Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health Disparities in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) in the United States

Visual Abstract Background and objectives Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) occurs at conception and is often diagnosed decades prior to kidney failure. Nephrology care and transplantation access should be independent of race and ethnicity. However, institutional racism and barriers to health care may affect patient outcomes in ADPKD. We sought to ascertain the effect of health disparities on outcomes in ADPKD by examining age at onset of kidney failure and access to preemptive transplantation and transplantation after dialysis initiation. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Retrospective cohort analyses of adults with ADPKD in the United States Renal Data System from January 2000 to June 2018 were merged to US Census income data and evaluated by self-reported race and ethnicity. Age at kidney failure was analyzed in a linear model, and transplant rates before and after dialysis initiation were analyzed in logistic and proportional hazards models in Black and Hispanic patients with ADPKD compared with White patients with ADPKD. Results A total of 41,485 patients with ADPKD were followed for a median of 25 (interquartile range, 5–54) months. Mean age was 56±12 years; 46% were women, 13% were Black, and 10% were Hispanic. Mean ages at kidney failure were 55±13, 53±12, and 57±12 years for Black patients, Hispanic patients, and White patients, respectively. Odds ratios for preemptive transplant were 0.33 (95% confidence interval, 0.29 to 0.38) for Black patients and 0.50 (95% confidence interval, 0.44 to 0.56) for Hispanic patients compared with White patients. Transplant after dialysis initiation was 0.61 (95% confidence interval, 0.58 to 0.64) for Black patients and 0.78 (95% confidence interval, 0.74 to 0.83) for Hispanic patients. Conclusions Black and Hispanic patients with ADPKD reach kidney failure earlier and are less likely to receive a kidney transplant preemptively and after initiating dialysis compared with White patients with ADPKD.
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Group Memory Intervention for Healthy Older Adults with Memory Concerns

Abstract This study examines whether memory intervention programs can mitigate health care costs. Research suggests these programs translate to a decreased intention of older adults who are worried about age-normal memory changes to seek traditional outlets for medical/psychiatric help. We employed a cost-benefit analysis approach to analyze the effectiveness of a memory intervention program within Ontario. We leveraged estimates of decreased intentionality to seek physician care following a community-based memory intervention with physician billing profiles to calculate the potential cost savings to the province’s health care system. The intervention studied was found to reduce provincial health care spending by $6,094 per program group. This amount exceeds $121.25 in direct costs per attendee associated with administering five program sessions. This analysis justifies further research on how community-based memory and aging programs can offer low-cost solutions to help individuals cope with subjective memory complaints and assist the health care system in prioritizing care for aging patients.
Hyperleukocytosis associated with delayed presentation among patients with acute leukemia during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aditya Tedjaseputra , James A. Kuzich, Nisha Thiagarajah, Tse-Chieh Teh, Julia McClelland, Marzia Rahman, Rowena Brook, Chong Chyn Chua, Doen Ming Ong, Shuh-Ying Tan, Robin Filshie, Chun Yew Fong, Pasquale Fedele, Ashish Bajel, Jake Shortt and Andrew H. Wei The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Monash Haematology, Melbourne, Australia; St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia; Eastern Health, Melbourne, Australia; Western Health, Melbourne, Australia; Northern Health, Melbourne, Australia; Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Considerations for Fitting Cochlear Implants Bimodally and to the Single-Sided Deaf

When listening with a cochlear implant through one ear and acoustically through the other, binaural benefits and spatial hearing abilities are generally poorer than in other bilaterally stimulated configurations. With the working hypothesis that binaural neurons require interaurally matched inputs, we review causes for mismatch, their perceptual consequences, and experimental methods for mismatch measurements. The focus is on the three primary interaural dimensions of latency, frequency, and level. Often, the mismatch is not constant, but rather highly stimulus-dependent. We report on mismatch compensation strategies, taking into consideration the specific needs of the respective patient groups. Practical challenges typically faced by audiologists in the proposed fitting procedure are discussed. While improvement in certain areas (e.g., speaker localization) is definitely achievable, a more comprehensive mismatch compensation is a very ambitious endeavor. Even in the hypothetical ideal fitting case, performance is not expected to exceed that of a good bilateral cochlear implant user.
A rat study model of depression‐driven chronic prostatitis by modulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR network

Depression and chronic prostatitis (CP) are two common diseases that affect the human population worldwide. Clinically, it has been demonstrated that andrological patients often simultaneously suffer from depression and CP. Prior investigations have established that depression acts as an independent risk factor for CP. Herein, we explored the correlation between depression and CP using bioinformatics tools and through animal experiments. The potential targets and signalling pathways involved in depression and CP were predicted using bioinformatics tool, while depression in the rat model was established through chronic restraint stress. The expression of the related proteins and mRNA was assessed by Western blotting and real‐time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Relative to those in the control rats, the protein contents of PI3K, p‐Akt, and p‐mTOR were lower in the model rats (p < 0.05). Similarly, the transcript levels of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR was also relatively lower in the model rats (p < 0.05). And PI3K/Akt agonists reduced inflammation in rat prostate tissue, accompanied by significant increases in the transcript and protein expression levels of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR. Thus, we proposed that depression model rats may induce CP as a result of mediation by the negative regulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling network.
Dimensioning Models of Optical WDM Rings in Xhaul Access Architectures for the Transport of Ethernet/CPRI Traffic

The Centralized Radio Access Network (C-RAN) provides a valid solution to overcome the problem of traditional RAN in scaling up to the needed processing resource and quality expected in 5G. The Common Public Rate Interface has been defined to transport traffic flows in C-RAN and recently some market solutions are available. Its disadvantage is to increase by at least 10 times the needed bandwidth and for this reason its introduction will be gradual and will coexist with traditional RAN solutions in which Ethernet traffic is carried towards the radio base stations. In this paper, we propose an Xhaul optical network architecture based on Optical Transport Network (OTN) and Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technologies. The network allows for a dynamic allocation of the bandwidth resources according to the current traffic demand. The network topology is composed of OTN/DWDM rings and the objective of the paper is to evaluate the best configuration (number of rings and number of wavelengths needed) to both to minimize the cost and to provide an implementable solution. We introduce an analytical model for the evaluation of the number of wavelengths needed in each optical ring and provide some results for 5G case studies. We show how, although the single ring configuration provides the least cost solution due to the high statistical multiplexing advantage, it is not implementable because it needs switching apparatus with a too high number of ports. For this reason, more than one ring is needed and its value depends on several parameters as the offered traffic, the number of Radio Remote Units (RRU), the percentage of business sub-area and so on. Finally, the analytical model allows us to evaluate the advantages of the proposed dynamic resource allocation solution with respect to the static one in which the network is provided with a number of wavelengths determined in the scenario in which the radio station works at full load. The bandwidth saving can be in the order of 90% in a 5G traffic scenario.
Connection Heals Wounds: Feeling Listened to Reduces Speakers’ Loneliness Following a Social Rejection Disclosure

Memories of rejection contribute to feeling lonely. However, high-quality listening that conveys well-meaning attention and understanding when speakers discuss social rejection may help them to reconnect. Speakers may experience less loneliness because they feel close and connected (relatedness) to the listener and because listening supports self-congruent expression (autonomy). Five experiments (total N = 1,643) manipulated listening during visualized (Studies 1, 4, 5) and actual (Studies 2, 3) conversations. We used different methods (video vignettes; in-person; computer-mediated; recall; written scenarios) to compare high-quality with regular (all studies) and poor (Study 1) listening. Findings across studies showed that high-quality listening reduced speakers’ state loneliness after they shared past experiences of social rejection. Parallel mediation analyses indicated that both feeling related to the listener and autonomy satisfaction (particularly its self-congruence component; Study 5) mediated the effect of listening on loneliness. These results provide novel insights into the hitherto unexplored effect of listening on state loneliness.
Closed Genome Sequences of Salmonella enterica Serovar Javiana Isolates from Various Sources

Salmonella enterica serovar Javiana is a major Salmonella serovar that causes human Salmonella infection in the United States. The complete genomic sequences of 9 S. Javiana isolates collected from food, environmental, and kratom sources in the United States were determined by hybrid assembly using Nanopore long-read sequencing and MiSeq short-read sequencing. ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica serovar Javiana is a major Salmonella serovar that causes human Salmonella infection in the United States. The complete genomic sequences of 9 S. Javiana isolates collected from food, environmental, and kratom sources in the United States were determined by hybrid assembly using Nanopore long-read sequencing and MiSeq short-read sequencing.
Transitory Shifts in Skin Microbiota Composition and Reductions in Bacterial Load and Psoriasin following Ethanol Perturbation

An understanding of the timescales of commensal skin microbiota reestablishment following perturbation is required to inform consumer safety risk assessment and support product development. Following ethanol exposure, total bacterial populations and microbiome diversity recovered after 6 h. ABSTRACT Personal care and hygiene regimens may substantially alter the composition of the skin microbiota through direct and indirect mechanisms. An understanding of the timescales of commensal skin microbiota reestablishment following perturbation is required to inform consumer safety risk assessment, and support product development. In the current investigation, the microbiota of the volar and dorsal forearm of 10 volunteers was sampled immediately before and after wiping with 70% ethanol and at up to 24 h afterwards. Quantitative PCR and amplicon sequencing were used to measure microbial load and composition, and concentrations of the antimicrobial peptide psoriasin were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ethanol wiping significantly reduced the total bacterial abundance at 2 h post-wipe. Recovery was observed after 6 h for total bacterial populations and for Staphylococcus epidermidis depending on the site tested. Microbiome diversity recovered by 6 h after wiping. Psoriasin concentrations were highly variable between volunteers, ranging from 42 to 1,569 ng/mL, and dorsal concentrations were significantly higher than volar concentrations (P < 0.05). For most of the volunteers, the application of ethanol decreased psoriasin concentrations, particularly for the dorsal samples, but the overall effect was not significant. This work extends observations of skin microbiome stability and demonstrates resilience in a key antimicrobial peptide. IMPORTANCE An understanding of the timescales of commensal skin microbiota reestablishment following perturbation is required to inform consumer safety risk assessment and support product development. Following ethanol exposure, total bacterial populations and microbiome diversity recovered after 6 h. For most of the volunteers, the application of ethanol decreased psoriasin concentrations, but the overall effect was not significant. This work extends observations of skin microbiome stability and demonstrates resilience in a key antimicrobial peptide.
Towards democratic institutions: Tronto’s care ethics inspiring nursing actions in intensive care

Care as a concept has long been central to the nursing discipline, and care ethics have consequently found their place in nursing ethics discussions. This paper briefly revisits how care and care ethics have been theorized and applied in the discipline of nursing, with an emphasis on Tronto’s political view of care. Adding to the works of other nurse scholars, we consider that Tronto’s care ethics is useful to understand caring practices in a sociopolitical context. We also contend that this vision can be used specifically to politicize nurses, by encouraging them to think critically about the context in which they work and how they can participate to change the status quo, notably by prompting the democratization of care in institutional settings. We illustrate this by demonstrating how moral distress that can occur with aggressive or futile treatments in the intensive care unit can be reduced if nurses are systematically included in the decision-making process. By showing some ways in which nursing political actions can begin to change the status quo as it pertains to futile treatments at the end of life, we can help empower nurses to strive to be included in political spaces and voice their concerns to have their professional needs met.
Fast Finite-Time Control for Nonaffine Stochastic Nonlinear Systems Against Multiple Actuator Constraints via Output Feedback

This research addresses the finite-time control problem for nonaffine stochastic nonlinear systems with actuator faults and input saturation. Specifically, a new finite-time control scheme is constructed based on the adaptive backstepping framework, with the usage of a state observer and taking advantage of the universal approximation capability of the fuzzy-logic system (FLS). The novelty of this work is that it considers the output feedback problem of a completely nonaffine stochastic system and incorporates the idea of the dynamic surface control (DSC) design. By using the Lyapunov stability theory, all the signals of the controlled system can be semiglobal finite-time stable in probability (SGFSP) while the system is imposed with multiple actuator constraints. In the meantime, the problem of “complexity explosion” is avoided. Two simulation examples are given to demonstrate the validity of the presented strategy.
Improved Wavelength Calibration by Modeling the Spectrometer

Wavelength calibration is a necessary first step for a range of applications in spectroscopy. The relationship between wavelength and pixel position on the array detector is approximately governed by a low-order polynomial and traditional wavelength calibration involves first-, second-, and third-order polynomial fitting to the pixel positions of spectral lines from a well known reference lamp such as neon. However, these methods lose accuracy for bands outside of the outermost spectral line in the reference spectrum. We propose a fast and robust wavelength calibration routine based on modeling the optical system that is the spectrometer. For spectral bands within the range of spectral lines of the lamp, we report similar accuracy to second- and third-order fitting. For bands that lie outside of the range of spectral lines, we report an accuracy 12–121 times greater than that of third-order fitting and 2.5–6 times more accurate than second-order fitting. The algorithm is developed for both reflection and transmission spectrometers and tested for both cases. Compared with similar algorithms in the literature that use the physical model of the spectrometer, we search over more physical parameters in shorter time, and obtain superior accuracy. A secondary contribution in this paper is the introduction of new evaluation methods for wavelength accuracy that are superior to traditional evaluation. Graphical Abstract
Clinical workflow of sonographers performing fetal anomaly ultrasound scans: deep‐learning‐based analysis

Despite decades of obstetric scanning, the field of sonographer workflow remains largely unexplored. In the second trimester, sonographers use scan guidelines to guide their acquisition of standard planes and structures; however, the scan‐acquisition order is not prescribed. Using deep‐learning‐based video analysis, the aim of this study was to develop a deeper understanding of the clinical workflow undertaken by sonographers during second‐trimester anomaly scans.
Study of leptin gene polymorphism and leptin serum level in alopecia areata patients

ABSTRACT Leptin, produced by adipocytes, regulates metabolism, hunger, and immune response. The inflammatory role of leptin has been linked to autoimmune diseases. To assess leptin gene polymorphism and serum level in alopecia areata and their relation to metabolic syndrome (MS). This case-control study was conducted on 100 alopecia areata patients (50 with MS and 50 without MS) and 50 age- and gender-matched controls. Leptin gene polymorphism and serum level were assessed through the use of PCR and ELISA, respectively. GG genotype was the highest in AA with MS (54%), lower in AA without MS (42%), and the lowest in controls (20%). G allele was more expressed in cases, than in controls (P < .001). The serum leptin level was the highest in AA with MS, lower in AA without MS, and the lowest in controls (P value = 0.001). Leptin level was significantly higher in GG polymorphism than AG and AA. Leptin gene polymorphism (GG genotype) and serum level appear to play a significant role in AA. Absent difference regarding leptin gene polymorphism and MS might indicate a separate inflammatory role of leptin or the future risk of MS development in AA patients.
Urinary TIMP‐2 and IGFBP‐7 protein levels as early predictors of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery

as early predictors of injury after cardiac 1 It highlights early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery based on a rise in urinary tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP ‐ 2) and insulin ‐ like growth factor ‐ binding protein 7 (IGFBP ‐ 7) levels and links this with urinary dilution measures. TIMP ‐ 2 and IGFBP ‐ 7 in the postoperative assessment AKI our
A 40.4-dB Range, 0.73-dB Step, and 0.07-dB Error Programmable Gain Amplifier Using Gain Error Shifting Technique

A novel gain error shifting technique suitable for the design of high resolution programmable gain amplifiers (PGAs) is presented in this brief. By cascading the hybrid-exponential approximated PGAs, the gain error in a decibel (dB)-linear characteristic is effectively reduced while the control range increases. Based on the proposed technique, a PGA with a moderate gain range and an extremely small gain step and error is developed. The PGA is implemented by using a 0.18-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\mu }\text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> CMOS process, occupying an area of 0.283 mm<sup>2</sup>. Operated at a supply voltage of 1.8 V, the fabricated circuit consumes a dc power of 7.02 mW. For 56 steps in the dB-linear control, the measurement results indicate a gain range of 40.4 dB, gain step of 0.73 dB and gain error of 0.07 dB. Measured at the highest gain mode, the PGA exhibits a bandwidth from 2.6 kHz to 14 MHz and input-referred noise of 29.33 nV/<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\surd $ </tex-math></inline-formula>Hz, while at the lowest gain, the bandwidth is measured from 2.6 kHz to 84.5 MHz and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{P}_{{\text {in-1dB} }}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is 6.7 dBm.
Genomic, Metabolic, and Immunological Characterization of GMP-Grade Mycobacterium phlei

Heat-inactivated M. phlei demonstrates promising efficacy to treat BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients in clinical trials. However, lack of GMP-grade heat-inactivated M. phlei hampers further clinical investigations. ABSTRACT Mycobacterium phlei (M. phlei) is an understudied microbe with medical values as an immunomodulating agent. Here, we establish an industrial strain of M. phlei, CUD, and characterize its genomic, metabolic, and immunological profiles. The established strain has been stably passed for more than a decade, indicated by next-generation sequencing of its 5.3 Mb genome. We show that the intramuscular inoculation of heat-inactivated CUD in immunocompetent mice is well tolerated, and can mount immunological responses. Immunophenotyping demonstrates induced innate and adaptive immune responses in peripheral blood, spleen, and inguinal lymph nodes of CUD-treated mice. Using GC-TOF-MS, we find that the metabolomic profiles of different batches are highly concordant. These results demonstrate a highly reproducible production of M. phlei under GMP conditions. IMPORTANCE Heat-inactivated M. phlei demonstrates promising efficacy to treat BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients in clinical trials. However, lack of GMP-grade heat-inactivated M. phlei hampers further clinical investigations. Here, we described a GMP-grade, heat-inactivated M. phlei product, and presented initial characterization of its safety and immunomodulating properties. This product will serve as a starting point for further preclinical studies as well as clinical trials such as in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat bladder cancer.