Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
REadmission PREvention in SepSis: Development and Validation of a Prediction Model

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. ABSTRACT Hospital 30-day readmissions remain a major quality and cost indicator. Traditional readmission risk scores, such as LACE (length of stay, acuity of admission, Charlson comorbidity index, and emergency department visits), may be suboptimal in special patient populations, such as those with sepsis. As sepsis survivorship improves, there is a need to determine which variables might be associated with a decrease in 30-day readmission. We completed a retrospective analysis reviewing patients with sepsis who had unplanned 30-day readmissions. Multivariate regression analysis was performed for the REadmission PREvention in SepSis (REPRESS) model, which evaluated age, length of stay, Charlson disease count, Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale score, discharge to a skilled nursing facility, and mobility for predictive significance in hospital readmission. Our REPRESS model performed better when compared with LACE for predicting readmission risk in a sepsis population.
Interaction between occupational exposure to diesel exhaust and tobacco smoking in determining lung cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background While an association between exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) and risk of lung cancer has been reported in several studies, its interaction with tobacco smoking in determining lung cancer risk is not well characterized. This study aims at performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of results of epidemiology studies on this. Methods Studies included in the systematic review were identified from PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, without limitation of year of publication or language. Two reviewers independently reviewed the studies and abstracted relevant data from selected studies, applied a customized quality assessment tool and calculated the relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the interaction between DE exposure and tobacco smoking on a multiplicative scale. Next, a random-effects meta-analysis of the interaction RR was conducted. Results Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis, of which two were cohort and five case-control studies. Results on the interaction were heterogeneous (I2 = 45.6%). The summary RR for interaction was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.42–1.46). There was no indication of publication bias. There was no increased risk of lung cancer among non-smoking workers exposed to DE. Conclusions This meta-analysis suggested a less-than-multiplicative effect between DE exposure and tobacco smoking in determining lung cancer risk, but the hypothesis of multiplicative interaction cannot be rejected. The small number of relevant studies and the high heterogeneity among them prevent from definite conclusions.
Intracellular Activity of Antibiotics against Coxiella burnetii in a Model of Activated Human THP-1 Cells

We evaluated antibiotic activity against the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii using an activated THP-1 cell model of infection. At clinically relevant concentrations, the intracellular bacterial load was reduced 300-fold by levofloxacin and finafloxacin, 40-fold by doxycycline, and 4-fold by ciprofloxacin and was unaffected by azithromycin. ABSTRACT We evaluated antibiotic activity against the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii using an activated THP-1 cell model of infection. At clinically relevant concentrations, the intracellular bacterial load was reduced 300-fold by levofloxacin and finafloxacin, 40-fold by doxycycline, and 4-fold by ciprofloxacin and was unaffected by azithromycin. Acidification of the culture medium reduced antibiotic activity, with the exceptions of doxycycline (no change) and finafloxacin (slight improvement). This model may be used to select antibiotics to be evaluated in vivo.
Key genes affecting the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma identified by RNA-sequencing and bioinformatic analysis

Background: The present work was conducted to screen the potential biomarkers affecting nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) progression through RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), bioinformatic analysis and functional experiments. Materials and Methods: Six normal samples and five NPC clinical samples were collected for RNA-seq analysis. The expression levels in both groups were determined through student’s t-test. We identified genes of P < 0.01 as the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In addition, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted. Afterwards, STRING V10 database was employed to extract protein interactions among the DEGs. Later, we established a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and used the Cytoscape software for network visualization. qRT-PCR was conducted to verify hub genes from clinical samples. Then, the function of CXCL10 in cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration was evaluated. Results: A total of 2024 DEGs were identified, among which, 1449 were down-regulated and 575 were up-regulated. The PPI was constructed, and the hub genes including Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1), C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 10 (CXCL10), Interleukin 13 (IL13), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM1), G Protein Subunit Gamma Transducin 1 (GNGT1), Matrix Metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1), Neurexin 1 (NRXN1) and Matrix Metallopeptidase 3 (MMP3) were obtained. The expression levels of CXCL10, IGF1, MMP3, MMP1, ICAM1, and IL-13 were significantly up-regulated in tumor tissues. High expression levels of CXCL10, MMP3 and ICAM1 predicted poor prognosis of NPC patients. CXCL10 silencing suppressed NPC cell proliferation and migration. Conclusions: CXCL10 may serve as a potential key gene affecting NPC genesis and progression.
Non-episodic angioedema with eosinophilia after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination

A 77-year-old Japanese woman presented with peripheral oedema following COVID-19 vaccination. Three weeks before, the day after the second dose of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, she presented with low-grade fever, peripheral oedema and arthralgia of the bilateral foot joint. Fever and arthralgia were relieved spontaneously within a week. Since there was no improvement in the peripheral oedema, she was referred to our department. Her medical history revealed type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia, for which she had been prescribed 500 mg/day of metformin and 10 mg/day of atorvastatin. Physical examination revealed symmetrical non-pitting oedema of her legs (Figure 1a). Laboratory tests showed blood eosinophilia (3750/ll). The serum IgM level was within normal. Non-episodic angioedema with eosinophilia (NEAE) was diagnosed. Her symptoms improved quickly with prednisolone administration (20 mg/day) (Figure 1b). She has been recurrence-free after tapering off prednisolone. Angioedema with eosinophilia is of two types: episodic angioedema with eosinophilia (EAE; Gleich’s syndrome) and NEAE. EAE has been reported mainly in Europe and the USA, whereas NEAE in Korea and Japan. EAE is characterized by recurrent episodes of angioedema, urticaria, fever and increased body weight, with markedly high peripheral blood eosinophil count and serum IgM levels. NEAE is characterized by a single episode of persistent oedema of the extremities, peripheral eosinophilia, transient arthralgia, lack of increased serum IgM levels and a less severe clinical course than that of EAE. NEAE can occur after influenza vaccination; however, NEAE after COVID-19 vaccination has not been previously reported. NEAE is also characterized by the effectiveness of low-dose prednisone or spontaneous remission within 2–3 months. In conclusion, non-pitting oedema of the extremities with eosinophilia should be considered eosinophilic angioedema, which can occur after COVID-19 vaccination.
Joint Framework for Single Image Reconstruction and Super-Resolution With an Event Camera

Event cameras sense brightness changes in each pixel and yield asynchronous event streams instead of producing intensity images. They have distinct advantages over conventional cameras, such as a high dynamic range (HDR) and no motion blur. To take advantage of event cameras with existing image-based algorithms, a few methods have been proposed to reconstruct images from event streams. However, the output images have a low resolution (LR) and are unrealistic. Low-quality outputs stem from broader applications of event cameras, where high-quality and high-resolution (HR) images are needed. In this work, we consider the problem of reconstructing and super-resolving images from LR events when no ground truth (GT) HR images and degradation models are available. We propose a novel end-to-end joint framework for single image reconstruction and super-resolution from LR event data. Our method is primarily unsupervised to handle the absence of real inputs from GT and deploys adversarial learning. To train our framework, we constructed an open dataset, including simulated events and real-world images. The use of the dataset boosts the network performance, and the network architectures and various loss functions in each phase help improve the quality of the resulting image. Various experiments showed that our method surpasses the state-of-the-art LR image reconstruction methods for real-world and synthetic datasets. The experiments for super-resolution (SR) image reconstruction also substantiate the effectiveness of the proposed method. We further extended our method to more challenging problems of HDR, sharp image reconstruction, and color events. In addition, we demonstrate that the reconstruction and super-resolution results serve as intermediate representations of events for high-level tasks, such as semantic segmentation, object recognition, and detection. We further examined how events affect the outputs of the three phases and analyze our method’s efficacy through an ablation study.
Aperiodic and Periodic Components of Ongoing Oscillatory Brain Dynamics Link Distinct Functional Aspects of Cognition across Adult Lifespan

Abstract Signal transmission in the brain propagates via distinct oscillatory frequency bands but the aperiodic component, 1/f activity, almost always co-exists which most of the previous studies have not sufficiently taken into consideration. We used a recently proposed parameterization model that delimits the oscillatory and aperiodic components of neural dynamics on lifespan aging data collected from human participants using magnetoencephalography (MEG). Since healthy aging underlines an enormous change in local tissue properties, any systematic relationship of 1/f activity would highlight their impact on the self-organized critical functional states. Furthermore, we have used patterns of correlation between aperiodic background and metrics of behavior to understand the domain general effects of 1/f activity. We suggest that age-associated global change in 1/f baseline alters the functional critical states of the brain affecting the global information processing impacting critically all aspects of cognition, e.g., metacognitive awareness, speed of retrieval of memory, cognitive load, and accuracy of recall through adult lifespan. This alteration in 1/f crucially impacts the oscillatory features peak frequency (PF) and band power ratio, which relates to more local processing and selective functional aspects of cognitive processing during the visual short-term memory (VSTM) task. In summary, this study leveraging on big lifespan data for the first time tracks the cross-sectional lifespan-associated periodic and aperiodic dynamical changes in the resting state to demonstrate how normative patterns of 1/f activity, PF, and band ratio (BR) measures provide distinct functional insights about the cognitive decline through adult lifespan.
Prevalence and Specificity of Chemoreceptor Profiles in Plant-Associated Bacteria

Considering the enormous variety of LBDs at sensor proteins, an important question resides in establishing the forces that have driven their evolution and selection. We present here the first clear demonstration that environmental factors play an important role in the selection and evolution of LBDs. ABSTRACT Chemosensory pathways are among the most abundant prokaryotic signal transduction systems, allowing bacteria to sense and respond to environmental stimuli. Signaling is typically initiated by the binding of specific molecules to the ligand binding domain (LBD) of chemoreceptor proteins (CRs). Although CRs play a central role in plant-microbiome interactions such as colonization and infection, little is known about their phylogenetic and ecological specificity. Here, we analyzed 82,277 CR sequences from 11,806 representative microbial species covering the whole prokaryotic phylogeny, and we classified them according to their LBD type using a de novo homology clustering method. Through phylogenomic analysis, we identified hundreds of LBDs that are found predominantly in plant-associated bacteria, including several LBDs specific to phytopathogens and plant symbionts. Functional annotation of our catalogue showed that many of the LBD clusters identified might constitute unknown types of LBDs. Moreover, we found that the taxonomic distribution of most LBD types that are specific to plant-associated bacteria is only partially explained by phylogeny, suggesting that lifestyle and niche adaptation are important factors in their selection. Finally, our results show that the profile of LBD types in a given genome is related to the lifestyle specialization, with plant symbionts and phytopathogens showing the highest number of niche-specific LBDs. The LBD catalogue and information on how to profile novel genomes are available at https://github.com/compgenomicslab/CRs. IMPORTANCE Considering the enormous variety of LBDs at sensor proteins, an important question resides in establishing the forces that have driven their evolution and selection. We present here the first clear demonstration that environmental factors play an important role in the selection and evolution of LBDs. We were able to demonstrate the existence of LBD families that are highly enriched in plant-associated bacteria but show a wide phylogenetic spread. These findings offer a number of research opportunities in the field of single transduction, such as the exploration of similar relationships in chemoreceptors of bacteria with a different lifestyle, like those inhabiting or infecting the human intestine. Similarly, our results raise the question whether similar LBD types might be shared by members of different sensor protein families. Lastly, we provide a comprehensive catalogue of CRs classified by their LBD region that includes a large number of putative new LBD types.
Comparative neuroanatomical distribution and expression levels of neuropeptide F in the central nervous system of the female freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, during the ovarian cycle

Neuropeptide F (NPF) plays critical roles in controlling the feeding and reproduction of prawns. In the present study, we investigated changes in the expression levels of Macrobrachium rosenbergii neuropeptide F (MrNPF), and its neuroanatomical distribution in eyestalk (ES), brain (BR), subesophageal ganglion (SEG), thoracic ganglia (TG), and abdominal ganglia (AG), during the ovarian cycle of female prawn. By qRT‐PCR, the amount of MrNPF transcripts exhibited a gradual increase in the ES, BR, and combined SEG and TG from stages I and II, to reach a maximum level at stage III, and slightly declined at stage IV, respectively. The highest to lowest expression levels were detected in combined SEG and TG, BR, ES, and AG, respectively. MrNPF immunolabeling was observed in several neuronal clusters, associated fibers, and neuropils of these central nervous system (CNS) tissues. MrNPF‐ir was more intense in neurons and neuropils of SEG and TG than those found in other parts of the CNS. The number of MrNPF‐ir neurons and intensity of MrNPF‐ir were higher in the ES, BR, SEG, and TG at the late stages than those at the early stages of the ovarian cycle, while those in AG exhibited insignificant change. Taken together, there is a correlation between changes in the neuroanatomical distribution of MrNPF and stages of the ovarian cycle, implying that MrNPF may be an important neuropeptide that integrates sensory stimuli, including photo‐, chemo‐, and gustatory receptions, to control feeding and reproduction, particularly ovarian development, of this female prawn, M. rosenbergii.
Age-related Variations at the Cementodentinal Junction: An Ex Vivo Study.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the age-related anatomical changes that take place at the cementodentinal junction (CDJ). METHODS Eighty-four teeth were extracted; 42 samples came from patients ranging in age from 18 to 30 years, and 42 came from patients aged from 40 to 60 years. Upper and lower and anterior and posterior teeth were included. Longitudinal slices were made, and 1% toluidine blue was used to stain all the samples prior to microscopic examination. Anatomical landmarks (apical foramen [AF], apical vertex, and cementoenamel junction) in the apical third were identified, and a pre-calibrated software package was employed to take digital measurements. Statistical analysis was performed by means of the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS The data obtained showed that there were anatomical variations in the apical third in the older patients and that these changes were related to the age of the patient. Narrower root canals and smaller CDJ diameters were found in older patients' samples. CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that instrumentation and obturation should take place 1 mm from the AF in older patients, and not 0.5 mm, as is usually recommended.
Follow-The-Leader Mechanisms in Medical Devices: A Review on Scientific and Patent Literature

Conventional medical instruments are not capable of passing through tortuous anatomy as required for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery due to their rigid shaft designs. Nevertheless, developments in minimally invasive surgery are pushing medical devices to become more dexterous. Amongst devices with controllable flexibility, so-called Follow-The-Leader (FTL) devices possess motion capabilities to pass through confined spaces without interacting with anatomical structures. The goal of this literature study is to provide a comprehensive overview of medical devices with FTL motion. A scientific and patent literature search was performed in five databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, IEEExplore, Espacenet). Keywords were used to isolate FTL behavior in devices with medical applications. Ultimately, 35 unique devices were reviewed and categorized. Devices were allocated according to their design strategies to obtain the three fundamental sub-functions of FTL motion: steering, (controlling the leader/end-effector orientation), propagation, (advancing the device along a specific path), and conservation (memorizing the shape of the path taken by the device). A comparative analysis of the devices was carried out, showing the commonly used design choices for each sub-function and the different combinations. The advantages and disadvantages of the design aspects and an overview of their performance were provided. Devices that were initially assessed as ineligible were considered in a possible medical context or presented with FTL potential, broadening the classification. This review could aid in the development of a new generation of FTL devices by providing a comprehensive overview of the current solutions and stimulating the search for new ones.
Three Healthy Eating Patterns and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Markers in 9 to 18 Year Olds With Body Mass Index >95%: A Randomized Trial

Approximately 20% of American 9 to 18 year olds are obese, and most carry their excess adiposity, with its associated increased risk for cardiovascular disease, into adulthood. We studied cardiovascular disease risk markers changes associated with 3 healthy eating patterns (HEPs) in 96 9 to 18 year olds with a body mass index >95% in a Midwestern health system 1-year randomized trial. All HEPs were associated with similar statistically significant (P < .05 to <.001) cardiovascular disease risk marker improvements in weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and myeloperoxidase. Time required was the only identified significant (P < .001) deterrent from enrolling in study. These HEPs had characteristics common to most HEPs: encouraging whole foods, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans other legumes, and limiting added salt, saturated fatty acids, added sugars, red meat, processed meats, and other processed foods. Further research on initiatives to ease the time burden, and increase implementation of established healthy eating principles is needed.
First-principles calculations of electronic structure and optical properties of Be-doped ZnO monolayer

ABSTRACT The effect of Be doping on the electronic structure and optical properties of ZnO monolayer has been studied by first-principles density functional theory. The calculated negative formation energy of Be-doped ZnO monolayer suggests Be doping is feasible. Moreover, it is found that Be doping results in increasing of band gap of ZnO monolayer. Compared with pristine ZnO monolayer, imaginary parts of dielectric function of Be-doped ZnO monolayer move toward higher energy and the blue-shift of optical absorption edge is observed. Such modulation of the band gaps and optical properties provides Be-doped ZnO monolayer with promising application in ultraviolet photoelectronic device.
Surrogate-Assisted Hybrid-Model Estimation of Distribution Algorithm for Mixed-Variable Hyperparameters Optimization in Convolutional Neural Networks

The performance of a convolutional neural network (CNN) heavily depends on its hyperparameters. However, finding a suitable hyperparameters configuration is difficult, challenging, and computationally expensive due to three issues, which are 1) the mixed-variable problem of different types of hyperparameters; 2) the large-scale search space of finding optimal hyperparameters; and 3) the expensive computational cost for evaluating candidate hyperparameters configuration. Therefore, this article focuses on these three issues and proposes a novel estimation of distribution algorithm (EDA) for efficient hyperparameters optimization, with three major contributions in the algorithm design. First, a hybrid-model EDA is proposed to efficiently deal with the mixed-variable difficulty. The proposed algorithm uses a mixed-variable encoding scheme to encode the mixed-variable hyperparameters and adopts an adaptive hybrid-model learning (AHL) strategy to efficiently optimize the mixed-variables. Second, an orthogonal initialization (OI) strategy is proposed to efficiently deal with the challenge of large-scale search space. Third, a surrogate-assisted multi-level evaluation (SME) method is proposed to reduce the expensive computational cost. Based on the above, the proposed algorithm is named $s$ urrogate-assisted hybrid-model EDA (SHEDA). For experimental studies, the proposed SHEDA is verified on widely used classification benchmark problems, and is compared with various state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, a case study on aortic dissection (AD) diagnosis is carried out to evaluate its performance. Experimental results show that the proposed SHEDA is very effective and efficient for hyperparameters optimization, which can find a satisfactory hyperparameters configuration for the CIFAR10, CIFAR100, and AD diagnosis with only 0.58, 0.97, and 1.18 GPU days, respectively.