Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serosurvey for equine piroplasms in horses and donkeys from North-Western Nigeria using IFAT and ELISA

ABSTRACT Equine piroplasmosis is caused by apicomplexan parasites, namely, Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, which are transmitted to equids principally through ticks. To ascertain the exposure of equines to agents of equine piroplasms, we tested serum samples collected from horses (n = 272) and donkeys (n = 170) in North-Western Nigeria for the presence of antibodies against B. caballi and T. equi using IFAT and ELISA. The seroprevalence of T. equi in the horses determined using IFAT and ELISA was 48.89% and 45.96%, respectively, while for B. caballi, it was 6.3% and 0.4%, respectively. For T. equi, the seroprevalence based on IFAT and ELISA results in donkeys was 14.1% and 2.9%, respectively, while for B. caballi, the seroprevalence was 2.4% and 0.6%, respectively, for ELISA and IFAT. Mixed infection detected in the horses using IFAT and ELISA was 5.5% and 0.4%, respectively, while no mixed infection was observed in the donkeys. The seroprevalence of T. equi was significantly (P < .0001) higher than that of B. caballi in both horses and donkeys. Comparatively, the IFAT detected a greater number of piroplasm seropositive animals than ELISA, indicating a difference in their diagnostic accuracy. Findings from this study confirm the existence of equine piroplasms in both horses and donkeys in North-Western Nigeria and highlights the need for robust and effective control measures against the disease.
Radiofrequency Ablation for Movement Disorders: Risk Factors for Intracerebral Hemorrhage, a Retrospective Analysis

Abstract BACKGROUND One of the greatest concerns associated with radiofrequency ablation is intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the majority of previous studies have mainly evaluated Parkinson disease patients with ablation of the globus pallidus internus (GPi). OBJECTIVE To investigate the hemorrhagic risk associated with radiofrequency ablation using ventro-oral (Vo) nucleus, ventral intermediate (Vim) nucleus, GPi, and pallidothalamic tract. METHODS Radiofrequency ablations for movement disorders from 2012 to 2019 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate associations between potential risk factors and ICH. RESULTS A total of 558 patients underwent 721 stereotactic radiofrequency ablations for movement disorders. Among 558 patients, 356 had dystonia, 111 had essential tremor, and 51 had Parkinson disease. Among 721 procedures, the stereotactic targets used in this study were as follows: Vo: 230; Vim: 199; GPi: 172; pallidothalamic tract: 102; Vim/Vo: 18. ICH occurred in 37 patients (5.1%, 33 with dystonia and 4 with essential tremor). Symptomatic ICH developed in 3 Vo nuclei (1.3%), 3 Vim nuclei (1.5%), and 2 GPi (1.2%). Hypertension (odds ratio = 2.69, P = .0013), higher number of lesions (odds ratio = 1.23, P = .0221), and younger age (odds ratio = 1.04, P = .0055) were significant risk factors for ICH associated with radiofrequency ablation. CONCLUSION The present study revealed that younger age, higher number of lesions, and history of hypertension were independent risk factors for ICH associated with stereotactic radiofrequency ablation. Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract
Global Stabilization for a Class of Stochastic Nonlinear Time-Delay Systems With Unknown Measurement Drifts and Its Application

This article studies the control problem for a class of stochastic nonlinear time-delay systems with uncertain output functions. Under the appropriate assumptions, a stabilization controller is explicitly constructed by applying the adding a power integrator method. Then, using the Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals to address time-delay, it is proven that the designed controller can guarantee the closed-loop system to be globally asymptotically stable (GAS) in probability. Finally, two simulations show that the control strategy is effective and can be applied to the actual system.
Effects of Teaching Resourcefulness in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

This cluster randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of an intervention to teach resourcefulness on depression and coping style of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). A convenience sample of 72 patients in community settings took part. Participants in the intervention group (n = 36) received an 8-week intervention based on the concept of resourcefulness, plus routine health education. Participants in the control group (n = 36) received routine health education only. After the intervention, participants in the intervention group had significantly higher scores on resourcefulness and coping styles, and lower scores on depression than those in the control group (both ps < .001). The findings suggest that a well-developed intervention to teach resourcefulness could help patients with CHD to be more resourceful, improve their level of depression, and choose more effective strategies to cope with stress.
The AcrAB-TolC Efflux Pump Impacts Persistence and Resistance Development in Stationary-Phase Escherichia coli following Delafloxacin Treatment

Bacteria have a repertoire of strategies to overcome antibiotics in clinical use, complicating our ability to treat and cure infectious diseases. In addition to evolving resistance, bacteria within genetically clonal cultures can undergo transient phenotypic changes and tolerate high doses of antibiotics. ABSTRACT Bacteria have a repertoire of strategies to overcome antibiotics in clinical use, complicating our ability to treat and cure infectious diseases. In addition to evolving resistance, bacteria within genetically clonal cultures can undergo transient phenotypic changes and tolerate high doses of antibiotics. These cells, termed persisters, exhibit heterogeneous phenotypes; the strategies that a bacterial population deploys to overcome one class of antibiotics can be distinct from those needed to survive treatment with drugs with another mode of action. It was previously reported that fluoroquinolones, which target DNA topoisomerases, retain the capacity to kill nongrowing bacteria that tolerate other classes of antibiotics. Here, we show that in Escherichia coli stationary-phase cultures and colony biofilms, persisters that survive treatment with the anionic fluoroquinolone delafloxacin depend on the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump. In contrast, we did not detect this dependence on AcrAB-TolC in E. coli persisters that survive treatment with three other fluoroquinolone compounds. We found that the loss of AcrAB-TolC activity via genetic mutations or chemical inhibition not only reduces delafloxacin persistence in nongrowing E. coli MG1655 or EDL933 (an E. coli O157:H7 strain), but it limits resistance development in progenies derived from delafloxacin persisters that were given the opportunity to recover in nutritive medium following antibiotic treatment. Our findings highlight the heterogeneity in defense mechanisms that persisters use to overcome different compounds within the same class of antibiotics. They further indicate that efflux pump inhibitors can potentiate the activity of delafloxacin against stationary-phase E. coli and block resistance development in delafloxacin persister progenies.
The balance of giving versus receiving social support and all-cause mortality in a US national sample

Significance Social support is a key contributor to mortality risk, with effects comparable in magnitude (though opposite in direction) to smoking and obesity. Research has largely focused on either support received or support given; yet, everyday social relationships typically involve interchanges of support rather than only giving or only receiving. Using a longitudinal US national sample, this article elucidates how the balance of social support (amount of giving one does on a monthly basis relative to receiving support) relates to all-cause mortality over a 23-y follow-up period. Although correlational, one possible implication of the findings is that encouraging individuals to give support (e.g., helping others with errands) in moderation, while also being willing to accept support, may have longevity benefits. While numerous studies exist on the benefits of social support (both receiving and giving), little research exists on how the balance between the support that individuals regularly give versus that which they receive from others relates to physical health. In a US national sample of 6,325 adults from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, participants were assessed at baseline on hours of social support given and received on a monthly basis, with all-cause mortality data collected from the National Death Index over a 23-y follow-up period. Participants who were relatively balanced in the support they gave compared to what they received had a lower risk of all-cause mortality than those who either disproportionately received support from others (e.g., received more hours of support than they gave each month) or disproportionately gave support to others (e.g., gave many more hours of support a month than they received). These findings applied to instrumental social support (e.g., help with transportation, childcare). Additionally, participants who gave a moderate amount of instrumental social support had a lower risk of all-cause mortality than those who either gave very little support or those who gave a lot of support to others. Associations were evident over and above demographic, medical, mental health, and health behavior covariates. Although results are correlational, one interpretation is that promoting a balance, in terms of the support that individuals regularly give relative to what they receive in their social relationships, may not only help to strengthen the social fabric of society but may also have potential physical health benefits.
A Distributed Lyapunov-Based Redesign Approach for Heterogeneous Uncertain Agents With Cooperation–Competition Interactions

A swarming behavior problem is investigated in this article for heterogeneous uncertain agents with cooperation–competition interactions. In such a problem, the agents are described by second-order continuous systems with different intrinsic nonlinear terms, which satisfies the “linearity-in-parameters” condition, and the agents’ models are coupled together through a distributed protocol containing the information of competitive neighbors. Then, for four different types of cooperation–competition networks, a distributed Lyapunov-based redesign approach is proposed for the heterogeneous uncertain agents, where the distributed controller and the estimation laws of unknown parameters are obtained. Under their joint actions, the heterogeneous uncertain multiagent system can achieve distributed stabilization for structurally unbalanced networks and output bipartite consensus for structurally balanced networks. In particular, the concept of coherent networks is proposed for structurally unbalanced directed networks, which is beneficial to the design of distributed controllers. Finally, four illustrative examples are given to show the effectiveness of the designed distributed controller.
Studies on Grinding and Extraction of Oil from Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) Seed

Abstract Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed known for its many medicinal properties is studied for its grinding characteristics in an impact-type hammer mill. The particle size distribution (PSD) data of powder was found to regress very well with well-known mathematical Rosin–Rammler–Bennet model. Several statistical parameters of the PSD such as mass relative span, size guide number, skewness, uniformity index, uniformity coefficient were also estimated. Weight mean diameter for the entire range of grinding was between 395.8 and 620.8 µm. Specific energy consumption (32.4–115.2 kJ/kg) increased linearly with increase in size reduction ratio (4.53–7.10). Fenugreek powder fraction with less than 200 µm resulted in highest oil yield. Oil yield was found increasing with increase in size reduction ratio.
Transcutaneous and percutaneous bone conduction sound propagation in single-sided deaf patients and cadaveric heads

Abstract Objective To investigate transcranial transmission (TT) and the dampening effect of the skin in patients and cadaver heads. Design In patients a pure tone bone conduction audiogram for ipsilateral and contralateral stimulation was performed. The TT was defined as the difference between ipsilateral and contralateral hearing thresholds. In cadaver heads ipsilateral and contralateral promontory motion was measured using a three-dimensional Laser Doppler Vibrometer system. Study sample Seven single-sided deaf patients fitted with a Baha® Connect, fifteen single-sided deaf patients without a bone conduction hearing aid and five Thiel-embalmed cadaver heads were included. Results The TT decreased with increasing frequency in patients and cadaver heads. No significant difference was seen between patients and cadaver heads. Measurements on patients and cadaver heads showed increasing skin attenuation with increasing frequency. However, the dampening effect was 3–12 dB higher in patients than in cadavers at all frequencies. Conclusion The TT was not significantly different for patients compared to cadaver heads. The value of promontory motion to estimate TT in patients need to be further evaluated. The skin attenuates a BC stimulus by 10–20 dB in patients and by a smaller amount in cadaver heads, probably due to changes in the properties of the Thiel-conserved skin.
The Effect of Anastomotic Leakage on the Incidence and Severity of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome in Patients Undergoing Proctectomy: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Purpose Proctectomy for the treatment of rectal cancer results in inevitable changes to bowel habits. Symptoms such as fecal incontinence, constipation, and tenesmus are collectively referred to as low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). Among the several risk factors that cause LARS, anastomotic leakage (AL) is a strong risk factor for permanent stoma formation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the severity of LARS and AL in patients with rectal cancer based on the LARS score and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) defecation symptom questionnaires. Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent low anterior resection for rectal cancer since January 2010. Patients who completed the questionnaire were classified into the AL group and control group based on medical and imaging records. Major LARS and MSKCC scores were analyzed as primary endpoints. Results Among the 179 patients included in this study, 37 were classified into the AL group. After propensity score matching, there were significant differences in the ratio of major LARS and MSKCC scores of the control group and AL group (ratio of major LARS: 11.1% and 37.8%, P < 0.001; MSKCC score: 67.29±10.4 and 56.49±7.2, respectively, P < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that AL was an independent factor for major LARS occurrence and MSKCC score. Conclusion This study showed that AL was a significant factor in the occurrence of major LARS and defecation symptoms after proctectomy.
Investigation of road infrastructure and traffic density attributes at high-risk locations for motorcycle-related injuries using multiple correspondence and cluster analysis in urban Tanzania

Abstract Rapid growth in use of motorcycles combined with limited road infrastructures has increased the burden of road traffic crashes and injuries in low-and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to assess whether high-risk locations for motorcycle-related injuries identified from police crash data registers for the period 2016 to 2017 share similar road infrastructure and traffic density attributes in Dar es Salaam city. Analysis was performed using multiple correspondence and hierarchical cluster analysis. Three distinct clusters for motorcycle injury hotspots were identified. Clusters 1 and 2 were associated with more fatal and severe injuries and were characterized by overrepresentation of trunk roads, unseparated two-way roads, mixture of road users and commercial and residential areas compared to Cluster 3. Cluster3 was associated with less severe injuries compared to clusters 1 and 2 (p < 0.001). Cluster 3 was characterized by overrepresentation of feeder/street roads, separated two-way roads and presence of traffic control measures. The clusters of hotspots differed by road infrastructure and traffic density attributes. Clusters 1 and 2 were characterized by more dangerous road environments, while cluster 3 was characterized by road environments with less severe outcomes. These findings can assist in prioritizing preventive strategies for motorcycle- related injuries.
TIGIT modulates sepsis-induced immune dysregulation in mice with preexisting malignancy

TIGIT is a recently identified coinhibitory receptor that is upregulated in the setting of cancer and functionally contributes to the impairment of antitumor immunity. However, its role during sepsis is unknown. Because patients with cancer are 10 times more likely to die of sepsis than previously healthy (PH) patients with sepsis, we interrogated the role of TIGIT during sepsis in the context of preexistent malignancy. PH mice or cancer (CA) mice inoculated with lung carcinoma cells were made septic by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). We found that sepsis induced TIGIT upregulation predominantly on Tregs and NK cells in both PH and CA mice. Anti-TIGIT Ab improved the 7-d survival of CA septic mice but not PH mice after CLP. Treatment of CA septic animals but not PH septic animals with anti-TIGIT mAb significantly reversed sepsis-induced loss of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, Foxp3+ Treg, and CD19+ B cells in the spleen, which was the result of decreased caspase-3+ apoptotic cells. In sum, we found that anti-TIGIT Ab reversed sepsis-induced T cell apoptosis in CA septic mice and led to a significant survival benefit, suggesting its use as a potential immunotherapy to improve outcomes in septic patients with cancer.
Factors Associated with Never Testing for HIV: Directions for Targeted Testing Interventions Among Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and who are unaware of their HIV infection contribute to onward HIV transmission and are more likely to progress to severe illness. We therefore assessed determinants of never testing for HIV among MSM living in the Netherlands. Between April and July 2019, 950 HIV-negative and 122 never-tested MSM completed a cross-sectional survey on sociodemographics, HIV testing behavior, and sexual risk taking, which was distributed through gay networking sites/apps. In never-tested MSM, median age was 37 (interquartile range = 22-51) years and 37 (30%) reported recent sexual risk behavior. Never testing was associated with younger age [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) per year increase = 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.97-1.00, p = 0.015], having sex with men and women (aOR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.57-5.62, p = 0.001), and not knowing others living with HIV (aOR = 3.85, 95% CI = 2.35-6.32, p < 0.001) in multi-variable logistic regression analysis. A significant interaction effect between education level and residential area was observed (p = 0.001). Among higher-educated MSM, those living outside a large urban area had higher odds of never testing compared to those living in an urban area (aOR = 6.26, 95% CI = 2.42-16.24, p < 0.001). Lower-educated MSM had higher odds of never testing irrespective of residential area (large urban area: aOR = 12.06, 95% CI = 4.00-36.38; outside large urban area: aOR 9.29, 95% CI = 3.64-23.76; p < 0.001 for both). Among MSM recently exposed to sexual risk, never testing was associated with having sex with men and women (aOR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.09-7.18, p = 0.032) and not knowing others with HIV (aOR = 4.91, 95% CI = 1.97-12.24, p = 0.001). To conclude, testing interventions for those never tested should be tailored to residential area and education level, and inclusive of bisexuality.
Human papillomavirus seroprevalence in pregnant women following gender-neutral and girls-only vaccination programs in Finland: A cross-sectional cohort analysis following a cluster randomized trial

Background Cervical cancer elimination through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs requires the attainment of herd effect. Due to its uniquely high basic reproduction number, the vaccination coverage required to achieve herd effect against HPV type 16 exceeds what is attainable in most populations. We have compared how gender-neutral and girls-only vaccination strategies create herd effect against HPV16 under moderate vaccination coverage achieved in a population-based, community-randomized trial. Methods and findings In 2007–2010, the 1992–1995 birth cohorts of 33 Finnish communities were randomized to receive gender-neutral HPV vaccination (Arm A), girls-only HPV vaccination (Arm B), or no HPV vaccination (Arm C) (11 communities per trial arm). HPV16/18/31/33/35/45 seroprevalence differences between the pre-vaccination era (2005–2010) and post-vaccination era (2011–2016) were compared between all 8,022 unvaccinated women <23 years old and resident in the 33 communities during 2005–2016 (2,657, 2,691, and 2,674 in Arms A, B, and C, respectively). Post- versus pre-vaccination-era HPV seroprevalence ratios (PRs) were compared by arm. Possible outcome misclassification was quantified via probabilistic bias analysis. An HPV16 and HPV18 seroprevalence reduction was observed post-vaccination in the gender-neutral vaccination arm in the entire study population (PR16 = 0.64, 95% CI 0.10–0.85; PR18 = 0.72, 95% CI 0.22–0.96) and for HPV16 also in the herpes simplex virus type 2 seropositive core group (PR16 = 0.64, 95% CI 0.50–0.81). Observed reductions in HPV31/33/35/45 seroprevalence (PR31/33/35/45 = 0.88, 95% CI 0.81–0.97) were replicated in Arm C (PR31/33/35/45 = 0.79, 95% CI 0.69–0.90). Conclusions In this study we only observed herd effect against HPV16/18 after gender-neutral vaccination with moderate vaccination coverage. With only moderate vaccination coverage, a gender-neutral vaccination strategy can facilitate the control of even HPV16. Our findings may have limited transportability to other vaccination coverage levels. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00534638, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00534638.
Treatment burden experienced by patients with obstructive sleep apnoea using continuous positive airway pressure therapy

Background Little is known about the treatment burden experienced by patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) who use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Participants 18 patients (33.3% males, mean age 59.7±11.8 years) with OSA who use CPAP therapy were interviewed. Methods Patients treated with CPAP for OSA at a tertiary hospital outpatient clinic in Sydney, Australia, were invited to participate in an interview in person or via phone. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the treatment burden associated with using CPAP. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using NVivo 12 qualitative analysis software. Results Four categories of OSA-specific treatment burden were identified: healthcare tasks, consequences of healthcare tasks, exacerbating and alleviating factors of treatment burden. Participants reported a significant burden associated with using CPAP, independently of how frequently they used their device. Common sources of their treatment burden included attending healthcare appointments, the financial cost of treatment, lifestyle changes, treatment-related side effects and general discomfort. Conclusions This study demonstrated that there is a significant treatment burden associated with the use of CPAP, and that treatment non-adherence is not the only consequence of treatment burden. Other consequences include relationship burden, stigma and financial burden. It is important for physicians to identify other negative impacts of treatment burden in order to optimise the patient experience.