Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Post-COVID-19 syndrome: Physical capacity, fatigue and quality of life

Purpose Post-Covid-19 syndrome is defined as the persistence of symptoms beyond 3 months after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The most common symptoms include reduced exercise tolerance and capacity, fatigue, neurocognitive problems, muscle pain and dyspnea. The aim of our work was to investigate exercise capacity and markers of subjective wellbeing and their independent relation to post-COVID-19 syndrome. Patients and methods We examined a total of 69 patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome (23 male/46 female; age 46±12 years; BMI 28.9±6.6 kg/m2) with fatigue and a score ≥22 in the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). We assessed exercise capacity on a cycle ergometer, a 6-minute walk test, the extent of fatigue (FAS), markers of health-related quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire) and mental health (HADS). Results On average the Fatigue Assessment Scale was 35.0±7.4 points. Compared with normative values the VO2max/kg was reduced by 8.6±5.8 ml/min/kg (27.7%), the 6MWT by 71±96 m (11.9%), the health-related quality of life physical component score by 15.0±9.0 points (29.9%) and the mental component score by 10.6±12.8 points (20.6%). Subdivided into mild fatigue (FAS score 22–34) and severe fatigue (FAS score ≥35), patients with severe fatigue showed a significant reduction of the 6-minute walk test by 64±165 m (p<0.01) and the health-related quality of life physical component score by 5.8±17.2 points (p = 0.01). In multiple regression analysis age (β = –0.24, p = 0.02), sex (β = 0.22, p = 0.03), mental (β = –0.51, p<0.01) and physical (β = –0.44, p<0.01) health-related quality of life and by trend the 6-minute walk test (β = –0.22, p = 0.07) were associated with the FAS. Conclusion Patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome show reduced maximal and submaximal physical performance as well as limitations in quality of life, particularly pronounced in the physical components. These results are essentially influenced by the severity of fatigue and implicating the need for targeted treatments.
Physical activity and its correlates among school teachers in a semi-urban district of Nepal

Regular physical activity (PA) is one of the effective strategies for mitigating non-communicable diseases, promoting healthy ageing, and preventing premature mortality. In South Asia, up to 34.0% of adults are insufficiently active, and up to 44.1% of adults in Nepal. We sought to assess self-reported PA status and its correlates among teachers in the semi-urban district of Nepal. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among teachers at randomly selected public secondary schools in Bhaktapur, Nepal, from November 2018-April 2019. PA status was assessed in Metabolic Equivalent to task minutes per week using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)–Long Form. Point estimates and odds ratios were calculated at a 95% confidence interval, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Among the 360 participants, the mean (SD) age was 40.3 (10.2) years, with 52.5% female participation. A low level of PA was seen among 11.9% (95% CI: 8.4–15.2) of teachers, and more than half (56.0%) of the activity was only moderate intensity. Domestic and garden work was the main contributor (43.0%) of total PA, while leisure time was the least (14.0%). Among the socio-demographic factors, only sex was significantly associated (p = 0.005) with PA. Participants living in locations with walkable areas were 3.4 times (95% CI: 1.6–7.3) more likely to be engaged in moderate-to-high level PA than those without. In our study, the point prevalence of insufficient PA among teachers working at public secondary schools was higher than the national point prevalence. PA promotion programs targeting sedentary populations like school teachers should be developed to reduce the point prevalence of insufficient PA.
New species and record of Dodecaceria (Annelida: Cirratulidae) the Biological Reserve of Rocas Atoll, Brazil, the only atoll in the South Atlantic Ocean

The polychaete Family Cirratulidae is one of the most abundant and diverse groups of Annelida, although it remains poorly known worldwide. Dodecaceria Ørsted, 1843 is one of the least described genera of Cirratulidae. The present report is the first taxonomic study of the genus Dodecaceria for the Brazilian coast. Cirratulidae were collected at Rocas Atoll, the first Brazilian marine protected area and the only atoll in the South Atlantic Ocean. We described one new species, Dodecaceria zelinhae n. sp. , and a new record of D. dibranchiata Blake & Dean, 2019, previously only known from Panama. The new species is distinguished from other Dodecaceria species by having lateral tentacles, a smooth peristomium, 3–5 pairs of branchiae, hooks from chaetiger 11 in notopodia and 9 in neuropodia. Dodecaceria dibranchiata, a Caribbean species, is here recorded for the first time in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Camera traps used on the mastofaunal survey of Araras Biological Reserve, IEF-RJ

Mammal studies in their natural habitats are generally complicated due to many factors such as difficulties in visually locating and capturing animals. Camera traps have been used in some cases, especially to study forest animals, with many purposes. The present paper reports the utilization of camera traps to survey mammal species at the Araras Biological Reserve (RBA-IEF), in Petropolis, RJ, Brazil, from September of 2002 to January of 2003. Industrial and manufactured equipments utilizing food bait to attract the animals were used. Photographs obtained were analyzed to identify the species as well as other studies: mark and recapture model, equipments efficiency, activity period and other behaviors. Ten species of mammals were photographed, besides some other species that were observed, but not photographed. The camera traps proved to be efficient: to survey some mammal species; to study activity period and other behaviors; to evaluate the conservation status of the area.
D R A F T Spatial extent of within-thalamus cortical connections varies across the cortical hierarchy in humans and macaques

The thalamus is composed of functionally and structurally distinct nuclei. Previous studies have indicated that certain cortical areas may project across multiple thalamic nuclei, potentially allowing them to modulate distributed information ﬂow. However, there is a lack of quantitative investigations into anatomical connectivity patterns within the thalamus. Consequently, it remains unknown if cortical areas exhibit differences in the spread of their thalamic connectivity patterns. To address this knowledge gap, we used diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) to compute brain-wide probabilistic tractography using data from 828 healthy adults collected by the Human Connec-tome Project. To measure the spatial extent of anatomical connectivity patterns within the thalamus, we developed an innovative framework that quantiﬁes the spatial properties of each cortical area’s within-thalamus connectivity patterns. We then leveraged resting-state functional MRI, cortical myelin, and human neural gene expression data to test if the spread of within-thalamus connectivity patterns varied along the cortical hierarchy. These results revealed two broad cortico-thalamic tractography motifs: 1) a sensorimotor cortical motif characterized by focal thalamic connections targeting posterolateral thalamus, which potentially supports fast, feed-forward information ﬂow; and 2) an associative cortical motif characterized by diffuse thalamic connections targeting anteromedial thalamus, which potentially supports slower, feed-back information ﬂow. These results were consistent among human subjects and were also observed in macaques, indicating cross-species generalizability. In summary, these ﬁndings demonstrate that sensorimotor and association cortical areas exhibit differences in the spatial extent of their within-thalamus connectivity patterns, which may support functionally-distinct cortico-thalamic information transmission.
B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) in pregnancies complicated by maternal obesity and diabetes: a preliminary study

Abstract Objective In pregnancies complicated by maternal obesity and diabetes, a disruption in inflammatory mediators occurs, resulting in endothelial microvascular dysfunction, oxidative stress, tissue damage, and maternal and feto-neonatal complications. To outline this proinflammatory status, an innovative approach is represented by the measurement of proinflammatory cytokines. Among these biomarkers, B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) play a key role in metabolic regulation, immune response to infections, tissue homeostasis, and “food-related inflammation. ” The aim of the present study is to investigate the blood expression of BAFF and PAF in a cohort of pregnant women affected by obesity and diabetes compared with a control group of healthy pregnant women. Methods A prospective longitudinal cohort study has been conducted on pregnant women referred to Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Gemelli IRCCS in Rome. For each pregnant woman, a capillary sample was collected with a swab in three different consecutive evaluations carried out in the three trimesters of pregnancy. Results A total of 77 pregnant women have been enrolled. No significant differences in BAFF and PAF levels were longitudinally observed between groups. Focusing on the exposed group, in the third trimester of pregnancy, both PAF and BAFF levels were lower than the basal time. Among the selected group of patients who developed Gestational Diabetes, only PAF values were longitudinally lower when compared to other groups. The multivariate analysis showed that BAFF levels were positively correlated with thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. No macrosomia, no shoulder dystocia, no major perineal lacerations at birth, and no intrauterine growth restriction were observed in the whole population. Conclusions This study supports the involvement of metabolic and proinflammatory biomarkers in the mechanisms related to pregnancy complications. Improving a good metabolic environment for obese and diabetic pregnant women could break the vicious cycle connecting inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic disorders.
Measurements of high-frequency light fluctuations induced by sea surface waves with an Underwater Porcupine Radiometer System

[1] Under clear skies the underwater light field within the near-surface ocean shows large fluctuations caused by focusing of sunlight by surface waves. The downwelling light at near-surface depths can fluctuate greatly on times scales as short as milliseconds and distances less than 1 cm. Specially designed radiometers and measurement strategies are required to adequately characterize these fluctuations. We developed an Underwater Porcupine Radiometer System which has a capability to measure light fluctuations with a sampling frequency of 1 kHz. This instrument is equipped with 23 radiometric sensors for measuring time series of the downward plane irradiance, Ed(t), at several light wavelengths λ and the downwelling radiance L(t) at λ = 532 nm for different zenith angles within two orthogonal azimuthal planes. We describe the critical components of the Porcupine instrument and measurement protocols, and present example results from measurements made at near-surface depths in the ocean. We show that the irradiance collector of a few millimeters in diameter or smaller is required to provide adequate measurement of light flashes produced by wave focusing. The measurements with larger irradiance collectors can result in deceptive reduction of the measured intensity of fluctuations. The brightest flashes of irradiance or radiance can exceed the time-averaged irradiance or radiance by an order of magnitude and the duration of flashes is typically on the order of milliseconds to tens of milliseconds. The intensity of light fluctuations decreases rapidly with depth and is higher at longer light wavelengths compared with shorter wavelengths within the visible spectral range.
Indarctos (Ursidae, Mammalia) from the Spanish Turolian (Upper Miocene)

Abundant fossils of the bear Indarctos atticus (Weithofer, 1888) from the Lower Turolian (MN11) site of Crevillente 2 (Alicante, Spain) and some new material from the Middle Turolian (MN12) of Concud and Valdecebro 5 (Teruel, Spain) are described. On the other hand some dental remains from Crevillente 2 are identified as Indarctos sp. cf. I. vireti Villalta & Crusafont, 1943 on the basis of their small size. The status of different Indarctos species are discussed.
Human diet‐derived polyphenolic compounds and hepatic diseases: From therapeutic mechanisms to clinical utilization

This review focuses on the potential ameliorative effects of polyphenolic compounds derived from human diet on hepatic diseases. It discusses the molecular mechanisms and recent advancements in clinical applications. Edible polyphenols have been found to play a therapeutic role, particularly in liver injury, liver fibrosis, NAFLD/NASH, and HCC. In the regulation of liver injury, polyphenols exhibit anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects, primarily targeting the TGF‐β, NF‐κB/TLR4, PI3K/AKT, and Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathways. In the regulation of liver fibrosis, polyphenolic compounds effectively reverse the fibrotic process by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC). Furthermore, polyphenolic compounds show efficacy against NAFLD/NASH by inhibiting lipid oxidation and accumulation, mediated through the AMPK, SIRT, and PPARγ pathways. Moreover, several polyphenolic compounds exhibit anti‐HCC activity by suppressing tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. This inhibition primarily involves blocking Akt and Wnt signaling, as well as inhibiting the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, clinical trials and nutritional evidence support the notion that certain polyphenols can improve liver disease and associated metabolic disorders. However, further fundamental research and clinical trials are warranted to validate the efficacy of dietary polyphenols.
Deep Image Matting With Sparse User Interactions

Image matting is a fundamental and challenging problem in computer vision and graphics. Most existing matting methods leverage a user-supplied trimap as an auxiliary input to produce good alpha matte. However, obtaining high-quality trimap itself is arduous. Recently, some hint-free methods have emerged, however, the matting quality is still far behind the trimap-based methods. The main reason is that, some hints for removing semantic ambiguity and improving matting quality are essential. Apparently, there is a trade-off between interaction cost and matting quality. To balance performance and user-friendliness, we propose an improved deep image matting framework which is trimap-free and only needs sparse user click or scribble interaction to minimize the needed auxiliary constraints while still allowing interactivity. Moreover, we introduce uncertainty estimation that predicts which parts need polishing and conduct uncertainty-guided refinement. To trade off runtime against refinement quality, users can also choose different refinement modes. Experimental results show that our method performs better than existing trimap-free methods and comparably to state-of-the-art trimap-based methods with minimal user effort. Finally, we demonstrate the extensibility of our framework to video human matting without any structure modification, by adding optical flow-based sparse hint propagation and temporal consistency regularization imposed on the single frame.
Potential of phage depolymerase for the treatment of bacterial biofilms

ABSTRACT Resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a major concern in medicine and veterinary science. The bacterial biofilm structures not only prevent the penetration of drugs into cells within the biofilm’s interior but also aid in evasion of the host immune system. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapeutic approaches against bacterial biofilms. One potential strategy to counter biofilms is to use phage depolymerases that degrade the matrix structure of the bacteria and enable access to bacterial cells. This review mainly discusses the methods by which phage depolymerases enhance the efficacy of the human immune system and the therapeutic applications of some phage depolymerases, such as single phage depolymerase application, combined therapy with phage depolymerase and antibiotics, and phage depolymerase cocktails, for treating bacterial biofilms. This review also summarizes the relationship between bacterial biofilms and antibiotic resistance.
Should atrial fibrillation be considered a vascular disease? The need for a comprehensive vascular approach

ABSTRACT Introduction Atrial fibrillation (AF) cannot be considered an isolated disease. Patients with AF should be managed using a comprehensive approach that is not limited to stroke prevention. Areas covered In this manuscript, the potential role of AF as a vascular disease that is managed as part of a holistic approach was reviewed. Expert opinion The residual risk of stroke in patients with AF reaches 1–2% annually, despite appropriate anticoagulation therapy. Additionally, patients with AF may develop cognitive impairment through stroke-independent pathways. Furthermore, patients with AF may have a higher risk of developing atherosclerotic vascular disease in various vascular beds and chronic kidney disease; conversely, patients with atherosclerotic disease may have an increased risk of developing AF. AF should be considered a truly systemic vascular disease, since it brings together several hemodynamic and systemic changes, including inflammation, oxidative stress, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and sympathetic systems, as well as a prothrombotic state and endothelial dysfunction. In this regard, patients with AF should be treated based on a holistic approach that is not limited to oral anticoagulation but includes complete vascular protection.
Meiobenthos of the bay of saint-brieuc (north brittany, france) .1. quantitative distribution in subtidal and intertidal zones

In the eutrophicated Bay of Saint-Brieuc (western English Channel, France), density and biomass of the multicellular meiofauna were estimated in different intertidal and subtidal biotopes, in winter and late spring. Mean annual biomass varies from 0.5 to 2.3 g.m-2 in the intertidal zone, and from 0.5 to 1.1 g.m-2 in the subtidal zone. Vertical distribution (0-5 versus 5-10 cm) of taxa was considered in the intertidal zone. Results are discussed and compared to literature data: figures were similar to those of comparable biotopes, and there was no detectable effect of eutrophication on meiofauna density and vertical distribution in this area. The ''seasonal stability'' of nematodes was in contrast with a clear annual cycle in harpacticoid copepods. Biomass values for microphytobenthos and macrobenthos on the same sites are also given. Abiotic and biotic factors of the quantitative distribution are discussed, the stability of the biotope (depth) and the sediment grain size being apparently the most important.
Enpatoran in COVID‐19 pneumonia: Safety and efficacy results from a phase II randomized trial

Enpatoran is a selective inhibitor of toll‐like receptors 7 and 8 (TLR7/8) that potentially targets pro‐inflammatory pathways induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). A phase II study conducted in Brazil, the Philippines, and the USA during the early pandemic phase assessed the safety and efficacy of enpatoran in patients hospitalized with COVID‐19 pneumonia (NCT04448756). A total of 149 patients, who scored 4 on the World Health Organization's (WHO) 9‐point ordinal severity scale, were randomized 1:1:1 and received enpatoran 50 mg (n = 54) or 100 mg (n = 46), or placebo (n = 49) twice daily (b.i.d.) for 14 days plus standard of care. The primary objectives were safety and time to recovery (WHO 9‐point scale ≤3). Clinical deterioration (WHO 9‐point scale ≥ 5) was a key secondary objective. Treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were comparable across groups (56.5%–63.0%). Treatment‐related TEAEs were numerically higher with enpatoran 50 mg (14.8%) than 100 mg (10.9%) or placebo (8.2%). Serious TEAEs were numerically lower with enpatoran (50 mg 9.3%, 100 mg 2.2%) than placebo (18.4%). The primary efficacy objective was not met; median time to recovery was 3.4–3.9 days across groups, with placebo‐treated patients recovering on average faster than anticipated. Clinical deterioration event‐free rates up to Day 7 were 90.6%, 95.6%, and 81.6% with enpatoran 50 mg, 100 mg, and placebo, respectively. Enpatoran was well tolerated by patients acutely ill and hospitalized with COVID‐19 pneumonia. Positive signals in some secondary end points suggested potential beneficial effects, supporting further evaluation of enpatoran in patients with hyperinflammation due to infection or autoimmunity.
Underestimations in the In Silico-Predicted Toxicities of V-Agents

V-agents are exceedingly toxic nerve agents. Recently, it was highlighted that V-agents constitute a diverse subclass of compounds with most of them not extensively studied. Although chemical weapons have been banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), there is an increased concern for chemical terrorism. Thus, it is important to understand their properties and toxicities, especially since some of these agents are not included in the CWC list. Nonetheless, to achieve this goal, the testing of a huge number of compounds is needed. Alternatively, in silico toxicology offers a great advantage for the rapid assessment of toxic compounds. Here, various in silico tools (TEST, VEGA, pkCSM ProTox-II) were used to estimate the acute oral toxicity (LD50) of different V-agents and compare them with experimental values. These programs underestimated the toxicity of V-agents, and certain V-agents were estimated to be relatively non-toxic. TEST was also used to estimate the physical properties and found to provide good approximations for densities, surface tensions and vapor pressures but not for viscosities. Thus, attention should be paid when interpreting and estimating the toxicities of V-agents in silico, and it is necessary to conduct future detailed experiments to understand their properties and develop effective countermeasures.
Exploring the complex relationship between the lung microbiome and ventilator-associated pneumonia

ABSTRACT Introduction Understanding the presence and function of a diverse lung microbiome in acute lung infections, particularly ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), is still limited, evidencing significant gaps in our knowledge. Areas covered In this comprehensive narrative review, we aim to elucidate the contribution of the respiratory microbiome in the development of VAP by examining the current knowledge on the interactions among microorganisms. By exploring these intricate connections, we endeavor to enhance our understanding of the disease’s pathophysiology and pave the way for novel ideas and interventions in studying the respiratory tract microbiome. Expert opinion The conventional perception of lungs as sterile is deprecated since it is currently recognized the existence of a diverse microbial community within them. However, despite extensive research on the role of the respiratory microbiome in healthy lungs, respiratory chronic diseases and acute lung infections such as pneumonia are not fully understood. It is crucial to investigate further the relationship between the pathophysiology of VAP and the pulmonary microbiome, elucidating the mechanisms underlying the interactions between the microbiome, host immune response and mechanical ventilation for the development of VAP.