Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HunterSpeechLab at GermEval 2021: Does Your Comment Claim A Fact? Contextualized Embeddings for German Fact-Claiming Comment Classification

In this paper we investigate the efficacy of using contextual embeddings from multilingual BERT and German BERT in identifying fact-claiming comments in German on social media. Additionally, we examine the impact of formulating the classification problem as a multi-task learning problem, where the model identifies toxicity and engagement of the comment in addition to identifying whether it is fact-claiming. We provide a thorough comparison of the two BERT based models compared with a logistic regression baseline and show that German BERT features trained using a multi-task objective achieves the best F1 score on the test set. This work was done as part of a submission to GermEval 2021 shared task on the identification of fact-claiming comments.
A novel artificial intelligence based intensive care unit monitoring system: using physiological waveforms to identify sepsis

A massive amount of multimodal data are continuously collected in the intensive care unit (ICU) along each patient stay, offering a great opportunity for the development of smart monitoring devices based on artificial intelligence (AI). The two main sources of relevant information collected in the ICU are the electronic health records (EHRs) and vital sign waveforms continuously recorded at the bedside. While EHRs are already widely processed by AI algorithms for prompt diagnosis and prognosis, AI-based assessments of the patients’ pathophysiological state using waveforms are less developed, and their use is still limited to real-time monitoring for basic visual vital sign feedback at the bedside. This study uses data from the MIMIC-III database (PhysioNet) to propose a novel AI approach in ICU patient monitoring that incorporates features estimated by a closed-loop cardiovascular model, with the specific goal of identifying sepsis within the first hour of admission. Our top benchmark results (AUROC = 0.92, AUPRC = 0.90) suggest that features derived by cardiovascular control models may play a key role in identifying sepsis, by continuous monitoring performed through advanced multivariate modelling of vital sign waveforms. This work lays foundations for a deeper data integration paradigm which will help clinicians in their decision-making processes. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Advanced computation in cardiovascular physiology: new challenges and opportunities’.
Multiscale assessment of the degree of multifractality for physiological time series

Recent advancements in detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) allow evaluating multifractal coefficients scale-by-scale, a promising approach for assessing the complexity of biomedical signals. The multifractality degree is typically quantified by the singularity spectrum width (WSS), a method that is critically unstable in multiscale applications. Thus, we aim to propose a robust multiscale index of multifractality, compare it with WSS and illustrate its performance on real biosignals. The proposed index is the cumulative function of squared increments between consecutive DFA coefficients at each scale n: αCF(n). We compared it with WSS calculated scale-by-scale considering monofractal/monoscale, monofractal/multiscale, multifractal/monoscale and multifractal/multiscale random processes. The two indices provided qualitatively similar descriptions of multifractality, but αCF(n) differentiated better the multifractal components from artefacts due to crossovers or detrending overfitting. Applied on 24 h heart rate recordings of 14 participants, the singularity spectrum failed to always satisfy the concavity requirement for providing meaningful WSS, while αCF(n) demonstrated a statistically significant heart rate multifractality at night in the scale ranges 16–100 and 256–680 s. Furthermore, αCF(n) did not reject the hypothesis of monofractality at daytime, coherently with previous reports of lower nonlinearity and monoscale multifractality during the day. Thus, αCF(n) appears a robust index of multiscale multifractality that is useful for quantifying complexity alterations of physiological series. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Advanced computation in cardiovascular physiology: new challenges and opportunities’.
Understanding the etiology of workaholism: The results of the systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract The objective of the present study was to determine the antecedents of workaholism. To attain the main objective, a systematic review was conducted that was further supplemented with the meta-analytic data. Additionally, attempts were made to separate the precursors of both workaholism and work addiction in our study. Four online databases were used to search for articles. Thirty-three articles published during the period between 2008 and 2019 were included. The results of the systematic review revealed that perfectionism, extrinsic work motivation and job demands (workload, interpersonal conflicts and role conflict at work) were the most important factors leading to the increased levels of workaholism. When conducting meta-analytic calculations, variables of neuroticism, openness and conscientiousness gave significant effects. The results of both the systematic review and meta-analysis correspond to the idea that the etiologic pathway to work addiction may differ from that leading to workaholism on account of the role of certain personality traits (such as neuroticism).
Psychological therapies for women who experience intimate partner violence: a Cochrane Review

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is prevalent and strongly associated with mental health problems. Women experiencing IPV attend health services frequently for mental health problems. The World Health Organization recommends that women who have experienced IPV and have a mental health diagnosis should receive evidence-based mental health treatments. However, it is not known if psychological therapies work for women in the context of IPV and whether they cause harm.
Reliability of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for Malaria among Pregnant Women in Ido-Ekiti, Western Nigeria

Background: Malaria is the commonest cause of anemia in pregnancy with severe consequence on the developing fetus. Recent clamor by the WHO for testing before treatment has driven a need to assess the effectiveness of available Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs). Objective: To determine the reliability of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) for malaria among pregnant women booking in Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 240 pregnant women were recruited at booking over a period of twenty weeks. A semi-structured questionnaire sought information about socio demographic data. Blood samples were taken for malaria and diagnosis was done using RDT and Microscopy. Results: Prevalence of malaria was 22.1% by microscopy and 27.5% by RDT. The sensitivity of RDT was 88.7% and specificity was 89.8%. The positive predictive value (PPV) of RDT was 71.2%, the Negative predictive value (NPV) of RDT was 96.6% and accuracy was 89.6%. The reliability of RDT was good (Kappa statistics = 0.731). The reliability of RDTs when compared with that of Microscopy was also good (Kappa statistics = 0.722). Conclusions: RDTs was an effective screening test for malaria among the respondents. Hence, primary care physician should utilize this resource by advocating for its availability.
Targeting the non‐ATP‐binding pocket of the MAP kinase p38γ mediates a novel mechanism of cytotoxicity in cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL)

We describe here for the first time a lipid‐binding‐domain (LBD) in p38γ mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) involved in the response of T cells to a newly identified inhibitor, CSH71. We describe how CSH71, which binds to both the LBD and the ATP‐binding pocket of p38γ, is selectively cytotoxic to CTCL Hut78 cells but spares normal healthy peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) cells, and propose possible molecular mechanisms for its action. p38γ is a key player in CTCL development, and we expect that the ability to regulate its expression by specifically targeting the lipid‐binding domain will have important clinical relevance. Our findings characterize novel mechanisms of gene regulation in T lymphoma cells and validate the use of computational screening techniques to identify inhibitors for therapeutic development.
Integrated quality control of allele-specific copy numbers, mutations and tumour purity from cancer whole genome sequencing assays

Cancer genomes contain thousands of somatic point mutations, chromosome copy alterations and more complex structural variants, which contribute to tumour growth and therapy response. Whole genome sequencing is a well established approach for somatic variant identification, but its broad application comes with complications, particularly in how proposed calls are quality assessed. To address this issue, we present CNAqc, a quantitative framework to quality control somatic mutations and allele-specific copy numbers, both in clonal and subclonal settings while accounting for variations in tumour purity, as commonly seen in bulk sampling. We test the model via extensive simulations, validate it using low-pass single-cell data, and apply it to 2778 single-sample PCAWG whole-genomes, in-house multi-region whole-genomes and 10 TCGA whole-exomes. CNAqc is compatible with common bioinformatic pipelines 48 and designed to support automated parameterization processes that are crucial in the era of large-scale whole genome sequencing.
The Prognostic and Immunological Value of Guanylate-Binding Proteins in Lower-Grade Glioma: Potential Markers or Not?

Seven guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs, GBP1–7), identified as a subfamily of interferon-γ-induced guanosine triphosphate hydrolases (GTPases), has been reported to be closely associated with tumor progression, metastasis, and prognosis of cancer patients in recent years. However, the expression patterns, prognostic value, immune infiltration relevance, and biological functions of GBPs in lower-grade glioma (LGG) remain elusive. In this study, by analysis and verification through multiple public data platforms, we found that GBP1, 2, 3, 4 were significantly upregulated in LGG tissues vs normal brain tissue. Analysis based on the Cox proportional hazard ratio and Kaplan–Meier plots demonstrated that the high expressions of GBP 1, 2, 3, 4 were significantly correlated with the poor prognosis of LGG patients. Correlation analysis of clinical parameters of LGG patients indicated that the expressions of GBP 1, 2, 3, 4 were significantly associated with the histological subtype and tumor histological grade of LGG. Furthermore, the correlation analysis of immune infiltration showed that the expressions of GBP1, 2, 3, 4 were significantly and positively correlated with the level of tumor immune-infiltrating cells. In particular, GBP1, 2, 3, 4 expressions were strongly correlated with the infiltration levels of monocyte, TAM, and M1/M2 macrophage, revealing their potential to regulate the polarity of macrophages. Finally, we used the GSEA method to explore the signaling pathways potentially regulated by GBP1, 2, 3, 4 and found that they were all closely associated with immune-related signaling pathways. Collectively, these findings suggested that GBP1, 2, 3, 4 were potent biomarkers to determine the prognosis and immune cell infiltration of LGG patients.
Management of Suspected Cases of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) During an International Translocation Program

The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) population in Switzerland serves as a source for reintroductions in neighboring countries. In 2016–2017, three lynx from the same geographical area were found seropositive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in the framework of an international translocation program. This novel finding raised questions about the virus origin and pathogenicity to lynx, the emerging character of the infection, and the interpretation of serological results in other lynx caught for translocation. Archived serum samples from 84 lynx captured in 2001–2016 were retrospectively tested for FIV antibodies by Western blot. All archived samples were FIV-negative. The three seropositive lynx were monitored in quarantine enclosures prior to euthanasia and necropsy. They showed disease signs, pathological findings, and occurrence of co-infections reminding of those described in FIV-infected domestic cats. All attempts to isolate and characterize the virus failed but serological data and spatiotemporal proximity of the cases suggested emergence of a lentivirus with antigenic and pathogenic similarities to FIV in the Swiss lynx population. A decision scheme was developed to minimize potential health risks posed by FIV infection, both in the recipient and source lynx populations, considering conservation goals, animal welfare, and the limited action range resulting from local human conflicts. Development and implementation of a cautious decision scheme was particularly challenging because FIV pathogenic potential in lynx was unclear, negative FIV serological results obtained within the first weeks after infection are unpredictable, and neither euthanasia nor repatriation of multiple lynx was acceptable options. The proposed scheme distinguished between three scenarios: release at the capture site, translocation, or euthanasia. Until April 2021, none of the 40 lynx newly captured in Switzerland tested FIV-seropositive. Altogether, seropositivity to FIV was documented in none of 124 lynx tested at their first capture, but three of them seroconverted in 2016–2017. Diagnosis of FIV infection in the three seropositive lynx remains uncertain, but clinical observations and pathological findings confirmed that euthanasia was appropriate. Our experiences underline the necessity to include FIV in pathogen screenings of free-ranging European wild felids, the importance of lynx health monitoring, and the usefulness of health protocols in wildlife translocation.
The Global Research Trends and Hotspots on Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: A Bibliometric and Visualized Study

Background: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common musculoskeletal disorder in newborns and also one of the most common causes of hip arthritis in women. Many topics concerning DDH still remain controversial, and the global research trend in this field has not been well-studied yet. The aim of the present study was to illustrate the overall knowledge structure, development trends, and research hotspots of DDH. Methods: The publications related to DDH from 1998 to 2020 were identified from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC). Three bibliometric tools were used to conduct visualization and knowledge maps. Annual trends of publications, contributions of countries, institutions, authors, funding agencies and journals, and clustering of keywords were analyzed. Results: A total of 2,691 publications were included. The annual number of DDH publications showed an increasing trend worldwide. The United States has made the greatest contribution, with the largest number of publications and the highest H-index. The most prolific institutions were Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Shriners Hospital for Children. Professors Tönnis D, Harris WH, Crowe JF, Graf R, and Salter RB have made great achievements in this field. However, the collaboration between international institutions or researchers was relatively low and mainly conducted in European and American countries. All the keywords could be divided into five clusters: hip osteoarthritis study, hip replacement study, hip ultrasound study, osteotomy surgery study, and etiology study. A trend of balanced and diversified development existed in these clusters. Keywords with the ongoing bursts, including clinical outcome, risk factor, femoroacetabular impingement, predictor, arthroscopy, morphology, and anteversion may continue to be the research hotspots in the near future. Conclusions: There will be an increasing number of publications on DDH research, and the United States stay ahead in this field. International collaboration needs to be further strengthened. The information can provide helpful references for researchers to explore hot issues or target a specific field of DDH.
Characteristics and Origin of Organic Matter in Triassic Lacustrine Shale From Fuxian Oilfield

Along with the successful exploitation of shale oil, organic-rich shale has attracted great attention to the geologists. However, quantitatively differentiating the origin of organic matter in shale is still challenging due to the nature of its complex depositional processes. Organic matter in lacustrine shales could be derived from both lake water (produced by lake water column) and land input (transported into the lake by rivers). The Triassic Chang-7 shale in the Yanchang Formation is a typical lacustrine shale deposited in the central part of the Ordos Basin. It is rich in organic matter (TOC of 0.52−9.37%) and consists primarily of type II1 kerogen. The Chang-7 shale is thermally mature and currently in the stage of generating oil and gas, with more structured than organic matter. In this study, quantitative models of organic matter in the Chang-7 shale with sources from both lake water and land is established using geochemical and carbon isotopes data and the results show that lake water and land input have the almost equal contribution to the organic enrichment in the study area.
Grazing Effects on Mongolian Steppe Vegetation—A Systematic Review of Local Literature

The Mongolian steppes with a long history of nomadic pastoralism cover a large area of the Palaearctic steppe biome and are still relatively intact. As livestock number has increased over the last two decades, grazing has been considered as the main reason of pasture degradation. However, the impact of grazing on vegetation dynamics, and its interaction with climate, is still not clear. We reviewed 44 publications in Mongolian language, covering 109 sites in five main steppe types, i.e., desert, dry, meadow, mountain, and high mountain steppe, with a mean annual precipitation and temperature range from 120 to 370 mm and from −6 to +5°C, respectively. We calculated relative changes in vegetation cover, species richness, and aboveground biomass from heavily grazed with respect to lightly/non-grazed conditions. Multiple linear regression models were used to test the impact of environmental factors, i.e., mean annual precipitation, coefficient of variation for precipitation, mean annual temperature and elevation. Grazing had a stronger effect on the vegetation of dry, desert and high mountain steppes, whereas its effect was less pronounced in the meadow and mountain steppes with mesic climate and high productivity. Vegetation cover, species richness and aboveground biomass were reduced by heavy grazing in the dry, desert and high mountain steppes. In the meadow steppes, grazing reduced vegetation cover, but increased richness and had nearly no effect on biomass. In the mountain steppe, richness and cover were not affected, but biomass was reduced by heavy grazing. Additionally, grazing effects on biomass tended to be more pronounced at sites with higher amounts of annual precipitation, and effects on cover changed from negative to positive as elevation increased. In conclusion, grazing effects in Mongolian steppes are overall negative in desert, dry and high mountain steppes, but no or even positive effects are found in meadow and mountain steppes. Especially, heavy grazing showed a detrimental effect on all vegetation variables in desert steppes, indicating the existence of combined pressure of climate and grazing in arid habitats, making them potentially sensitive to overgrazing and climate change. Grassland conservation and management should consider characteristics of different steppe types and give importance to local environmental conditions.
Tlr2/4 Double Knockout Attenuates the Degeneration of Primary Auditory Neurons: Potential Mechanisms From Transcriptomic Perspectives

The transcriptomic landscape of mice with primary auditory neurons degeneration (PAND) indicates key pathways in its pathogenesis, including complement cascades, immune responses, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important immune and inflammatory molecules that have been shown to disrupt the disease network of PAND. In a PAND model involving administration of kanamycin combined with furosemide to destroy cochlear hair cells, Tlr 2/4 double knockout (DKO) mice had auditory preservation advantages, which were mainly manifested at 4–16 kHz. DKO mice and wild type (WT) mice had completely damaged cochlear hair cells on the 30th day, but the density of spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) in the Rosenthal canal was significantly higher in the DKO group than in the WT group. The results of immunohistochemistry for p38 and p65 showed that the attenuation of SGN degeneration in DKO mice may not be mediated by canonical Tlr signaling pathways. The SGN transcriptome of DKO and WT mice indicated that there was an inverted gene set enrichment relationship between their different transcriptomes and the SGN degeneration transcriptome, which is consistent with the morphology results. Core module analysis suggested that DKO mice may modulate SGN degeneration by activating two clusters, and the involved molecules include EGF, STAT3, CALB2, LOX, SNAP25, CAV2, SDC4, MYL1, NCS1, PVALB, TPM4, and TMOD4.
Optimal Course of Statins for Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Is Longer Treatment Better? A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Statins are used in clinical practice to prevent from complications such as cerebral vasospasm (CVS) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, the efficacy and safety of statins are still controversial due to insufficient evidence from randomized controlled trials and inconsistent results of the existing studies. This meta-analysis aimed to systematically review the latest evidence on the time window and complications of statins in aSAH. The randomized controlled trials in the databases of The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang from January 2005 to April 2021 were searched and analyzed systematically. Data analysis was performed using Stata version 16.0. The fixed-effects model (M-H method) with effect size risk ratio (RR) was used for subgroups with homogeneity, and the random-effects model (D-L method) with effect size odds ratio (OR) was used for subgroups with heterogeneity. The primary outcomes were poor neurological prognosis and all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcomes were cerebral vasospasm (CVS) and statin-related complications. This study was registered with PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; CRD42021247376). Nine studies comprising 1,464 patients were included. The Jadad score of the patients was 5–7. Meta-analysis showed that poor neurological prognosis was reduced in patients who took oral statins for 14 days (RR, 0.73 [0.55–0.97]; I2 = 0%). Surprisingly, the continuous use of statins for 21 days had no significant effect on neurological prognosis (RR, 1.04 [0.89–1.23]; I2 = 17%). Statins reduced CVS (OR, 0.51 [0.36–0.71]; I2 = 0%) but increased bacteremia (OR, 1.38 [1.01–1.89]; I2 = 0%). In conclusion, a short treatment course of statins over 2 weeks may improve neurological prognosis. Statins were associated with reduced CVS. Based on the pathophysiological characteristics of CVS and the evaluation of prognosis, 2 weeks could be the optimal time window for statin treatment in aSAH, although bacteremia may increase.