Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Nomogram-Based Model to Predict Respiratory Dysfunction at 6 Months in Non-Critical COVID-19 Survivors

Objective To assess the prevalence of respiratory sequelae of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors at 6 months after hospital discharge and develop a model to identify at-risk patients. Patients and Methods In this prospective cohort study, hospitalized, non-critical COVID-19 patients evaluated at 6-month follow-up between 26 August, 2020 and 16 December, 2020 were included. Primary outcome was respiratory dysfunction at 6 months, defined as at least one among tachypnea at rest, percent predicted 6-min walking distance at 6-min walking test (6MWT) ≤ 70%, pre-post 6MWT difference in Borg score ≥ 1 or a difference between pre- and post-6MWT oxygen saturation ≥ 5%. A nomogram-based multivariable logistic regression model was built to predict primary outcome. Validation relied on 2000-resample bootstrap. The model was compared to one based uniquely on degree of hypoxemia at admission. Results Overall, 316 patients were included, of whom 118 (37.3%) showed respiratory dysfunction at 6 months. The nomogram relied on sex, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, degree of hypoxemia at admission, and non-invasive ventilation. It was 73.0% (95% confidence interval 67.3–78.4%) accurate in predicting primary outcome and exhibited minimal departure from ideal prediction. Compared to the model including only hypoxemia at admission, the nomogram showed higher accuracy (73.0 vs 59.1%, P < 0.001) and greater net-benefit in decision curve analyses. When the model included also respiratory data at 1 month, it yielded better accuracy (78.2 vs. 73.2%) and more favorable net-benefit than the original model. Conclusion The newly developed nomograms accurately identify patients at risk of persistent respiratory dysfunction and may help inform clinical priorities.
Human Milk Fortification in Very Preterm Infants in China: A Multicenter Survey

Aim To investigate the use of human milk fortifier (HMF) for very preterm infants (VPIs) and complications and nutritional status of VPIs due to various breast milk enhancement strategies among the Chinese population. Methods VPIs with birth weight < 1,800 g and wholly or predominantly breastfed were assigned to the following fortification groups: no HMF, early HMF (adding HMF at an enteral volume of ≤ 80 ml·kg−1·day−1), middle HMF (adding HMF at an enteral volume of 80–100 ml·kg−1·day−1), and late HMF (adding HMF at an enteral volume of ≥100 ml·kg−1·day−1). The growth status and complications for various groups were evaluated. Results We enrolled 985 VPIs, of which 847 VPIs (86.0%) received HMF, whereas 138 VPIs (14.0%) did not. The number of VPIs in the early, middle, and late fortification groups were 89 (9.0%), 252 (25.6%), and 506 (51.4%), respectively. The complete fortification of the early, middle, and late fortification groups was achieved in 13.2 ± 11.0, 13.8 ± 11.7, and 12.3 ± 13.0 days, respectively, without significant differences (p > 0.05). The groups did not exhibit significant differences in the incidence of feeding intolerance, necrotizing enterocolitis (Bell stage ≥ 2), late-onset sepsis, and metabolic bone diseases (p > 0.05). The middle fortification groups exhibited the fastest growth velocity and the least dramatic decrease in the Z-score of weight and length, and the lowest incidence of EUGR (35.7%), whereas the “no HMF” groups exhibited the slowest growth velocity and the largest decline in the Z-score, and the highest incidence of EUGR (61.6%). Conclusions The usage rate of HMF was relatively low among Chinese VPIs, fortification often occurred in the late feeding stage, and the time to reach complete fortification was long. Adding HMF and different breast milk enhancement strategies did not increase the incidence of feeding intolerance and necrotizing enterocolitis. The enteral volume of 80–100 ml·kg−1·day−1 with HMF addition led to increased growth in the weight and length and lower EUGR incidence, indicating that the addition of HMF at the specific feeding volume might be the best practice for promoting growth.
The Marginal Propensity to Consume during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Thailand and Vietnam

In evaluating surveys conducted in Thailand and Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic, we find that the marginal propensity to consume is significantly larger for positive than for negative income shocks. This result contradicts a prediction from the lifecycle permanent income model with borrowing constraints as well as empirical evidence from industrialized countries. However, our finding is consistent with Kahneman and Tversky’s prospect theory, according to which the combination of income uncertainty and loss aversion can induce households to react more strongly to positive than to negative shocks.
A Partial Label Metric Learning Algorithm for Class Imbalanced Data

The performance of machine learning algorithms depends on the distance metric, in addition to the model and loss function, etc. The partial label metric learning technique can improve the accuracy of partial label learning algorithms by using training data to learn a better distance metric, which has gradually attracted the attention of scholars in recent years. The essence of partial label learning is mainly to deal with multi-class classiﬁcation problems, while class imbalance is a common phenomenon in these problems. The class imbalanced problem aﬀects the prediction accuracy of minority class samples, but the current partial label metric learning algorithms rarely consider the problem. In this paper, we pro-pose two partial label metric learning algorithms (PL-CCML-SFN and PL-CCML-LDD) that can solve the class imbalanced problem. The basic idea is to add a regularization term to the objective function of the PL-CCML model, which can induce each class to be uniformly distributed in the new metric space and thus play the role of balancing each class. The experimental results show that these two algorithms, compared with the existing partial label metric learning algorithms, have improved the overall performance on the class imbalanced data.
Tales of Things: interacting with everyday objects in an NFC world

Tales of Things is a platform for attaching stories in the form of digital media to everyday objects via simple tagging technologies (QR codes and RFID tags) in the spirit of the Internet of Things. In this position paper we discuss the aims and technology behind the Tales of Things project, illustrating its use in context with a case study from second-hand retail. We describe the various tagging technologies used in the project and discuss the implications of the arrival of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in consumer smartphones and how it may streamline how people interact with ‘connected objects’. We finish by briefly describing a recent deployment of Tales of Things NFC tags in an experimental ‘pop up’ retail space. By presenting this paper we hope to stimulate discussion and gain insight into new applications for this kind of Internet of Things technology in hitherto unexplored areas.
Administration of finerenone in chronic kidney disease

Spironolactone is a first-generation and non-selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA). It is extensively well-studied and recommended due to increased accessibility for patients. Unfortunately, it is often discontinued in several cases due to its association with hyperkalemia. The apparent benefit of eplerenone over spironolactone is its mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) selectivity. However, it is also characterized by low-potency and higher cost compared to spironolactone. The high adverse-effect profile of spironolactone and eplerenone has led to the innovation of novel medications such as non-steroidal MRAs. Among these medications, finerenone is the most advanced agent. Finerenone is associated with decreased proteinuria, reduced risk of hyperkalemia and increased preservation of renal function with comparable benefit in heart failure compared to selective and nonselective MRAs. The nonsteroidal structure of finerenone affects mineralocorticoid receptor binding, lipophilicity and polarity which have potent effects on distribution, the degree of attachment to blood proteins, transportation, and tissue diffusion.
From Interest to Entry: The Teacher Pipeline From College Application to Initial Employment

Strengthening teacher supply is a key policy objective for K–12 public education, but understanding of the early teacher pipeline remains limited. In this descriptive analysis, we leverage the universe of applications to a large public university in Texas from 2009 to 2020 to examine the pipeline into teacher education and employment as a K–12 public school teacher. A unique feature of Texas’s centralized higher education application is that it solicits potential interest in teacher certification. We document sharply declining interest in teaching over the period. Further, we show that students of color, men, and students with higher SAT scores are substantially underrepresented in teacher education. Particularly for race/ethnicity, these disparities are only partially explained by differences in interest at application.
Non-Destructive Measuring Systems for the Evaluation of High Oxygen Stored Poultry: Development of Headspace Gas Composition, Sensory and Microbiological Spoilage

As poultry is known to be a perishable food, the use-by date is set in such a way that food safety is guaranteed even with a higher initial bacterial count. This means, however, that some products are wasted, even if they are still safe to eat. Therefore, non-destructive measurement devices might be a good opportunity for individual shelf-life prediction, e.g., in retail. The aim of this study was therefore to use non-destructive measurement devices based on fluorescence quenching (oxygen detection) and mid-infrared laser spectroscopy (carbon dioxide detection) for the monitoring of high-oxygen-packed poultry in different storage conditions. During 15 days of storage, the gas composition of the headspace was assessed (non-destructively and destructively), while total plate count was monitored and a comprehensive sensory evaluation was performed by a trained panel. We were able to demonstrate that in most cases, non-destructive devices have comparable precision to destructive devices. For both storage conditions, the sensory attribute slime was correlated with reaching the critical microbiological value of 107 CFU/g; the attribute buttery was also useful for the prediction of regularly stored poultry. The change in the gas atmosphere as a sign of premature spoilage, however, was only possible for samples stored in irregular conditions.
Impact of digital literacy and market orientation through e-commerce adoption on the MSME performance moderated by O2O business adoption

This study aims to examine the influence of digital literacy and market orientation on MSME performance mediated by E-commerce adoption with O2O Business as a Moderating variable. The population in this study are all MSMEs that have collaborated with E-Commerce. The sample in this study was obtained using a quota sampling technique, which only limited data acquisition to 100 MSMEs of E-Commerce partners. Data is obtained by distributing questionnaires to respondents through online. The collected data is then analysed using Path analysis assisted by the Smart PLS application. The result shows that Digital Literacy and Market Orientation have a significant positive effect on E-Commerce Adoption, then E- Commerce Adoption, Market Orientation and Digital Literacy have a significant positive effect on Performance MSMEs, Digital Literacy, Market Orientation and E-commerce adoption has a significant positive effect on MSME Performance moderated by O2O Business Adoption. Understanding of market orientation and digital literacy in running a business can have an impact on customer satisfaction which then has an impact on improving MSME performance. Researchers who want to review the topic in this study can conduct a correlation test on a larger scale to get a more detailed picture of the impact of digital literacy and market orientation on MSMEs and other sectors.
Radiolabeled Somatostatin Analogues for Diagnosis and Treatment of Neuroendocrine Tumors

Simple Summary Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are rare and heterogeneous tumors, presenting in often challenging clinical scenarios, and require multidisciplinary discussion for optimal care. The theranostic approach (DOTA peptides labelled with 68Ga for imaging well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors NETs, and labelled with 90Y or 177Lu for therapy) plays a crucial role in the management of NENs to assess disease extension and criteria for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) eligibility of based on somatostatin receptor (SSTR) expression. The present paper is an overview of currently employed radiolabeled SSTR analogues used for both diagnosis and therapy of NENs. Further emerging radiopharmaceuticals targeting SSTRs (e.g., fluorinated SSTR agonists, radiolabeled SSTR antagonists) as well as strategies to improve PRRT efficacy (by means of implementation of personalized treatment schemes, dosimetry, amelioration of response assessment strategies, and optimization of treatment sequencing) are also discussed. Finally, although very preliminary, some studies employing radiomic features in various kinds of NET are reported. Abstract Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are rare and heterogeneous tumors that require multidisciplinary discussion for optimal care. The theranostic approach (DOTA peptides labelled with 68Ga for diagnosis and with 90Y or 177Lu for therapy) plays a crucial role in the management of NENs to assess disease extension and as a criteria for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) eligibility based on somatostatin receptor (SSTR) expression. On the diagnostic side, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA peptides PET/CT (SSTR PET/CT) is the gold standard for imaging well-differentiated SSTR-expressing neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). [18F]FDG PET/CT is useful in higher grade NENs (NET G2 with Ki-67 > 10% and NET G3; NEC) for more accurate disease characterization and prognostication. Promising emerging radiopharmaceuticals include somatostatin analogues labelled with 18F (to overcome the limits imposed by 68Ga), and SSTR antagonists (for both diagnosis and therapy). On the therapeutic side, the evidence gathered over the past two decades indicates that PRRT is to be considered as an effective and safe treatment option for SSTR-expressing NETs, and is currently included in the therapeutic algorithms of the main scientific societies. The positioning of PRRT in the treatment sequence, as well as treatment personalization (e.g., tailored dosimetry, re-treatment, selection criteria, and combination with other alternative treatment options), is warranted in order to improve its efficacy while reducing toxicity. Although very preliminary (being mostly hampered by lack of methodological standardization, especially regarding feature selection/extraction) and often including small patient cohorts, radiomic studies in NETs are also presented. To date, the implementation of radiomics in clinical practice is still unclear. The purpose of this review is to offer an overview of radiolabeled SSTR analogues for theranostic use in NENs.
Respiratory virus infections in hospitalized and non-hospitalized children: determinants of severe course of the disease.

INTRODUCTION Viral respiratory disease constitutes a great burden worldwide mainly among children. OBJECTIVE One pursued to compare disease characteristics of children who required hospitalization from those who did not require hospitalization due to a viral respiratory disease. METHODOLOGY Medical and demographic data were collected through questionnaires and nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested for detection of respiratory disease viruses of in and outpatients up to five years old, presenting acute respiratory infection. RESULTS Respiratory syncytial virus predominated among hospitalized children while other viruses (Human rhinovirus, Influenza virus, Parainfluenza virus, Adenovirus, and Human metapneumovirus) together predominated among non-hospitalized patients. Although children with underlying risk condition required longer hospitalization, previously healthy children presented severe disease and required hospitalization as well. Also, clinical characteristics were not found that may distinguish RSV infected children who had comorbidities from those previously healthy. CONCLUSIONS Children who were hospitalized due to respiratory distress had well defined characteristics: early age, respiratory syncytial virus infection, bronchiolitis and presence of comorbidity. Nevertheless, rapid respiratory syncytial virus identification among early age children may be of great value in order to avoid medical misconduct, such as unnecessary antibiotic prescription and preventive health care before an eventual clinical worsening encompassing previous health status.
Zonulin Antagonist, Larazotide (AT1001), As an Adjuvant Treatment for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: A Case Series

OBJECTIVES: A recent study suggests that Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is triggered by gastrointestinal breach of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral particles from the gut lumen into systemic circulation. The virus remains in the gut weeks to months after respiratory infection, causing zonulin release from the intestinal epithelial cells. Zonulin loosens tight junctions, permitting trafficking of highly inflammatory viral particles into circulation. Current MIS-C treatments target the subsequent immune hyperactivation, not the causative loss of mucosal barrier integrity. Larazotide, a zonulin inhibitor, prevents breakdown of tight junctions, limiting antigen trafficking. DESIGN: Children with MIS-C were treated with larazotide as an adjuvant to steroid/intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Clinical outcomes, SARS-CoV-2 antigenemia, and cytokine profiles are reported. Outcomes were compared with children with MIS-C receiving steroids and/or IVIG therapy alone. PATIENTS: Four children with MIS-C, ages 3–17 years, were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were treated with open label larazotide 10 mcg/kg (maximum 500 mcg/dose) orally four times daily for 21 days. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All four patients tolerated larazotide without adverse effects and displayed reduction in Spike antigenemia to undetectable levels. When compared with 22 children with MIS-C receiving steroids and/or intravenous immunoglobulin therapy alone, larazotide-treated patients reported significantly improved time to resolution of gastrointestinal symptoms (p = 0.03), and time to clearance of Spike antigenemia (p = 0.04), plus a trend towards shorter length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Larazotide appears safe and well-tolerated and may offer potential benefit as an adjuvant to immune-targeted therapies. Expansion of clinical trials is urgently needed to ascertain the clinical impact of larazotide on MIS-C.
Old and Novel Therapeutic Approaches in the Management of Hyperglycemia, an Important Risk Factor for Atherosclerosis

Hyperglycemia is considered one of the main risk factors for atherosclerosis, since high glucose levels trigger multiple pathological processes, such as oxidative stress and hyperproduction of pro-inflammatory mediators, leading to endothelial dysfunction. In this context, recently approved drugs, such as glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), could be considered a powerful tool for to reduce glucose concentration and cardiovascular risk. Interestingly, many patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance have been found to be deficient in vitamin D. Recent studies pointed out the unfavorable prognostic values of T2DM and vitamin D deficiency in patients with cardiac dysfunction, either when considered individually or together, which shed light on the role of vitamin D in general health status. New evidence suggests that SGLT2i could adversely affect the production of vitamin D, thereby increasing the risk of fractures, which are common in patients with T2DM. Therefore, given the biological effects of vitamin D as an anti-inflammatory mediator and a regulator of endothelial function and calcium equilibrium, these new findings should be taken into consideration as well. The aim of this review is to gather the latest advancements regarding the use of antidiabetic and antiplatelet drugs coupled with vitamin D supplementation to control glucose levels, therefore reducing the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD).
MicroRNAs as Predictors of Future Uterine Malignancy in Endometrial Hyperplasia without Atypia

The histological criteria for classifying endometrial hyperplasia (EH) are based on architectural crowding and nuclear atypia; however, diagnostic agreement among pathologists is poor. We investigated molecular biomarkers of endometrial cancer (EC) risk in women with simple hyperplasia or complex hyperplasia without atypia (SH/CH-nonA). Forty-nine patients with EC preceded by SH/CH-nonA were identified, of which 23 were excluded (15 with complex atypical hyperplasia (CAH), six not consenting, one with a diagnosis < 6 months prior, and one lost to follow-up). The EH tissues of these patients were compared with those of patients with SH/CH-nonA that did not progress to EC (control) through microRNA (miRNA) array analysis, and the results were verified in an expanded cohort through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). MiRNA arrays analyses revealed 20 miRNAs that differed significantly (p < 0.05, fold change > 4) between the control (n = 12) and case (n = 6) patients. Multiplex RT-qPCR for the 20 miRNAs in the expanded cohort (94 control and 25 case patients) led to the validation of miR-30a-3p (p = 0.0009), miR-141 (p < 0.0001), miR-200a (p < 0.0001), and miR-200b (p < 0.0001) as relevant biomarkers, among which miR-141, miR-200a, and miR-200b regulate the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). For the prediction of EC, the area under the curve for miR-30a-3p, miR-141, miR-200a, and miR-200b was 0.623, 0.754, 0.783, and 0.704, respectively. The percentage of complete PTEN loss was significantly higher in the case group than in the control group (24% vs. 0%, p < 0.001, Fisher’s exact test). A combination of complete PTEN loss and miR-200a provided optimal prediction performance (sensitivity = 0.760; specificity = 1.000; positive predictive value = 1.000; negative predictive value = 0.937; accuracy = 0.947). MiR-30a-3p, miR-141, miR-200a, miR-200b, and complete PTEN loss may be useful tissue biomarkers for predicting EC risk among patients with SH/CH-nonA.