Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of influenza vaccination on trained immunity: impact on 1 COVID-19 2

27 Every year, influenza causes 290.000 to 650.000 deaths worldwide and vaccination is encouraged to 28 prevent infection in high-risk individuals. Interestingly, cross-protective effects of vaccination against 29 heterologous infections have been reported, and long-term boosting of innate immunity (also termed 30 trained immunity ) has been proposed as the underlying mechanism. Several epidemiological studies 31 also suggested cross-protection between influenza vaccination and COVID-19 during the current 32 pandemic. However, the mechanism behind such an effect is unknown. Using an established in-vitro 33 model of trained immunity, we demonstrate that the quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine used in 34 the Netherlands in the 2019-2020 influenza season can induce a trained immunity response, including 35 an improvement of cytokine responses after stimulation of human immune cells with SARS-CoV-2. In 36 addition, we found that SARS-CoV-2 infection was less common among Dutch hospital employees who 37 had received influenza vaccination during the 2019/2020 winter season (RR = 0,61 (95% CI, 38 0.4585 - 0.8195, P = 0.001). In conclusion, a quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine can induce 39 trained immunity responses against SARS-CoV-2, which may result in relative protection against 40 COVID-19. These data, coupled with similar recent independent reports, argue for a beneficial effect of 41 influenza vaccination against influenza as well as COVID-19, and suggests its effective deployment in 42 the 2020-2021 influenza season to protect against both infections.
HYDRAULIC GEOMETRY RELATIONSHIPS AND REGIONAL CURVES FOR THE INNER AND OUTER BLUEGRASS REGIONS OF KENTUCKY

OF THESIS HYDRAULIC GEOMETRY RELATIONSHIPS AND REGIONAL CURVES FOR THE INNER AND OUTER BLUEGRASS REGIONS OF KENTUCKY Hydraulic geometry relationships and regional curves are used in natural channel design to assist engineers, biologists, and fluvial geomorphologists in the efforts undertaken to ameliorate previous activities that have diminished, impaired or destroyed the structure and function of stream systems. Bankfull channel characteristics were assessed for 14 United States Geological Survey (USGS) gaged sites in the Inner Bluegrass and 15 USGS gaged sites in the Outer Bluegrass Regions of Kentucky. Hydraulic geometry relationships and regional curves were developed for the aforementioned regions. Analysis of the regression relationships showed that bankfull discharge is a good explanatory variable for bankfull parameters such as area, width and depth. The hydraulic geometry relationships developed produced high R values up to 0.95. The relationships were also compared to other studies and show strong relationships to both theoretical and empirical data. Regional curves, relating drainage area to bankfull parameters, were developed and show that drainage area is a good explanatory variable for bankfull parameters. R values for the regional curves were as high as 0.98.
Proteomic Profile Distinguishes New Subpopulations of Breast Cancer Patients with Different Survival Outcomes

Simple Summary Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, and several attempts have been made to subtype it. Based on the abundance of 86 proteins, we identified six subpopulations of breast cancer patients: one basal subtype, one HER2-enriched subtype, and four luminal subtypes. We then evaluated them demographically and clinically, and we found significant differences in survival. The new luminal subpopulations vary in prognoses. One, marked as A2, showed similar or even worse survival than HER2-enriched and basal cases. The observed poorer survival cannot be explained by clinical and demographic factors, as there was no substantial association with race, ethnicity, metastasis, tumor size, cancer stage, and age at diagnosis. It suggests that the molecular profiles underlie the cohort heterogeneity rather than the patient background. The subpopulations identified may potentially complement established breast cancer classifications and, with further molecular investigation, may find application in clinical routine. Abstract As a highly heterogeneous disease, breast cancer (BRCA) demonstrates a diverse molecular portrait. The well-established molecular classification (PAM50) relies on gene expression profiling. It insufficiently explains the observed clinical and histopathological diversity of BRCAs. This study aims to demographically and clinically characterize the six BRCA subpopulations (basal, HER2-enriched, and four luminal ones) revealed by their proteomic portraits. GMM-based high variate protein selection combined with PCA/UMAP was used for dimensionality reduction, while the k-means algorithm allowed patient clustering. The statistical analysis (log-rank and Gehan–Wilcoxon tests, hazard ratio HR as the effect size ES) showed significant differences across identified subpopulations in Disease-Specific Survival (p = 0.0160) and Progression-Free Interval (p = 0.0264). Luminal subpopulations vary in prognosis (Disease-Free Interval, p = 0.0277). The A2 subpopulation is of the poorest, comparable to the HER2-enriched subpopulation, prognoses (HR = 1.748, referenced to Luminal B, small ES), while A3 is of the best (HR = 0.250, large ES). Similar to PAM50 subtypes, no substantial dependency on demographic and clinical factors was detected across Luminal subpopulations, as measured by χ2 test and Cramér’s V for ES, and ANOVA with appropriate post hocs combined with η2 or Cohen’s d-type ES, respectively. Progesterone receptors can serve as the potential A2 biomarker within Luminal patients. Further investigation of molecular differences is required to examine the potential prognostic or clinical applications.
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Human Health: Effects on Metabolism, Diabetes and Cancer

Simple Summary Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere and interact with the endocrine system, resulting in altered hormonal signaling and function. PBDEs are common endocrine disruptors that have been commonly used in industrial products, and their environmental accumulation has become a rising concern. Human exposure to PBDEs has been shown to influence glucose metabolism, thyroid and ovarian function and potentially affect cancer risk. Evidence, however, is often conflicting. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the potential role of PBDEs in human health, with a particular focus on glucose metabolism, endocrine diseases and cancer. A deeper understanding of the complex interplay between exposure to endocrine disruptors, on one side, and obesity, diabetes, related metabolic disturbances and cancer, on the other side, can help guide public health interventions, in order to reduce the burden of these major social threats. Abstract There is increasing evidence of the role of endocrine disruptors (EDs) derived from commonly employed compounds for manufacturing and processing in altering hormonal signaling and function. Due to their prolonged half-life and persistence, EDs can usually be found not only in industrial products but also in households and in the environment, creating the premises for long-lasting exposure. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are common EDs used in industrial products such as flame retardants, and recent studies are increasingly showing that they may interfere with both metabolic and oncogenic pathways. In this article, a multidisciplinary panel of experts of the Italian Association of Medical Diabetologists (AMD), the Italian Society of Diabetology (SID), the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM), the Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE) and the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) provides a review on the potential role of PBDEs in human health and disease, exploring both molecular and clinical aspects and focusing on metabolic and oncogenic pathways.
Unraveling the Pivotal Roles of Various Metal Ion Centers in the Catalysis of Quercetin 2,4-Dioxygenases

Quercetin 2,4-dioxygenase (QueD) with various transition metal ion co-factors shows great differences, but the internal reasons have not been illustrated in detail. In order to explore the effects of metal ion centers on the catalytic reactivity of QueD, we calculated and compared the minimum energy crossing point (MECP) of dioxygen from the relatively stable triplet state to the active singlet state under different conditions by using the DFT method. It was found that the metal ions play a more important role in the activation of dioxygen compared with the substrate and the protein environment. Simultaneously, the catalytic reactions of the bacterial QueDs containing six different transition metal ions were studied by the QM/MM approach, and we finally obtained the reactivity sequence of metal ions, Ni2+ > Co2+ > Zn2+ > Mn2+ > Fe2+ > Cu2+, which is basically consistent with the previous experimental results. Our calculation results indicate that metal ions act as Lewis acids in the reaction to stabilize the substrate anion and the subsequent superoxo and peroxo species in the reaction, and promote the proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) process. Furthermore, the coordination tendencies of transition metal ion centers also have important effects on the catalytic cycle. These findings have general implications on metalloenzymes, which can expand our understanding on how various metal ions play their key role in modulating catalytic reactivity.
Investigation of the efficacy of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on upper-limb motor recovery in subacute ischemic stroke without cortical involvement: a protocol paper for a multi-center, double-blind randomized controlled trial

Introduction The incidence of stroke is increasing steadily due to factors such as population aging. Approximately 80% of stroke survivors have motor disorders affecting their daily lives. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been reported to maximize functional recovery after stroke along with exercise intervention in upper limb rehabilitation treatment. However, whether rTMS affects the recovery of upper limb function in patients with stroke remains unclear. Therefore, in this trial, we will investigate the efficacy of low-frequency rTMS in patients with subcortical and brainstem ischemic stroke. Methods This study has been designed as a multi-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy of low-frequency rTMS over the contralesional M1 with sham stimulation. Overall, 88 participants will be allocated to the intervention or control group in a 1:1 ratio, with stratification according to their initial upper extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment (UE-FMA) score. The participants will receive either 30 min of real rTMS (intervention group) or sham rTMS (control group), followed by 30 min of occupational therapy for 10 consecutive workdays. All the participants will receive the same amount of rehabilitation therapy throughout the intervention period. Evaluations will be performed at baseline (T0), at the end of treatment (T1), and 4 weeks after the end of treatment (T2), including the box and block test (BBT), UE-FMA, Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index, and NIH Stroke Scale scores, Finger tapping test, Brunnstrom stage, modified Ashworth scale, and grip strength. The primary outcome will be the change in the BBT score between T0 and T2. Conclusion This study will provide evidence on the efficacy of low-frequency rTMS in motor function recovery of the upper limb in patients with subacute, subcortical, and brainstem ischemic stroke. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier [NCT05535504].
Search for Weak Side Branches in the Electromagnetic Decay Paths of the 6526-keV 10+ Isomer in 54Fe

High-spin nuclear isomers in N≈Z nuclei between doubly magic 40Ca and 56Ni provide an excellent testing ground for the nuclear shell model and questions related to isospin symmetry breaking in the vicinity of the proton drip line. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the possibility of weak electromagnetic decay branches along the decay paths of the 6526-keV 10+ isomer in 54Fe. The isomer was strongly populated by means of the fusion-evaporation reaction 24Mg(36Ar,α2p)54mFe. The Gammasphere array was used to detect γ-ray cascades emitted from the isomeric state. By means of γγγ coincidences, weak non-yrast decay branches can be discriminated, with the isomer’s half-life confirmed at T1/2=363(4) ns. The yrast 61+→21+ E4 cross-over transition was interrogated. The observations are compared with shell-model calculations.
From the Mantle to the Moon: Studies of Kimberlitic Ilmenites, Meteorite Fusion-Crusts, and the Moscoviense Basin on the Moon

Two assumptions commonly employed in meteorite interpretation are that fusion-crust compositions represent the bulk-rock chemistry of the interior meteorite and that the vesicles within the fusion crust result from the release of implanted solar-wind volatiles. Electron microprobe analyses of thin-sections 7 from lunar meteorite Miller Range 05035 and eucrite Bates Nunataks 00300 were performed to determine if the chemical compositions of the fusion crust varied and/or represented the published bulk-rock composition. It was determined that fusion-crust compositions are significantly influenced by the incorporation of fragments from the substrate, and by the composition and grain-size of those minerals. Because of compositional heterogeneities throughout the meteorite, one cannot assume that fusion-crust composition represents the bulk-rock composition. If the compositional variability within the fusion crust and mineralogical differences among thin-sections goes unnoticed, then the perceived composition and petrogenetic models of formation will be incorrect. The formation of vesicles within these fusion crusts was also compared to current theories attributing vesicles to a solar-wind origin. Previous work from the STONE-5 experiment produced a vesicular fusion crust without prolonged exposure to solar-wind suggesting that the high temperatures experienced by a meteorite during passage through the Earth’s atmosphere are sufficient to cause boiling of the melt. Therefore, the assumption that all vesicles found within a fusion crust are due to the release of implanted volatiles of solar-wind may not be
Impact of Inventory Management on Financial Performance of MSMEs in Santiago City

The study aims to investigate the impact of inventory management on the operational efficiency and financial performance of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Santiago City. A correlational descriptive cross-sectional survey design was utilized on a sample of randomly selected 314 participants belonging to the merchandising MSMEs from Santiago City. Primary data was collected using self-administered questionnaires analyzed using frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation, and linear regression. The results showed that MSMEs are efficient in inventory management, operation and have good financial performance. It further suggests a strong positive relationship between inventory management and operational efficiency and a moderate positive relationship between inventory management and financial performance. The study offers practical guidance to MSMEs on optimizing their operational efficiency and maintaining good financial performance through effective inventory management practices. It gives owners and managers valuable insights into specific areas that need improvement and the underlying factors that inventory management affects. Furthermore, the research deepens the understanding of the intricate relationship between inventory management, operational efficiency, and financial performance within the context of MSMEs in Santiago City, thus enriching the existing knowledge for researchers and practitioners.
The Role of FDG-PET in the Evaluation of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Systematic Review

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin disorder characterized by nodules, comedones, and sinus tracts that often leave prominent scarring. In recent years, non-invasive imaging techniques have been used to assess the inflammatory activity, vascularization, and treatment response of lesions. Specifically, fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) scans may aid in identifying systemic inflammation in patients with HS, improving diagnosis. Inflamed hypermetabolic tissues exhibit a greater uptake of FDG due to increased glucose uptake and vascularity. A systematic review was conducted to summarize the utility of nuclear imaging techniques in the diagnosis and treatment follow-up of HS. PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases were utilized for relevant articles discussing the utility of PET scans in managing HS. A total of 51 citations were identified in the initial search. Following the review of titles, abstracts, and duplicates, 43 articles were excluded, leaving a total of eight articles for analysis. Data were extracted from each article, encompassing the number of patients, imaging techniques employed, and final results. An analysis of the data demonstrated that FDG-PET showed evidence of identifying subclinical lesions of the disease, improving the visualization of HS, and providing an objective method of assessing severity.
Nigerian athletes’ perspective: Urine doping controls

Athletes who compete may be subjected to urine doping tests after each competition, training session, or at other occasions. Despite the restrictions and penalties, doping still manages to contaminate sports. Africans still have misgivings about anti-doping measures since they believe they were excluded from the regulatory process. The study's goal was to obtain empirical evidence on Nigerian athletes' attitudes toward urine doping prevention, influenced by; athletes' cultural, environmental, and emotional peculiarities. Participants included, 165(21.4 years, ± 2.1) athletes from 10 sports. Participation was voluntary. Mixed methods of quantitative and in-depth interviews were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and testing for differences between categorical variables were calculated using a 2×2 table, chi2 and gamma tests. Findings indicated that; athletes voluntarily submitted to testing, with statistical significance for testing frequency (0.004) and age (0.022), but not for gender difference (0.66). Common themes in athletes' feedback were that their cultural norms were violated, confidentiality, presence of an atmosphere of bias that could damage test results, and conventional doping tests causing psychological pain, suffering and shame. It was concluded that the peculiarity of athletes should be considered when developing global legislation.
Single-source UDA for privacy-preserving intelligent fault diagnosis based on domain augmentation

In practical applications of fault diagnosis, several factors, including fluctuations in load, changes in equipment condition, and environmental noise effects, could cause a classifier that’s been trained on the source domain to be ill-suited for matching data from the target domain. Unsupervised domain adaptation techniques have been developed to tackle this issue, but they typically demand access to fully labeled source domains, ignoring concerns of privacy regarding source domain data. Therefore, we consider a new research scene for source-free unsupervised domain adaptation (SFUDA), which exclusively relies on a source model trained on source domain sample without requiring access to fully labeled source domain data. This paper introduces a SFUDA approach that utilizes knowledge distillation (KD), which involves two stages: (1) generalizing the source model by applying domain augmentation techniques and LS methods that enhance the model’s potential to enhance its generalization capability; (2) adapting the target model using a KD framework to achieve knowledge migration; and in addition, mutual information structure regularization is added to consider the internal data structure, thus enhancing the model’s adaptability. To evaluate the efficacy of our approach, we perform experiments on two datasets—the Case Western Reserve University dataset and the Paderborn University dataset, comprising 24 transfer tasks. Our experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the domain augmentation technique, mutual information regularization, and the proposed method.
Unsupervised Multitaper Spectral Method for Identifying REM Sleep in Intracranial EEG Recordings Lacking EOG/EMG Data

A large number of human intracranial EEG (iEEG) recordings have been collected for clinical purposes, in institutions all over the world, but the vast majority of these are unaccompanied by EOG and EMG recordings which are required to separate Wake episodes from REM sleep using accepted methods. In order to make full use of this extremely valuable data, an accurate method of classifying sleep from iEEG recordings alone is required. Existing methods of sleep scoring using only iEEG recordings accurately classify all stages of sleep, with the exception that wake (W) and rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep are not well distinguished. A novel multitaper (Wake vs. REM) alpha-rhythm classifier is developed by generalizing K-means clustering for use with multitaper spectral eigencoefficients. The performance of this unsupervised method is assessed on eight subjects exhibiting normal sleep architecture in a hold-out analysis and is compared against a classical power detector. The proposed multitaper classifier correctly identifies 36±6 min of REM in one night of recorded sleep, while incorrectly labeling less than 10% of all labeled 30 s epochs for all but one subject (human rater reliability is estimated to be near 80%), and outperforms the equivalent statistical-power classical test. Hold-out analysis indicates that when using one night’s worth of data, an accurate generalization of the method on new data is likely. For the purpose of studying sleep, the introduced multitaper alpha-rhythm classifier further paves the way to making available a large quantity of otherwise unusable IEEG data.