Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the use of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis among pregnant and postpartum adolescent girls and young women in Cape Town, South Africa

Background Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa are at a higher risk of acquiring HIV. Despite the increasing availability of daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, knowledge on PrEP use during pregnancy and postpartum periods at antenatal care (ANC) facilities remains inadequate. Methods Data from HIV-uninfected pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa, were used in this study. These women aged 16–24 years were enrolled in the PrEP in pregnancy and postpartum (PrEP-PP) cohort study during their first ANC visit. Using the PrEP cascade framework, the outcomes of the study were PrEP initiation (prescribed tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine at baseline), continuation (returned for prescription), and persistence [quantifiable tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) in dried blood samples]. The two primary exposures of this study were risk perception for HIV and baseline HIV risk score (0–5), which comprised condomless sex, more than one sexual partner, partner living with HIV or with unknown serostatus, laboratory-confirmed sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and hazardous alcohol use before pregnancy (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption score ≥ 3). Logistic regression was used to examine the association between HIV risk and PrEP, adjusting for a priori confounders. Results A total of 486 pregnant women were included in the study, of which 16% were “adolescents” (aged 16–18 years) and 84% were “young women” (aged 19–24 years). The adolescents initiated ANC later than the young women [median = 28 weeks (20–34) vs. 23 weeks (16–34), p = 0.04]. Approximately 41% of the AGYW were diagnosed with sexually transmitted infection at baseline. Overall, 83% of the AGYW initiated PrEP use during their first ANC. The percentage of PrEP continuation was 63% at 1 month, 54% at 3 months, and 39% at 6 months. Approximately 27% consistently continued PrEP use through 6 months, while 6% stopped and restarted on PrEP use at 6 months. With a higher risk score of HIV (≥2 vs. ≤1), the AGYW showed higher odds of PrEP continuation [adjusted odds ratio: 1.85 (95% CI: 1.12–3.03)] through 6 months, adjusting for potential confounders. Undergoing the postpartum period (vs. pregnant) and having lower sexual risk factors were found to be the barriers to PrEP continuation. TFV-DP concentration levels were detected among 49% of the AGYW, and 6% of these women had daily adherence to PrEP at 3 months. Conclusions AGYW were found to have high oral PrEP initiation, but just over one-third of these women continued PrEP use through 6 months. Pregnant AGYW who had a higher risk of acquiring HIV (due to condomless sex, frequent sex, and STIs) were more likely to continue on PrEP use through the postpartum period. Pregnant and postpartum AGYW require counseling and other types of support, such as community delivery and peer support to improve their effective PrEP use through the postpartum period. Clinical Trial Number ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03826199.
An automated approach to establish relationship between total and effective impervious area for urban Indian catchments

ABSTRACT Determination of total impervious area (TIA) or effective impervious area (EIA) is mandatory for hydrological modelling of water quantity and quality in urban areas. In this study, a multilayer deep learning model Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is implemented for estimating TIA. A more realistic automated method is suggested to determine EIA by integrating the remote sensing data, the digital format of the drainage network, and a digital elevation model (DEM). A graphical user interface (GUI) called EIA estimator is developed for automatic creation of EIA maps. An effort is made to derive a relationship between TIA and EIA. Several power relationships are obtained for easily measurable TIA and hydraulically relevant EIA in urban catchments of India. These relationships would aid planners and decision-makers with quick initial estimates for surface water quantity and quality problems.
The Montreal model: an integrative biomedical-psychedelic approach to ketamine for severe treatment-resistant depression

Background Subanesthetic ketamine has accumulated meta-analytic evidence for rapid antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), resulting in both excitement and debate. Many unanswered questions surround ketamine’s mechanisms of action and its integration into real-world psychiatric care, resulting in diverse utilizations that variously resemble electroconvulsive therapy, conventional antidepressants, or serotonergic psychedelics. There is thus an unmet need for clinical approaches to ketamine that are tailored to its unique therapeutic properties. Methods This article presents the Montreal model, a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach to ketamine for severe TRD refined over 6 years in public healthcare settings. To contextualize its development, we review the evidence for ketamine as a biomedical and as a psychedelic treatment of depression, emphasizing each perspectives’ strengths, weaknesses, and distinct methods of utilization. We then describe the key clinical experiences and research findings that shaped the model’s various components, which are presented in detail. Results The Montreal model, as implemented in a recent randomized clinical trial, aims to synergistically pair ketamine infusions with conventional and psychedelic biopsychosocial care. Ketamine is broadly conceptualized as a brief intervention that can produce windows of opportunity for enhanced psychiatric care, as well as powerful occasions for psychological growth. The model combines structured psychiatric care and concomitant psychotherapy with six ketamine infusions, administered with psychedelic-inspired nonpharmacological adjuncts including rolling preparative and integrative psychological support. Discussion Our integrative model aims to bridge the biomedical-psychedelic divide to offer a feasible, flexible, and standardized approach to ketamine for TRD. Our learnings from developing and implementing this psychedelic-inspired model for severe, real-world patients in two academic hospitals may offer valuable insights for the ongoing roll-out of a range of psychedelic therapies. Further research is needed to assess the Montreal model’s effectiveness and hypothesized psychological mechanisms.
The Young Earth: An introduction to Archaean geology

I Background: Concepts and field evidence. - 1 Introduction. - 1.1 Purpose and scope. - 1.2 Concepts. - 1.3 Catastrophes vs. uniformity. - 1.4 Archaean stratigraphy and mapping. - 2 Geochronology and other uses of isotopic analysis. - 2.1 Introduction. - 2.2 K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar methods. - 2.3 Application of K-Ar data. - 2.4 Rb-Sr dating. - 2.5 Sm-Nd, Lu-Hf and Re-Os methods. - 2.6 U, Th-Pb dating methods. - 2.7 Choosing a dating technique. - 2.8 The isotopiC record of planetary evolution. - 3 Archaean terrains: the available geological evidence. - 3.1 Introduction. - 3.2 Transects through the Archaean crust. - 3.3 Archaean 'cover' successions. - 3.4 Granite-greenstone terrains. - 3.5 Construction of the craton. - 3.6 Other Archaean low-grade terrains. - 3.7 Gneiss terrains. - 3.8 Archaean high-grade terrains. - 3.9 The information available in Archaean terrains. - 3.10 An example of an Archaean field area: the Belingwe Belt, Zimbabwe. - 3.11 The Archaean record: a basis for interpretation. - II Reconstructing the Archaean Earth. - 4 The beginnings of life. - 4.1 Geological evidence for life. - 4.2 Molecular palaeontology and the History of Life in the Archaean. - 5 Archaean continents. - 5.1 Continents and oceans. - 5.2 Archaean sediments. - 5.3 The sedimentological record: stratigraphic examples. - 5.4 Archaean sedimentary facies: some deductions from evaporites, stromatolites, cherts and ironstones. - 5.5 The composition of the sedimentary mass. - 5.6 The crustal residence times of the sedimentary mass. - 5.7 The thermal regime of the continental crust: metamorphosis and intrusion. - 5.8 Archaean granitoids: the substance of the continents. - 5.9 Metamorphism: the problem of 'equilibrium' gradients. - 5.10 Archaean continental geotherms: how thick was the subcontinental lithosphere? - 5.11 Plate tectonics: an Archaean necessity. - 6 Archaean volcanism. - 6.1 Andesitic suites. - 6.2 Alkaline rocks. - 6.3 Kimberlites: the case of the missing diamonds again. - 6.4 Komatiites. - 6.5 Basalts. - 6.6 Ultramafic complexes. - 6.7 The composition of Archaean mafic and ultramafic lavas. - 6.8 Possible relationships between komatiites and komatiitic basalts. - 6.9 Implications of the major element compositions of komatiites: the source region. - 6.10 Through a glass darkly: the trace element and isotopic window to the Archaean mantle. - 6.11 The evolution and stratification of the mantle. - 6.12 The rates of growth of the continents and depletion of the mantle. - 7 Mineral deposits in Archaean rocks. - 7.1 Gold deposits. - 7.2 Base metal deposits. - 7.3 Archaean nickel deposits. - 7.4 Platinum group elements. - 7.5 Chrome. - 7.6 Asbestos. - 7.7 Iron ore. - 7.8 Other minerals. - 8 Models of the early Earth. - 8.1 The bowels of the Earth. - 8.2 Plate tectonics. - 8.3 Continents and water. - 8.4 The degassing of the planet. - 8.5 Gaia. - 8.6 Life. - 8.7 The origin of life. - 8.8 The home of life. - Glossary of geological terms for non-geologists. - References. - Author Index.
Caloric Restriction Mitigates Kidney Fibrosis in an Aged and Obese Rat Model

Caloric restriction is an effective intervention to protract healthspan and lifespan in several animal models from yeast to primates, including humans. Caloric restriction has been found to induce cardiometabolic adaptations associated with improved health and to delay the onset and progression of kidney disease in different species, particularly in rodent models. In both aging and obesity, fibrosis is a hallmark of kidney disease, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition is a key process that leads to fibrosis and renal dysfunction during aging. In this study, we used an aged and obese rat model to evaluate the effect of long-term (6 months) caloric restriction (−40%) on renal damage both from a structural and functional point of view. Renal interstitial fibrosis was analyzed by histological techniques, whereas effects on mesenchymal (N-cadherin, Vimentin, Desmin and α-SMA), antioxidant (SOD1, SOD2, Catalase and GSTP1) inflammatory (YM1 and iNOS) markers and apoptotic/cell cycle (BAX, BCL2, pJNK, Caspase 3 and p27) pathways were investigated using Western blot analysis. Our results clearly showed that caloric restriction promotes cell cycle division and reduces apoptotic injury and fibrosis phenotype through inflammation attenuation and leukocyte infiltration. In conclusion, we highlight the beneficial effects of caloric restriction to preserve elderly kidney function.
Vitamin D Levels Are Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Events but Not with Cardiovascular Disease or Overall Mortality: A Prospective Population-Based Study

(1) Background: A recent review concluded that there was no strong evidence for beneficial vitamin D effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but whether individuals with vitamin D deficiency have a higher risk of CVD should be further studied. (2) Aims: We assessed the association between vitamin D levels and CVD events, CVD mortality, and overall mortality in a prospective population-based study in Lausanne, Switzerland. (3) Methods: A total of 5684 participants (53.6% women, 52.5 ± 10.7 years) were followed for a median of 14.4 years [interquartile range: 10.7–16.6]. Vitamin D blood levels were categorized as normal (≥75 nmol/L or 30 ng/mL), insufficient (50–74 nmol/L or 21–29 ng/mL), and deficient (<50 nmol/L or 20 ng/mL). (4) Results: In total, 568 cardiovascular events, 114 cardiovascular deaths, and 679 deaths occurred during follow-up. After multivariate analysis, vitamin D levels were negatively associated with CVD events: hazard ratio and (95% confidence interval) for a 10 nmol/L increase: 0.96 (0.92–0.99). However, no association was found for CVD [0.93 (0.84–1.04)] and overall mortality [0.98 (0.94–1.02)]. No associations were found between vitamin D categories and CVD events, 0.93 (0.71–1.22) and 1.14 (0.87–1.49); CVD deaths, 0.78 (0.41–1.50) and 1.10 (0.57–2.12); and overall mortality, 1.10 (0.82–1.48); and 1.17 (0.87–1.58) for insufficiency and deficiency, respectively. After excluding participants taking vitamin D supplements, similar results were obtained. (5) Conclusion: In this prospective population-based study, vitamin D levels were inversely associated with CVD events but not with CVD or overall mortality.
Temporal Changes in Functional and Structural Neuronal Activities in Auditory System in Non-Severe Blast-Induced Tinnitus

Background and Objectives: Epidemiological data indicate that blast exposure is the most common morbidity responsible for mild TBI among Service Members (SMs) during recent military operations. Blast-induced tinnitus is a comorbidity frequently reported by veterans, and despite its wide prevalence, it is also one of the least understood. Tinnitus arising from blast exposure is usually associated with direct structural damage that results in a conductive and sensorineural impairment in the auditory system. Tinnitus is also believed to be initiated by abnormal neuronal activities and temporal changes in neuroplasticity. Clinically, it is observed that tinnitus is frequently accompanied by sleep disruption as well as increased anxiety. In this study, we elucidated some of the mechanistic aspects of sensorineural injury caused by exposure to both shock waves and impulsive noise. The isolated conductive auditory damage hypothesis was minimized by employing an animal model wherein both ears were protected. Materials and Methods: After the exposure, the animals’ hearing circuitry status was evaluated via acoustic startle response (ASR) to distinguish between hearing loss and tinnitus. We also compared the blast-induced tinnitus against the well-established sodium salicylate-induced tinnitus model as the positive control. The state of the sensorineural auditory system was evaluated by auditory brainstem response (ABR), and this test helped examine the neuronal circuits between the cochlea and inferior colliculus. We then further evaluated the role of the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors and neuronal synapses in the auditory cortex (AC) injury after blast exposure. Results: We observed sustained elevated ABR thresholds in animals exposed to blast shock waves, while only transient ABR threshold shifts were observed in the impulsive noise group solely at the acute time point. These changes were in concert with the increased expression of ribbon synapses, which is suggestive of neuroinflammation and cellular energy metabolic disorder. It was also found that the onset of tinnitus was accompanied by anxiety, depression-like symptoms, and altered sleep patterns. By comparing the effects of shock wave exposure and impulsive noise exposure, we unveiled that the shock wave exerted more significant effects on tinnitus induction and sensorineural impairments when compared to impulsive noise. Conclusions: In this study, we systematically studied the auditory system structural and functional changes after blast injury, providing more significant insights into the pathophysiology of blast-induced tinnitus.
Stability of Blueberry Extracellular Vesicles and Their Gene Regulation Effects in Intestinal Caco-2 Cells

Plant extracellular vesicles (P-EVs) are considered promising functional food ingredients due to their various health benefits. In this study, blueberry extracellular vesicles (B-EVs) were collected and purified by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The chemical compounds in B-EV extracts were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. In addition, the stability of B-EVs was evaluated during short- and long-term storage, heating, and in vitro digestion. The results showed that the B-EVs had a desirable particle size (88.2 ± 7.7 nm). Protein and total RNA concentrations were 582 ± 11.2 μg/mL and 15.4 μg/mL, respectively. The optimal storage temperatures for B-EVs were 4 °C and −80 °C for short- and long-term storage, respectively. Fluorescent labeling and qRT-PCR tests showed that B-EVs could be specifically internalized by Caco-2 cells, whereas virtually no cytotoxic or growth-inhibitory effects were observed. B-EVs down-regulated the expression levels of IL-1β and IL-8 and up-regulated the expression levels of NF-κβ and TLR5 in Caco-2 cells. Overall, the results proved that the intact structure of B-EVs could be preserved during food storage and processing conditions. B-EVs had the ability to reach the human intestine through oral delivery. Moreover, they could be absorbed by intestinal cells and affect human intestinal function.
Composition and diversity of gut microbiota across developmental stages of Spodoptera frugiperda and its effect on the reproduction

Introduction Spodoptera frugiperda is a serious world-wide agricultural pest. Gut microorganisms play crucial roles in growth, development, immunity and behavior of host insects. Methods Here, we reported the composition of gut microbiota in a laboratory-reared strain of S. frugiperda using 16S rDNA sequencing and the effects of gut microbiota on the reproduction. Results Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the predominant bacteria and the taxonomic composition varied during the life cycle. Alpha diversity indices indicated that the eggs had higher bacterial diversity than larvae, pupae and adults. Furthermore, eggs harbored a higher abundance of Ralstonia, Sediminibacterium and microbes of unclassified taxonomy. The dynamics changes in bacterial communities resulted in differences in the metabolic functions of the gut microbiota during development. Interestingly, the laid eggs in antibiotic treatment groups did not hatch much due to the gut dysbacteriosis, the results showed gut microbiota had a significant impact on the male reproduction. Discussion Our findings provide new perspectives to understand the intricate associations between microbiota and host, and have value for the development of S. frugiperda management strategies focusing on the pest gut microbiota.
Patient satisfaction with nursing care in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Patient satisfaction (PS) with nursing care is considered one of the most important predictors of satisfaction with hospital services. The current research was conducted to determine the level of PS with nursing care provided in hospitals in Iran. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in various international electronic databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Persian electronic databases such as Iranmedex, and the Scientific Information Database (SID) using keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings such as ‘Patient satisfaction’, ‘Satisfaction’, ‘Nursing care’, and ‘Nurse’ from the earliest to 27 January 2023. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scale, and the analysis was performed in Stata software version 14. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to clarify the source of heterogeneity. Results: The results showed that the overall PS with nursing care in different hospitals was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.79–0.86). The proportions of complete satisfaction, partial satisfaction, and dissatisfaction were 0.38 (95% CI: 0.23–0.53), 0.45 (95% CI: 0.34–0.55), and 0.17 (95% CI: 0.12–0.21), respectively. Conclusion: However, overall satisfaction was seen in four out of five patients admitted to hospitals in Iran, complete satisfaction with nursing care was 38%. Future studies should identify the effective factors related to PS with nursing care.
Long-term nitrogen fertilizer management for enhancing use efficiency and sustainable cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Optimal management of nitrogen fertilizer profoundly impacts sustainable development by influencing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and seed cotton yield. However, the effect of long-term gradient nitrogen application on the sandy loam soil is unclear. Therefore, we conducted an 8-year field study (2014–2021) using six nitrogen levels: 0 kg/hm2 (N0), 75 kg/hm2 (N1), 150 kg/hm2 (N2), 225 kg/hm2 (N3), 300 kg/hm2 (N4), and 375 kg/hm2 (N5). The experiment showed that 1) Although nitrogen application had insignificantly affected basic soil fertility, the soil total nitrogen (STN) content had decreased by 5.71%–19.67%, 6.67%–16.98%, and 13.64%–21.74% at 0-cm–20-cm, 20-cm–40-cm, and 40-cm–60-cm soil layers, respectively. 2) The reproductive organs of N3 plants showed the highest nitrogen accumulation and dry matter accumulation in both years. Increasing the nitrogen application rate gradually decreased the dry matter allocation ratio to the reproductive organs. 3) The boll number per unit area of N3 was the largest among all treatments in both years. On sandy loam, the most optional nitrogen rate was 190 kg/hm2–270 kg/hm2 for high seed cotton yield with minimal nitrogen loss and reduced soil environment pollution.
An evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program for patients undergoing colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Introduction The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol reduces surgery-related stress and hospital stays for complicated surgical patients. It speeds recovery, reduces readmissions, and lowers morbidity and mortality. However, the efficacy of ERAS in colorectal surgery is still debatable. Aim To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the ERAS program for patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Material and methods PRISMA-compliant searches were performed on Medline, Embase, PubMed, the Web of Sciences, and the Cochrane Database up to March 2023. The included articles compared ERAS protocol results for colorectal surgery patients to those of conventional care. RevMan was used for the meta-analysis, and the Cochrane RoB Tool was used to assess the study quality. Results The meta-analysis included 12 randomized controlled trials with a total of 1920 participants. There were 880 individuals in ERAS care and 1002 in conventional care. Weighted mean difference: –1.07 days, 95% confidence interval (CI): –1.53 to –0.60, p = 0.00001), overall length of stay: –4.12 days, 95% CI: –5.86 to –2.38, p = 0.00001), and post-operative hospital stay: –1.91 days, 95% CI: –4.73 to –0.91, p = 0.00001). Readmissions were higher in the ERAS group than in the normal care group (odds ratio (OR) = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.82 to 1.75, p = 0.35). Post-operative complications were lower in the ERAS care group (OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.65, p < 0.0001) and SSIs (OR = 0.75; 95% CI 0.52 to 1.08, p = 0.00001) than in the routine care group. Conclusions Care provided in line with the ERAS protocol has been shown to be successful and beneficial for patients following colorectal surgery, because it minimizes post-operative problems and length of hospital stay, and improves outcomes.