Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Under-nutrition among Children Aged 6 up to 59 Months in Akaki Kaliti Sub City, Addis Ababa: Unmatched Case-Control Study

Background: - Malnutrition remains a major health problem and globally it is responsible for onethird of all infant and child mortality. Despite progress has been made in improving child nutrition in Ethiopia in the last decades, it remains a problem of public health importance. Though, there were numerous studies undertaken previously, no studies were previously tried to verify the determinants of malnutrition among children age 6 to 59 months in the study area. Hence, there is a necessity to carry out a study to come up with the determinant factors of malnutrition in the Akaki Kaliti sub-city, Addis Ababa. Objective of the Study: - To identify determinants of undernutrition among children age 6 to 59 months in Akaki Kaliti Sub-city, Addis Ababa, 2021. Methods and Materials: - Facility-based unmatched case control study was conducted in public health facilities of Akaki Kaliti Sub-city, Addis Ababa from April 26 to May 31, 2021. Consecutive sampling technique was employed. Primary data was collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS for windows version 21. Variables with P-value <0.25 in the bivariate analysis were identified and fitted in multivariable logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of child undernutrition. The magnitude of association was measured by AOR with 95% confidence interval. A P-value less than 0.05 were used to declare the observed association is statistically significant. Result: - A total of 83 children (cases) and 159 children (controls) with their mothers/care givers were participated in the study. Having upper respiratory tract infection in the past two weeks [AOR = 1.89; 95%CI (1.2 - 3.57)], lack of water supply to the household [AOR = 2.93; 95%CI (1.3 - 6.57)], and use of public toilet facility [AOR = 2.35; 95%CI (1.21 - 4.57)] were factors statistically significant with the outcome variables. Conclusion and Recommendation: - having upper respiratory tract infection in the past two weeks, not having water supply to the household, and using public toilet facilities had contributed to the risk of undernutrition. Strengthening screening of all children for undernutrition and improving water and sanitation services to the household are recommended.
Some observations on the mean-field theory of spin glasses

A finite negative ground state energy and a non-negative ground state entropy appear to be incompatible unless linear response theory is abandoned in the spin glass phase. Various approaches using the method of broken replica symmetry are discussed. The symmetry-breaking scheme used previously by the authors is generalised to the case of an asymmetric bond distribution and the existence of a new phase, between the ferromagnetic and spin glass phases is noted. For a symmetric bond distribution it is observed that the failure of the Fischer relation chi = beta (1-q) seems to be a general consequence of replica symmetry-breaking. A physical argument for this is given, based on the hypothesis that linear response theory breaks down in the spin glass phase because of the quasi-degeneracy of the spin glass ordering.
Ensemble Approach for Predicting the Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis Using Soft Voting Classifier

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease of the joints. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include non-modifiable factors such as age and gender and modifiable factors such as physical activity. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to construct a soft voting ensemble model to predict OA diagnosis using variables related to individual characteristics and physical activity, and to identify important variables in constructing the model through permutation importance. Method: Using the RFECV technique, the variables with the best predictive performance were selected among variables, and an ensemble model combining the RandomForest, XGBoost, and LightGBM algorithms was constructed, and the predictive performance and permutation importance of each variable were evaluated. Result: The variables selected to construct the model were age, gender, grip strength, and quality of life, and the accuracy of the ensemble model was 0.828. The most important variable in constructing the model was age (0.199), followed by grip strength (0.053), quality of life (0.043), and gender (0.034). Conclusion: The performance of the model for predicting OA was relatively good, and if this model is continuously used and updated, this model could readily be used to predict OA diagnosis and the predictive performance of OA may be further improved.
Clinical Trial of a Probiotic and Herbal Supplement for Lung and Gut Health

Rationale: Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome may augment lung disease via the gut-lung axis. Proteobacteria may increase MMP-9 release and contribute to tissue proteolysis followed by neutrophil recruitment, lung tissue injury, and perpetuation of chronic lung disease. Trial Design: We sought to determine if a probiotic and herbal blend was safe and well-tolerated in healthy volunteers and asthmatic patients. Methods: We conducted a 1-month randomized, open-label clinical trial in Cork, Ireland with healthy and asthmatic patients who took the blend twice a day. The primary endpoint was safety with secondary endpoints including quality of life, lung function, gut microbiome ecology, and inflammatory biomarkers. Results: All subjects tolerated the blend without adverse events. Asthmatic subjects who took the blend showed significant improvements in lung function and serum short chain fatty acid levels from baseline to Week 4. The gut microbiome of asthmatic subjects differed significantly from controls, with the most prominent difference in the relative abundance of the proteobacteria Escherichia coli. Administration of the probiotic maintained overall microbial community architecture with the only significant difference being an increase in absolute abundance of the probiotic strains measured by strain-specific PCR. Conclusions: This study supports the safety and efficacy potential of oral probiotic administration of the probiotic and herbal to act on the gut-lung axis.
Decoding type 2 diabetes mellitus genetic risk variants in Pakistani Pashtun ethnic population using the nascent whole exome sequencing and MassARRAY genotyping: A case-control association study

Genome-wide association studies have greatly increased the number of T2DM associated risk variants but most of them have focused on populations of European origin. There is scarcity of such studies in developing countries including Pakistan. High prevalence of T2DM in Pakistani population prompted us to design this study. We have devised a two stage (the discovery stage and validation stage) case-control study in Pashtun ethnic population in which 500 T2DM cases and controls each have been recruited to investigate T2DM genetic risk variants. In discovery stage Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) was used to identify and suggest T2DM pathogenic SNPs, based on SIFT and Polyphen scores; whereas in validation stage the selected variants were confirmed for T2DM association using MassARRAY genotyping and appropriate statistical tests. Results of the study showed the target positive association of rs1801282/PPARG (OR = 1.24, 95%Cl = 1.20–1.46, P = 0.010), rs745975/HNF4A (OR = 1.30, 95%Cl = 1.06–1.38, P = 0.004), rs806052/GLIS3 (OR = 1.32, 95%Cl = 1.07–1.66, P = 0.016), rs8192552/MTNR1B (OR = 1.53, 95%Cl = 0.56–1.95, P = 0.012) and rs1805097/IRS-2 (OR = 1.27, 95%Cl = 1.36–1.92, P = 0.045), with T2DM; whereas rs6415788/GLIS3, rs61788900/NOTCH2, rs61788901/NOTCH2 and rs11810554/NOTCH2 (P>0.05) showed no significant association. Identification of genetic risk factors/variants can be used in defining high risk subjects assessment, and disease prevention.
The role of ApoE-mediated microglial lipid metabolism in brain aging and disease

Microglia are a unique population of immune cells resident in the brain that integrate complex signals and dynamically change phenotypes in response to the brain microenvironment. In recent years, single-cell sequencing analyses have revealed profound cellular heterogeneity and context-specific transcriptional plasticity of microglia during brain development, aging, and disease. Emerging evidence suggests that microglia adapt phenotypic plasticity by flexibly reprogramming cellular metabolism to fulfill distinct immune functions. The control of lipid metabolism is central to the appropriate function and homeostasis of the brain. Microglial lipid metabolism regulated by apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a crucial lipid transporter in the brain, has emerged as a critical player in regulating neuroinflammation. The ApoE gene allelic variant, ε4, is associated with a greater risk for neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we explore novel discoveries in microglial lipid metabolism mediated by ApoE. We elaborate on the functional impact of perturbed microglial lipid metabolism on the underlying pathogenesis of brain aging and disease.
Developing Prospective Teachers' Understanding of Addition and Subtraction with Whole Numbers.

This study was situated in a semester-long classroom teaching experiment examining prospective teachers’ understanding of number concepts and operations. The purpose of this paper is to describe the learning goals, tasks, and tools used to cultivate prospective teachers’ understanding of addition and subtraction with whole numbers. Research regarding children’s understanding of whole number concepts and operations was used in developing learning goals, pathways for learning, and instructional tasks for the prospective teachers. Furthermore, prior research regarding prospective teachers’ whole number development supported the expectation that all of the instructional tasks were reasoned solely in base-eight. Classroom episodes indicate that base-eight allows prospective teachers to reason about addition and subtraction with whole numbers in similar ways that elementary aged students’ reason in base-ten.
An analysis of the heat transfer from a moving elliptical cylinder

A theoretical analysis of the heat transfer from a moving elliptical cylinder is carried out and general solutions in elliptical coordinates are obtained for aspect ratios , both and . The heat-flux distribution and total heat-flow rate are calculated, investigated for a wide range of parameters and presented graphically. The results obtained are useful for applications concerning thermal processes (laser cutting, welding, heat treatment and so on). A comparison of a moving circular cylinder with a numerical model of laser cutting is considered and discussed.
The Response of Rigid Plates to Deep Water Blast: Analytical Models and Finite Element Predictions

One-dimensional analytical models and finite element calculations are employed to predict the response of a rigid plate, supported by a linear spring, to loading by a planar pressure shock wave traveling in water or in a similar inviscid liquid. Two problems are considered: (i) a spring-supported rigid plate in contact with fluid on one side and (ii) a spring-supported rigid plate in contact with fluid on both sides; for both problems, plates are loaded by an exponentially decaying shock wave from one side. Cavitation phenomena in the liquid, as well as the effect of the initial static fluid pressure, are explicitly included in the analytical models and their predictions are found to be in excellent agreement with those from FE calculations. The validated analytical models are used to determine the sensitivity of the plate’s response to mass, spring stiffness and initial static pressure. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4006458]
Cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular resistance across the adult lifespan: A multimodality approach

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) decreases across the adult lifespan; however, more studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms. This study measured CBF and cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) using a multimodality approach in 185 healthy adults (21–80 years). Color-coded duplex ultrasonography and phase-contrast MRI were used to measure CBF, CBF velocity, and vessel diameters of the internal carotid (ICA) and vertebral arteries (VA). MRI arterial spin labeling was used to measure brain perfusion. Transcranial Doppler was used to measure CBF velocity at the middle cerebral artery. Structural MRI was used to measure brain volume. CBF was presented as total blood flow (mL/min) and normalized CBF (nCBF, mL/100g/min). Mean arterial pressure was measured to calculate CVR. Age was associated with decreased CBF by ∼3.5 mL/min/year and nCBF by ∼0.19 mL/100g/min/year across the methods. CVR increased by ∼0.011 mmHg/mL/100g/min/year. Blood flow velocities in ICA and VA decreased with age ranging from 0.07–0.15 cm/s/year, while the vessel diameters remained similar among age groups. These findings suggest that age-related decreases in CBF can be attributed mainly to decreases in blood flow velocity in the large cerebral arteries and that increased CVR likely reflects the presence of cerebral vasoconstrictions in the small cerebral arterioles and/or capillaries.
Subjective and objective burden on providers from a multicenter app-based study of patients with cirrhosis and caregivers

Background: App-based technologies could enhance patient and caregiver communication and provide alerts that potentially reducing readmissions. However, the burden of App alerts needs to be optimized to reduce provider burnout. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine subjective and objective burden of using the Patient Buddy App, a health information technology (HIT) on providers in a randomized multicenter trial, who completed a semi-quantitative Likert scale survey regarding training procedures, data and privacy concerns, follow-up details, and technical support. This randomized multicenter trial recruits cirrhosis inpatients and their caregivers, and randomizes them into standard-of-care, HIT (communication only via App) and HIT+visits (App+phone calls/visits) for 30 days after discharge. The alerts are monitored by providers through a central iPad. The reason(s) and number of alerts were recorded as the objective burden. A total of 1442 messages were sent as alerts from the 103 dyads (patient + caregiver) (n=206) randomized to HIT arms. The most common messages related to Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) (high or low bowel movement=50% or orientation tests=37%). Twelve providers completed the surveys reflecting the following themes—92% and 100%, felt adequately trained and confident about educating the patients and caregivers before roll out of App and had no concerns related to data and privacy; 70%, felt that appropriate time was spent on pursuing reason for data not being logged; 60% each, had issues with availability of adequate technical support and connectivity. Conclusion: The Patient Buddy App randomized multicenter trial till date shows an overall favorable rating regarding training procedures/education, privacy concerns, and ease of message follow-up, from providers. However, it is important to gauge and address subjective and objective burdens of monitoring human resources in current and future HIT studies to avoid burnout and to ensure successful study completion.
Dissipationless collapse of galaxies and initial conditions

This paper reports on the results of a number of simulations of dissipationless collapse using new numerical methods which permit the achievement of high central densities. A total of 64 simulations were run, starting from a wide range of initial conditions. The density and velocity profiles show a strong dependence on the initial kinetic energy of the particles, but appear only weakly dependent upon the initial clumpiness of the system. Systems started at low temperatures yield density profiles which are in agreement with observed galaxy profiles over a large proportion of their mass and reach central densities comparable to observed galaxies. For these systems the most inhomogeneous models are best fit by Hubble profiles while smoother systems are closer to a de Vaucouleurs law. Ellipticities up to E4 are obtained without recourse to anisotropic initial conditions. Velocity profiles show marked anisotropy outside the half-mass radius of most systems.
Ionosphere/thermosphere heating determined from dynamic magnetosphere-ionosphere/thermosphere coupling

[1] Ionosphere/thermosphere heating driven by magnetospheric convection is investigated through a three-fluid inductive (including Faraday's law) approach to describing magnetosphere-ionosphere/thermosphere coupling, for a 1-D stratified ionosphere/thermosphere in this initial study. It is shown that the response of the ionosphere/thermosphere and thus the heating is dynamic and height-dependent. The heating is essentially frictional in nature rather than Joule heating as commonly assumed. The heating rate reaches a quasi-steady state after about 25 Alfven travel times. During the dynamic period, the heating can be enhanced and displays peaks at multiple times due to wave reflections. The dynamic heating rate can be more than twice greater than the quasi-steady state value. The heating is strongest in the E-layer but the heating rate per unit mass is concentrated around the F-layer peak height. This implies a potential mechanism of driving O+ upflow from O+ rich F-layer. It is shown that the ionosphere/thermosphere heating caused by the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling can be simply evaluated through the relative velocity between the plasma and neutrals without invoking field-aligned currents, ionospheric conductance, and electric field. The present study provides understanding of the dynamic magnetosphere-ionosphere/thermosphere coupling from the ionospheric/thermospheric view in addition to magnetospheric perspectives.
Non‐specific and specific DNA binding modes of bacterial histone, HU, separately regulate distinct physiological processes through different mechanisms

The histone‐like protein HU plays a diverse role in bacterial physiology from the maintenance of chromosome structure to the regulation of gene transcription. HU binds DNA in a sequence‐non‐specific manner via two distinct binding modes: (i) random binding to any DNA through ionic bonds between surface‐exposed lysine residues (K3, K18, and K83) and phosphate backbone (non‐specific); (ii) preferential binding to contorted DNA of given structures containing a pair of kinks (structure‐specific) through conserved proline residues (P63) that induce and/or stabilize the kinks. First, we show here that the P63‐mediated structure‐specific binding also requires the three lysine residues, which are needed for a non‐specific binding. Second, we demonstrate that substituting P63 to alanine in HU had no impact on non‐specific binding but caused differential transcription of diverse genes previously shown to be regulated by HU, such as those associated with the organonitrogen compound biosynthetic process, galactose metabolism, ribosome biogenesis, and cell adhesion. The structure‐specific binding also helps create DNA supercoiling, which, in turn, may influence directly or indirectly the transcription of other genes. Our previous and current studies show that non‐specific and structure‐specific HU binding appear to have separate functions‐ nucleoid architecture and transcription regulation‐ which may be true in other DNA‐binding proteins.
Mesenchymal stromal cells ameliorate diabetes‐induced muscle atrophy through exosomes by enhancing AMPK/ULK1‐mediated autophagy

Diabetes and obesity are associated with muscle atrophy that reduces life quality and lacks effective treatment. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)‐based therapy can ameliorate high fat‐diet (HFD) and immobilization (IM)‐induced muscle atrophy in mice. However, the effect of MSCs on muscle atrophy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the potential mechanism is unclear. Here, we evaluated the efficacy and explored molecular mechanisms of human umbilical cord MSCs (hucMSCs) and hucMSC‐derived exosomes (MSC‐EXO) on diabetes‐ and obesity‐induced muscle atrophy.
Tailoring and optimization of a honey-based nanoemulgel loaded with an itraconazole–thyme oil nanoemulsion for oral candidiasis

Abstract The use of essential oil–based nanoemulsions (NEs) has been the subject of extensive research on a variety of conditions affecting the oral cavity. NEs are delivery methods that improve the solubility and distribution of lipid medicines to the intended areas. Because of their antibacterial and antifungal properties, itraconazole and thyme oil–based self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (ItZ-ThO-SNEDDS) were created to protect oral health against oral microorganisms. The ItZ-ThO-SNEDDS were created utilizing an extreme verices mixture design, and varying concentrations of ThO (10% and 25%), labrasol (40% and 70%), and transcutol (20% and 40%) were used. The ItZ-ThO-SNEDDS had droplet sizes of less than 250 nm, a drug-loading efficiency of up to 64%, and a fungal growth inhibition zone of up to 20 mm. The accepted design was used to obtain the ideal formulation, which contained ThO in the amount of 0.18 g/ml, labrasol 0.62 g/ml, and transcutol 0.2 g/ml. The best ItZ-ThO-SNEDDS formulation was incorporated into a honey-based gel, which demonstrated improved release of ItZ in vitro and improved transbuccal permeation ex vivo. In addition, when compared with various formulations tested in rats, the optimized loaded emulgel decreased the ulcer index. This study therefore demonstrated that the ItZ-ThO-SNEDDS could offer an effective defense against oral diseases caused by microbial infections.
An Interventional Response Phenotyping Study in Chronic Low Back Pain: Protocol for a Mechanistic Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Evidence-based treatments for chronic low back pain (cLBP) typically work well in only a fraction of patients, and at present there is little guidance regarding what treatment should be used in which patients. Our central hypothesis is that an interventional response phenotyping study can identify individuals with different underlying mechanisms for their pain who thus respond differentially to evidence-based treatments for cLBP. Thus, we will conduct a randomized controlled Sequential, Multiple Assessment, Randomized Trial (SMART) design study in cLBP with the following three aims. Aim 1: Perform an interventional response phenotyping study in a cohort of cLBP patients (n = 400), who will receive a sequence of interventions known to be effective in cLBP. For 4 weeks, all cLBP participants will receive a web-based pain self-management program as part of a run-in period, then individuals who report no or minimal improvement will be randomized to: a) mindfulness-based stress reduction, b) physical therapy and exercise, c) acupressure self-management, and d) duloxetine. After 8 weeks, individuals who remain symptomatic will be re-randomized to a different treatment for an additional 8 weeks. Using those data, we will identify the subsets of participants that respond to each treatment. In Aim 2, we will show that currently available, clinically derived measures, can predict differential responsiveness to the treatments. In Aim 3, a subset of participants will receive deeper phenotyping (n = 160), to identify new experimental measures that predict differential responsiveness to the treatments, as well as to infer mechanisms of action. Deep phenotyping will include functional neuroimaging, quantitative sensory testing, measures of inflammation, and measures of autonomic tone.