Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Burden Among US Army Soldiers From Military Health System Data: Mind the Gap

Augmenting chlamydia and gonorrhea case reports from military health system healthcare providers with military health system laboratory and medical encounter records improved burden estimation by 17% and 28%, respectively, in 2019 alone. Background Reporting systems are commonly used for chlamydia and gonorrhea surveillance and community burden assessments. Estimates are conservative given high proportions of asymptomatic cases and underreporting. The military's unified health system, which includes laboratory and medical encounter data, could offer insight into surveillance gaps and improve burden analyses. Methods Confirmed chlamydia and gonorrhea cases reported among active component soldiers were merged with laboratory and medical encounter records indicative of infection to identify incident cases during 2015–2019. Case capture across data systems was assessed, and reported case rates were compared with those derived from the enhanced 3-source database. Attributable medical encounters for total cases were extrapolated using average visits for the subset of cases with supporting encounter data. Multivariable generalized linear models were generated to characterize infections. Results Approximately 83% and 76% of respective chlamydia and gonorrhea cases were identified through reporting, compared with 87% and 67% through laboratory records, and 58% for both through medical encounters. Rates from enhanced 3-source surveillance peaked at 2844 chlamydia and 517 gonorrhea cases per 100,000 person-years in 2019, reflecting 17% and 28% increases in respective rates compared with reported rates. Overall, 3163 cases of chlamydia and/or gonorrhea per 100,000 person-years were detected in 2019, affecting 13,004 soldiers and requiring an estimated 21,690 medical encounters. Soldiers who were younger, female, racial/ethnic minorities, nonmarried, enlisted, less educated, and Southern residents had significantly higher risk. Conclusion Integration of laboratory and medical encounter data substantially improved burden estimation over reporting alone. Rates generated remain conservative because they only reflect documented cases. Increasing rates support prevention prioritization, particularly among young soldiers.
Cardiac Mechanics in Altered Hormonal States as a Surrogate for Understanding the Effects of Transgender Hormone Therapy

Transgender individuals are increasingly seeking the care of physicians to physically transition to their self-identified gender identity. Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) has significant endocrine effects which may have cardiovascular consequences, and cardiovascular disease in transgender individuals is a growing area of study. The effects of GAHT on cardiac mechanics have yet to be characterized, but there is existing literature regarding changes to cardiac mechanics in similar altered hormonal states. We reviewed this literature, with a focus on echocardiographic findings. We found variable results between studies of different methodologies. These include findings that supraphysiological levels of testosterone may impair cardiac mechanics, whereas estrogen-containing hormonal replacement therapy may improve diastolic echocardiographic parameters. In summary, there are alterations to echocardiographic parameters in altered endocrine states related to exogenous testosterone and estrogen, in a manner that is likely dose-dependent. Encouragingly, the studies we reviewed did not suggest that hormonal changes within physiologic ranges would detrimentally affect echocardiographic parameters of systolic and diastolic function. Future research into the cardiovascular effects of long-term GAHT is warranted to safely guide the longitudinal treatment of transgender individuals.
Differentiation of crescent-forming kidney progenitor cells into podocytes attenuates severe glomerulonephritis in mice

Crescentic glomerulonephritis is characterized by vascular necrosis and parietal epithelial cell hyperplasia in the space surrounding the glomerulus, resulting in the formation of crescents. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms driving this process. Inducing crescentic glomerulonephritis in two Pax2Cre reporter mouse models revealed that crescents derive from clonal expansion of single immature parietal epithelial cells. Preemptive and delayed histone deacetylase inhibition with panobinostat, a drug used to treat hematopoietic stem cell disorders, attenuated crescentic glomerulonephritis with recovery of kidney function in the two mouse models. Three-dimensional confocal microscopy and stimulated emission depletion superresolution imaging of mouse glomeruli showed that, in addition to exerting an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effect, panobinostat induced differentiation of an immature hyperplastic parietal epithelial cell subset into podocytes, thereby restoring the glomerular filtration barrier. Single-cell RNA sequencing of human renal progenitor cells in vitro identified an immature stratifin-positive cell subset and revealed that expansion of this stratifin-expressing progenitor cell subset was associated with a poor outcome in human crescentic glomerulonephritis. Treatment of human parietal epithelial cells in vitro with panobinostat attenuated stratifin expression in renal progenitor cells, reduced their proliferation, and promoted their differentiation into podocytes. These results offer mechanistic insights into the formation of glomerular crescents and demonstrate that selective targeting of renal progenitor cells can attenuate crescent formation and the deterioration of kidney function in crescentic glomerulonephritis in mice. Description Glomerular crescents derive from clonal expansion of progenitor cells, and a drug enhancing their differentiation into podocytes attenuates glomerulonephritis. A drug that turns crescents into podocytes Severe immune-mediated disorders often lead to kidney failure resulting from formation of glomerular crescents, which are regions of parietal epithelial hyperplasia around the glomeruli. Melica et al. show that crescents derive from clonal expansion of a subset of parietal epithelial cells that represent renal progenitor cells. Panobinostat reduced crescent formation and improved proteinuria and kidney function in a mouse model of crescentic glomerulonephritis by enhancing renal progenitor cell differentiation into podocytes. Expansion of a renal progenitor cell subset in human crescents correlated with end-stage kidney disease. These results support the concept that crescentic glomerulonephritis represents a clonal disease that can be treated with panobinostat.
The role of religious narratives and religious orientation towards concerns for the natural environment and animal welfare

Several studies show that religion hinders concerns for the natural environment preservation. Others, however, have found that the belief in God or the identification with a particular religion is not associated with measures for environmental concerns. This study investigates the influence of religious narrative framing and the relation between Allport’s intrinsic personal (IP) and extrinsic social (ES) religious orientation towards general environmental apathy (GEA) and acceptability for harming animals (AIS). This study surveyed 657 teachers and school staff in East Java, Indonesia. Using ANOVA, we find that religious narrative affects participant’s GEA and AIS. Participants in stewardship narrative group have significantly lower GEA and AIS compared to participants in human dominance and the non-narratives control group. Using multiple regression, we also confirm the persistence of religious narrative’s influence towards GEA. In addition, lower GEA and AIS correlate with higher IP and lower ES. Lastly, we identify and discuss significant demographic and other determinants relation to GEA and AIS.
Youth Assets and Initiation of Sexual Intercourse by Family Structure: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Background The purpose of this study was to assess the protective influence of individual, family, and community assets from the initiation of sexual intercourse (ISI) for adolescents living in one-parent households compared with adolescents living in two-parent households. Methods Five waves of data were collected annually over a 4-year period (N = 591, 52.5% female, mean age = 14.0 years) from a racially/ethnically diverse sample of adolescents. Extended Cox models were used to assess the relationship between assets and time of ISI while controlling for demographic variables. Potential interactions between adolescent’s household structure and assets were examined. Results Five of 17 assets were prospectively and significantly associated with a reduced risk of ISI among adolescents living in one-parent households compared with 11 of 17 assets for adolescents living in two-parent households. Adolescents living in one-parent households who possessed any one of five assets (e.g., general aspirations for the future, relationship with mother, positive peer role models) had between a 27% and 57% lower risk of ISI, whereas adolescents living in two-parent households who possessed any of one of 11 assets (e.g., responsible choices, family communication, community involvement) had between a 20% and 42% lower risk of ISI. Conclusion The results suggest that strengthening specific youth assets across multiple dimensions of behavioral influence may decrease the risk of ISI for adolescents living in both one-parent and two-parent households. Public health efforts focused on developing programs to promote asset building tailored to adolescent’s family structure are warranted.
Differential Expression of miRNA-192 is a Potential Biomarker for HIV Associated Immune Recovery Uveitis

ABSTRACT Purpose Notwithstanding well-established clinical features of Immune Recovery Uveitis (IRU), specific diagnostic tools to identify at-risk patients are lacking. Identification of biomarkers for IRU prediction can allow high-risk patients to benefit from specific preventive strategies, development of therapies, and elucidate immune reconstitution associated pathogenesis. Methods HIV+ patients were classified into four groups (A, B, C and D) with and without ocular manifestations, with follow-up over a year. Patients’ ocular parameters were examined and manifestations like uveitis and IRU noted. Selected miRNAs were investigated in PBMCs by using miRNA PCR assay. Bioinformatic analysis used miRNet to predict the targets of miRNA-192-5p and miRNA-543 and KOBAS for pathways. Results Hsa-miR-192-5p and hsa-miR-543 levels were measured by qPCR using RNA isolated from PBMCs of HIVinfected patients. Hsa-miR-192-5p and hsa-miR-543 were down regulated in patients exhibiting ocular manifestations. Our results showed hsa-miR-192-5p (Group B vs D p 0.007) and hsa-miR-543 levels in PBMCs reliably distinguish between HIV patients diagnosed with IRU. Both miRNAs target multiple genes involved in inflammatory pathways as predicted by bioinformatic analysis. Conclusion Decreased expression levels of miRNA-192 in patients with ocular manifestations and IRU, could facilitate identification of the status of the disease in HIV patients.
Childhood maltreatment: The role of concurrent advantageous experiences on adolescents' psychosocial adjustment

Abstract Despite the growing body of evidence concerning the harmful effects of childhood maltreatment, intimate partner violence exposure (IPVE) and their correlates, little is currently known about the effects of co‐occurring advantageous family conditions (e.g., instrumental support, inductive parenting, positive communication) and how they may serve to offset the detrimental effects of maltreatment and IPVE. The present study applied a three‐step latent class analysis to identify the co‐occurrence patterns of childhood maltreatment and advantageous family conditions among 1379 Spanish adolescents. The study also sought to identify the sociodemographic risk markers and psychosocial adjustment associated with each latent class membership. The analyses revealed four classes, namely (1) violent family context, (2) emotionally neglectful family context, (3) adverse and advantageous family conditions, and (4) positive family context. Having a lower socioeconomic status and being a migrant were both risk markers for membership to the violent family context as well as to the adverse and advantageous family conditions class. Adolescents who were exposed to advantageous family conditions (e.g., the positive family context or the adverse and advantageous family conditions) exhibited fewer psychosocial problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, somatisation) and lower frequencies of teen dating violence (TDV) when compared with those in the violent family context. Moreover, membership to the emotionally neglectful family context class was related to more psychological symptoms and a higher prevalence of TDV when compared with membership to the positive family context class, despite the absence of IPVE and maltreatment. Overall, the results provide evidence that advantageous family conditions contribute to better psychosocial adjustment on the part of adolescents even when exposed to IPV and maltreatment. Identifying the experiences that contribute to adolescents' psychosocial adjustment could help clinical and governmental interventions tailor their often‐limited resources to children who are at greater risk of negative outcomes.
How do plant roots overcome physical barriers?

This article comments on: Bello-Bello E, Rico-Chambrón TY, Ortiz Ramírez LA, Rellán Álvarez R, Herrera Estrella L. 2022. ROOT PENETRATION INDEX 3, a major quantitative trait locus associated with root system penetrability in Arabidopsis. Journal of Experimental Botany 73, 4716–4732.
Shift work with and without night shifts and breast cancer risk in a cohort study from Finland

Objectives To examine the association of shift work with and without night work with breast cancer among women in the public sector. Methods Using the Finnish Public Sector cohort study (N=33 359, mean age of 40.6 years at baseline), we investigated the associations of shift work and potential confounders with incident breast cancer. Exposure to permanent day work or shift work was defined from first two consecutive surveys from 2000, 2004, 2008 or 2012 and past information on exposure in a subcohort (n=20 786). Incident cases of breast cancer (n=1129) were retrieved from the National Cancer Register and the cohort members were followed to the end of 2016. HR and 95% CI from Cox proportional hazard regression models were calculated. Results Shift work with and without night shifts was not overall associated with breast cancer. When stratified according to age, both shift work without nights (HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.12 to 3.60) and shift work with nights (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.01) were associated with an increased risk after a period of 10 years or more follow-up among women aged 50 years or older, when adjusted for age, socioeconomic status, children, smoking, alcohol and body mass index. In a subgroup with past information on exposure to shift work, the increased risk by longer exposure to shift work was not significant. Conclusions This study provides support for an increased risk of breast cancer among elderly shift workers. However, insufficient information on exposure and intensity of night work may attenuate the risk estimates.
Comparison of 126 MeV antiproton and proton—a FLUKA-based microdosimetric approach

Objective. This study aims at comparing dosimetric parameters of 126 MeV antiprotons and protons using microdosimetric approach. Approach. Microdosimetric distributions of 126 MeV proton and antiproton beams at 1 μm site size are calculated using the Monte Carlo-based FLUKA code. The distributions are calculated at various depths along the central axis in water phantom as well as at different off-axis locations. The study also includes calculations of secondary radiations produced by antiprotons and protons. Mean quality factor, Q¯ is calculated using the ICRP 60 and ICRU 40 recommendations. The Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) of HSG tumour cell at 10% survival level is calculated based on Microdosimetric Kinetic Model. Main results. Q¯ICRP, Q¯ICRU and RBE for antiprotons are higher by a factor of about 3.60, 3.41 and 1.24, respectively, at Bragg-peak and higher by a factor of about 1.41, 1.76 and 1.05, respectively, at plateau region of depth-dose profile when compared to protons. At 15 cm depth along the central axis, Q¯ICRP, Q¯ICRU and RBE for protons are higher by a factor of about 1.42, 1.66 and 1.26, respectively, when compared to antiprotons. At the off-axis distance (Ld ) of 6 cm (at 11.5 cm depth in water), Q¯ICRP and Q¯ICRU of protons are higher than that of antiproton whereas the trend is opposite at off-axis distance of 4 cm. At Ld = 4 cm (at 11.5 cm depth in water), RBE of antiprotons is higher by about 4% than protons whereas at Ld = 6 cm, RBE of protons is higher by about 13% than antiprotons. Significance. The study shows that antiproton radiotherapy is advantageous as compared to protons considering enhancements in the absorbed dose and RBE-weighed dose values at the Bragg-peak.
Spin-induced asymmetry reaction—The formation of asymmetric carbon by electropolymerization

We describe the spin polarization–induced chirogenic electropolymerization of achiral 2-vinylpyridine, which forms a layer of enantioenhanced isotactic polymer on the electrode. The product formed is enantioenriched in asymmetric carbon polymer. To confirm the chirality of the polymer film formed on the electrode, we also measured its electron spin polarization properties as a function of its thickness. Two methods were used: First, spin polarization was measured by applying magnetic contact atomic force microscopy, and second, magnetoresistance was assessed in a sandwich-like four-point contact structure. We observed high spin-selective electron transmission, even for a layer thickness of 120 nm. A correlation exists between the change in the circular dichroism signal and the change in the spin polarization, as a function of thickness. The spin-filtering efficiency increases with temperature.
Boosting k-means clustering with symbiotic organisms search for automatic clustering problems

Kmeans clustering algorithm is an iterative unsupervised learning algorithm that tries to partition the given dataset into k pre-defined distinct non-overlapping clusters where each data point belongs to only one group. However, its performance is affected by its sensitivity to the initial cluster centroids with the possibility of convergence into local optimum and specification of cluster number as the input parameter. Recently, the hybridization of metaheuristics algorithms with the K-Means algorithm has been explored to address these problems and effectively improve the algorithm’s performance. Nonetheless, most metaheuristics algorithms require rigorous parameter tunning to achieve an optimum result. This paper proposes a hybrid clustering method that combines the well-known symbiotic organisms search algorithm with K-Means using the SOS as a global search metaheuristic for generating the optimum initial cluster centroids for the K-Means. The SOS algorithm is more of a parameter-free metaheuristic with excellent search quality that only requires initialising a single control parameter. The performance of the proposed algorithm is investigated by comparing it with the classical SOS, classical K-means and other existing hybrids clustering algorithms on eleven (11) UCI Machine Learning Repository datasets and one artificial dataset. The results from the extensive computational experimentation show improved performance of the hybrid SOSK-Means for solving automatic clustering compared to the standard K-Means, symbiotic organisms search clustering methods and other hybrid clustering approaches.
Sympatric otariids increase trophic segregation in response to warming ocean conditions in Peruvian Humboldt Current System

Determining trophic habits of predator communities is essential to measure interspecific interactions and response to environmental fluctuations. South American fur seals, Arctocephalus australis (SAFS) and sea lions Otaria byronia (SASL), coexist along the coasts of Peru. Recently, ocean warming events (2014–2017) that can decrease and impoverish prey biomass have occurred in the Peruvian Humboldt Current System. In this context, our aim was to assess the effect of warming events on long-term inter- and intra-specific niche segregation. We collected whisker from SAFS (55 females and 21 males) and SASL (14 females and 22 males) in Punta San Juan, Peru. We used δ13C and δ15N values serially archived in otariid whiskers to construct a monthly time series for 2005–2019. From the same period we used sea level anomaly records to determine shifts in the predominant oceanographic conditions using a change point analysis. Ellipse areas (SIBER) estimated niche width of species-sex groups and their overlap. We detected a shift in the environmental conditions marking two distinct periods (P1: January 2005—October 2013; P2: November 2013—December 2019). Reduction in δ15N in all groups during P2 suggests impoverished baseline values with bottom-up effects, a shift towards consuming lower trophic level prey, or both. Reduced overlap between all groups in P2 lends support of a more redundant assemblage during the colder P1 to a more trophically segregated assemblage during warmer P2. SASL females show the largest variation in response to the warming scenario (P2), reducing both ellipse area and δ15N mean values. Plasticity to adapt to changing environments and feeding on a more available food source without fishing pressure can be more advantageous for female SASL, albeit temporary trophic bottom-up effects. This helps explain larger population size of SASL in Peru, in contrast to the smaller and declining SAFS population.
German Heart Surgery Report 2022: The Annual Updated Registry of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Abstract Based on a longtime voluntary registry, founded by the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (GSTCVS/DGTHG) in 1980, well-defined data of all cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery procedures performed in 78 German heart surgery departments during the year 2022 are analyzed. Under the decreasing interference of the worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, a total of 162,167 procedures were submitted to the registry. A total of 93,913 of these operations are summarized as heart surgery procedures in a classical sense. The unadjusted in-hospital survival rate for the 27,994 isolated coronary artery bypass grafting procedures (relationship on-/off-pump 3.2:1) was 97.5%. For the 38,492 isolated heart valve procedures (20,272 transcatheter interventions included) it was 96.9%, and for the registered pacemaker/implantable cardioverter-defibrillator procedures (19,531) 99.1%, respectively. Concerning short- and long-term circulatory support, a total of 2,737 extracorporeal life support/extracorporeal membrane oxygenation implantations, respectively 672 assist device implantations (L-/ R-/ BVAD, TAH) were registered. In 2022, 356 isolated heart transplantations, 228 isolated lung transplantations, and 5 combined heart-lung transplantations were performed. This annually updated registry of the GSTCVS/DGTHG represents voluntary public reporting by accumulating actual information for nearly all heart surgical procedures in Germany, constitutes advancements in heart medicine, and represents a basis for quality management for all participating institutions. In addition, the registry demonstrates that the provision of cardiac surgery in Germany is up to date, appropriate, and nationwide patient treatment is always available.