to network and collaborate, and quality and speed of peer review has on the whole been more negative than positive. A quarter of ECRs shifted their research focus to pandemic-related topics and half of those who did, benefited largely due to increased productivity and impact. The majority worked remotely/from home and more than two-thirds of those who did so benefitted from it. While virtual or hybrid conferences have been embraced by the majority of ECRs, around a third still preferred face-to-face only conferences. The use of library online platforms, Sci-Hub, ResearchGate, Google Scholar and smartphone to search and access full-text papers increased. ECRs prioritised journals with fast submission procedures for the publishing of their papers and spent more time on increasing the visibility of their research. Fees were a problem for publishing open access. Conclusion Although, generally, the pandemic negatively impacted many aspects of ECRs’ work-life, certain research areas and individuals benefited from being more appreciated and valued, and, in some cases, resulted in increased resources, better productivity and greater impact. Changes, such as the use of digital technologies and remote working created new opportunities for some ECRs. While continuing work flexibility and hybrid conferences might benefit some ECRs, institutions should also take measures to help those ECRs whose career and productivity have been adversely impacted.
Management of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the ICU: An Observational Study From the OUTCOMEREA Database, 1997–2018

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to describe changes in the management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) by ICUs and patient outcomes. DESIGN: We extracted data from the OutcomeRea database concerning patients admitted for AECOPD between 1997 and 2018. We analyzed trends in the use of ventilatory support, corticosteroid therapy, antibiotic therapy, and patient survival. SETTING: ICUs at 32 French sites. PATIENTS: One thousand eight hundred sixteen patients in the database had a diagnosis of AECOPD. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Over time, there was a reduction in the prescription of corticosteroids and antibiotics. In a time-series analysis, these changes in practice were not linked with ICU mortality. The proportion of patients treated with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) also gradually declined (from 51% between 1997 and 2002 to 35% between 2013 and 2018) with an association between decrease in IMV use and reduction in ICU mortality in a time series analysis. Rates of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) failure decreased with an increase in NIV use to support weaning from IMV. There was a reduction in the median ICU length of stay (from 8 d in 1997–2002 to 4 d in 2013–2018) and in the median total duration of hospitalization (from 23 d in 1997–2002 to 14 d in 2013–2018). We observed an improvement in prognosis, with decreases in overall hospital mortality (from 24% between 1997 and 2002 to 15% between 2013 and 2018), ICU mortality (from 14% between 1997 and 2002 to 10% between 2013 and 2018), and 90-day mortality (from 41% between 1997 and 2002 to 22% between 2013 and 2018). CONCLUSIONS: The length of stay and mortality of patients with AECOPD admitted to ICUs has decreased over the last 20 years, with a wider use of NIV and a reduction in antibiotic and corticosteroid prescriptions.
Multiple factors co-limit short-term in situ soil carbon dioxide emissions

Soil respiration is a major source of atmospheric CO2. If it increases with warming, it will counteract efforts to minimize climate change. To improve understanding of environmental controls over soil CO2 emission, we applied generalized linear modeling to a large dataset of in situ measurements of short-term soil respiration rate, with associated environmental attributes, which was gathered over multiple years from four locations that varied in climate, soil type, and vegetation. Soil respiration includes many CO2-producing processes: we theorized that different environmental factors could limit each process distinctly, thereby diminishing overall CO2 emissions. A baseline model that included soil temperature, soil volumetric water content, and their interaction was effective in estimating soil respiration at all four locations (p < 0.0001). Model fits, based on model log likelihoods, improved continuously as additional covariates were added, including mean daily air temperature, enhanced vegetation index (EVI), and quadratic terms for soil temperature and water content, and their interactions. The addition of land cover and its direct interactions with environmental variables further improved model fits. Significant interactions between covariates were observed at each location and at every stage of analysis, but the interaction terms varied among sites and models, and did not consistently maintain importance in more complex models. A main-effects model was therefore tested, which included soil temperature and water content, their quadratic effects, EVI, and air temperature, but no interactions. In that case all six covariates were significant (p < 0.0001) when applied across sites. We infer that local-scale soil-CO2 emissions are commonly co-limited by EVI and air temperature, in addition to soil temperature and water content. Importantly, the quadratic soil temperature and moisture terms were significantly negative: estimated soil-CO2 emissions declined when soil temperature exceeded 22.5°C, and as soil moisture differed from the optimum of 0.27 m3 m-3.
Vigilance, risk, and service use among caregivers of people living with dementia

Objective The purpose of this investigation was to understand the dynamics among dementia caregiving, vigilance, and home and community-based service use. Methods This paper is derived from a larger, mixed-methods study on caregiving. We used a descriptive qualitative approach to analyze interview data of 30 family caregivers of relatives with dementia. Results We found five domains of vigilance in which caregivers felt “on duty”: ensuring attentiveness, ensuring safety, ensuring resources, ensuring healthcare, and ensuring closeness. Formal service use did not necessarily give caregivers relief from vigilance, with the language of risk often employed by caregivers. Conclusion Because service use could contribute to feelings of vigilance, rather than give caregivers a break from a sense of watchfulness, these findings support calls for dementia-specific training for service providers. In future caregiving research, the relationship between vigilance, caregiver distress, and role captivity should be explored.