Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is the serum delta neutrophil index level different in gestational diabetic women?

Abstract Objective: To investigate the serum delta neutrophil index (DNI) levels between normal pregnant women and gestational diabetic women. Methods: Normal pregnant women and gestational diabetic women delivered in the University of Health Sciences Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women’s Health Care, Training and Research Hospital between 1 December 2015 and 30 June 2018 were included in the study. The study group included patients diagnosed with gestational diabetes by a 100-g or 75-g OGTT (n = 273). The control group included women with singleton pregnancies who had normal antenatal follow-up and who had delivered healthy neonates after 37 gestational weeks (n = 455). In both the study and control groups, for the analysis of DNI and other laboratory values, the ones reported at the time of the application for delivery or within previous 4 weeks of delivery were used. The study and control groups were compared with each other with respect to the DNI value (primary outcome measure of the study), maternal and newborn characteristics, pregnancy outcomes and laboratory values other than DNI (secondary outcome measures). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows, version 22.0. The Student t-test, the Mann–Whitney U-test, and the χ2 test were used where appropriate. A p value of <. 05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were significant differences between the study and control groups regarding median maternal age, gravidity, parity, BMI and gestational age at delivery (p < .05). Mean birthweight was significantly higher in the study group compared to control group (p=.002). NICU admission was significantly more frequent in the study group than in the control group (8.8% vs 2.4%; p < .001). The platelet, WBC, neutrophil and monocyte counts and NLRs were significantly lower, while Hb and DNI values were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group. The median DNI values were –2.30 (range: −27.0 to 8.10) and –3.0(range: −27.30 to 11.60) in the study and control groups, respectively (p = .007). Conclusion: The DNI, a new inflammatory marker, was found to be higher in gestational diabetic women, than in those with normal pregnancies.
Angry, old, male – and trustworthy? How expressive and person voice characteristics shape listener trust

This study examined how trustworthiness impressions depend on vocal expressive and person characteristics and how their dependence may be explained by acoustical profiles. Sentences spoken in a range of emotional and conversational expressions by 20 speakers differing in age and sex were presented to 80 age and sex matched listeners who rated speaker trustworthiness. Positive speaker valence but not arousal consistently predicted greater perceived trustworthiness. Additionally, voices from younger as compared with older and female as compared with male speakers were judged more trustworthy. Acoustic analysis highlighted several parameters as relevant for being perceived as trustworthy (i.e., accelerated tempo, low harmonic-to-noise ratio, more shimmer, low fundamental frequency, more jitter, large intensity range) and showed that effects partially overlapped with those for perceived speaker affect, age, but not sex. Specifically, a fast speech rate and a lower harmonic-to-noise ratio differentiated trustworthy from untrustworthy, positive from negative, and younger from older voices. Male and female voices differed in other ways. Together, these results show that a speaker’s expressive as well as person characteristics shape trustworthiness impressions and that their effect likely results from a combination of low-level perceptual and higher-order conceptual processes.
The left ventricle undergoes biomechanical and gene expression changes in response to increased right ventricular pressure overload

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) results in right ventricular (RV) pressure overload and eventual failure. Current research efforts have focused on the RV while overlooking the left ventricle (LV), which is responsible for mechanically assisting the RV during contraction. The objective of this study is to evaluate the biomechanical and gene expression changes occurring in the LV due to RV pressure overload in a mouse model. Nine male mice were divided into two groups: (a) pulmonary arterial banding (PAB, N = 4) and (b) sham surgery (Sham, N = 5). Tagged and steady‐state free precision cardiac MRI was performed on each mouse at 1, 4, and 7 weeks after surgery. At/week7, the mice were euthanized following right/left heart catheterization with RV/LV tissue harvested for histology and gene expression (using RT‐PCR) studies. Compared to Sham mice, the PAB group revealed a significantly decreased LV and RV ejection fraction, and LV maximum torsion and torsion rate, within the first week after banding. In the PAB group, there was also a slight but significant increase in LV perivascular fibrosis, which suggests elevated myocardial stress. LV fibrosis was also accompanied with changes in gene expression in the hypertensive group, which was correlated with LV contractile mechanics. In fact, principal component (PC) analysis of LV gene expression effectively separated Sham and PAB mice along PC2. Changes in LV contractile mechanics were also significantly correlated with unfavorable changes in RV contractile mechanics, but a direct causal relationship was not established. In conclusion, a purely biomechanical insult of RV pressure overload resulted in biomechanical and transcriptional changes in both the RV and LV. Given that the RV relies on the LV for contractile energy assistance, considering the LV could provide prognostic and therapeutic targets for treating RV failure in PH.
Unbound bilirubin measurements in term and late-preterm infants

Abstract Background Hyperbilirubinemia occurs in over 80% of newborns, and severe bilirubin toxicity can lead to neurological dysfunction and death. Unbound bilirubin (Bf) levels predict the risk of neurodevelopmental handicap, although total serum bilirubin (TSB) is used to manage care. Objective To measure Bf levels in healthy infants, its relationship to TSB, and its response to phototherapy. We hypothesize unexpectedly high Bf levels, poor correlation with TSB and unpredictable response to phototherapy. Design/methods Healthy infants were studied with simultaneous TSB and Bf measurements. The clinical data recorded included ethnicity, gender, birth weight, gestational age, and mode of delivery, Apgar scores, breast/formula feeds, and phototherapy. Results One hundred thirty-two infants (3248.9 ± 509.2g, GA 38.7 ± 1.4 weeks), at mean age of the initial sample of 28.5 ± 15.6 h, had a TSB of 7.9 ± 2.7 mg/dl, and a Bf of 5.2 ± 3.2 nM. The correlation between Bf and TSB was significant but not between Bf and TSB for TSB >12 mg/dl. Bf >11nm were in 22.7% and >17 nM in 3.8% of infants. Post-phototherapy TSB and Bf levels were similar to those before treatment. Conclusions The relationship between TSB and Bf in healthy infants is complex, with the inability of one to predict the other’s level in infants with elevated TSB. The mechanism of bilirubin-related neurotoxicity suggests that the management of jaundice in healthy infants requires Bf measurements. Management of jaundice with TSB may result in more infants exposed to phototherapy. However, unexpected elevations of Bf occur in an apparently healthy population.
Hydrothermal Effect on Mechanical Properties of Nephila pilipes Spidroin

The superlative mechanical properties of spider silk and its conspicuous variations have instigated significant interest over the past few years. However, current attempts to synthetically spin spider silk fibers often yield an inferior physical performance, owing to the improper molecular interactions of silk proteins. Considering this, herein, a post-treatment process to reorganize molecular structures and improve the physical strength of spider silk is reported. The major ampullate dragline silk from Nephila pilipes with a high β-sheet content and an adequate tensile strength was utilized as the study material, while that from Cyrtophora moluccensis was regarded as a reference. Our results indicated that the hydrothermal post-treatment (50–70 °C) of natural spider silk could effectively induce the alternation of secondary structures (random coil to β-sheet) and increase the overall tensile strength of the silk. Such advantageous post-treatment strategy when applied to regenerated spider silk also leads to an increment in the strength by ~2.5–3.0 folds, recapitulating ~90% of the strength of native spider silk. Overall, this study provides a facile and effective post-spinning means for enhancing the molecular structures and mechanical properties of as-spun silk threads, both natural and regenerated.
Pulmonary contusion mimicking COVID-19: A case report

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major public health emergency with obvious characteristics of human-to-human transmission, and there are infective asymptomatic carriers. Early identification and proper management of patients with COVID-19 are important. Features in chest computed tomography (CT) can facilitate identifying newly infected individuals. However, CT findings of some lung contusions are similar to those of COVID-19, as shown in the present case. CASE SUMMARY A 46-year-old woman was admitted to hospital for backache and foot pain caused by a fall injury 1 d before hospitalization. She was suspected of having COVID-19, since there was a confirmed COVID-19 case near her residence. But she had no fever, cough, chest tightness, difficult breathing, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, etc. On physical examination, the lower posterior chest of both sides showed dullness on percussion and moist rales at the end of inspiration on auscultation. The white blood cell count and lymphocyte count were 10.88 × 109/L and 1.04 × 109/L, respectively. CT performed on February 7, 2020 revealed that both lungs were scattered with patchy ground-glass opacity. The patient was diagnosed with pulmonary contusion with thoracic spinal fracture (T12), calcaneal fracture, and pelvic fracture. On day 9 after conservative treatment, her condition was alleviated. On review of the chest CT, the previous shadows were significantly reduced. CONCLUSION Differential diagnosis of lung contusion and COVID-19 must be emphasized. Both conditions require effective prompt actions, especially COVID-19.
Restoration of California Native Grasses and Clovers: The Roles of Clipping, Broadleaf Herbicide, and Native Grass Density

One of the major challenges confronting grassland restoration of highly invaded communities is increasing the diversity of native species. There is surprisingly little research investigating how reconstructed native grasslands respond to common management techniques and how these techniques influence the relative establishment of both native grasses and forbs. Despite the diversity and wide distribution of native clovers in California, few practitioners incorporate them into grassland restoration plans. Conversely, non‐native clovers have been seeded extensively onto California rangelands. This study addresses the following questions: (1) Using readily available management tools, is there a strategy that can benefit the growth of both planted native bunchgrasses and seeded clovers? (2) Do native bunchgrasses compete with establishing clovers and non‐native grasses? (3) Do native and non‐native clovers differ in their response to management treatments or in their productivity? Plots were established to test three factors in different combinations over 3 years: (1) early spring clipping, (2) initial broadleaf herbicide, and (3) native bunchgrass planting density. Native and non‐native clovers were seeded in years 2 and 3. Early spring clipping did not have a significant effect on native bunchgrass cover, yet it did result in greater growth of native and non‐native clovers. The direction of the response to broadleaf herbicide changed between years for native bunchgrasses and was consistently negative for native clovers. Plots with higher native grass densities did not adversely affect the seeded clovers, yet non‐native grass cover was reduced. Native and non‐native clovers exhibited similar responses to clipping and established at similar densities.
Antiepileptic Drug Treatment Outcomes and Seizure-Related Injuries Among Adult Patients with Epilepsy in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Ethiopia

Objective Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) are the primary therapeutic modalities for epilepsy management. However, one-third of epileptic patients continue to experience seizure even with appropriate AED use. Patients with epilepsy are at increased risk for seizure-related injury and they have higher incidences of home, street and work accidents. There is a paucity of data on AED use pattern and treatment outcomes among patients with epilepsy in the tertiary hospitals of Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess AED use pattern, treatment outcome, and prevalence of seizure-related injury among patients with epilepsy in Tikur Anbessa specialized Hospital (TASH), Ethiopia. Patients and Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 291 patients with epilepsy attending the neurology clinic of TASH. A semi-structured questionnaire and data abstraction format were used to collect data through patient interview and medical chart review. Binary logistic regression was utilized to identify the associated factors of treatment outcome. Results About 172 (59%) of the patients were taking a single AED, in which phenobarbital, 195 (67%), and phenytoin, 97 (33.3%), were the most frequently prescribed AEDs as monotherapy and combination therapy. Headache, depressed mood and epigastric pain were frequently reported as adverse drug reactions. Seizure-related injury was reported among 78 (26.8%) patients and head injury 15 (5.2%), desntal injury 15 (5.2%), soft tissue injury 14 (4.8%) and burns 10 (3.4%) were the commonest. About two-thirds (191, 65.6%) of the study participants had uncontrolled seizure. Medication adherence and multiple AEDs were significantly associated with treatment outcome. Conclusion All the study participants were put on old generation AEDs with phenobarbital being the most frequently used. About two-thirds of the patients had uncontrolled seizure and seizure-related injury is still a serious concern among patients with epilepsy.
Gender Differences in Contraceptive Self-Efficacy: A Cross-Sectional Study of South Korean College Students

Purpose: Healthy sexuality is an important issue in the transition to adulthood. To maintain healthy sexuality, contraceptive self-efficacy could be the most significant predictor of safe sexuality. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between gender roles and the healthy sexuality of South Korean college students. Method: A cross-sectional study through self-report questionnaires was administered to college students in South Korea. In total, 499 students completed the demographic information questionnaire, the Sexual Attitudes Scale, Sexual Autonomy Scale, and Condom Self-Efficacy Scale. Results: A multiple regression analysis indicated that the contraceptive self-efficacy of male students was predicted by their junior year and sexual autonomy, while that of the females was predicted by their senior year and sexual autonomy. Conclusion: Sexual education focusing on sexual autonomy should be provided for the safe and healthy sexual expression of college students.
Job mobility and job performance: beliefs about social and occupational (dis)advantages as mediators

Background. Modern working conditions require an increased amount of spatial mobility from employed personnel. Research suggests that different types of job mobility might exert negative effects on well-being and health, and additionally have different costs and benefits for the work and the social domains. Methods. Using data from 3191 members of the German Armed Forces, we investigated the effects of four different types of job mobility (long-distance commuters, overnighters, residential mobiles and multi-mobiles) in contrast to non-mobiles on employees’ subjective job performance as an occupationally relevant outcome. Moreover, we expected beliefs about social and occupational advantages and disadvantages to mediate the effects of job mobility on subjective job performance. Results. A single concrete event during relocation had fewer negative consequences compared to the effects of circular mobility or multi-mobility. Moreover, beliefs about occupational and social advantages and disadvantages were differently associated with the different types of job mobility and partially mediated the direct effects of job mobility on job performance. Conclusions. Not all types of job mobility are an impairment and extra-organizational stress. Rather, the evaluation and perception of occupational and social (dis)advantages is crucial for the effects of different types of job mobility on organizational relevant outcomes.
Evidence from internet search data shows information-seeking responses to news of local COVID-19 cases

The COVID-19 outbreak is a global pandemic with community circulation in many countries, including the United States, with confirmed cases in all states. The course of this pandemic will be shaped by how governments enact timely policies and disseminate information and by how the public reacts to policies and information. Here, we examine information-seeking responses to the first COVID-19 case public announcement in a state. Using an event study framework for all US states, we show that such news increases collective attention to the crisis right away. However, the elevated level of attention is short-lived, even though the initial announcements are followed by increasingly strong policy measures. Specifically, searches for “coronavirus” increased by about 36% (95% CI: 27 to 44%) on the day immediately after the first case announcement but decreased back to the baseline level in less than a week or two. We find that people respond to the first report of COVID-19 in their state by immediately seeking information about COVID-19, as measured by searches for coronavirus, coronavirus symptoms, and hand sanitizer. On the other hand, searches for information regarding community-level policies (e.g., quarantine, school closures, testing) or personal health strategies (e.g., masks, grocery delivery, over-the-counter medications) do not appear to be immediately triggered by first reports. These results are representative of the study period being relatively early in the epidemic, and more-elaborate policy responses were not yet part of the public discourse. Further analysis should track evolving patterns of responses to subsequent flows of public information.
Bot or not?: Detecting bots in GitHub pull request activity based on comment similarity

Many empirical studies focus on socio-technical activity in social coding platforms such as GitHub, for example to study the onboarding, abandonment, productivity and collaboration among team members. Such studies face the difficulty that GitHub activity can also be generated automatically by bots of a different nature. It therefore becomes imperative to distinguish such bots from human users. We propose an automated approach to detect bots in GitHub pull request (PR) activity. Relying on the assumption that bots contain repetitive message patterns in their PR comments, we analyse the similarity between multiple messages from the same GitHub identity, using a clustering method that combines the Jaccard and Levenshtein distance. We empirically evaluate our approach by analysing 20,090 PR comments of 250 users and 42 bots in 1,262 GitHub repositories. Our results show that the method is able to clearly separate bots from human users.
An analysis of a ground traffic control decision support system based on the 3-step principle of heuristic decision making

Aim The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that the 3-step principle of heuristic decision making (Gigerenzer et al., 1999) can be used to analyze how the design of a decision support system can influence operators’ decision making behavior. The 3step principle distinguishes an information search (1st step), terminating the information search (2nd step), and finally making a decision (3rd step), based on the acquired information. Background Ground traffic controllers manage the ground movements of departing and arriving traffic. Therefore they must pursue multiple goals in parallel, such as releasing aircraft to depart on time, minimizing the number of stops to save fuel, handling arrivals, and providing high throughput at the airport. Decision support systems are developed to support controllers to manage these tasks efficiently. Method A petri net model was developed for a ground controller at Dallas Fort-Worth Airport to simulate different controller heuristics. In addition, two design variants of ground control decision support system were realized in a medium-fidelity simulation and tested in HITL simulations. Results The application of the 3-step principle, within the airport-controller petri net model, is able to describe how the design variants of a decision support system can strongly guide participants’ information search and therefore their decision making behavior. Discussion The application of the 3-step principle for the design of assistance systems is discussed.