Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Debility Risk Model as a Predictor for Postsurgical Outcomes

Background Decreased patient functional status is associated with higher rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality. The Vizient program recently implemented a debility risk model to identify patients with impaired functional status. We examined the relationship between this novel model and inpatient postsurgical outcomes in a large urban tertiary care center. Methods The Vizient database was accessed to compare surgical outcomes between patients coded with debility and patients without debility between January 2017 and December 2018. Data for each surgical specialty were obtained, and a chi-squared analysis was used to detect differences in readmission rates, mortality, and postoperative complications (defined by Vizient). These complications include pneumonia, postoperative infection, anesthesia complications, and shock. Results We found patients with debility have a higher mortality rate (3%) than patients without debility (2%) across all surgical specialties (P = .0103). Patients with debility have a higher 30-day readmission rate (16%) than those without debility (8%) across all specialties (P < .0001). Patients with debility had a higher rate of inpatient complications for neurosurgery (12.11% vs. 8%, P = .008), trauma surgery (11.9% vs. 6%, P =.025), general surgery (17.67% vs. 7%, P = .013), and cardiac surgery (47.06% vs. 18%, P =.0025). Conclusions Our study supports the use of the Vizient debility code to predict postsurgical outcomes and risk stratify patients. By extension, functional status assessments in preoperative evaluation of patients remain important. Further, studies can build upon this data to measure the impact of preoperative, outpatient debility assessments in surgical patients.
The relationship between serum interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-α levels and clinical features in essential tremor

Abstract Background In recent years, there has been discussion that essential tremor (ET) might be a neurodegenerative disease. Indicators of inflammation are considered as possible biomarkers of neurodegeneration. In this connection, the aim of our study was to identify the relationship between serum inflammation markers and clinical features in ET, including the severity of tremor, cognitive decline, depression. Methods The serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were measured in 90 ET patients and 90 healthy control people of the corresponding age and gender. Fahn-Tolosa-Marin scale was used for the severity of the tremor. Cognitive function was assessed using the MoCA. Affective symptoms were measured by the Beck Depression Inventory. Results ET patients had significantly lower serum TNF-α (p < 0.01) but higher serum IL-8 (p < 0.02) and IL-10 (p < 0.01) levels compared to the control patients. The severity of tremor positively correlated with the serum IL-8 level, R = 0.3 (p < 0.01). The serum IL-6 level was higher in ET patients with cognitive impairment compared with normal cognitive ability (p < 0.01). ROC analysis showed that an IL-8 level of 4 pg/ml and higher related with a high risk of severe tremor in ET (AUC-ROC = 0.761). Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that neuroinflammation makes a certain contribution to the development of ET.
Modelling the age‐related trajectory of performance in Para swimmers with physical, vision and intellectual impairment

This study is the first to provide information on the age‐related trajectories of performance in Para swimmers with physical, vision and intellectual impairment. Race times from long‐course swim meets between 2009 and 2019 were obtained for Para swimmers with an eligible impairment. A subset of 10 661 times from 411 Para swimmers were included in linear mixed effects modelling to establish the relationship between age and performance expressed relative to personal best time and world record time. The main findings were: (a) age has the most noticeable influence on performance between the ages of 12‐20 years before performances stabilize and peak in the early to late twenties, (b) women have faster times relative to personal best and world record time than men during early adolescence and their performances stabilize, peak and decline at younger ages, and (c) Para swimmers from different sport classes show varying age‐related trajectories in performance after maturation and when training‐related factors are more likely to explain competitive swim performance. The results of this study can guide talent identification and development of Para swimmers at various stages of their career and help to inform decision‐making on the allocation of sport class and sport class status in Para swimming classification.
A MODEL FOR WATER UPTAKE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ROOT SYSTEMS

Roots link all processes above and below the ground surface during plant growth. They are necessary to cover transpiration demands and define a sink term crucial to the determination of soil salinity and moisture distribution over depth. This paper presents a model to dynamically distribute root biomass over depth, so that water uptake rate is maximized. Biological factors affecting the morphology of the root system are also considered. The solute concentration profile is used for predicting osmotic effects on the behavior of the roots. The root growth works within the framework of a dynamic crop growth model that partitions biomass in root and shoot in a synergistic environment of depth-varying soil salts and moisture. A case study shows that soil salinity and irrigation practice can create a variety of observed root systems.
Social-environmental moderators of neurodevelopmental outcomes in youth born preterm: A systematic review

ABSTRACT Objective: Preterm birth represents a significant medical event that places infants at a markedly greater risk for neurodevelopmental problems and delays. Although the impact of medical factors on neurodevelopment for those born preterm has been thoroughly explored, less is known about how social-environmental factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, family functioning) moderate outcomes. This review explores the quantity and methodological rigor of research on social-environmental factors as moderators of the relationship between preterm birth and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Methods: Articles published between January 1980 and December 2016 were identified from a comprehensive meta-analysis and systematic review on neurodevelopmental outcomes following preterm birth. A systematic review of MEDLINE was conducted to identify articles published from January 2017 through April 2019. Results: Eighty articles met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies matched preterm and control groups on social-environmental factors (n = 49). The remaining studies included social-environmental factors as moderators (n = 13) or correlates (n = 11) of neurodevelopmental outcomes. Only seven studies did not include reports on social-environmental factors. Conclusions: This systematic review suggests that social-environmental factors are often considered to be ancillary risk factors to the larger medical risk imparted by prematurity. Studies typically focused on socioeconomic status rather than more modifiable parent/family factors that can be targeted through intervention (e.g., parental mental health) and evidenced mixed findings regarding the significance of social-environmental factors as moderators. Further research is needed to identify the relative influence of social-environmental factors to inform future psychosocial interventions.
Expression Profile of EMT-related Genes and miRNAs Involved in Signal Transduction via the Wnt Pathway and Cadherins in Endometrial Cancer.

BACKGROUND Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a molecular reprogramming that leads to an increased ability to migrate, which can promote invasion and metastasis. EMT can be initiated in response to the activity of signaling pathways such as Wnt as well as miRNAs. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to determine the expression profile of EMT-related genes involved in signal transduction via the Wnt pathway and cadherins, and to assess which miRNAs can participate in the regulation of their expression. METHODS The study material consisted of 50 endometrial samples: 40 with diagnosed endometrial cancer and 10 without neoplastic changes. Expression profile of EMT-related genes was assessed with microarrays and validated by RT-qPCR. MicroRNA expression profiling was performed using microarrays. It was also determined which miRNAs may participate in the expression regulation of EMT-related genes. RESULTS CDH1 overexpression was observed in all three endometrial cancer grades using both mRNA microarrays and RTqPCR. Microarray experiment showed a decrease in CDH2 level regardless of the endometrial cancer grade, however it was only partially validated with RT-qPCR. Low levels of WNT2, WNT4, WNT5A have also been observed. Decreased expression of WNT2 and WNT5A may be caused by miR-331-3p and miR-200b-5p, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The Wnt signaling is disrupted in endometrial cancer, which may be due to miR-331-3p and miR-200b-5p activity. In addition, a change in WNT5A level in endometrial cancer compared to control may indicate that it acts as a suppressor gene and that its low expression is associated with tumor progression.
Using capillary forces to determine the geometry of nanocontacts

The capillary force between two fine particles or between the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a surface depends on the precise geometry of the contact region. In this paper we demonstrate that vice versa from a measurement of the adhesion force versus humidity one can calculate the shape of the AFM tip (or the geometry of the contact between particles). This is verified by adhesion experiments with an AFM.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Thiopurine Metabolite Levels and Biochemical Remission in Autoimmune Hepatitis.

OBJECTIVES and study: The utility of measuring thiopurine metabolites (TM) to individualize therapy in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has not been defined, and the evidence regarding its use in clinical practice is heterogeneous. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the mean concentration of TM between patients in biochemical remission and those not in remission. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for keywords related to TM and AIH. Two reviewers independently searched and selected studies comparing the levels of 6-methyl mercaptopurine (6-MMP) and 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) and their ratio in cases of AIH in remission and otherwise. Meta-analysis was performed by calculating the weighted mean difference using the inverse variance heterogeneity model. RESULTS A total of 1066 records were identified through systematic search, of which 7 (n = 3 pediatric, n = 4 adults) were considered for inclusion and 442 TM measurements (n = 128 in children) were analyzed. Mean 6-TGN levels were significantly higher among patients in remission than in those who were not, with a pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) of 15.67 [95% confidence interval (CI), 6.68-24.66] pmol/8 × 108 red blood cells (RBC). The difference was higher in the pediatric age group [WMD 56.11, 95% CI: 13.60-98.62] than in adults [WMD 13.77, 95% CI: 4.58-22.97]. There was no significant difference in the 6-MMP levels (WMD -431.7, 95% CI:-1237.4-373.9 pmol/8 × 108 RBC, I2 = 82%, n = 3 studies) or 6-MMP/6-TGN ratio among the patients who were in biochemical remission and those who were not (WMD -0.97, 95% CI: -5.77-3.84, I2 = 82%, n = 3 studies]. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis suggests a link between 6-TGN levels and biochemical remission in AIH. Further high-quality studies are required to determine the therapeutic cut-off of 6-TGN.
The role of alpha lipoic acid in female and male infertility: a systematic review

Abstract Objective Infertility is an increasingly frequent health condition, which may depend on female or male factors. Oxidative stress (OS), resulting from a disrupted balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protective antioxidants, affects the reproductive lifespan of men and women. In this review, we examine if alpha lipoic acid (ALA), among the oral supplements currently in use, has an evidence-based beneficial role in the context of female and male infertility. Methods We performed a search from English literature using PubMed database with the following keywords: ‘female infertility’, ‘male infertility’, ‘semen’, ‘sperm’, ‘sub-fertile man’, ‘alpha-lipoic acid’, ‘ alpha lipoic acid’, ‘lipoid acid’, ‘endometriosis’, ‘chronic pelvic pain’, ‘follicular fluid’ and ‘oocytes’. We included clinical trials, multicentric studies and reviews. The total number of references found after automatically and manually excluding duplicates was 180. After primary and secondary screening, 28 articles were selected. Results The available literature demonstrates the positive effects of ALA in multiple processes from oocyte maturation (0.87 ± 0.9% of oocyte in MII vs 0.81 ± 3.9%; p < .05) to fertilization, embryo development (57.7% vs 75.7% grade 1 embryo; p < .05) and reproductive outcomes. Its regular administration both in sub-fertile women and men shows to reduce pelvic pain in endometriosis (p < .05), regularize menstrual flow and metabolic disorders (p < .01) and improve sperm quality (p < .001). Conclusions ALA represents a promising new molecule in the field of couple infertility. More clinical studies are needed in order to enhance its use in clinical practice.
Sex and age influence gonadal steroid hormone receptor distributions relative to estrogen receptor β‐containing neurons in the mouse hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

Within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), estrogen receptor (ER) β and other gonadal hormone receptors play a role in central cardiovascular processes. However, the influence of sex and age on the cellular and subcellular relationships of ERβ with ERα, G‐protein ER (GPER1), as well as progestin and androgen receptors (PR and AR) in the PVN is uncertain. In young (2‐ to 3‐month‐old) females and males, ERβ‐enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) containing neurons were approximately four times greater than ERα‐labeled and PR‐labeled nuclei in the PVN. In subdivisions of the PVN, young females, compared to males, had: (1) more ERβ‐EGFP neurons in neuroendocrine rostral regions; (2) fewer ERα‐labeled nuclei in neuroendocrine and autonomic projecting medial subregions; and (3) more ERα‐labeled nuclei in an autonomic projecting caudal region. In contrast, young males, compared to females, had approximately 20 times more AR‐labeled nuclei, which often colocalized with ERβ‐EGFP in neuroendocrine (approximately 70%) and autonomic (approximately 50%) projecting subregions. Ultrastructurally, in soma and dendrites, PVN ERβ‐EGFP colocalized primarily with extranuclear AR (approximately 85% soma) and GPER1 (approximately 70% soma). Aged (12‐ to 24‐month‐old) males had more ERβ‐EGFP neurons in a rostral neuroendocrine subregion compared to aged females and females with accelerated ovarian failure (AOF) and in a caudal autonomic subregion compared to post‐AOF females. Late‐aged (18‐ to 24‐month‐old) females compared to early‐aged (12‐ to 14‐month‐old) females and AOF females had fewer AR‐labeled nuclei in neuroendrocrine and autonomic projecting subregions. These findings indicate that gonadal steroids may directly and indirectly influence PVN neurons via nuclear and extranuclear gonadal hormone receptors in a sex‐specific manner.
Poor Head Growth Is Associated with Later Mental Delay among Vietnamese Preterm Infants: A Follow-up Study

Abstract Background Preterm infants in low- and middle-income countries are at high risk of poor physical growth, but their growth data are still scarce. Objectives To describe the growth of Vietnamese preterm infants in the first 2 years, and to compare with references: World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards, and healthy Southeast Asian (SEA) infants. Further, to assess the association between growth in the first year and neurodevelopment at 2 years corrected age (CA). Methods We conducted a cohort study to follow up preterm infants discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit for 2 years. Weight, length and head circumference (HC) were measured at 3, 12 and 24 months CA. Neurodevelopment was assessed using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development—3rd Edition at 24 months CA. Results Over 90% of the cohort showed catch-up weight at 3 months CA. Weight and length were comparable to healthy SEA but were lower than WHO standards. HC was significantly smaller than those of WHO standards with HC Z-scores steadily decreasing from −0.95 at 3 months CA to −1.50 at 24 months CA. Each one decrement of HC Z-score from 3 to 12 months CA was associated with nearly twice an increase in odds of mental delay at 24 months CA (odds ratio 1.89; 95% confidence interval 1.02–3.50). Conclusion Vietnamese preterm infants exhibited early catch-up weight but poor head growth, which was associated with later delays in mental development. Our findings support the importance of HC measures in follow-up for preterm infants.
A G ] 1 9 D ec 2 02 0 K 3 curves with index k > 1

Let KCkg be the moduli stack of pairs (S, C) with S a K3 surface and C ⊆ S a genus g curve with divisibility k in Pic(S). In this article we study the forgetful map cg : (S, C) 7→ C from KC k g to Mg for k > 1. First we compute by geometric means the dimension of its general fibre. This turns out to be interesting only when S is a complete intersection or a section of a Mukai variety. In the former case we find the existence of interesting Fano varieties extending C in its canonical embedding. In the latter case this is related to delicate modular properties of the Mukai varieties. Next we investigate whether ckg dominates the locus in Mg of k-spin curves with the appropriate number of independent sections. We are able to do this only when S is a complete intersection, and obtain in these cases some classification results for spin curves.
Dopamine as a Multifunctional Neurotransmitter in Gastropod Molluscs: An Evolutionary Hypothesis

The catecholamine 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine, or dopamine, acts as a neurotransmitter across a broad phylogenetic spectrum. Functions attributed to dopamine in the mammalian brain include regulation of motor circuits, valuation of sensory stimuli, and mediation of reward or reinforcement signals. Considerable evidence also supports a neurotransmitter role for dopamine in gastropod molluscs, and there is growing appreciation for its potential common functions across phylogeny. This article reviews evidence for dopamine’s transmitter role in the nervous systems of gastropods. The functional properties of identified dopaminergic neurons in well-characterized neural circuits suggest a hypothetical incremental sequence by which dopamine accumulated its diverse roles. The successive acquisition of dopamine functions is proposed in the context of gastropod feeding behavior: (1) sensation of potential nutrients, (2) activation of motor circuits, (3) selection of motor patterns from multifunctional circuits, (4) valuation of sensory stimuli with reference to internal state, (5) association of motor programs with their outcomes, and (6) coincidence detection between sensory stimuli and their consequences. At each stage of this sequence, it is proposed that existing functions of dopaminergic neurons favored their recruitment to fulfill additional information processing demands. Common functions of dopamine in other intensively studied groups, ranging from mammals and insects to nematodes, suggest an ancient origin for this progression.
An Invader’s Peculiar Trophic Behavior: Diel Fluctuations and Environmental Drivers

The trophic ecology of the invasive apple snail Pomacea canaliculata was intensely investigated because of the impacts of its grazing on aquatic vegetation, including crops. However, this freshwater snail also gathers food from the water surface by using a pedal funnel, a distinctive trophic behavior called pedal surface collecting. We investigated the diel fluctuations of this trophic behavior through four whole-day field observations in a stream. We recorded the lowest pedal funnel frequencies during light hours and the highest after sunset, a pattern similar to that of general activity. We evaluated through laboratory experiments the influence of water temperature and velocity, photoperiod, and a possible endogenous rhythm on this behavior. Pedal funnels are formed within the whole temperature range in which this snail is active. The highest pedal funnel formation rates were recorded at 30 °C, but the food captured was the same regardless of temperature. Pedal funnels were not observed at water velocities above 0.12 m·s−1, but below this limit the rate and time spent in funnels remained constant with velocity. Despite the time of day, pedal funnels were scarce under constant artificial light, ruling out an endogenous rhythm. Both in the laboratory and in the stream, the highest levels of pedal funnels were observed during dark periods, probably as a strategy to avoid detection by visual predators. Pedal surface collecting on floating matter could represent an additional impact of invasive apple snails on freshwater ecosystems, but it could also be used for the specific delivery of molluscicides against them.
Simple groups and irreducible lattices in wreath products

We consider the finitely generated groups acting on a regular tree with almost prescribed local action. We show that these groups embed as cocompact irreducible lattices in some locally compact wreath products. This provides examples of finitely generated simple groups quasi-isometric to a wreath product $C\wr F$ , where $C$ is a finite group and $F$ a non-abelian free group.
Amenable uniformly recurrent subgroups and lattice embeddings

We study lattice embeddings for the class of countable groups $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$ defined by the property that the largest amenable uniformly recurrent subgroup ${\mathcal{A}}_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}}$ is continuous. When ${\mathcal{A}}_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}}$ comes from an extremely proximal action and the envelope of ${\mathcal{A}}_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}}$ is coamenable in $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$ , we obtain restrictions on the locally compact groups $G$ that contain a copy of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$ as a lattice, notably regarding normal subgroups of $G$ , product decompositions of $G$ , and more generally dense mappings from $G$ to a product of locally compact groups.
Trusts, co-ops, and crowd workers: Could we include crowd data workers as stakeholders in data trust design?

Abstract Data trusts have been proposed as a mechanism through which data can be more readily exploited for a variety of aims, including economic development and social-benefit goals such as medical research or policy-making. Data trusts, and similar data governance mechanisms such as data co-ops, aim to facilitate the use and re-use of datasets across organizational boundaries and, in the process, to protect the interests of stakeholders such as data subjects. However, the current discourse on data trusts does not acknowledge another common stakeholder in the data value chain—the crowd workers who are employed to collect, validate, curate, and transform data. In this paper, we report on a preliminary qualitative investigation into how crowd data workers themselves feel datasets should be used and governed. We find that while overall remuneration is important to those workers, they also value public-benefit data use but have reservations about delayed remuneration and the trustworthiness of both administrative processes and the crowd itself. We discuss the implications of our findings for how data trusts could be designed, and how data trusts could be used to give crowd workers a more enduring stake in the product of their work.