Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk Factors and Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with Severe COVID-19 and Secondary Bloodstream Infections: A Multicenter, Case-Control Study

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic. Clinical characteristics regarding secondary infections in patients with COVID-19 have been reported but detailed microbiology, risk factors and outcomes of secondary bloodstream infections (sBSI) in patients with severe COVID-19 have not been well described. Methods We performed a multicenter, case-control study including all hospitalized patients diagnosed with severe COVID-19 and blood cultures drawn from March 1, 2020 to May 7, 2020 at three academic medical centers in New Jersey, USA. Data collection included demographics, clinical and microbiologic variables, and patient outcomes. Risk factors and outcomes were compared between cases (sBSI) and controls (no sBSI). Results A total of 375 hospitalized patients were included. There were 128 sBSIs during the hospitalization. For the first set of positive blood cultures, 117 (91.4%) were bacterial and 7 (5.5%) were fungal. Those with sBSI were more likely to have altered mental status, lower mean percent oxygen saturation on room air, have septic shock and be admitted to the intensive care unit compared to the controls. In-hospital mortality was higher in those with a sBSI versus controls (53.1% vs 32.8%, p=0.0001). Conclusions We observed hospitalized adult patients with severe COVID-19 and sBSI had a more severe initial presentation, prolonged hospital course, and worse clinical outcomes. To maintain antimicrobial stewardship principles, further prospective studies are necessary to better characterize risk factors and prediction modeling to better understand when to suspect and empirically treat for sBSI in severe COVID-19.
Physical Examination of the Hip

The hip and pelvis have a complex anatomy and are a common source of pain and injury in the athletic population. The clinical examination of the hip requires a systematic approach to differentially diagnose hip problems with overlapping pain referral patterns. Because of the complex anatomy of the hip, the physical examination is a comprehensive evaluation of the 4 main pain generators of the hip from deep to superficial: the osteochondral, capsulolabral, musculotendinous, and neurovascular elements of the hip. The hip examination begins with the standing examination and gait analysis followed by a seated, supine, lateral, and prone examination. A targeted physical examination used in conjunction with a layered understanding of the hip and pelvis can help guide diagnostic testing, distinguish hip-specific diagnoses from similar presenting pathologies, and inform treatment.
Comparison of the intraoperative analgesic efficacy between ultrasound-guided deep and superficial serratus anterior plane block during video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy

Abstract Background: The serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is a novel method that provides lateral chest wall analgesia. There are 2 methods of SAPB; deep and superficial SAPB. Each of these methods has been demonstrated to provide effective perioperative analgesia in thoracic surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the intraoperative hemodynamic and analgesic benefits of deep versus superficial SAPB during video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized, patient/assessor-blinded trial. We included patients who were 20 to 75 years of age and scheduled to undergo VATS lobectomy with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 or 2. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either ultrasound-guided deep SAPB (Group D) or superficial SAPB (Group S). The primary outcome was intraoperative remifentanil consumption. We also recorded intraoperative systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), emergence time, and doses of rescue drugs used to manage hemodynamic instability. Results: Data for 50 patients undergoing 3-port VATS lobectomy were analyzed. Intraoperative remifentanil consumption did not differ significantly between Group D (n = 25, 715.62 ± 320.36 μg) and group S (n = 25, 721.08 ± 294.48 μg) (P = .97). Additionally, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in SBP and HR at any time point, emergence time, or amount of rescue drugs used. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the intraoperative analgesic efficacy is similar for deep and superficial SAPB during VATS lobectomy.
Stray Current Protection and Monitoring Systems: Characteristic Quantities, Assessment of Performance and Verification

Electrified transportation systems (ETSs) are affected by stray current problems impacting within and outside the right of way on reinforcement, buried metal structures and foundations. Stray current protection systems have recently been integrated in the track structure. Track electrical quantities are, thus, usually measured to assess track insulation and protection efficiency but should be backed up by additional measurements at the affected structures and installations, in order to assess their exposure and risk of corrosion. Ideally, a stray current monitoring system proceeds from the measurement of these quantities, to data collection and archival, to data presentation, analysis and prediction. Feasible sensors and probes, the impact of environmental conditions and uncertainty are considered for the measurement at the physical level. Data analysis is critically reviewed considering the variability of operating conditions and the effectiveness of each quantity as indicator of track insulation and protection efficiency. Given the normal spread of values, for data presentation and interpretation, suitable techniques are considered based on averaging, curve similarity and feature extraction, and also for the task of assessing compliance to limits or reference values and establishing a trend that may drive informed maintenance decision.
Turbulence, combustion, pollutant, and stability characterization of a premixed, step combustor

A two dimensional combustion tunnel was constructed to study a lean premixed turbulent propane/air flame stablized behind a rearward facing step. Studied were: (1) the existence and importance of large coherent structures in turbulent reacting and nonreacting free shear layers behind the steps; (2) the effect of inlet temperature and reference velocity on combustion efficiency; (3) CO, NO2 and NO sub x production in the flame; and (4) the blowout and upstream propagation of the flame. In the ranges studied, the large coherent structures dominated both the reacting and the nonreacting free shear layers behind the step. The growth of the vortices and the propagation of the flamer were intimately linked. Vortex pairing was observed to be one of the mechanisms for introduction of fresh reactants into the shear layer and growth of the shear layer. Probe composition measurements of the flame showed that, in the recirculation zone, the reaction was above 99 percent complete, CO and unburnt hydrocarbons were above the equilibrium level NO sub x concentration was far below the equilibrium level and NO2 comprised a negligible fraction of NO sub x.
Developmental Programming and Reprogramming of Hypertension and Kidney Disease: Impact of Tryptophan Metabolism

The concept that hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) originate in early life has emerged recently. During pregnancy, tryptophan is crucial for maternal protein synthesis and fetal development. On one hand, impaired tryptophan metabolic pathway in pregnancy impacts fetal programming, resulting in the developmental programming of hypertension and kidney disease in adult offspring. On the other hand, tryptophan-related interventions might serve as reprogramming strategies to prevent a disease from occurring. In the present review, we aim to summarize (1) the three major tryptophan metabolic pathways, (2) the impact of tryptophan metabolism in pregnancy, (3) the interplay occurring between tryptophan metabolites and gut microbiota on the production of uremic toxins, (4) the role of tryptophan-derived metabolites-induced hypertension and CKD of developmental origin, (5) the therapeutic options in pregnancy that could aid in reprogramming adverse effects to protect offspring against hypertension and CKD, and (6) possible mechanisms linking tryptophan metabolism to developmental programming of hypertension and kidney disease.
Impaired Expression of GABA Signaling Components in the Alzheimer’s Disease Middle Temporal Gyrus

γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, playing a central role in the regulation of cortical excitability and the maintenance of the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance. Several lines of evidence point to a remodeling of the cerebral GABAergic system in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with past studies demonstrating alterations in GABA receptor and transporter expression, GABA synthesizing enzyme activity and focal GABA concentrations in post-mortem tissue. AD is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder with a poorly understood etiology and the temporal cortex is one of the earliest regions in the brain to be affected by AD neurodegeneration. Utilizing NanoString nCounter analysis, we demonstrate here the transcriptional downregulation of several GABA signaling components in the post-mortem human middle temporal gyrus (MTG) in AD, including the GABAA receptor α1, α2, α3, α5, β1, β2, β3, δ, γ2, γ3, and θ subunits and the GABAB receptor 2 (GABABR2) subunit. In addition to this, we note the transcriptional upregulation of the betaine-GABA transporter (BGT1) and GABA transporter 2 (GAT2), and the downregulation of the 67 kDa isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67), the primary GABA synthesizing enzyme. The functional consequences of these changes require further investigation, but such alterations may underlie disruptions to the E/I balance that are believed to contribute to cognitive decline in AD.
Did an Ultra-Low Emissions Policy on Coal-Fueled Thermal Power Reduce the Harmful Emissions? Evidence from Three Typical Air Pollutants Abatement in China

Thermal power generation based on coal-fired power plants has the advantages of stability and controllability and has been the largest source of electricity supply in China. Coal-fired power plants, however, are also accompanied by high carbon emissions and the release of harmful substances (mainly including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and smoke dust), and are even regarded as the “chief criminal” in terms of air pollution. However, thermal power is also a pioneering industry involved in several environmental regulations and cleaner production techniques before other industries. Evidence of this is China’s ultra-low emissions (ULE) policy on coal-fired power plants, implemented in 2015. To verify this policy’s effect, this study treats ULE as an exogenous impact variable, examining its emissions reduction effect on SO2, NOx, and smoke dust in Eastern and Central China using the difference-in-difference method (DID). The results show that the total emissions of the three pollutants were abated by 0.133%, 0.057% and 0.036% in Eastern, and by 0.120%, 0.035% and 0.043% in Central China at every 1% rise of thermal power generated after ULE. In addition, several other factors can also argue for the promotion of thermal power. Other industries, such as steel or chemical, have proven that they can contribute significant SO2 and NOx emissions. Based on these results, we provide suggestions on synergistic emissions reduction among multiple industries, as well as a discussion on the necessity of implementing ULE in Western China.
Virus-specific T-cell therapy to treat BK polyomavirus infection in bone marrow and solid organ transplant recipients.

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) infection is a major complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and solid organ transplant (SOT). Treatment options are limited, poorly effective, and have significant toxicities. Cellular therapy using T cells directed against BKPyV is an emerging therapy, and we report efficacy in controlling BKPyV-associated disease in highly immunocompromised patients. Virus-specific T cells (VSTs) against BKPyV were manufactured using either blood from the patient's stem cell donor (donor-derived VSTs) or from unrelated donors (third-party VSTs). VSTs were used to treat BKPyV in 38 HSCT recipients and 3 SOT recipients between June 2017 and December 2019. Overall response rate was 86% in patients treated for BK viremia, 100% in patients treated for hemorrhagic cystitis, and 87% in patients treated for both BK viremia and hemorrhagic cystitis. No infusional toxicity, de novo graft-versus-host disease, or rejection of the organ occurred attributable to the VST infusion. BKPyV-specific immune responses were demonstrated by interferon-γ production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells postinfusion in response to BKPyV antigens. VSTs are a safe and potentially effective strategy to treat BKPyV and associated symptoms in recipients of HSCT and SOT. Cellular therapy should be considered for all patients with BKPyV and underlying immune suppression at risk of complications. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as #NCT02532452.
The influence of social anxiety on interpersonal information processing in a military-life environment

Abstract Although social anxiety as a ubiquitous emotion impacting people's social behaviors has aroused much researchers’ interest in exploring its cognitive behavioral model, no previous study has focused on soldiers with different social anxiety within the context of the specific military environment. To explore the associations between social anxiety and interpersonal information processing concerted on interpretation and judgment, the study may provide an intervention point for soldiers to ameliorate social anxiety and accommodate to the military-life environment. A self-reported questionnaire and 2 behavioral tasks were conducted in the cross-section study to explore the associations. Seventy-four soldiers were randomly recruited from a naval base. The Interpersonal Anxiety Scale was used to assess social anxiety of soldiers. Two behavioral tasks were designed to test the characteristics of interpersonal information processing, one for interpretation bias and the other for judgment bias. This cross-sectional study showed social anxiety had a significant negative correlation with interpretation bias and abidance (as judgment bias), signaling that soldiers with higher levels of social anxiety had a stronger tendency to negative interpretation bias and showed lower abidance. The mediating effect analysis showed the interpretation bias could indirectly affect the soldier's abidance through social anxiety. Notably, none of the interaction effects of social anxiety and social information types were statistically significant; therefore, the level of social anxiety predetermined the abidance of soldiers. Soldiers’ social anxiety has an influence on processing military-life interpersonal information, and it plays a certain intermediary role in the associations between low abidance and negative interpretation bias. The stronger negative interpretation bias than positive bias of soldiers, the higher social anxiety they could show with the less possibility to abide, which might result in behaviors against the military collective requirements. Social anxiety has the primary effect on the abidance of soldiers; hence, in the future, the interpretation bias modification could be a plausible cognitive-behavior therapy to help soldiers ameliorate social anxiety, thus contributing to enhancing their sense of belonging to the troops and accommodation to military life.
Effects of nutrition supplementation and physical exercise on muscle mass, muscle strength and fat mass among sarcopenic elderly: A randomized controlled trial.

This study aims to determine the impact of nutrition supplementation (whey protein, fish oil, vitamin D) and physical exercise (resistance and aerobic exercise) on muscle mass, muscle strength and fat mass among sarcopenic elderly. Participants (n=241) with sarcopenia (aged≥60y) enrolled from two centers were randomized into groups undergoing nutrition supplementation (Nutr), physical exercise (Ex), nutrition combined with exercise (Nutr+Ex), or routine consultation for 12 weeks. Muscle-related indicators, grip strength as well as fat-related indicators were compared pre- and post-intervention. The per-protocol analysis showed all indicators were significantly different between groups (P<0.001). Further pairwise comparisons showed that compared with controls, appendicular muscle mass and grip strength were significantly higher in Nutr (P<0.001, 95%CI:0.578,1.475; P<0.001, 95%CI:3.614~9.118), Ex (P=0.010, 95%CI: 0.157,1.153; P<0.001, 95%CI: 2.904,8.732), Nutr+Ex (P<0.001, 95%CI: 0.564,1.471; P<0.001, 95%CI: 3.441,8.907), while fat mass was significantly lower in the Nutr (P<0.001, 95%CI: -4.676,-2.358)) and Nutr+Ex (P<0.001, 95%CI: -4.717,-1.790). When compared with Ex, fat mass decreased significantly in Nutr (P=0.001, 95%CI: -4.856,-1.359)) and Nutr+Ex (P=0.005, 95%CI: -4.810,-0.878). The findings indicate that nutrition supplementation and physical exercise could improve muscle mass, strength and fat mass among sarcopenic elderly. Nutrition supplementation might be better at decreasing fat mass in this population. Trial registration number: NCT02873676. Novelty: ● Nutrition supplementation improved muscle mass, strength and fat mass among sarcopenic elderly. ● Aerobic and resistance exercise improved muscle mass and strength in sarcopenic elderly. ● Combined nutrition supplementation and physical exercise improved muscle mass, strength and fat mass among sarcopenic elderly.
Theory of electrochemical pattern formation under global coupling

Pattern formation during electrochemical reactions is a common phenomenon. It is decisively influenced by the control of the reactions via the external applied voltage or current that introduces a global coupling into the system. In this thesis pattern formation under global coupling with different characteristics is investigated by means of analytical and numerical tools in one spatial dimension. Three systems that are representative for almost all known electrochemical oscillators are studied. Moreover, the three systems possess structurally different homogeneous dynamics on which the global coupling acts. Results contributing to the understanding of general mechanisms of self-organization in electrochemical systems are obtained. Furthermore, a realistic model for the electrooxidation of hydrogen in the presence of poisons displaying quantitative agreement with experiments using parameters taken almost exclusively out of the literature is given. A general expression for the global coupling strength due to the external control as a function of readily accessible parameters is derived. The consequences for the common operation mode of ohmic drop compensation that is shown to introduce a negative global coupling into the system are discussed. The dynamics of a bistable system subject to a global constraint displays stationary spatial structures (domains) that exhibit an oscillatory instability leading to previously unreported (chaotically) breathing domains. We present novel patterns termed asymmetric standing waves and pulse-like behavior displayed by a two variable system with no-flux boundary conditions in which a desynchronizing global coupling acts on the activator. The response of a relaxation oscillator to negative global coupling is investigated using the hydrogen oxidation in the presence of poisons as the model system. We report the observation of in part novel phenomena, e.g., modulated oscillations, target patterns, asymmetric target patterns and cluster patterns in accordance with experiments. We present the phase space structure in the vicinity of an unusual point in parameter space. Indications for the existence of a codimension-one bifurcation at which a homogeneous steady state loses stability and simultaneously a homoclinic orbit to this fixed point is present are given. This represents a novel mechanism of a hysteresis-free transition from a homogeneous fixed point to mixed-mode oscillations. All results are put into the frame of nonlinear dynamics by extensive comparison with other models, in particular a closely related model describing pattern formation in semiconductors. In part quantitative agreement with experiments is demonstrated for all three systems for the homogeneous as well as the spatially extended systems with and without global coupling. Thus, the results of this work contribute to the understanding of emergent structures in systems subject to global coupling in general as well as to the detailed understanding of electrochemical self-organization phenomena.
Modeling of austenite to ferrite transformation in steels

La these porte sur la modelisation de la transformation de l'austenite en ferrite dans les aciers en mettant l'accent sur les conditions thermodynamiques et cinetiques aux interfaces alpha/gamma en cours de croissance de la ferrite. Dans une premiere partie, la these se concentre sur la description des equilibres thermodynamiques entre alpha et gamma a l'aide de la methode CalPhad. Nous avons developpe un nouvel algorithme hybride combinant la construction d'une enveloppe convexe avec la methode classique de Newton-Raphson. Nous montrons ses possibilites pour des aciers ternaire Fe-C-Cr et quaternaire Fe-C-Cr-Mo dans des cas particulierement difficiles. Dans un second chapitre, un modele a interface epaisse a ete developpe. Il permet de predire l'ensemble du spectre des conditions a l'interface alpha/gamma au cours de la croissance de la ferrite, de l'equilibre complet au paraequilibre avec des cas intermediaires des plus interessants. Nous montrons que de nombreux regimes cinetiques particuliers dans les systemes Fe-C-X peuvent etre prevus avec un minimum de parametres d'ajustement, principalement le rapport entre les diffusivites de l'element substitutionnel dans l'interface epaisse et dans le volume d'austenite. Le troisieme chapitre porte sur l'etude d'un modele de champ de phase. Une analyse approfondie des conditions a l'interface donnees par le modele est realisee en utilisant la technique des developpements asymptotiques. En utilisant les connaissances fournies par cette analyse, le role de la mobilite intrinseque d'interface sur la cinetique et les regimes de croissance est etudie, a la fois dans le cas simple d'alliages binaires Fe-C et dans le cas plus complexe d'alliages Fe-C-Mn
New System to Increase the Useful Life of Exhausted Barrels in Red Wine Aging

In recent years, consumers of red wines have demanded aged wines with intense color and a well-integrated fine wood bouquet. Traditionally, wines with these characteristics have been obtained from aging in oak barrels. This type of vinification incurs high costs, including costs associated with the acquisition and use of oak barrels. After five or six vinifications, these barrels are no longer capable of providing an adequate contribution of wood compounds to the wine, because of the exhaustion of their transfer capacity. An alternative to extend the life of these barrels is the introduction of toasted oak staves inside the barrel. In this study, a comparative analysis of the aging of a red wine in new and renewed barrels was developed by inserting toasted staves and analyzing the wine in its different stages, as well as its physical, chemical, and colorimetric characteristics. This study confirms that the use of insert staves anchored in exhausted barrels helps to prolong the useful life of barrels, while maintaining quality assurance.