Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The producer benefits of implicit fossil fuel subsidies in the United States

Significance There are real and substantial financial implications to fossil fuel producers of policies that seek to correct market failures brought about by climate change, adverse health effects from local pollution, and inefficient transportation. The producer benefits of the existing policy regime in the United States are estimated at $62 billion annually during normal economic conditions. This translates into large amounts for individual companies due to the relatively small number of fossil fuel producers. This paper provides company-specific estimates, and these numbers clarify why many in the fossil fuel industry oppose more efficient regulatory reform; they may also shape the way policymakers view the prospects for additional subsidies going forward. This paper estimates the financial benefits accruing to fossil fuel producers (i.e., the producer incidence) that arise because of implicit fossil fuel subsidies in the United States. The analysis takes account of coal, natural gas, gasoline, and diesel, along with the implicit subsidies due to externalized environmental damages, public health effects, and transportation-related costs. The direct benefit to fossil fuel producers across all four fuels is estimated at $62 billion per year, a sum calculated due to the higher price that suppliers receive because of inefficient pricing compared to the counterfactual scenario where environmental and public health externalities are internalized. A significant portion of these benefits accrue to relatively few companies, and specific estimates are provided for companies with the largest production. The financial benefit because of unpriced costs borne by society is comparable to 18% of net income from continuing domestic operations for the median natural gas and oil producer in 2017–2018, and it exceeds net income for the majority of coal producers. The results clarify what the domestic fossil fuel industry has at stake financially when it comes to policies that seek to address climate change, adverse health effects from local pollution, and inefficient transportation.
Effect of stocking density on performance, meat quality and cecal bacterial communities of yellow feather broilers

Abstract Totally, 315 42-day-old male Xueshan chickens were allocated into 3 caging densities, 14, 21 and 28 birds/m2. Each treatment was represented by 5 replicates. The body weight (BW), slaughter performance, meat quality, behavioral assessment, and the cecal microorganisms were detected at the market age. The results showed that the BW of broilers in the low- and medium-density groups was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the high-density group from the age of 10 weeks. Only the feather quality of the broilers in the low-density group improved significantly (p < 0.05) compared with those of the other two groups. And, the abdominal fat percentage and the fat content of thigh muscle of broilers in the low- and medium-density groups were higher (p < 0.05) than those in the high-density group. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was noted in the other traits. The abundance of some microbial like Akkermansiaceae, Lactobacillaceae and Faecalibacterium may be correlated with the BW and fat content of broilers. The findings of this study suggest that increasing the stocking density decreased the final BW, fat content and the feather quality, whereas no evidence was found that stocking density caused changes in other parameters.
Fetal growth trajectory in type 1 pregestational diabetes (PGDM) - an ultrasound study.

OBJECTIVES Growth disorders are frequent in diabetic pregnancies. However, they are difficult to predict and capture early during pregnancy. These newborns are at risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. While developing, fetal growth abnormalities are typically progressive. Therefore, capturing the earliest moment when they emerge is essential to guide subsequent obstetric management. MATERIAL AND METHODS We aimed to analyze fetal ultrasound growth trajectories in type 1 diabetics. Moreover, we aimed to establish time points when first ultrasound manifestations of fetal growth abnormalities appear and to identify factors that affect fetal growth in women with diabetes. We collected clinical and ultrasound data from 200 patients with PGDM managed in the third-referential centre for diabetes in pregnancy. During every visit, patients underwent an ultrasound examination according to a standard protocol giving 1072 ultrasound scan's records. Every ultrasound consisted of fetal weight estimation, according to the Hadlock 3 formula. Retrospectively patients were divided into three groups depending on neonatal weight. In the group of 200 patients, 60 (30%) delivered LGA and 9 (4.5%) SGA newborns. RESULTS Fetal growth trajectories show different patterns among fetuses with growth abnormalities in women with type 1 diabetes. The moment, when fetal growth curves diverge, seems to take place in the second trimester, just after the 23rd week of gestation. CONCLUSIONS It suggests that fetal growth abnormalities in type 1 diabetes may have its roots much earlier than expected. In the first trimester, there were differences in LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and in insulin requirements between AGA, SGA and LGA subgroups.
Evolution and identification of DREB transcription factors in the wheat genome: modeling, docking and simulation of DREB proteins associated with salt stress

Abstract Soil salinity and the resulting salt stress it imposes on crop plants is a major problem for modern agriculture. Understanding how salt tolerance mechanisms in plants are regulated is therefore important. One regulatory mechanism is the APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factor family, including dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) transcription factors. By binding to DNA, specifically upstream of genes that play roles in salt tolerance pathways, DREB proteins upregulate expression of these genes. DREB in Triticum aestivum (wheat) cluster in sub-groups and in this study by scanning the recently extended predicted proteome of wheat for DREB, we increased the number of members of this sub-family. Using the wheat genome, we identified 576 genes coding for the AP2 domain of which 508 were identified to have one AP2 domain, a characteristic of the DREB/ERF subfamily. We confirmed the existing four sub-groups by sequence-based phylogenetic analyses but also identified 32 new DREB subfamily members, not belonging to any known sub-group. Transcription factor profile inference analysis identified two genes, TraesCS2B02G002700 and TraesCS2D02G015200, being homologous to DREB1A of Arabidopsis thaliana. Based on molecular simulation (25 ns) analysis, TraesCS2B02G002700 with a CCGAC motif was observed to interact very stably with DNA. In silico mutational analysis at the 19th position in the DREB domain of TraesCS2B02G002700-DNA complex indicated this as a stable part for recognizing and forming interaction with DNA. Moreover, six target genes were predicted having an upstream CCGAC motif regulated by TraesCS2B02G002700. Our study provides an overall framework for exploring the transcription factors in plants and identifying e.g. potential salt stress target genes. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Hemocompatibility of polyzwitterion-modified titanium dioxide nanotubes

Titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) have attracted increasing interest as implantable materials due to their many desirable properties. However, their blood compatibility remains an issue. In this paper, TNTs of different diameters were modified with two types of zwitterionic polymers, poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (pSBMA) and poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (pCBMA), which were grafted onto the TNTs using ARGET-ATRP (activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization) method. Both pSBMA and pCBMA brushes coatings were found to greatly reduce adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fibrinogen (Fib) onto the TNTs, showing excellent protein resistance. Moreover, the effects of the surface topography on the amount of protein adsorption were largely suppressed by the polyzwitterion coatings. The conformation of the protein adsorbed to the substrates was analyzed at the molecular level by Fourier-transform infrared reflection spectroscopy (FT-IR), which revealed that the BSA adsorbed on the polyzwitterion-modified TNTs adopted significantly different secondary structures from that on the virgin TNTs, whereas the conformation of the adsorbed Fib remained basically the same. The polyzwitterion-modified TNTs were found to be non-hemolytic, and platelet adhesion and activation was significantly reduced, showing excellent blood compatibility.
Serum levels of vitamin D in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

BACKGROUND Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is one of the most common recurrent ulcerations in the oral mucosa, the etiology of which has not been elucidated; the immune system dysfunction may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RAS. The anti-inflammatory and regulatory role of vitamin D in the functioning of the immune system is well-documented. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate and compare the serum levels of vitamin D between patients with RAS and healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this case-control study, 43 patients with minor RAS and 43 healthy controls were included. Two groups were matched in terms of age and sex. Blood samples were obtained from all participants. The serum levels of vitamin D were measured with the use of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patient and control groups. The data was analyzed using the SPSS for Windows software, v. 17.0, with the independent samples t test and the Mann-Whitney test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS The mean serum level of vitamin D in the control group was significantly higher than that in the case group (22.59 ±16.06 ng/mL vs 13.19 ±8.19 ng/mL, respectively; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS The serum levels of vitamin D are lower in patients with RAS in comparison with healthy controls.
Single‐cell RNA sequencing: A new opportunity for retinal research

Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) is a technology for single‐cell transcriptome analysis that can be used to characterize complex dynamics of various retinal cell types. It provides deep scrutiny into the gene expression character of diverse cell types, lending insight into all the biological processes being carried out. The scRNA‐seq is an alternative to regular RNA‐seq, which does not achieve cellular heterogeneity. The retina, is a part of the central nervous system (CNS) and consists of six types of neurons and several types of glial cells. Studying retinal cell heterogeneity is important for understanding retinal diseases. Currently, scRNA‐seq is employed to assess retina development and retinal disease pathogenesis and has improved our understanding of the relationship between the retina, its visual pathways, and the brain. Moreover, this technology provides new ideas on the sensitivity and molecular mechanisms of cell subtypes involved in retinal‐related diseases. The application of scRNA‐seq technology has given us a deeper understanding of the latest advancements and challenges in retinal development and diseases. We advocate scRNA‐seq as one of the important tools for developing novel therapies for retinal diseases.
Sais fertilizantes e manejo da fertirrigação na produção de tomateiro cultivado em ambiente protegido

Avaliou-se o efeito da aplicacao em excesso de fertilizantes via irrigacao em solos com diferentes niveis de salinidade, sobre as variaveis produtivas do tomateiro em ambiente protegido localizado no Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas da ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba-SP. O delineamento estatistico foi o em blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 6x2 com quatro repeticoes, em que os fatores consistiram em seis niveis iniciais de salinidade do solo (S1 = 1,62; S2 = 2,40; S3 = 2,98; S4 = 3,48; S5 = 4,63 e S6 = 5,82 dS m-1) e em dois manejos da fertirrigacao (M1 - Adubos aplicados em fertirrigacao obedecendo a curva de absorcao de nutrientes da cultura e M2 - Cultivo sem aplicacao de fertilizantes via agua de irrigacao). As variaveis fitomassa fresca de frutos e numero de frutos foram afetadas estatisticamente, tanto pelo manejo quanto pela salinidade do solo com reducoes de 38,82 e 27,31 % para o manejo M1. A interacao entre (salinidade x manejo) e a salinidade isolada influenciou significativamente os componentes estudados, exceto para fitomassa seca do caule e raiz na interacao. O manejo M1 foi superior em todos os componentes de producao estudados quando comparado ao manejo M2. O limiar para a cultivar foi superior ao encontrado na literatura.
Single antiplatelet therapy with use of prasugrel in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

We aimed to assess the ischemic and bleeding risks of single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) with prasugrel compared with standard dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (aspirin plus clopidogrel for 1 year) in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) treated with new generation drug‐eluting stents (DES).
COVID-19 Pandemic Prevalence and Risk Factors for Depression Among Health Care Workers in South Asia

Health care workers (HCW) are especially vulnerable to developing mental health problems in pandemic situations. The impact may be much devastating in developing countries due to fragmented health care system. Our study aims to explore the underlying burden of depression and its related factors among health care workers in South Asian countries. Data was collected through an online survey. A total of 476 health care workers including doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff participated from Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka. A validated WHO Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to screen for Depression. A 25.7% prevalence of depression was reported among health care workers. Almost 70% of them were either not satisfied or partially satisfied with the provided personal protective equipment. On multivariable analysis, females gender (aOR=1.80, 95% CI: 1.11 – 2.90), fear of unprotection (aOR=1.80, 95% CI: 1.11 – 2.90), confirmed COVID-19 case in workplace (aOR=1.98, 95% CI= 1.18 - 3.33) and family (aOR=2.98, 95% CI: 1.02 – 8.70) were found to be independent predictors of depression among healthcare workers. Depression among HCW in South-Asian countries is quite alarming. This may jeopardize attention to other non-COVID health problems which are still on a priority in developing countries.
Degradation of aflatoxin B1 by atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus biocontrol agents.

Aflatoxins are potent Aspergillus mycotoxins that contaminate food and feed, thereby impacting health and trade. Biopesticides with atoxigenic A. flavus as active ingredients are used to reduce aflatoxin contamination in crops. The mechanism of aflatoxin biocontrol is primarily attributed to competitive exclusion but sometimes aflatoxin is reduced by greater amounts than can be explained by displacement of aflatoxin-producing fungi on the crop. Objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate the ability of atoxigenic A. flavus genotypes to degrade aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and 2) characterize impacts of temperature, time, and nutrient availability on AFB1 degradation by atoxigenic A. flavus. Aflatoxin-contaminated maize was inoculated with atoxigenic isolates in three separate experiments that included different atoxigenic genotypes, temperature, and time as variables. Atoxigenic genotypes varied in aflatoxin degradation, but all degraded AFB1 > 44% after seven days at 30°C. The optimum temperature for AFB1 degradation was 25-30°C which is similar to the optimum range for AFB1 production. In a time-course experiment, atoxigenics degraded 40% of AFB1 within three days, and 80% of aflatoxin was degraded by day 21. Atoxigenic isolates were able to degrade and utilize AFB1 as a sole carbon source in a chemically defined medium, but quantities of AFB1 degraded declined as glucose concentrations increased. Degradation may be an additional mechanism through which atoxigenic A. flavus biocontrol products reduce aflatoxin contamination pre- and/or post-harvest. Thus, selection of optimal atoxigenic active ingredients can include assessment of both competitive ability in agricultural fields and their ability to degrade aflatoxins.
18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is accurate for high-grade prostate cancer bone staging when compared to bone scintigraphy.

INTRODUCTION In this study, we compared 18F-FDG-postron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and bone scintigraphy accuracies for the detection of bone metastases for primary staging in high-grade prostate cancer (PCa) patients to determine if 18F-FDG-PET/CT could be used alone as a staging modality. METHODS Men with localized high-grade PCa (n=256, Gleason 8-10, International Society of Urological Pathology [ISUP] grades 4 or 5) were imaged with bone scintigraphy and 18F-FDGPET/CT. We compared on a per-patient basis the accuracy of the two imaging modalities, taking intermodality agreement as the standard of truth (SOT). RESULTS 18F-FDG-PET/CT detected at least one bone metastasis in 33 patients compared to only 26 with bone scan. Of the seven false-negative bone scintigraphies, four (57.1%) were solitary metastases (monometastatic), three (42.9%) were oligometastatic (2-4 lesions), and none were plurimetastatic (>4 lesions). Compared to SOT, 18F-FDG-PET/CT showed higher sensitivity and accuracy than bone scintigraphy (100% vs. 78.8%, and 98.7% vs. 98.2%) for the detection of skeletal lesions. CONCLUSIONS 18F-FDG-PET/CT appears similar or better than conventional bone scans to assess for bone metastases in patients newly diagnosed with high-grade PCa. Since intraprostatic FDG-uptake is also a biomarker of failure to radical prostatectomy and that FDG-PET/CT has been shown to be accurate in detecting PCa lymph node metastasis, FDG-PET/CT has the potential to be used as the sole preoperative staging modality in high-grade PCa.
Disease Profile and Oncologic Outcomes After Delayed Diagnosis of Human Papillomavirus–Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer

Objective Diagnostic delay in human papillomavirus–associated oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (HPV(+)OPSCC) is common due to nonspecific symptoms. We aim to describe the disease burden and oncologic outcomes of patients with HPV(+)OPSCC diagnosed >12 months after symptom onset. Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study of HPV(+)OPSCC patients receiving intent-to-cure treatment (including surgery ± adjuvant therapy or primary chemoradiation). Setting 2006-2016, tertiary care center. Methods Tumor stage was compared between patients with and without delayed diagnosis using χ2 tests. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with univariate and multivariable Cox regressions were used to determine the effect of diagnostic delay on oncologic outcomes. Results In total, 664 patients were included. Compared to patients diagnosed <12 months from symptom onset (n = 601), those diagnosed at >12 months (n = 63) were more likely to have T4 disease and higher overall American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) clinical stage at presentation (P < .01 for both). At 5 years, rates of overall survival, cancer-specific survival, progression-free survival, and distant metastases–free survival in the delayed diagnosis cohort were 80%, 90%, 80%, and 89%, respectively. A >12-month delay in diagnosis did not significantly impact overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.16; 95% CI, 0.58-2.31), cancer-specific survival (aHR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.29-2.39), progression-free survival (aHR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.56-2.37), or distant metastases–free survival (aHR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.42-2.40) after adjusting for age, sex, and clinical AJCC stage (P > .05 for all). Conclusions Delayed diagnosis of HPV(+)OPSCC is associated with greater burden of disease at presentation, but oncologic outcomes remain favorable across treatment modalities. When appropriate, intent-to-cure therapy should be pursued despite diagnostic delay. Level of Evidence Level III.
Optimizing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Individualizing the decision‐making process using data from the Kaiser Permanente ACLR Registry: 2018 OREF award paper

Despite years of study, controversy remains regarding the optimal graft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), suggesting that a single graft type is not ideal for all patients. A large community based ACLR Registry that collects prospective data is a powerful tool that captures information and can be analyzed to optimize surgery for individual patients. The studies highlighted in this paper were designed to optimize and individualize ACLR surgery and have led to changes in surgeon behavior and improvements in patient outcomes. Kaiser Permanente (KP) is an integrated health care system with 10.6 million members and more than 50 hospitals. Every KP member who undergoes an ACLR is entered into the Registry, and prospectively monitored. The Registry uses a variety of feedback mechanisms to disseminate Registry findings to the ACLRR surgeons and appropriately influence clinical practices and enhance quality of care. Allografts were found to have a 3.0 times higher risk of revision than bone‐patellar tendon‐bone (BPTB) autografts. Allograft irradiation >1.8 Mrad, chemical graft processing, younger patients, BPTB allograft, and male patients were all associated with a higher risk of revision surgery. By providing feedback to surgeons, overall allograft use has decreased by 27% and allograft use in high‐risk patients ≤21 years of age decreased 68%. We have identified factors that influence the outcomes of ACLR. Statement of Clinical Significance: We found that information derived from an ACLR Registry and shared with the participating surgeons directly decreased the use of specific procedures and implants associated with poor outcomes.