Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arthrodesis of the ankle joint in septic osteoarthritis: six years long term outcomes in authors' personal experience.

OBJECTIVE Our goal was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome of ankle arthrodesis, obtained by an extramedullary internal fixation with or without bone-grafting in the treatment of ankle' septic arthritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS All patients treated with arthrodesis by extramedullary internal fixation for septic arthritis of the ankle joint between January 2011 and December 2016 in the same hospital were included in our retrospective study. Patients were followed-up for a minimum of two years. To evaluate the quality of life, each patient filled in a short form of the physical and mental health summary scale and a visual analogue scale for pain. For the functional evaluation, the American Orthophaedic Foot and Ankle Society Score was used. Demographics and clinical data, including perioperative and postoperative complications, were evaluated. RESULTS From January 2011 to December 2016, we performed 57 arthrodeses of the ankle joint with cannulated screws in 52 patients. Mean age was 52 years old. 48 patients (92%) had post-traumatic septic arthritis. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 48% of patients reported a postoperative complication after three months; the most commonly reported complications were weight bearing ankle-foot pain (27%) and surgical wound dehiscence (12.25%). Nonunion was reported only in 8.75% of cases. CONCLUSIONS Ankle arthrodesis could allow painless gait, improving patients life quality, even after long-term follow-up, and is, therefore, a solution to be considered in patients affected by septic arthritis.
Emotional intelligence, empathy and alexithymia: a cross-sectional survey on emotional competence in a group of nursing students

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize and manage one’s own and others’ emotions, empathy is the ability to understand how others feel, whereas alexithymia represents the difficulty in feeling and verbally expressing emotions. Emotional competences are important requirements for positive outcomes in nursing profession. The aim of the study: To analyze EI, empathy and alexithymia in nursing students. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a sample of 237 students (53 males, 184 females), attending both the 1st and 3rd year of the University Nursing Course in Modena. We administered three Italian validated scales: Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT), Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Health Professions Student (JSE-HPS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Data were statistically analyzed. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the 1st and 3rd year students at SSEIT (t=-0.6, p=0.52), JSE-HPS (t=-3.2, p=0.0016) and TAS-20 scores (t=-3.54, p=0.0005). Among 3rd year students, females obtained significantly different scores from those of males at SSEIT (t=2.8, p=0.006). All three scales reported a Cronbach’s alpha >0.80. SSEIT correlated positively with JSE-HPS (Spearman’s rho=0.15, p=0.02) and negatively with TAS-20 (Spearman’s rho=-0.18, p=0.006). Conclusions: Our study highlighted a good level of emotional skills among students at the beginning of nursing training, further increased by the last year of the course, suggesting that emotional competences can be learned, and confirmed that empathy, but not alexithymia, is a dimension of EI. (www.actabiomedica.it)
Evaluation of standard pyrethroid based LNs (MiraNet and MagNet) in experimental huts against pyrethroid resistant Anopheles gambiae s.l. M’bé, Côte d’Ivoire: Potential for impact on vectorial capacity

Background There is evidence from experimental hut and household studies that the entomological efficacy of long lasting pyrethroid treated nets (LLINs) is compromised in areas of pyrethroid resistance. The rapid increase in resistance intensity in African malaria vectors could further undermine the performance of these nets. The pyrethroid resistance intensity in Anopheles gambiae s.l. M’bé from central Côte d’Ivoire is reported to be high (> 1700 fold). Whether this translates into an increase in entomological indicators of malaria transmission needs investigation. Method The efficacy of two long lasting insecticidal nets (LN) MiraNet and MagNet, both alpha-cypermethrin based was evaluated in experimental huts against pyrethroid resistant Anopheles gambiae in M’bé, central Côte d’Ivoire. All nets were deliberately holed to simulate wear-and-tear and were tested unwashed and after 20 standardized washes. Results The entry rates of An. gambiae s.l. into huts with insecticide treated nets were 62–84% lower than entry into huts with untreated nets (p < 0.001). Exit rates of An. gambiae s.l. with unwashed MiraNet and MagNet LNs were significantly greater than with untreated nets (50–60% vs 26%) and this effect after washing 20 times nets did not decrease. Blood-feeding with both nets was significantly inhibited relative to the untreated reference net (31–55%) (p < 0.001). Washing MiraNet LN 20 times had no significant impact on protection against An. gambiae s.l. bites but it did cause a significant fall by 40% in protection with MagNet LN (p < 0.001). All insecticide treated nets induced higher mortality of An. gambiae s.l. than the untreated net (p < 0.05). The impact though significant was limited (14–30%). The personal protection against An. gambiae s.l. bites derived from all treatments was high (75–90%). The overall insecticidal effect was compromised by pyrethroid resistance and was not detectable in some treatments. Conclusion In this area of high pyrethroid resistance intensity (over 1700 fold), both MiraNet and MagNet LNs still conferred appreciable personal protection against mosquito bites despite inducing only slightly greater mortality of pyrethroid resistant Anopheles mosquitoes than untreated nets. The impact is comparable to moderately intense Benin resistance area (207 fold) and Burkina Faso (over 1000 fold). This preserved level of protection plus the small but sensitive killing of mosquitoes may continue to impact vectorial capacity despite high intensity of resistance. Nevertheless, there is an obvious need for strategies and nets with novel mode of action to enhance vector control.
The Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on ICT Usage by Academics

ABSTRACT The major premise of the study is the recognition that academic work has been disrupted and changed profoundly by the Covid-19 pandemic. This study aims at identifying how academic work, especially research and teaching, as well as ICT usage to support this work altered during the pandemic and what predictions do academics have for their work after the pandemic. The survey questionnaire was used, and data collected from 476 academics around the world were statistically analyzed. The research findings revealed that teaching has been the main academic work during the pandemic, whereas research used to be the main work before the pandemic and is predicted to be the main work after the pandemic. Furthermore, the pandemic has rapidly accelerated the usage of various kinds of ICTs, i.e., communication apps, e-learning platforms, and social media to support research and teaching. According to the prediction validated by academics, this change will be continuing after the pandemic, while ICTs will be used to a lesser extent than during the pandemic.
Marine heatwaves reveal coral reef zones susceptible to bleaching in the Red Sea

As the Earth's temperature continues to rise, coral bleaching events become more frequent. Some of the most affected reef ecosystems are located in poorly monitored waters, and thus, the extent of the damage is unknown. We propose the use of marine heatwaves (MHWs) as a new approach for detecting coral reef zones susceptible to bleaching, using the Red Sea as a model system. Red Sea corals are exceptionally heat‐resistant, yet bleaching events have increased in frequency. By applying a strict definition of MHWs on >30 year satellite‐derived sea surface temperature observations (1985–2015), we provide an atlas of MHW hotspots over the Red Sea coral reef zones, which includes all MHWs that caused major coral bleaching. We found that: (a) if tuned to a specific set of conditions, MHWs identify all areas where coral bleaching has previously been reported; (b) those conditions extended farther and occurred more often than bleaching was reported; and (c) an emergent pattern of extreme warming events is evident in the northern Red Sea (since 1998), a region until now thought to be a thermal refuge for corals. We argue that bleaching in the Red Sea may be vastly underrepresented. Additionally, although northern Red Sea corals exhibit remarkably high thermal resistance, the rapidly rising incidence of MHWs of high intensity indicates this region may not remain a thermal refuge much longer. As our regionally tuned MHW algorithm was capable of isolating all extreme warming events that have led to documented coral bleaching in the Red Sea, we propose that this approach could be used to reveal bleaching‐prone regions in other data‐limited tropical regions. It may thus prove a highly valuable tool for policymakers to optimize the sustainable management of coastal economic zones.
T-2 Toxin—The Most Toxic Trichothecene Mycotoxin: Metabolism, Toxicity, and Decontamination Strategies

Among trichothecenes, T-2 toxin is the most toxic fungal secondary metabolite produced by different Fusarium species. Moreover, T-2 is the most common cause of poisoning that results from the consumption of contaminated cereal-based food and feed reported among humans and animals. The food and feed most contaminated with T-2 toxin is made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, and maize. After exposition or ingestion, T-2 is immediately absorbed from the alimentary tract or through the respiratory mucosal membranes and transported to the liver as a primary organ responsible for toxin's metabolism. Depending on the age, way of exposure, and dosage, intoxication manifests by vomiting, feed refusal, stomach necrosis, and skin irritation, which is rarely observed in case of mycotoxins intoxication. In order to eliminate T-2 toxin, various decontamination techniques have been found to mitigate the concentration of T-2 toxin in agricultural commodities. However, it is believed that 100% degradation of this toxin could be not possible. In this review, T-2 toxin toxicity, metabolism, and decontamination strategies are presented and discussed.
Photocrosslinkable Nanofibrous Asymmetric Membrane Designed for Wound Dressing

Recently, the biomedical scientists who are working in the skin regeneration area have proposed asymmetric membranes as ideal wound dressings, since they are able to reproduce both layers of skin and improve the healing process as well as make it less painful. Herein, an electrospinning technique was used to produce new asymmetric membranes. The protective layer was composed of a blending solution between polycaprolactone and polylactic acid, whereas the underlying layer was comprised of methacrylated gelatin and chitosan. The chemical/physical properties, the in vitro hemo- and biocompatibility of the nanofibrous membranes were evaluated. The results obtained reveal that the produced membranes exhibited a wettability able to provide a moist environment at wound site. Moreover, the membranes’ hemocompatibility and fibroblast cell adhesion, spreading and proliferation at the surface of the membranes were also noticed in the in vitro assays. Such results highlight the suitability of these asymmetric membranes for wound dressing applications.
Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus plantarum CRL681, Isolated from Argentinean Artisanal Fermented Sausages

Lactobacillus plantarum CRL681 was isolated from Argentinean artisanal fermented sausages. Here, the draft genome sequence of the CRL681 strain is described. ABSTRACT Lactobacillus plantarum CRL681 was isolated from Argentinean artisanal fermented sausages. Here, the draft genome sequence of the CRL681 strain is described. The reads were assembled into contigs with a total estimated size of 3,370,224 bp. A total of 3,300 open reading frames (ORFs) were predicted, including 3,126 protein-coding sequences. The draft genome sequence of L. plantarum CRL681 will be useful for understanding the organism’s metabolic activities and for biotechnological applications.
Evidence of Clinical Pathology Abnormalities in People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) from an Analytic Cross-Sectional Study

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disease presenting with extreme fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and other symptoms. In the absence of a diagnostic biomarker, ME/CFS is diagnosed clinically, although laboratory tests are routinely used to exclude alternative diagnoses. In this analytical cross-sectional study, we aimed to explore potential haematological and biochemical markers for ME/CFS, and disease severity. We reviewed laboratory test results from 272 people with ME/CFS and 136 healthy controls participating in the UK ME/CFS Biobank (UKMEB). After corrections for multiple comparisons, most results were within the normal range, but people with severe ME/CFS presented with lower median values (p < 0.001) of serum creatine kinase (CK; median = 54 U/L), compared to healthy controls (HCs; median = 101.5 U/L) and non-severe ME/CFS (median = 84 U/L). The differences in CK concentrations persisted after adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, muscle mass, disease duration, and activity levels (odds ratio (OR) for being a severe case = 0.05 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.02–0.15) compared to controls, and OR = 0.16 (95% CI = 0.07–0.40), compared to mild cases). This is the first report that serum CK concentrations are markedly reduced in severe ME/CFS, and these results suggest that serum CK merits further investigation as a biomarker for severe ME/CFS.
A Power-Efficient Sensing Approach for Pulse Wave Palpation-Based Heart Rate Measurement

Heart rate (HR) is an essential indicator of health in the human body. It measures the number of times per minute that the heart contracts or beats. An irregular heartbeat can signify a severe health condition, so monitoring heart rate periodically can help prevent heart complications. This paper presents a novel wearable sensing approach for remote HR measurement by a compact resistance-to-microcontroller interface circuit. A heartbeat’s signal can be detected by a Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) attached to the body near large arteries (such as the carotid or radial), which expand their area each time the heart expels blood to the body. Depending on how the sensor interfaces with the subject, the FSR changes its electrical resistance every time a pulse is detected. By placing the FSR in a direct interface circuit, those resistance variations can be measured directly by a microcontroller without using either analog processing stages or an analog-to-digital converter. In this kind of interface, the self-heating of the sensor is avoided, since the FSR does not require any voltage or bias current. The proposed system has a sampling rate of 50 Sa/s, and an effective resolution of 10 bits (200 mΩ), enough for obtaining well-shaped cardiac signals and heart rate estimations in real time by the microcontroller. With this approach, the implementation of wearable systems in health monitoring applications is more feasible.
omu, a Metabolomics Count Data Analysis Tool for Intuitive Figures and Convenient Metadata Collection

Metabolomics is a powerful tool for measuring the functional output of the microbiota. Currently, there are few established workflows for analysis downstream of metabolite identification. ABSTRACT Metabolomics is a powerful tool for measuring the functional output of the microbiota. Currently, there are few established workflows for analysis downstream of metabolite identification. Here, we introduce omu, an R package designed for assigning compound hierarchies and linking compounds to corresponding enzyme and gene annotations for organisms of interest.
Numerical design and optimization of a high compact, broadband optical three-mode selective converter by manipulating ITO-based controllable phase shifters integrated on silicon-on-insulator waveguides

Abstract. Recently, indium tin oxide has been very attractive for thermo-optic (TO)-controlled silicon photonic devices, due to its high transparency, strong TO phase dependency, high conductivity, and CMOS compatibility. These properties enable the reduction of the gap between the silicon core and the heater, leading to a considerably low electric power consumption and high switching speed. We present an investigation of a numerical simulation to design and optimize a compact ITO microheater for tuning the TO phase shift in a proof-of-concept of a three-mode converter (TMC) with broadband and ultralow loss properties. We show that the TMC can operate the 3-dB bandwidth up to 100 nm. In addition, the designed device can attain relatively large fabrication tolerances for width and height of ±50 and ±5 nm, respectively. In addition, the proposed mode converter consumes a total power of less than 90 mW and obtains a fast switching time of less than 8 μs. Moreover, the device can be integrated into an estimated compact footprint of 8 μm × 2160 μm. Such excellent performances make ITO a strong candidate for low-loss TO phase shifters and open up an alternative method for realizing ultrafast and high-speed mode division multiplexing systems and large-scale applications.
Disability status among multiple sclerosis patients in relation to clinical features and switched drugs

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes irreversible disability. The main cause of switching between disease modifying therapies (DMTs) in MS is the suboptimal response in which relapses and disability progression are the main clinical outcome measures. Objective: This study aims to identify the baseline clinical features of disability among MS patients who underwent switching between two or more DMTs. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study based on records of MS patients who had been actively receiving available DMTs at the MS unit of Nasser Institute Hospital for Research and Treatment. The data was reviewed and collected using local database registry of the unit in the duration between the year 2016 and 2020. Patients whose records had missing data were excluded from the study. Results: A total of 274 MS patients’ records were included. There was no significant correlation between the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score and the number of relapses in the first 2 years of disease duration. Also the correlation between the EDSS score and the time from the first presenting symptom to the start of DMT treatment showed weak positive correlation. There was a significant difference when comparing the EDSS across the different first presenting symptoms. The mean EDSS with sensory symptoms was lower than the mean EDSS with motor symptoms. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that there is no relation between early relapse rate and later EDSS. Other clinical characteristics as time to start treatment and first presenting symptom showed significant relation to the current disability score. JRAM 2022; 3 (1): 60-66
On the chain-melted phase of matter

Significance Several elements form host–guest structures under pressure. Upon heating, the guest atoms can “melt,” while the host atoms remain crystalline. In this partially molten state, the “molten” guest atoms remain confined to 1D channels, which suggests thermodynamically impossible 1D melting. The complicated crystal structures, with incommensurate ratios between host and guest atoms, prohibit simulations with electronic structure methods. We develop here a classical interatomic forcefield for the element potassium using machine-learning techniques and simulate the chain-melted state with up to 20,000 atoms. We show that in the chain-melted state, guest-atom correlations are lost in three dimensions, providing the entropy necessary for its thermodynamic stability. Various single elements form incommensurate crystal structures under pressure, where a zeolite-type “host” sublattice surrounds a “guest” sublattice comprising 1D chains of atoms. On “chain melting,” diffraction peaks from the guest sublattice vanish, while those from the host remain. Diffusion of the guest atoms is expected to be confined to the channels in the host sublattice, which suggests 1D melting. Here, we present atomistic simulations of potassium to investigate this phenomenon and demonstrate that the chain-melted phase has no long-ranged order either along or between the chains. This 3D disorder provides the extensive entropy necessary to make the chain melt a true thermodynamic phase of matter, yet with the unique property that diffusion remains confined to 1D only. Calculations necessitated the development of an interatomic forcefield using machine learning, which we show fully reproduces potassium’s phase diagram, including the chain-melted state and 14 known phase transitions.
Draft Genome Sequences of Two Staphylococcus warneri Clinical Isolates, Strains SMA0023-04 (UGA3) and SMA0670-05 (UGA28), from Siaya County Referral Hospital, Siaya, Kenya

We report the complete draft genome sequences of two Staphylococcus warneri clinical isolates, strains SMA0023-04 (UGA3) and SMA0670-05 (UGA28), each of which contains one chromosome and at least one plasmid. Isolate SMA0023-04 (UGA3) contains tetracycline efflux major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter (tetK), macrolide resistance (msrC and mphC), and beta-lactamase (blaZ) genes on its plasmids. ABSTRACT We report the complete draft genome sequences of two Staphylococcus warneri clinical isolates, strains SMA0023-04 (UGA3) and SMA0670-05 (UGA28), each of which contains one chromosome and at least one plasmid. Isolate SMA0023-04 (UGA3) contains tetracycline efflux major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter (tetK), macrolide resistance (msrC and mphC), and beta-lactamase (blaZ) genes on its plasmids.