Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trichinellosis in hospitalized patients from Western Romania: A retrospective study

Trichinellosis is a public health problem and an economic issue in porcine animal production and food safety. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the current epidemiologic, laboratory, clinical and therapeutic aspects of human trichinellosis in Western Romania. We retrospectively investigated the medical records of patients hospitalized in infectious diseases hospitals from three counties in Western Romania, between January 1st, 2012 and December 31st, 2016. A total of 83 patients diagnosed with trichinellosis were included in the study. Pork meat was the food source of infection in 76 (91.6%) patients and wild boar meat in 4 (4.8%). Patients were aged between 2 and 78 years; 48 (57.8%) were males and 27 (32.5%) came from an urban area. The most frequent symptoms included myalgia in 66 (79.5%) patients, fever in 55 (66.3%), eyelid edema in 40 (48.2%) and asthenia in 35 (42.2%). Two patients died and the others had favorable outcome. Although the number of reported cases has decreased in the past years, trichinellosis remains an important public health problem in Western Romania. Educational programs for both swine breeders and consumers are imperative, and implementation of strict hygienic measures aimed to control infection transmission are strongly recommended.
Editing the Shape Morphing of Monocomponent Natural Polysaccharide Hydrogel Films

Shape-morphing hydrogels can be widely used to develop artificial muscles, reconfigurable biodevices, and soft robotics. However, conventional approaches for developing shape-morphing hydrogels highly rely on composite materials or complex manufacturing techniques, which limit their practical applications. Herein, we develop an unprecedented strategy to edit the shape morphing of monocomponent natural polysaccharide hydrogel films via integrating gradient cross-linking density and geometry effect. Owing to the synergistic effect, the shape morphing of chitosan (CS) hydrogel films with gradient cross-linking density can be facilely edited by changing their geometries (length-to-width ratios or thicknesses). Therefore, helix, short-side rolling, and long-side rolling can be easily customized. Furthermore, various complex artificial 3D deformations such as artificial claw, horn, and flower can also be obtained by combining various flat CS hydrogel films with different geometries into one system, which can further demonstrate various shape transformations as triggered by pH. This work offers a simple strategy to construct a monocomponent hydrogel with geometry-directing programmable deformations, which provides universal insights into the design of shape-morphing polymers and will promote their applications in biodevices and soft robotics.
Effects of Soil Properties and Conditions on the Degradation of Three biphenyl Ether Herbicides in Flooded Soils

ジフェニルエーテル系除草剤の6種類の湛水土壌中における半減期は, chlornitrofen (CNP) で9～173日, nitrofenで3～87日および chlomethoxynil で8～64日と, 土壌間で大きく異なった. しかし, 同一の土壌中では3種類のジフェニルエーテル化合物は類似した分解パターンを示した. これら化合物の分解速度と土壌の各種理化学的性質との間の相関性は認められなかったが, 分解速度と土壌の酸化還元電位 (Eh) 値との間に負の相関が認められた. Chlornitrofen の分解は土壌の preincubation 期間や有機物添加によって大きく影響され, 土壌の酸化還元電位が低いとき速やかに分解された.
Blowoff Dynamics of Asymmetrically-Fueled, Bluffbody Flames

φξ = 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0. Fuel profiles were characterized using laser induced acetone fluorescence for unvitiated conditions. Transitional blowoff behavior was documented with PMT measurements of CH* chemiluminescence from the wake and high-speed imaging of broadband flame chemiluminescence, sampled from 5000 to 6600 frames per second. The high speed imaging revealed in greater detail the progression of lean blow out for uniform fueling, particularly the upstream propagation of the Benard-von Karman instability, local extinction, and finally the extinction of the flame sheet in the shear layer between the bulk flow and the recirculation zone. For asymmetrically fueled combustion, high-speed imaging revealed much greater vortex shedding coherence of the lean side flame sheet. At certain velocities and fuel gradients, the vortex shedding of the lean side of the flame holder coupled with the axial acoustic modes of the exhaust system, which resulted in thermoacoustic instability and early lean blowout.
Molecular dynamics simulations provide structural insight into binding of cyclic dinucleotides to human STING protein

Abstract Human stimulator of interferon genes (hSTING) is a signaling adaptor protein that triggers innate immune system by response to cytosolic DNA and second messenger cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs). Natural CDNs contain purine nucleobase with different phosphodiester linkage types (3′-3′, 2′-2′ or mixed 2′-3′-linkages) and exhibit different binding affinity towards hSTING, ranging from micromolar to nanomolar. High-affinity CDNs are considered as suitable candidates for treatment of chronic hepatitis B and cancer. We have used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate dynamical aspects of binding of natural CDNs (specifically, 2'-2'-cGAMP, 2'-3'-cGAMP, 3'-3'-cGAMP, 3'-3'-c-di-AMP, and 3'-3'-c-di-GMP) with hSTING wt protein. Our results revealed that CDN/hSTING wt interactions are controlled by the balance between fluctuations (conformational changes) in the CDN ligand and the protein dynamics. Binding of different CDNs induces different degrees of conformational/dynamics changes in hSTING wt ligand binding cavity, especially in α1-helices, the so-called lid region and α2-tails. The ligand residence time in hSTING wt protein pocket depends on different contribution of R232 and R238 residues interacting with oxygen atoms of phosphodiester groups in ligand, water distribution around interacting charged centers (in protein residues and ligand) and structural stability of closed conformation state of hSTING wt protein. These findings may perhaps guide design of new compounds modulating hSTING activity. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Prevalence of burnout in medical students in China

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of burnout among medical students in China. A systematic search from the following electronic databases: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wangfang database, VIP database, Chinese biomedical literature database, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was independently conducted by 2 reviewers from inception to September 2019. The data were analyzed using stata software Version 11. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 tests, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger's test. The source of heterogeneity among subgroups was determined by subgroup analysis of different parameters. A total of 48 articles with a sample size of 29,020 met the inclusion criteria. The aggregate prevalence of learning burnout was 45.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 38.1%–53.8%). The prevalence rate of high emotional exhaustion was 37.5% (95% CI: 21.4%–53.7%). The percentage was 44.0% (95% CI: 29.2%–58.8%) for low personal accomplishment. The prevalence rate was 36.0% (95% CI: 23.0%–48.9%) in depersonalization dimension. In the subgroup analysis by specialty, the prevalence of burnout was 30.3% (95% CI: 28.6%–32.0%) for clinical medicine and 43.8% (95% CI: 41.8%–45.8%) for other medical specialties. The total prevalence of burnout between men and women was 46.4% (95% CI: 44.8%–47.9%) and 46.6% (95% CI: 45.5%–47.6%), respectively. The prevalence of burnout with Rong Lian's scale was 43.7% (42.1%–45.2%), and that with the other scales was 51.4% (50.4%–52.4%). The prevalence rates were 62.9% (61.3%–64.6%), 58.7% (56.3%–61.1%), 46.5% (42.9%–50.2%), and 56.0% (51.6%–60.4%) from Grades 1 to 4, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference among the different grades (P = .000). Our findings suggest a high prevalence of burnout among medical students. Society, universities, and families should take appropriate measures and allot more care to prevent burnout among medical students.
The Frontline Health Care Workers in Schools: Health Equity, the Distribution of School Nurses, and Student Access

The extent to which observed disparities in access to primary pediatric care are mirrored in student access to school nursing services is unknown. Using school employment records, we linked 1,346 nurses to school districts serving 1,141,495 students in Washington state. The percentage of students who are Black is negatively associated with the student-to-nurse ratio, while the percentage of students eligible for free-or-reduced-price lunch is positively associated, and relative to urban districts, rural districts have higher student-to-nurse ratios. Disparities in access to school nursing services mirror access gaps for pediatric care along socioeconomic status and geography. The increased number of nurses working in districts with more racial/ethnic minority students may play a protective role and ameliorate access gaps observed in pediatric primary care. States can likely use existing employment and licensing data to understand where school nurses work and therefore guide resource allocation decisions.
Incidence of sports-related concussion in elite para athletes – a 52-week prospective study

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the 52-week incidence proportion and incidence rate of sports-related concussion (SRC) among elite Para athletes, and to analyze the injury mechanisms. Method: In total, 70 male and 37 female Swedish elite Para athletes (median age 29 years) with vision, physical and intellectual impairment, weekly self-reported sports-related injuries including concussion in an eHealth application adapted to Para athletes. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the incidence rate and incidence proportion. Chi-square statistics were used to analyze differences in the proportion of SRC. Results: A total of 13 SRC were reported: three athletes each sustained two SRC. The incidence proportion was 9.3% (95% CI 4.8–16.7), and the incidence rate 0.5 SRC/1000 hours (95% CI 0.3–0.9) of sports exposure. Athletes with vision impairment and female athletes reported a significantly higher proportion of SRC. A majority of the injuries (n = 9; 69%) occurred during sport-specific training. The injury mechanisms were collision with object (n = 7; 54%), collision with person (n = 4; 31%), and poor playing field conditions (n = 2; 16%). Conclusion: The incidence of concussion among elite Paralympic athletes is comparable to sports for able-bodied athletes. Athletes with vision impairment and female athletes reported a significantly higher incidence of SRC, and collisions were the most common injury mechanism. These results can form the basis for future preventive research studies.
Effects of Local Anesthetic Volume (Standard Versus Low) on Incidence of Hemidiaphragmatic Paralysis and Analgesic Quality for Ultrasound-Guided Superior Trunk Block After Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

BACKGROUND: Relative to interscalene block, superior trunk block (STB) provides comparable analgesia and a reduced risk of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis. However, the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis remains high when a standard volume (15 mL) of local anesthetic is used. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of local anesthetic volume of STB on the incidence of phrenic nerve palsy, as well as its analgesic efficacy following arthroscopic shoulder surgery. METHODS: Patients scheduled for elective arthroscopic shoulder surgery were randomized to receive ultrasound-guided STB using either 5- or 15-mL 0.5% ropivacaine before general anesthesia. The primary outcome was the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis at 30 minutes after block. The secondary outcomes were pulmonary function, grade of sensory and motor blockade, pain score, opioid consumption, adverse effects, and satisfaction. RESULTS: Relative to standard-volume STB, low-volume STB was associated with a lower incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis after block (14.3 [4.8%–30.3%] vs 65.7 [46.8%–80.9%]; difference 51.4% [95% confidence intervals {CIs}, 29.0%–67.1%]; P < .0001) and at the postanesthesia care unit (9.4% vs 50.0%; difference 40.6 [95% CI, 18.9%–57.7%]; P = .0004). Pulmonary function was also better preserved in the low-volume group than in the standard-volume group. The extent of the sensory and motor blocks was significantly different between the groups. Pain-related outcomes, satisfaction, and any adverse events were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Low-volume STB provided a lower incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis with no significant difference in analgesic efficacy relative to standard-volume STB for arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
More Pride When Remembering Imagined Difficult Moral Actions and Less Pride When Actually Imagining Doing Them?

Abstract In a previous study of moral pride carried out with adolescents, a paradoxical effect was observed: more costly imagined prosocial behaviors generated less pride. The aim of this study was to analyze whether this effect disappears in retrospect. Participants were 188 adolescents aged between 14 and 16 (96 girls) who were given diverse scenarios in which someone needed help. In some of the scenarios, providing this help required participants to either go against the majority or incur some other kind of personal cost. One group received scenarios set in the present (data from the previous study mentioned above) and the other received scenarios set in the past. Although participants were not randomly assigned to one of the two conditions, all came from the same social context. All participants were asked to state how proud they would feel if they helped. The hypothesis was confirmed: while in the present both imagined prosocial behaviors which involved going against the majority and those that involved other costs generated less pride, when the scenarios were presented in the past, they generated more pride. These results suggest that while moral pride may have a limited reinforcing effect in the present, its retrospective effect is greater.
Ward-specific clustering of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus spa-type t037 and t045 in two hospitals in South Africa: 2013 to 2017

Introduction Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a highly clonal pathogen causing infections in various settings. The aim of this study was to determine if healthcare-associated (HA) MRSA isolates with the same spa-type originating from two geographically distinct hospitals in South Africa were genetically related based on PFGE. Furthermore, a small subset of MRSA isolates were characterised with WGS and then compared to PFGE to determine if PFGE is still a reliable method to define outbreaks and/or transmission chains. Methods Staphylococcus aureus isolated from blood cultures (BC) were submitted to the Centre for Healthcare-Associated Infections, Antimicrobial Resistance and Mycoses (CHARM) as part of a laboratory-based surveillance programme (GERMS-SA). The identified HA-MRSA isolates underwent molecular characterisation [Staphylococcal Chromosome Cassette (SCC) mec and spa-typing]. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed on selected isolates with the same spa-type. Twenty-one MRSA isolates were selected for whole-genome sequencing (WGS) based on spa-type, PFGE clustering, time and place of isolation. Results Eighteen percent (n = 95/529) and 33% (n = 234/710) of isolates collected, from two public tertiary academic hospitals in the Gauteng (GAU) and the Western Cape (WC) provinces, were identified as MRSA, respectively. The most dominant clone in the GAU hospital was t037-III-MRSA (43.2%; n = 41/95). The most dominant clones in the WC hospital was t037-III-MRSA (23.9%, n = 56/234) and t045-I-MRSA (23.5%, n = 55/234). The GAU-t037-III-MRSA cases and WC-t045-I-MRSA cases occurred in the paediatric patient population, whereas the WC-t037-III-MRSA cases occurred in the adult patient population. A novel spa-type (t19935) was detected in the GAU hospital. PFGE showed that the GAU- and WC-t037-III-MRSA isolates were genetically indistinguishable, as well as most of the WC-t045-I-MRSA isolates. The Vienna/Hungarian/Brazilian clone and British EMRSA-3 clone were in circulation and a low frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) (≤20) differences was observed among isolates with the same spa-type. Conclusion The low number of SNP differences is suggestive of uninterrupted strain transmission and the persistence of t037-III-MRSA and t045-I-MRSA from 2013 to 2017 in the two studied hospitals. Alternative infection prevention and control strategies should be considered to supplement control efforts.
Decellularized kidney extracellular matrix bioinks recapitulate renal 3D microenvironment in vitro

Decellularized extracellular matrices (ECMs) are able to provide the necessary and specific cues for remodeling and maturation of tissue-specific cells. Nevertheless, their use for typical biofabrication applications requires chemical modification or mixing with other polymers, mainly due to the limited viscoelastic properties. In this study, we hypothesize that a bioink exclusively based on decellularized kidney ECM (dKECM) could be used to bioprint renal progenitor cells. To address these aims, porcine kidneys were decellularized, lyophilized and digested to yield a viscous solution. Then, the bioprinting process was optimized using an agarose microparticle support bath containing transglutaminase for enzymatic crosslinking of the dKECM. This methodology was highly effective to obtain constructs with good printing resolution and high structural integrity. Moreover, the encapsulation of primary renal progenitor cells resulted in high cell viability, with creation of 3D complex structures over time. More importantly, this tissue-specific matrix was also able to influence cellular growth and differentiation over time. Taken together, these results demonstrate that unmodified dKECM bioinks have great potential for bioengineering renal tissue analogs with promising translational applications and/or for in vitro model systems. Ultimately, this strategy may have greater implications on the biomedical field for the development of bioengineered substitutes using decellularized matrices from other tissues.
Developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 levels in prostate cancer cell lines impact docetaxel-induced apoptosis

Purpose This study aimed to confirm the association between developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 (DRG2) expression and docetaxel-induced apoptosis and to determine whether prostate cancer responses to docetaxel treatment differ with DRG2 expression. Materials and Methods PC3, DU145, and LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines were used. The MTT assay was used to determine cell viability. Western blotting analysis was performed using anti-DRG2 antibodies. Cells were transfected with 50 nmol DRG2 siRNA using an siRNA transfection reagent for DRG2 knockdown. The cell cycle was analyzed by using flow cytometry, and apoptosis was detected by using the Annexin V cell death assay. Results DRG2 expression differed in each prostate cancer cell line. Docetaxel reduced DRG2 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Upon DRG2 knockdown in prostate cancer cells, an increase in the sub-G1 phase was observed without a change in the G1 or G2/M phases. When 4 nM docetaxel was administered to DRG2 knockdown prostate cancer cell lines, an increase in the sub-G1 phase was observed without increasing the G2/M phase, which was similar to that in DU145 cells before DRG2 knockdown. In PC3 and DU145 cell lines, DRG2 knockdown increased docetaxel-induced Annexin V (+) apoptosis by 8.7 and 2.7 times, respectively. Conclusions In prostate cancer cells, DRG2 regulates G2/M arrest after docetaxel treatment. In prostate cancer cells with DRG2 knockdown, apoptosis increases without G2/M arrest in response to docetaxel treatment. These results show that inhibition of DRG2 expression can be useful to enhance docetaxel-induced apoptosis despite low-dose administration in castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Ultra-processed food consumption and adult obesity risk: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

Abstract We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate observational studies assessing the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and the risk of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity in the general population. We searched the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and ISI Web of Science from inception until December 2020. Data were extracted from 12 studies (nine cross-sectional and three cohort studies). Odds ratio (OR) were pooled using a random-effects model. UPF consumption was associated with an increased risk of obesity (OR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.36, 1.77; I2 = 55%), overweight (OR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.63; I2 = 73%), and abdominal obesity (OR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.68; I2 = 62%). Furthermore, every 10% increase of UPF consumption in daily calorie intake was associated with a 7%, a 6%, and a 5% higher risk of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, respectively. Dose-response meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies showed a positive linear association between UPF consumption and abdominal obesity. There was also a positive linear association between UPF consumption and risk of overweight/obesity in the analysis of cross-sectional studies and a positive monotonic association in the analysis of cohort studies. Our study suggests that UPF consumption is associated with an increased risk of excess weight or abdominal obesity.
Of pathogens and party lines: Social conservatism positively associates with COVID-19 precautions among U.S. Democrats but not Republicans

Social liberals tend to be less pathogen-avoidant than social conservatives, a pattern consistent with a model wherein ideological differences stem from differences in threat reactivity. Here we investigate if and how individual responses to a shared threat reflect those patterns of ideological difference. In seeming contradiction to the general association between social conservatism and pathogen avoidance, the more socially conservative political party in the United States has more consistently downplayed the dangers of COVID-19 during the ongoing pandemic. This puzzle offers an opportunity to examine the contributions of multiple factors to disease avoidance. We investigated the relationship between social conservatism and COVID-19 precautionary behavior in light of the partisan landscape of the United States. We explored whether consumption of, and attitudes toward, different sources of information, as well as differential evaluation of various threats caused by the pandemic—such as direct health costs versus indirect harms to the economy and individual liberties—shape partisan differences in responses to the pandemic in ways that overwhelm the contributions of social conservatism. In two pre-registered studies, socially conservative attitudes correlate with self-reported COVID-19 prophylactic behaviors, but only among Democrats. Reflecting larger societal divisions, among Republicans and Independents, the absence of a positive relationship between social conservatism and COVID-19 precautions appears driven by lower trust in scientists, lower trust in liberal and moderate sources, lesser consumption of liberal news media, and greater economic conservatism.