Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tuberculosis incidence among infected contacts detected through contact tracing of smear-positive patients

Background The contacts of people with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) have a high risk of becoming infected and developing tuberculosis (TB). Our aim was to determine the incidence of TB and its risk factors in a cohort of contacts with latent TB infection (LTBI) detected through contact tracing of smear-positive PTB cases. Methods and findings We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study including contacts that had LTBI, and were contacts of people with PTB who started treatment between 2008 and 2014. We followed up contacts until they developed TB or until the end date for follow-up (31st December 2016). We used Kaplan-Meier curves to compute incidence at 2 and 5 years, and Cox regression to compute hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). We analyzed 3097 close contacts of 565 PTB cases. After exclusion of 81 co-prevalent TB cases, 953 contacts had LTBI, of which 14 developed TB. Their risk of developing TB after two and five years was 0.7% (CI: 0.3–1.6) and 1.8% (CI: 1.1–3.1) respectively. Contacts who had not been referred for LTBI treatment had a 1.0% (CI: 0.2–4.0) risk at 5 years. Risk of developing TB at 5 years was 1.2% (CI: 0.5–3.0) among people who completed treatment, and 11.1% (CI: 5.1–23.3) for those who did not. Risk factors for TB were not completing LTBI treatment (HR 9.4, CI: 2.9–30.8) and being female (HR 3.5, CI: 1.1-11-3). Conclusions LTBI treatment plays a fundamental role in decreasing the risk of developing TB. It is necessary to achieve a maximum contact tracing coverage and the highest possible compliance with LTBI treatment.
Severe haze in northern China: A synergy of anthropogenic emissions and atmospheric processes

Significance Severe haze events with large temporal/spatial coverages have occurred frequently in wintertime northern China. These extremes result from a complex interplay between emissions and atmospheric processes and provide a unique scientific platform to gain insights into many aspects of the relevant atmospheric chemistry and physics. Here we synthesize recent progress in understanding severe haze formation in northern China. In particular, we highlight that improved understanding of the emission sources, physical/chemical processes during haze evolution, and interactions with meteorological/climatic changes are necessary to unravel the causes, mechanisms, and trends for haze pollution. This viewpoint established on the basis of sound science is critical for improving haze prediction/forecast, formulating effective regulatory policies by decision makers, and raising public awareness of environmental protection. Regional severe haze represents an enormous environmental problem in China, influencing air quality, human health, ecosystem, weather, and climate. These extremes are characterized by exceedingly high concentrations of fine particulate matter (smaller than 2.5 µm, or PM2.5) and occur with extensive temporal (on a daily, weekly, to monthly timescale) and spatial (over a million square kilometers) coverage. Although significant advances have been made in field measurements, model simulations, and laboratory experiments for fine PM over recent years, the causes for severe haze formation have not yet to be systematically/comprehensively evaluated. This review provides a synthetic synopsis of recent advances in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of severe haze formation in northern China, focusing on emission sources, chemical formation and transformation, and meteorological and climatic conditions. In particular, we highlight the synergetic effects from the interactions between anthropogenic emissions and atmospheric processes. Current challenges and future research directions to improve the understanding of severe haze pollution as well as plausible regulatory implications on a scientific basis are also discussed.
The political aspects of solidarity mobilizations in the context of shrinking civil society during the first wave of COVID-19

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to the literature on solidarity mobilizations and the framings of social and political change in the context of the shrinking welfare state, de-democratization, and repressive state policies towards civil society. These issues are explored through the lens of interview-based research on Hungarian solidarity initiatives that emerged in response to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic between March and June 2020. We specifically look at the ways in which volunteers and activists engaged in solidarity activities associated with healthcare, care-work, and education; accounted for their aspirations; conceptualized social responsibility; and reflected on the crisis management of the state. We found that newly emerging grassroots actors reinforced the documented trend of depoliticization in civil society. Although most respondents formulated a depoliticizing narrative, they did offer interpretations of their public role and collective action, values, and responsibilities, and pronounced a desire for social change. Nevertheless, to account for these framings, we need to move beyond the binary understanding of politics in solidarity and civil society research.
Cost-effectiveness of faecal calprotectin used in primary care in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease

Objective Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, autoimmune, gastrointestinal disorder. Canada has one of the highest prevalence and incidence rates of IBD in the world. Diagnosis is challenging due to the similarity of symptoms to functional gastrointestinal disorders. Faecalcalprotectin (FC) is a biomarker for active mucosal inflammation and has proven effective in the diagnosis of IBD. Our study objective was to assess the cost-effectiveness of adding an FC test compared with standard practice (blood test) in primary care among adult patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms. Design We constructed a decision analytic tree with a 1-year time horizon. The cut-off level of 100 µg/g was used for FC testing. Probabilistic analyses were conducted for the base case and all scenarios. Setting Canadian health sector perspective. Population A hypothetical cohort of adult patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms in the primary care setting. Interventions FC test compared with blood test. Main outcome measures Costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of FC test expressed as cost per QALY gained compared with blood test and time to IBD diagnosis. Results FC testing is expected to cost more ($C295.1 vs $C273.9) than standard practice but yield little higher QALY (0.751vs0.750). The ICER of FC test was $C20 323 per QALY. Probabilistic analysis demonstrated that at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $C50 000 per QALY, there was 81.3% probability of FC test being cost-effective. The use of FC test in primary care reduced the time to IBD diagnosis by 40.0 days (95% CI 16.3 to 65.3 days), compared with blood testing alone. Conclusions Based on this analysis of short-term outcomes, screening adult patients in primary care using FC test at a cut-off level of 100 µg/g is expected to be cost-effective in Canada.
Discovery of Putative Dual Inhibitor of Tubulin and EGFR by Phenotypic Approach on LASSBio-1586 Homologs

Combretastatin A-4 (CA-4, 1) is an antimicrotubule agent used as a prototype for the design of several synthetic analogues with anti-tubulin activity, such as LASSBio-1586 (2). A series of branched and unbranched homologs of the lead-compound 2, and vinyl, ethinyl and benzyl analogues, were designed and synthesized. A comparison between the cytotoxic effect of these homologs and 2 on different human tumor cell lines was performed from a cell viability study using MTT with 48 h and 72 h incubations. In general, the compounds were less potent than CA-4, showing CC50 values ranging from 0.030 μM to 7.53 μM (MTT at 72 h) and 0.096 μM to 8.768 μM (MTT at 48 h). The antimitotic effect of the target compounds was demonstrated by cell cycle analysis through flow cytometry, and the cellular mechanism of cytotoxicity was determined by immunofluorescence. While the benzyl homolog 10 (LASSBio-2070) was shown to be a microtubule stabilizer, the lead-compound 2 (LASSBio-1586) and the methylated homolog 3 (LASSBio-1735) had microtubule destabilizing behavior. Molecular docking studies were performed on tubulin protein to investigate their binding mode on colchicine and taxane domain. Surprisingly, the benzyl homolog 10 was able to modulate EGFR phosphorylate activity in a phenotypic model. These data suggest LASSBio-2070 (10) as a putative dual inhibitor of tubulin and EGFR. Its binding mode with EGFR was determined by molecular docking and may be useful in lead-optimization initiatives.
Adaptive Fuzzy Behavioral Control of Second-Order Autonomous Agents With Prioritized Missions: Theory and Experiments

In this paper, we study the adaptive fuzzy formation control of multiple autonomous agents with prioritized missions. For a platoon of autonomous agents in an unknown environment containing multiple obstacles, formation control is investigated, where each agent is modeled by a second-order nonlinear system under unknown external disturbance in the Brunovsky form. We introduce the systematic procedure of null-space-based projection to convert the prioritized multimission control problem into a behavioral control problem. Then, we further develop a class of nonlinear-fast-terminal-sliding-mode-based adaptive control strategies that combine the fuzzy logic systems by jointly considering both kinematic and dynamic levels of the agents. The proposed controllers can guarantee each individual agent to achieve the predesigned desired pattern and drive the entire systems to achieve the prescribed missions. A simulation example with five agents demonstrates the effectiveness of the algorithm. Finally, the strategies are experimentally validated using a platoon of Pioneer 3AT and 3DX mobile robots.
Neocornuside A–D, Four Novel Iridoid Glycosides from Fruits of Cornus officinalis and Their Antidiabetic Activity

Four previously undescribed iridoid glycosides neocornuside A–D (1–4), along with six known ones (5–10), were isolated from Cornus officinalis fruit. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic (NMR, UV, IR, and MS) analysis and comparison with data reported in the literature. All isolates were assessed for their antidiabetic activity on the relative glucose consumption in insulin-induced insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. The results showed that compounds 1, 3, and 7 exhibited significant antidiabetic activities with EC50 values of 0.582, 1.275, and 0.742 μM, respectively. Moreover, compounds 1, 3, and 7 could improve the ability of 2-NBDG uptake of insulin-induced HepG2 cells.
Supporting local school reform toward education for sustainable development: The need for creating and continuously negotiating a shared vision and building trust

Abstract This article centers on a local school reform project aimed at implementing a transformative approach to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The study investigates the project in terms of how the design criteria of a continuous professional development program and critical factors of the implementation process influenced the actual teaching practices. Data were collected through interviews with 15 teachers from five schools, and a thematic analysis was conducted. The results showed that the local school reform had limited effect. Trust between school actors, strategic management, and reflexive collaboration appeared to be the most important enablers of transferring the reform agenda into teaching practice. Skepticism, ambiguous management, and local contexts were identified as obstacles, hampering the intended change. A concluding recommendation for implementing transformation oriented ESD through local school reforms and professional development is to add a novel and threefold design criterion to the existing criteria, namely that of creating and continuously negotiating a shared vision and building trust.
Increased virus dissemination leads to enhanced lung injury but not inflammation during influenza-associated secondary bacterial infection

Abstract Secondary bacterial infections increase influenza-related morbidity and mortality, particularly if acquired after 5–7 d from the viral onset. Synergistic host responses and direct pathogen–pathogen interactions are thought to lead to a state of hyperinflammation, but the kinetics of the lung pathology have not yet been detailed, and identifying the contribution of different mechanisms to disease is difficult because these may change over time. To address this gap, we examined host–pathogen and lung pathology dynamics following a secondary bacterial infection initiated at different time points after influenza within a murine model. We then used a mathematical approach to quantify the increased virus dissemination in the lung, coinfection time-dependent bacterial kinetics, and virus-mediated and postbacterial depletion of alveolar macrophages. The data showed that viral loads increase regardless of coinfection timing, which our mathematical model predicted and histomorphometry data confirmed was due to a robust increase in the number of infected cells. Bacterial loads were dependent on the time of coinfection and corresponded to the level of IAV-induced alveolar macrophage depletion. Our mathematical model suggested that the additional depletion of these cells following the bacterial invasion was mediated primarily by the virus. Contrary to current belief, inflammation was not enhanced and did not correlate with neutrophilia. The enhanced disease severity was correlated to inflammation, but this was due to a nonlinearity in this correlation. This study highlights the importance of dissecting nonlinearities during complex infections and demonstrated the increased dissemination of virus within the lung during bacterial coinfection and simultaneous modulation of immune responses during influenza-associated bacterial pneumonia.
Design, methods and baseline characteristics of the Beijing Hospital Atherosclerosis Study: a prospective dynamic cohort study

Background The atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) risk assessment based on conventional risk factors have only moderate performance, and residual risks still exist. Thus, we reported here a cohort study that aims to identify and validate the new biosignatures (especially the metabolomics, lifestyle biomarkers and biological age), and elucidate their predictive effect on CAD and subsequent cardiovascular events. Methods This prospective, single-center, cohort study commenced in March 2017 and seeks to examine patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) at the Beijing Hospital. Patients’ baseline demographic and medical history data are captured by questionnaires. Blood samples are taken before CAG for clinical laboratory tests and metabolomics analyses. Traditional CAD risk factors are analyzed by routine assays. CAD-related metabolites from different metabolic pathways and lifestyle biomarkers are measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods. Biological ages are calculated based on the laboratory and metabolomics data. The enrolled patients attend annual follow-up examinations for 10 years. The primary end points are the composite end points of major adverse cardiovascular events, including death from any cause, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Quality management and control are carried out through the entire research process, including standardized baseline and follow-up investigation, intra- and inter-run quality controls for laboratory measurements, etc. Results Baseline data of the enrolled 2,970 patients from 2017 to 2020 were collected and are presented in this article. Among them, there were more males (62.5%) than females, and the patients tended to be old and overweight. The percentages of diagnosed hypertension and diabetes were 67.3% and 35.2%, respectively. A total of 8.5% had a family history of premature CAD. Their lipid profiles were within the normal range, probably due to the use of statins. Conclusions This study has successfully initiated an investigation into the roles of new biosignatures in predicting CAD among Chinese Han patients undergoing CAG. To the best of our knowledge, this cohort is the first study systematically focusing on the association of lifestyle biomarkers and biological age with CAD risk. Findings from this study will provide biomarkers to discriminate the presence of CAD and to predict subsequent cardiovascular events.
Indian customers’ acceptance of service robots in restaurant services

ABSTRACT The present study attempts to develop and empirically test a theoretical model of service robot use acceptance (SRUA) that intends to explain Indian customers’ willingness to accept the use of service robots in restaurant services by modifying the Artificially Intelligent (AI) Device Use Acceptance (AIDUA) model. The proposed model is grounded on the Cognitive Appraisal Theory, Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Human–Robot Interaction (HRI) literature. The data collected through a survey generated 419 usable customer responses that were used to empirically test the proposed model using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Findings indicate that customers go through a three-stage process, which includes primary appraisal stage, secondary appraisal stage and the outcome stage, in determining their willingness to accept the use of service robots in restaurants. The results of the study also indicate significant moderating effects of customers’ gender and previous experience with service robots in the proposed model. By providing an understanding about customers’ perception towards service robots in Indian restaurant settings, the study is expected to serve as a base for successful diffusion of service robots to create positive dining experiences within the restaurant settings in India and other developing nations with similar cultural orientations.
The Effect of Conditioned Media of Stem Cells Derived from Lipoma and Adipose Tissue on Macrophages’ Response and Wound Healing in Indirect Co-culture System In Vitro

Immunomodulatory and wound healing activities of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been reported in various in vitro and in vivo experimental models suggesting their beneficial role in regenerative medicine and treatments of inflammatory-related disorders. Lipoma-derived stem cells (LDSCs) were reported as a potential tool in regenerative medicine due to the similarity with ADSCs but we have previously shown that LDSCs have different differentiation capacity than ADSCs despite a similar mesenchymal phenotype. To further analyze the potential differences and/or similarities between those two stem cell types, in the present study we examined the macrophages (MΦs)’ response, immunomodulatory and wound healing effect of conditioned media (CM) of LDSCs and ADSCs in indirect co-culture system in vitro. We confirmed similar mesenchymal phenotype and stemness state of LDSCs and ADSCs but indicated differences in expression of some inflammatory-related genes. Anti-inflammatory potential of CM of LDSCs and ADSCs, with pronounced effect of LDSCs, in unstimulated RAW 264.7 MΦs was evaluated by decrease in Tnf and increase in Il10 gene expression, which was confirmed by corresponding cytokines’ secretion analysis. Conditioned media of both LDSCs and ADSCs led to the functional activation of MΦs, with slightly more pronounced effect of CM of LDSCs, while both stimulated wound healing in vitro in a similar manner. Results of this study suggest that LDSCs secrete soluble factors like ADSCs and therefore may have a potential for application in regenerative medicine, due to immunomodulatory and wound healing activity, and indicate that LDSCs through secretome may interact with other cells in lipoma tissue.
Linked color imaging improves the diagnostic accuracy of eosinophilic esophagitis

Abstract Objectives To assess the usefulness of linked color imaging (LCI), a recently developed image‐enhanced endoscopy technique, in the endoscopic diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Methods Thirty white light images (WLIs) and 30 WLI+LCI images collected from patients with and without EoE were randomly and blindly reviewed by 10 endoscopists, including four experts (Exs) and six non‐Exs. Edema, ring, exudate furrows, and strictures were rated on the adjusted EoE endoscopic reference score; the diagnosis of EoE was assessed. Using the kappa value, inter‐ and intra‐observer agreements were analyzed among endoscopists. Results WLI+LCI images had a higher diagnostic accuracy for EoE than WLIs (0.85 vs. 0.70, respectively), especially in non‐Exs or endoscopists with no experience with EoE patients. Inter‐observer agreement for WLI+LCI images statistically surpassed WLIs for furrows (kappa, 0.73 vs. 0.67, respectively; p = 0.0013), stricture (kappa, 0.51 vs. 0.39, respectively; p = 0.0072), and diagnosis (kappa, 0.67 vs. 0.57, respectively; p < 0.0001) of EoE. The increase in inter‐observer agreement in WLI+LCI images allowed for a reduction in the differences between the Exs and non‐Ex endoscopists. Intra‐observer agreement for WLI+LCI images surpassed WLIs for a ring (kappa, 0.62 vs. 0.43, p = 0.0052), and a similar trend was found in exudates, furrows, and diagnosis irrespective of the Exs or non‐Exs. Conclusions LCI can contribute to the improvement of the endoscopic diagnosis for EoE, with “moderate” to “substantial” consistency, by enhancing the visibility of abnormal findings, leading to reduced diagnostic disparities among endoscopists.
Assessment of Neck Muscle Shear Modulus Normalization in Women with and without Chronic Neck Pain

Identifying the objective stiffness of the neck muscles facilitates the early and specific diagnosis of neck pain and targeted therapy. However, individual variation in the muscle shear modulus obscures differences between healthy and diseased individuals. Normalization may improve the comparability between individuals. The shear modulus at different functional tasks served as a reference for normalizing the neck muscles’ shear modulus of 38 women, 20 with chronic neck pain and 18 asymptomatic. Reference tasks were maximal voluntary contraction, relaxed sitting, prone head lift, balancing 1 kg on the head, and neck extension at 48 N. The effects of normalization on within-group variation and between-group differences were compared. Normalization with maximal voluntary contraction was discarded due to imaging problems. Normalization with relaxed sitting, prone head lift, balancing 1 kg, and neck extension at 48 N reduced within-group variation, by 23.2%, 26.8%, 11.6%, and 33.6%, respectively. All four normalization approaches reduced the p-values when testing for between-group differences. For the pain group, normalization with relaxed sitting and head lift indicated less normalized muscle stiffness, while normalization with balancing 1 kg and extension at 48 N indicated higher stiffness. The contradictory results are explainable by non-significant group differences in the reference tasks. Normalization of the muscle shear modulus is effective to reduce within-group variation, but a trustworthy normalization approach for group comparisons has yet to be identified.