Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diabetes Might Augment the Severity of COVID-19: A Current Prospects

COVID-19 is the recently emerged outbreak across the globe which is caused by SARS-CoV-2 (enveloped, positive single-stranded RNA virus). To date, more than 49.7 million confirmed cases and more than 1.2 million deaths have been reported worldwide (10 November 2020), making COVID-19 a major human health concern (1). Predominantly, SARS-CoV-2 infects lower airways and creates respiratory as well as systemic illness which further progresses to a severe form of pneumonia-like conditions in 10–15% of patients (2). SARS-CoV-2 can infect people of any age, but old-age people as well as people with comorbidities like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cerebrovascular disease, coronary heart disease, hypertension, tuberculosis, tobacco smoking, and diabetes are under a higher risk to get SARS-CoV-2 infection and develop COVID-19. Various reports suggested that these comorbidities might potentiate the COVID-19 progression and severities (3–5); therefore, researchers get attention toward this direction and try to manage this situation. Various studies revealed that among the cases of COVID-19 with comorbidities, 12–22% cases have diabetes, and themortality rate in these cases is 6–7% (3–6). In this opinion, we have to provide a summary of the symptomatic characteristics of COVID-19 with diabetes, and critical assessment of the association between COVID-19 and diabetes. Therefore, this opinion article could provide meaningful insight for future research and contribute to better clinical management of diabetes patients with COVID-19.
Changes of Gut Microbiota and Its Correlation With Short Chain Fatty Acids and Bioamine in Piglets at the Early Growth Stage

The change characteristics of intestinal microbial succession and the correlation with the production of two important types of bacterial metabolites (short chain fatty acids and bioamine) in piglets during the early stage were fully explored in this study. Six piglets from different litters with the same birth time were selected, weighted and euthanized at 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days of age. During this stage, the piglets grew quickly with gradual increases in blood levels of growth hormone and insulin, and in the intestinal developmental index and immunity. 16s rRNA analysis indicated the alpha diversity of colonic microbiome community was higher than ileum. However, the composition change in the ileal microbiota was more dramatic over time. Lactobacillus genus was the dominant bacteria in piglets' ileum while Prevotella and Ruminococcaceae genera were the dominant bacteria in colon up to weaning. Gut bacterial community of the piglets showed obvious differences between the three different phases: newborn, before weaning, and post weaning. This was similar to the morphological change pattern of pigs' gut. Total SCFA content in the colon of pigs showed almost a 20-fold increase at day 42 compared to the value at day 1. The percentage of acetic acid among the total SCFAs dropped quickly from 74.5% at day 1 to 36.5% at day 42, while butyric acid and propionic acid showed significant increases at the stage. The histamine level increased and putrescine level decreased markedly in the colon with time while the amounts of total bioamines, tyramine and spermidine were devoid of changes. Dozens bacteria taxa showed highly correlations with SCFAs and bioamines. These findings provide an expanded view of the dynamic pig gut and gut microbiome at the important early growth stage.
The Fib-PNI-MLR Score, an Integrative Model of Coagulation Cascades, Nutrition Status, and Systemic Inflammatory Response, Predicts Urological Outcomes After Surgery in Patients With Non-Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Cancer-associated inflammation, activation of coagulation cascades, and malnutrition are closely related to the prognosis of patients with malignancy, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of a combination of preoperative plasma fibrinogen, prognostic nutritional index, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (Fib-PNI-MLR) in patients with non-metastatic RCC undergoing nephrectomy. We retrospectively collected medical data from 829 of the 1,019 cases of RCC. The optimal cutoff values of fibrinogen (≥3.54 vs. <3.54, mg/dl), PNI (<47.03 vs. ≥47.03), and MLR (≥0.29 vs. <0.29) were defined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and the Fib-PNI-MLR score (range, 0–3) was determined as the sum of points (0 or 1) assigned to each indicator. As a result, Fib-PNI-MLR was an independent risk factor for overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and metastatic-free survival (MFS) (all P < 0.05). The concordance-index and area under the curve (AUC) were larger for the Fib-PNI-MLR score than that for other clinical parameters. Subgroup analysis (Fuhrman grade G1+G2 and Fuhrman grade G3+G4; pathologic T1, T2, and T3–4 stage) revealed the significant association of a higher Fib-PNI-MLR score with poor urological outcomes (all P < 0.05). Data indicated that patients with higher Fib-PNI-MLR might benefit from partial nephrectomy. The Fib-PNI-MLR score might serve as a promising prognostic factor in patients with non-metastatic RCC.
Responses of Water and Pigments Status, Dry Matter Partitioning, Seed Production, and Traits of Yield and Quality to Foliar Application of GA3 in Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)

This study evaluated the role of gibberellic acid [GA3; (0, 100, 200, and 300 ppm)] in modulation of the growth, physiology, yield, and quality traits in two varieties (BARI Mung-6 and BARI Mung-8) of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.). Irrespective of the two varieties (BARI Mung-6 and BARI Mung-8), 100, 200, and 300 ppm of GA3 differentially modulated the tested parameters (relative water content, RWC; photosynthetic pigments: chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids; growth parameters: fresh and dry weights of leaves, petioles, stems, and roots; yield contributing traits such as plant height, number of pods plant−1, number of grains pod−1, pod length, and 100-grain weight; quality traits such as grain nitrogen and protein). However, compared to the lowest GA3 (100 ppm) and the highest GA3 (300 ppm), the moderate concentration of GA3 (200 ppm) led to highest values of leaf-RWC, where this parameter exhibited 16.1 and 13.4% increase in BARI Mung-8 and BARI Mung-6, respectively. Similarly, the tested herein growth parameters and the yield traits significantly increased up to the foliar application of the moderate GA3 concentration (200 ppm), and thereafter these traits decreased with 300 ppm GA3. The 200 ppm-led changes in the growth and yield traits were significantly higher in BARI Mung-8 when compared to BARI Mung-6. Considering the quality traits, GA3 positively influenced the nitrogen and protein content in grains, where 200 ppm of GA3 led to increases of 25.2% in N, and 17.7% in protein over control in BARI Mung-6; whereas, BARI Mung-8 exhibited 28.3% in N, and 18.3% in protein with 200 ppm GA3 over control. Overall, BARI Mung-8 significantly responded to the foliar supply of 200 ppm GA3 when compared to BARI Mung-6. Hence, in order to high yield and grain protein content, the application of 200 ppm GA3 may be applied in V. radiata before and during flowering. The major mechanisms underlying the responses of the water relation, growth, and yield traits to the GA3 concentrations need to be explored.
Estimation of Secular Change in the Size of Continents for Understanding Early Crustal Development

The size of continents is an essential parameter to understand the growth of the continental crust and the evolution of the solid Earth because it is subject to tectonism and mantle convection and affects the preservation of the crust. This article reviews the secular change in the size of continents on the early Earth, focusing on terrigenous clastic rocks, especially quartzose sandstones occurring on relatively large continents. The earliest continental crust in the Hadean or early Archean was produced with a width of ∼200–500 km, similar to modern oceanic island arcs along subduction zones or oceanic islands in hot spot regions by mantle plume heating. Through the collision and amalgamation of such primitive continental crusts, continental blocks over 500 km in width and length evolved and appeared by ca. 3.5 Ga. Through further amalgamation, during ca. 3.3–2.5 Ga, the Archean continents emerged with widths and lengths greater than 1,000 km, which were still smaller than those of modern continents. Continents with widths and lengths of nearly 10,000 km have existed since ca. 2.4 Ga (early Proterozoic). Further analyses of the composition and formation mechanism of clastic rocks will help reveal more quantitative secular changes in the sizes of continents.
Neurofeedback of Alpha Activity on Memory in Healthy Participants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Neurofeedback training (NFT) has recently been proposed as a valuable technique for cognitive enhancement and psychiatric amelioration. However, effect of NFT of alpha activity on memory is controversial. The current study analyzed previous works in terms of randomized and blinded analyses, training paradigms, and participant characteristics to validate the efficacy of alpha NFT on memory in a healthy population. Objectives: A systematic meta-analysis of studies with randomized controlled trials was performed to explore the effect of alpha NFT on working memory (WM) and episodic memory (EM) in a healthy population. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from January 1, 1999, to November 30, 2019. Previous studies were evaluated with the Cochrane risk of bias (RoB). A meta-analysis calculating absolute weighted standardized mean difference (SMD) using random-effects models was employed. Heterogeneity was estimated using I2 statistics. Funnel plots and Egger's test were performed to evaluate the quality of evidence. Results: Sixteen studies with 217 healthy participants in the control group and 210 participants in the alpha group met the eligibility criteria. Alpha NFT studies with WM measures presented little publication bias (P = 0.116), and 5 of 7 domains in the Cochrane RoB exhibited a low risk of bias. The overall effect size from 14 WM studies was 0.56 (95% CI 0.31–0.81, P < 0.0001; I2 = 28%). Six EM studies exhibited an effect size of 0.77 (95% CI 0.06–1.49, P = 0.03; I2 = 77%). Conclusion: Meta-analysis results suggest that alpha NFT seems to have a positive effect on the WM and EM of healthy participants. Future efforts should focus on the neurophysiological mechanisms of alpha NFT in memory.
Delayed-Release Dimethyl Fumarate Safety and Efficacy in Pediatric Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) is rare: only 1.5–5% of MS cases are diagnosed before 18 years of age, and data on disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for pediatric MS are limited. The CONNECTED study assessed the long-term safety and efficacy of treatment with delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an oral MS DMT, in pediatric patients with MS. Methods: CONNECTED is the 96-week extension to FOCUS, a 24-week phase 2 study of patients aged 13–17 years; participants received DMF 240 mg twice daily. Endpoints included (primary) incidence of adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, and DMF discontinuations due to an AE, and (secondary) T2 hyperintense lesion incidence by magnetic resonance imaging and annualized relapse rate (ARR). Results: Twenty participants [median (range) age, 17 (14–18) years; 65% female] who completed FOCUS enrolled into CONNECTED; 17 (85%) completed CONNECTED. Eighteen participants (90%) experienced AEs: the most frequent was flushing (25%). None experienced infections or fever related to low lymphocyte counts. Three participants experienced four serious AEs; none led to DMF discontinuation. Twelve of 17 participants (71%) had no new/newly enlarged T2 lesions from weeks 16–24, two (12%) had one, and one each (6%) had two, three, or five or more lesions [median (range), 0 (0–6)]. Over the full 120-week treatment period, ARR was 0.2, an 84.5% relative reduction (n = 20; 95% confidence interval: 66.8–92.8; p < 0.0001) vs. the year before DMF initiation. Conclusions: The long-term safety and efficacy observed in CONNECTED was consistent with adults, suggesting pediatric and adolescent patients with MS might benefit from DMF treatment.
Complex Inferential Processes Are Needed for Implicature Comprehension, but Not for Implicature Production

Upon hearing “Some of Michelangelo’s sculptures are in Rome,” adults can easily generate a scalar implicature and infer that the intended meaning of the utterance corresponds to “Some but not all Michelangelo’s sculptures are in Rome. ” Comprehension experiments show that preschoolers struggle with this kind of inference until at least 5 years of age. Surprisingly, the few studies having investigated children’s production of scalar expressions like some and all suggest that production is adult-like already in their third year of life. Thus, children’s production of implicatures seems to develop at least 2 years before their comprehension of implicatures. In this paper, we present a novel account of scalar implicature generation in the framework of Bidirectional Optimality Theory: the Asymmetry Account. We show that the production–comprehension asymmetry is predicted to emerge because the comprehension of some requires the hearer to consider the speaker’s perspective, but the production of some does not require the speaker to consider the hearer’s perspective. Hence, children’s comprehension of scalar expressions, but not their production of scalar expressions, is predicted to be related to their theory of mind development. Not possessing fully developed theory of mind abilities yet, children thus have difficulty in comprehending scalar expressions such as some in an adult-like way. Our account also explains why variable performance is found in experimental studies testing children’s ability to generate scalar implicatures; moreover, it describes the differences between children’s and adults’ implicature generation in terms of their ability to recursively apply theory of mind; finally, it sheds new light on the question why the interpretation of numerals does not require implicature generation.
Prevalence and incidence of microvascular and macrovascular complications over 15 years among patients with incident type 2 diabetes

Introduction Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a common condition that, if left untreated or poorly managed, can lead to adverse microvascular and macrovascular complications. We estimated the prevalence and incidence of microvascular and macrovascular complications among patients newly diagnosed with T2D within a US integrated healthcare system. Research design and methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study among patients newly diagnosed with T2D between 2003 and 2014. We evaluated 13 complications, including chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and all-cause mortality through 2018. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to study factors associated with complications. Results We identified 135 199 patients with incident T2D. The mean age was 58 years, and 48% were women. The prevalence of CKD was the highest of the complications at the time of T2D diagnosis (prevalence=12.3%, 95% CI 12.2% to 12.5%), while the prevalence of CVD was among the lowest at 3.3% (95% CI 3.2% to 3.3%). The median time to incidence of a T2D complication ranged from 3.0 to 5.2 years. High incidence rates (95% CI) of T2D complications included peripheral neuropathy (26.9, 95% CI 26.5 to 27.3 per 1000 person-years (PY)), CKD (21.2, 95% CI 20.9 to 21.6 per 1000 PY), and CVD (11.9, 95% CI 11.7 to 12.2 per 1000 PY). The trend of 5-year incidence rates of T2D complications by diagnosis year decreased over time (p value<0.001). Older age, non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity, sex, higher A1C, smoking, and hypertension were associated with increased CKD and CVD incidence. Conclusion Though incidence rates of T2D complications were lower in more recent years (2010–2014), a significant proportion of patients had complications at T2D diagnosis. Earlier preventive therapies as well as managing modifiable factors may help delay the development and progression of T2D complications.
Trends in player body mass at men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups: a plateau in body mass and differences in emerging rugby nations

Objectives This study assessed the mass of international rugby players in the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups between 1991 and 2019. The objective was to quantify changes in mass of players by position, and to compare changes between men and women, and between established (Tier 1 (T1)) and emerging (Tier 2 (T2)) rugby nations. Setting Rugby World Cups from 1991 to 2019 for men’s players and 2010 to 2017 for women’s players. Participants 4447 elite male and 958 elite female players. Primary and secondary outcome measures Player body mass, grouped as men and women, T1 and T2 nations, and by playing position, assessed over time. Results Men’s player mass increased significantly between 1991 and 2019 (T1 overall 9.7% increase), but this increase occurred almost entirely up to 2011. Women’s forwards mass increased by 4.8% in T1, with no changes in T2 or backs from either tier. Significant differences in mass were found between T1 and T2 forwards and backs for both men and women. Conclusions The body mass of men’s players has stabilised after initial increases following professionalisation. Player body mass may be approaching a plateau, beyond which no further performance advantages occur. Changes to laws and tactical approaches by coaches may have contributed to this, by changing match demands on players, necessitating endurance, agility and speed. Trends in the evolution of T2 players suggest a barrier to identifying and developing heavy athletic players, and may require intervention to ensure competitive parity.
Assessment of vitamin B12 deficiency and B12 screening trends for patients on metformin: a retrospective cohort case review

Objectives Our study investigated the use of vitamin B12 testing in a large cohort of patients on metformin and assesses appropriateness and benefits of screening recommendations for vitamin B12 deficiency. Design This retrospective cohort study included insured adult patients who had more than 1 year of metformin use between 1 January 2010 and 1 October 2016 and who filled at least two consecutive prescriptions of metformin to establish compliance. The comparison group was not exposed to metformin. Primary outcome was incidence of B12 deficiency diagnosed in patients on metformin. Secondary outcome was occurrence of B12 testing in the patient population on metformin. Records dated through 31 December 2018 were analysed. Setting Large hospital system consisting of inpatient and outpatient data base. Participants A diverse, adult, insured population of patients who had more than 1 year of metformin use between 1 January 2010 and 1 October 2016 and who filled at least two consecutive prescriptions of metformin. Results Of 13 489 patients on metformin, 6051 (44.9%) were tested for vitamin B12 deficiency, of which 202 (3.3%) tested positive (vs 2.2% of comparisons). Average time to test was 990 days. Average time to test positive for deficiency was 1926 days. Factors associated with testing were linked to sex (female, 47.8%), older age (62.79% in patients over 80 years old), race (48.98% white) and causes of malabsorption (7.11%). Multivariable logistic regression showed older age as the only factor associated with vitamin B12 deficiency, whereas African-American ethnicity approached significance as a protective factor. Conclusions Based on our study’s findings of vitamin B12 deficiency in patients on metformin who are greater than 65 years old and have been using it for over 5 years, we recommend that physicians consider screening in these populations.
Can police shootings be reduced by requiring officers to document when they point firearms at citizens?

Objective To examine the impact of a novel firearm ‘pointing’ policy that requires officers to document when they directly point their guns at citizens. Methods Sixteen years (2003–2018) of narrative officer-involved shooting (OIS) reports from the Dallas Police Department were qualitatively coded to explore both the total frequency and specific characteristics of OIS before and after the policy change in 2013. Results χ2 tests found that the firearm pointing policy was associated with a reduction in the proportion of ‘threat perception failure’ shootings (ie, those where an officer mistakes an item for a gun). Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average analysis found that the policy change was associated with a gradual, permanent reduction in total OIS; however, that impact was not immediate. Conclusions Firearm pointing policies have the potential to alter organisational behaviour, particularly in highly discretionary shootings. It is unclear whether the specific mechanisms for the changes include more accountability through constrained discretion, reduced options to handle situations once officers’ guns are drawn and pointed, or an effect on officers’ timing and vision during ambiguous scenarios. Policy implications Although organisational change may be a long and complex process, reductions in OIS can prevent serious injuries and death. The policy change did not lead to an increase in the proportion of officers injured during OIS incidents.
Gaseous Nitrogen Losses from a Cambisol Cropped to Spring Wheat with Urea Sizes and Placement Depths

Globally identifying mitigation options for the emission of reactive N gases from agricultural soils is a research priority. We investigated the effect of urea size and placement depth on sources and emissions ofN gases from a Cambisol cropped to spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In Exp. 1, wheat received either prilled urea (PU) mixed within the soil, urea super granule (USG; diam. 10.1 mm) point-placed at a soil-depth of 7.5 cm, or no N fertilizer. In Exp. 2, wheat received either USG (diam. 10.2 mm) point-placed at 2.5-, 5.0-, and 7.5-cm soil depths, or no N fertilizer. In both experiments, maximum peaks for nitrous oxide (N 2 O) fluxes and nitrification were delayed by 2 to 3 wk in the USG compared with the PU treatment. The added 15 N-urea lost as 15 N-N 2 O over 116 d was only 0.01% for both PU and USG treatments in Exp. 1. This loss for USGs was higher in Exp. 2 (0.02-0.15%) measured over 70 d, mainly related to higher moisture-induced denitrification. Temporal N 2 O fluxes were significantly related to changes in soil NO 3 - ―N, water-filled pore space and NH 4 + ―N (R 2 = 0.50, P < 0.05). However, the previous predictive model of Khalil et al. (2006) could best estimate its cumulative fluxes over time. The relative losses of ammonia (0.07-1.17%) and nitrogen oxides (0.19-1.54%) measured in Exp. 2 over 43 d decreased with increasing depths of USG placement. The USG point-placed at the 5.0- and 7.5-cm depths decreased the pooled gaseous N losses by 35 and 77%, respectively, over the shallower placement. The 1 5 N results imply that soil N could be the major source of N 2 O emissions (79-97%). Field studies are suggested to validate our findings that the deeper placement of USG can decrease N emissions under arable cropping.
TESTES RÁPIDOS PARA AVALIAÇÃO DO VIGOR DE SEMENTES: UMA REVISÃO

Os testes de vigor de sementes tem sido auxiliares ao teste de germinacao, uma vez que este apresenta limitacoes, principalmente, no que se refere a diferenciacao de lotes e a relativa demora na obtencao dos resultados, o que tem estimulado o desenvolvimento de testes de vigor que sejam confiaveis e rapidos, agilizando as decisoes. Entre os testes mais promissores, se destacam os testes de condutividade eletrica e lixiviacao de potassio, que se baseiam na permeabilidade do sistema de membranas celulares, estando mais estudados para ervilha e soja e, para estas culturas, se encontram em fase avancada de padronizacao de metodologias constituindo ferramentas disponiveis para os programas de controle de qualidade.