Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lessons learned from using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to assess sexual risk behaviors among Kenyan young adults living in urban slum settlements: A process evaluation

Background Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a peer-referral sampling methodology used to estimate characteristics of underserved groups that cannot be randomly sampled. RDS has been implemented in several settings to identify hidden populations at risk for HIV, but few studies have reported the methodological lessons learned on RDS design and implementation for assessing sexual risk behaviors in marginalized youth. Methods We used RDS to recruit N = 350 young adults, aged 18 to 22, who were living in urban slum settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. A structured survey was used to assess sexual risk behaviors. Twenty seeds were selected and asked to recruit up to three eligible peers. We used small monetary incentives and a three-day recruitment coupon with sequential numbers linking recruiters to their recruits. Results Data collection was completed in 8 days with a maximum chain length of 6 waves. Each seed yielded 16 to 21 eligible recruits. Three (15%) seeds were unproductive and were replaced. RDS benefits were high identification rates (90% coupons returned per coupons given), high eligibility rates (100% eligible recruits per coupons returned), and high efficiency (~39 eligible recruits per day). 44% of the sample was female. Most recruits (74%) reported being “friends” for 7+ years with their recruiter. RDS overcame feasibility concerns of household-, clinic-, and school-based sampling methodologies in that underserved youth who were unemployed (68%), out of school (48%), ethnic minorities (26%), and having prior residential instability (≥2 moves in the past year) (20%) were successfully recruited, based on weighted analyses. Youth reporting HIV risk behaviors, including unprotected sex (38%), sex while high/drunk (35%), and sex exchange for pay (14%), were also enrolled. However, 28% were not sexually active within the last 6 months. Challenges included managing wait times during peaks and participant referral expectations. Community engagement, use of study-stamped coupons, broad inclusion criteria, incentives, and study sites within walking distances all contributed to the successful implementation of the sampling methodology. Conclusion RDS is an important tool in reaching a diverse sample of underserved and at-risk young adults for study participation. Implications for optimizing RDS for behavioral studies in this population are discussed.
Effects of school holidays on seasonal influenza in South Korea, 2014-2016.

School closures are considered as a potential non-pharmaceutical intervention to mitigate severe influenza epidemics and pandemics. In this study, we assessed the effects of scheduled school closure on influenza transmission, using influenza surveillance data before, during, and after spring breaks in South Korea, 2014-2016. During the spring breaks, influenza transmission was reduced by 27-39%, while overall reduction in transmissibility was estimated by 6-23%, with greater effects observed among school-aged children.
Forebrain Transcriptional Response to Transient Changes in Circulating Androgens in a Cichlid Fish

It has been hypothesized that androgens respond to the social interactions as a way to adjust the behavior of individuals to the challenges of the social environment in an adaptive manner. Therefore, it is expected that transient changes in circulating androgen levels within physiological scope should impact the state of the brain network that regulates social behavior, which should translate into adaptive behavioral changes. Here, we examined the effect that a transient peak in androgen circulating levels, which mimics socially driven changes in androgen levels, has on the forebrain state, which harbors most nuclei of the social decision-making network. For this purpose, we successfully induced transient changes in circulating androgen levels in an African cichlid fish (Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus) commonly used as a model in behavioral neuroendocrinology by injecting 11-ketotestosterone or testosterone, and compared the forebrain transcriptome of these individuals to control fish injected with vehicle. Forebrain samples were collected 30 min and 60 min after injection and analyzed using RNAseq. Our results showed that a transient peak in 11-ketotestosterone drives more accentuated changes in forebrain transcriptome than testosterone, and that transcriptomic impact was greater at the 30 min than at the 60 min post-androgen administration. Several genes involved in the regulation of translation, steroid metabolism, ion channel membrane receptors, and genes involved in epigenetic mechanisms were differentially expressed after 11-ketotestosterone or testosterone injection. In summary, this study identified specific candidate genes that may regulate socially driven changes in behavioral flexibility mediated by androgens.
Rapid Yeast Cell Viability Analysis by Using a Portable Microscope Based on the Fiber Optic Array and Simple Image Processing

A fiber optic array (FOA) can be used as an alternative or a supplement to the lens in a microscope due to its large magnification, high coupling efficiency and extremely low distortion. Based on our previous research, this paper first demonstrated the resolution and field-of-view (FOV) of the microscope based on the FOA. To further validate the FOA microscope’s imaging capability, yeast activity and concentration were investigated by simple image processing. The results showed that the percentages of live and dead yeast cells correctly identified were 92.1% and 84.8%, except for the clusters, which agreed well with the manual counting methods. Then, the performances of the portable microscopes based on the FOA and lens were compared and the factors that affect the FOA microscope imaging performance were analyzed.
Life's hard and then you die: the end-of-life priorities of people experiencing homelessness in the UK.

BACKGROUND People experiencing homelessness often die young and without adequate support. In the UK, they fail to access palliative care services and their end-of-life priorities remain poorly understood. AIMS To explore the end-of-life concerns, fears, preferences and priorities of a sample of people experiencing homelessness in the UK. METHODS This is an interpretive phenomenology. Data collected through semi-structured, audio-recorded, face-to-face interviews with 21 homeless participants in the UK were analysed iteratively using thematic analysis. Findings have been interpreted through the lens of Merleau-Ponty's philosophy. RESULTS Eight themes are reported: spiritual concerns; practical concerns; fear of needing care; fear of being forgotten; preference for dying suddenly; preference for being somewhere comfortable where people know me; prioritising autonomy and self-determination; and prioritising authenticity. CONCLUSION A strengths-based, trauma-informed, person-centred, collaborative 'compassionate community' approach to care is recommended for people experiencing homelessness at end of life.
Three-dimensional models of breast cancer–fibroblasts interactions

Tumor microenvironment is a complex niche consisting of cancer cells and stromal cells in a network of extracellular matrix proteins and various soluble factors. Dynamic interactions among cellular and non-cellular components of the tumor microenvironment regulate tumor initiation and progression. Fibroblasts are the most abundant stromal cell type and dynamically interact with cancer cells both in primary tumors and in metastases. Cancer cells activate resident fibroblasts to produce and secrete soluble signaling molecules that support proliferation, migration, matrix invasion, and drug resistance of cancer cell and tumor angiogenesis. In recent years, various forms of three-dimensional tumor models have been developed to study tumor–stromal interactions and to identify anti-cancer drugs that block these interactions. There is currently a technological gap in development of tumor models that are physiologically relevant, scalable, and allow convenient, on-demand addition of desired components of the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we discuss three studies from our group that focus on developing bioengineered models to study tumor-stromal signaling. We will present these studies chronologically and based on their increasing complexity. We will discuss the validation of the models using a CXCL12-CXCR4 chemokine-receptor signaling present among activated fibroblasts and breast cancer cells in solid tumors, highlight the advantages and shortcomings of the models, and conclude with our perspectives on their applications. Impact statement Tumor stroma plays an important role in progression of cancers to a fatal metastatic disease. Modern treatment strategies are considering targeting tumor stroma to improve outcomes for cancer patients. A current challenge to develop stroma-targeting therapeutics is the lack of preclinical physiologic tumor models. Animal models widely used in cancer research lack human stroma and are not amenable to screening of chemical compounds for cancer drug discovery. In this review, we outline in vitro three-dimensional tumor models that we have developed to study the interactions among cancer cells and stromal cells. We describe development of the tumor models in a modular fashion, from a spheroid model to a sophisticated organotypic model, and discuss the importance of using correct physiologic models to recapitulate tumor-stromal signaling. These biomimetic tumor models will facilitate understanding of tumor-stromal signaling biology and provide a scalable approach for testing and discovery of cancer drugs.
Ginsenoside Rg3 alleviates complete Freund's adjuvant - induced rheumatoid arthritis in mice by regulating CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cell.

Ginsenoside Rg3 (GRg3) is one of the major bioactive ingredients of ginseng, which is not only used as herbal medicine but also used as functional food to support body functions. In this study, the beneficial effects of GRg3 on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) mice was evaluated from anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive aspects. Footpad swelling rate, pathological changes of the ankle joint and levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β were used to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of GRg3 on RA mice. Flow cytometric analysis of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells percentage and metabolomic analysis based on GC-MS/MS were used to assess the immunosuppressive effect and underlying mechanisms. GRg3 exhibited anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effect on RA mice. The potential mechanisms were related to regulate the pathways of oxidative phosphorylation and enhance the function of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells to maintain peripheral immune tolerance of RA mice. These findings can provide a preliminary experimental basis for to exploit GRg3 as functional food or an effective complementary for the adjuvant therapy of RA.
Immune profile of hyaluronic acid hydrogel polyethylene glycol crosslinked: An in vitro evaluation in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Neauvia hydrogel (N‐Gel) is a hyaluronic acid‐based dermal filler, cross‐linked with polyethylene glycol. This filler contains sodium hyaluronate at different concentrations, poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether cross‐linked, glycine, and l‐prolyne. Assessing any effects of N‐Gel on immunity and inflammation is of crucial importance. The aim of the study was to characterize the ability of N‐Gel to modulate human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) functions, including migration, oxidative metabolism, and production of proinflammatory mediators. N‐Gel was tested on isolated human PMN. Spontaneous and N‐formylmethionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLP)‐stimulated migration were examined using the Boyden Chamber technique, whereas the oxidative metabolism was assessed through spectrofluorometric measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production under resting conditions and after stimulation with fMLP. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐8 mRNA levels were measured by real‐time PCR after stimulation with fMLP or Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. This study showed that N‐Gel reduced fMLP‐induced migration and ROS production without affecting these functions in resting cells. In addition, incubation of PMN with N‐Gel effectively reduced both TNF‐α and IL‐8 mRNA levels. N‐Gel modulates critical functions of human PMN such as migration and oxidative metabolism, indicating its potential as an anti‐inflammatory agent.
Validity of death certificates in the identification of cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the Limousin region, France. A population-based study

Abstract Objectives: Mortality data have been used as a proxy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) incidence. However, the accuracy of death certificates (DCs) needs to be validated. This study aims to assess the accuracy of DCs in the identification of ALS cases. Methods: This is a retrospective population-based validation study. DC information, provided by the “Centre d’épidémiologie sur les causes médicales de décès”, including ICD10 codes for specific cause of death for patients recorded in the French register of ALS cases in the Limousin region (FRALim) and deceased between 2000 and 2011, was assessed. The FRALim register was used as gold standard. Results: In the study period, DCs were available for 197 patients diagnosed with ALS, of whom 185 (93.9%) were correctly identified with an ICD10 code (G12.2) corresponding to ALS. The overall sensitivity was 93.9% (95% CI 89.6–96.8) and the positive predictive value (PPV) was 64.9 (59.1–70.4), with higher values in the period 2004–2011 (75.0–78.9). Stratification for sex, age, and year at death did not show difference in accuracy, except a lower PPV during the first years of observation. Conclusions: DCs identifying subjects with a diagnosis of ALS in the Limousin region, France showed an overall good sensitivity and moderate PPV. The absence of ALS diagnosis as the main and underlying cause of death on DCs highlights the need to use DC in combination with other administrative data to create algorithms with higher accuracy performances.
A case study of a phytoplankton bloom triggered by a tropical cyclone and cyclonic eddies

Strong tropical cyclone (TC) Ockhi occurred in the southeastern Arabian Sea (AS) in 2017. Ockhi greatly changed the oceanic conditions and induced large variation in chlorophyll-a (Chl-a). The dynamic mechanisms of the long-term phytoplankton bloom after the passage of the TC were investigated in this study. Prominent surface ocean responses, e.g., decreasing temperature and salinity, were identified from Argo data by comparing the pre- and post-conditions of the TC. A phytoplankton bloom was observed in southeastern AS after the passage of TC Ockhi within the area of (11°N-14°N, 67°E-70°E) and lasted for seven days. Interestingly, there were two weaker cyclonic eddies, with an average vorticity of less than 0.14 s-1, on the TC trajectory from November 28 to December 2. As Ockhi approached, strong vertical mixing occurred on December 3, increasing the eddy vorticity to 0.26 s-1. After the passage of Ockhi, both eddies, with a two-day oscillation period, were substantially enhanced. Especially from December 11 to 16, the vorticity above 70 m was as high as 0.2 s-1 in the thermocline. Because of the high photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) and low precipitation, the enhanced cyclonic eddies induced upwelling for the entire thermocline for over ten days and uplifted nitrates into the mixed layer. This study offers new insights on the influence of eddies in regulating the impacts of typhoons on Chl-a, and the results can help evaluate typhoon-induced biological responses in the future.
Multimodal mental health analysis in social media

Depression is a major public health concern in the U.S. and globally. While successful early identification and treatment can lead to many positive health and behavioral outcomes, depression, remains undiagnosed, untreated or undertreated due to several reasons, including denial of the illness as well as cultural and social stigma. With the ubiquity of social media platforms, millions of people are now sharing their online persona by expressing their thoughts, moods, emotions, and even their daily struggles with mental health on social media. Unlike traditional observational cohort studies conducted through questionnaires and self-reported surveys, we explore the reliable detection of depressive symptoms from tweets obtained, unobtrusively. Particularly, we examine and exploit multimodal big (social) data to discern depressive behaviors using a wide variety of features including individual-level demographics. By developing a multimodal framework and employing statistical techniques to fuse heterogeneous sets of features obtained through the processing of visual, textual, and user interaction data, we significantly enhance the current state-of-the-art approaches for identifying depressed individuals on Twitter (improving the average F1-Score by 5 percent) as well as facilitate demographic inferences from social media. Besides providing insights into the relationship between demographics and mental health, our research assists in the design of a new breed of demographic-aware health interventions.
Optical, Structural, and Crystal Defects Characterizations of Dip Synthesized (Fe-Ni) Co-Doped ZnO Thin Films

Sol-gel technique is used to synthesize as-grown zinc oxide (ZnO) and iron-nickel (Fe-Ni) co-doped ZnO thin films deposited on glass substrates using dip coating technique. The structural properties and crystal imperfections of as-prepared thin films are investigated. We performed the structural analysis of films using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD analysis reveal that the as-prepared films exhibit wurtzite structure. Furthermore, XRD-line profile analysis is performed to study the correlation between structural properties and imperfections of the nanocomposite thin films. The crystallite size and microstrains parameters are predicted using the Williamson–Hall method. We found that the crystallites size increases as the co-doped (Fe-Ni) concentration is increased. However, microstrains of the nanocomposite films decreases as (Fe-Ni) concentration is increased. The optical properties of the (Fe-Ni) co-doped nanocomposite films are investigated by performing UV-Vis (250 nm–700 nm) spectrophotometer measurements. We found that as the (Fe-Ni) concentration level is steadily increased, transmittance of the undoped ZnO thin films is decreased. Remarkably, refractive index of undoped ZnO thin films is found to exhibit values extending from 1.55 to1.88 that would increase as (Fe-Ni) concentration is increased.
Detailed Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of a Rare, Antibody-Dependent SLAM-Associated Protein Expression Pattern

SLAM-associated protein (SAP) is an adaptor molecule that facilitates critical effector functions in immune cells, and its deficiency causes X-linked lymphoproliferative disease type 1 in which effector responses directed against EBV are severely compromised. The primary objective of this study was to phenotypically and functionally characterize a rare, CD8 T cell–restricted bimodal SAP expression pattern observed in healthy, human donors with the widely used 1C9-SAP mAb clone. We initially observed this pattern during the clinical validation of our flow cytometry–based assay to diagnose X-linked lymphoproliferative disease type 1 in our laboratory. For this validation study, we used multiparameter flow cytometry to identify cytosolic SAP expression in lymphocyte subsets, and CD8 T cells from the donors displaying the rare SAP expression pattern mentioned above were separately further evaluated by intracellular cytokine and CD107a staining to examine polyfunctionality following PMA/ionomycin and HLA class I allele–restricted EBV peptide epitope–induced T cell activation. Our data revealed that SAP 1C9-hi CD8 T cells clearly displayed higher polyfunctional responses versus SAP 1C9-lo CD8 T cells following PMA/ionomycin stimulation. Furthermore, polyfunctional EBV-specific CD8 T cell responses segregated with the SAP 1C9-hi CD8 T cells and not the SAP 1C9-lo CD8 T cells. Additionally, and rather intriguingly, short- and long-term T cell stimulation selectively diminished the signal for the 1C9-hi subset. Overall, our data suggest that although rare, this unique SAP expression pattern merits further evaluation as it has the potential to provide some insight into fundamental processes as they might relate to host–pathogen dynamics.
Formulation of lyophilized oily-core poly-Ɛ-caprolactone nanocapsules to improve oral bioavailability of Olmesartan Medoxomil

Abstract Objective: This study aims to detect the enhancement in the oral bioavailability of a poorly water-soluble antihypertensive drug Olmesartan Medoxomil (OM) due to the formulation of lyophilized oily-core nanocapsules. Significance: A comparative pharmacokinetic study in rats was conducted for oily-core polymeric nanocapsules (ONC) after formulation and lyophilization against market tablet products to show the significant improvement in oral absorption of OM. Materials and methods: OM loaded ONC were prepared using poly-Ɛ-caprolactone (0.5% w/v) as a polymer and an oily core of Labrafac PG® by applying a well-controlled nanoprecipitation technique in terms of injection rate (80 mL/h) and magnetic stirring rate (300 rpm). The prepared lyophilized ONC were in-vitro characterized after reconstitution and evaluated in-vivo for oral bioavailability after a single OM oral dose (20 mg/kg) of reconstituted lyophilized ONC dispersion was administered to rats. Results: The prepared lyophilized ONC containing 10% w/v mannitol showed an average particle size of 158 nm, polydispersity index of 0.37, negative zeta potential value equals 33.9 and entrapment efficiency of 90%. The dissolution profile for OM from lyophilized ONC powder filled into hard gelatin capsules (HGC) showed a 1.8-fold increase in dissolution rate as compared to the pure drug. In-vivo pharmacokinetic study in rats revealed a significant enhancement in the oral bioavailability of OM with 1.6-fold increase for AUC0-24 and a 1.9-fold increase for Cmax as compared to marketed product. Conclusion: It is concluded that the formulation of lyophilized ONC for OM can significantly enhance its oral bioavailability and consequently, its therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.
Crosstalk between Stress Granules, Exosomes, Tumour Antigens, and Immune Cells: Significance for Cancer Immunity

RNA granules and exosomes produced by tumour cells under various stresses in the microenvironment act as critical determinants of cell survival by promoting angiogenesis, cancer metastasis, chemoresistance, and immunosuppression. Meanwhile, developmental cancer/testis (CT) antigens that are normally sequestered in male germ cells of the testes, but which are overexpressed in malignant tumour cells, can function as tumour antigens triggering immune responses. As CT antigens are potential vaccine candidates for use in cancer immunotherapy, they could be targeted together with crosstalk between stress granules, exosomes, and immune cells for a synergistic effect. In this review, we describe the effects of exosomes and exosomal components presented to the recipient cells under different types of stresses on immune cells and cancer progression. Furthermore, we discuss their significance for cancer immunity, as well as the outlook for their future application.