Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Behaviour of aerosols and their role in the transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2; a scoping review

Covid‐19 has triggered an unprecedented global health crisis. The highly contagious nature and airborne transmission route of SARS‐CoV‐2 virus requires extraordinary measures for its containment. It is necessary to know the behaviour of aerosols carrying the virus to avoid this contagion. This paper describes the behaviour of aerosols and their role in the transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 according to published models using a scoping review based on the PubMed, Scopus, and WOS databases. From an initial 530 references, 9 papers were selected after applying defined inclusion criteria. The results reinforce the airborne transmission route as a means of contagion of the virus and recommend the use of face masks, extending social distance to more than 2 metres, and natural ventilation of enclosed spaces as preventive measures. These results contribute to a better understanding of SARS‐CoV‐2 and help design effective strategies to prevent its spread.
Multisensory Proximity and Transition Cues for Improving Target Awareness in Narrow Field of View Augmented Reality Displays

Augmented reality applications allow users to enrich their real surroundings with additional digital content. However, due to the limited field of view of augmented reality devices, it can sometimes be difficult to become aware of newly emerging information inside or outside the field of view. Typical visual conflicts like clutter and occlusion of augmentations occur and can be further aggravated especially in the context of dense information spaces. In this paper, we evaluate how multisensory cue combinations can improve the awareness for moving out-of-view objects in narrow field of view augmented reality displays. We distinguish between proximity and transition cues in either visual, auditory or tactile manner. Proximity cues are intended to enhance spatial awareness of approaching out-of-view objects while transition cues inform the user that the object just entered the field of view. In study 1, user preference was determined for 6 different cue combinations via forced-choice decisions. In study 2, the 3 most preferred modes were then evaluated with respect to performance and awareness measures in a divided attention reaction task. Both studies were conducted under varying noise levels. We show that on average the Visual-Tactile combination leads to 63% and Audio-Tactile to 65% faster reactions to incoming out-of-view augmentations than their Visual-Audio counterpart, indicating a high usefulness of tactile transition cues. We further show a detrimental effect of visual and audio noise on performance when feedback included visual proximity cues. Based on these results, we make recommendations to determine which cue combination is appropriate for which application.
Are current cut‐off values of 11‐DOC in children useful for assessing suspected nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 11β‐hydroxylase deficiency?

A nonclassic form of 11β‐hydroxylase deficiency (NC11β‐OHD) has been reported to cause mild androgen excess symptoms. Currently, the gold standard for biochemical diagnosis is elevated 11‐deoxycortisol (11‐DOC) levels after corticotropin stimulation test (ACTHstimT). However, there are no clear 11‐DOC level cutoffs. One of the accepted references for 11‐DOC levels for the paediatric population was published in 1991 by Lashansky et al.
Transgenerational effects of obesogenic diets in rodents: A meta‐analysis

Obesity is a major health condition that affects millions worldwide. There is an increased interest in understanding the adverse outcomes associated with obesogenic diets. A multitude of studies have investigated the transgenerational impacts of maternal and parental obesogenic diets on subsequent generations of offspring, but results have largely been mixed. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis on rodent studies to elucidate how obesogenic diets impact the mean and variance of grand‐offspring traits. Our study focused on transgenerational effects (i.e., F2 and F3 generations) in one‐off and multigenerational exposure studies. From 33 included articles, we obtained 407 effect sizes representing pairwise comparisons of control and treatment grand‐offspring groups pertaining to measures of body weight, adiposity, glucose, insulin, leptin, and triglycerides. We found evidence that male and female grand‐offspring descended from grandparents exposed to an obesogenic diet displayed phenotypes consistent with metabolic syndrome, especially in cases where the obesogenic diet was continued across generations. Further, we found stronger evidence for the effects of grand‐maternal than grand‐paternal exposure on grand‐offspring traits. A high‐fat diet in one‐off exposure studies did not seem to impact phenotypic variation, whereas in multigenerational exposure studies it reduced variation in several traits.
A homozygous loss‐of‐function mutation in FBXO43 causes human non‐obstructive azoospermia

Non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA) represents one of the most serious forms of male infertility caused by spermatogenic failure. Despite multiple genes found to be associated with human NOA, the genetic basis of this idiopathic disease remains largely unknown. FBXO43 is a direct inhibitor of the anaphase‐promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) E3 ligase and crucially important in mouse spermatogenesis. In this study, for the first time, we identified a homozygous nonsense mutation in FBXO43 c.1747C > T:p.Gln583X in two NOA brothers from a Chinese consanguineous family via whole‐exome sequencing. FBXO43 was absent from testicular tissue of the proband, and FBXO43‐immunostaining signals were invisible in the affected seminiferous tubules. Furthermore, in humans, FBXO43 defects cause meiotic arrest within early diplotene of prophase I. The results here demonstrate the pathogenicity of this loss‐of‐function mutation and confirmed that spermatocytes were unable to complete meiotic divisions without FBXO43 in humans. In mouse testicular protein extracts, three subunits of the APC/C, including ANAPC2, ANAPC8 and ANAPC10, were validated to interact directly with FBXO43, whereas no interactions were detected for FBXO43 and SKP1. This study furthers our understanding of the genetic basis of human NOA and provides insights into FBXO43 and male infertility.
Relationship Between Blood Glucose Level and Prevalence and Frequency of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between blood glucose level and the prevalence and frequency of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of female participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database between 2007 and 2016. Dose-response analysis curves and univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine the relationship between blood glucose level and the prevalence and frequency of SUI. Results A total of 10,771 participants were included in this study, of which 6,466 (60.0%) reported no SUI, 4,305 (31.1%) reported monthly SUI, and 953 (8.8%) reported weekly SUI. We found that the blood glucose levels were higher in the weekly SUI group than in the monthly SUI and no SUI groups. Based on blood glucose levels, participants were divided into 3 groups: ≤86.0 mg/dL group, >86.0 to 98.0 mg/dL group, and >98.0 mg/dL group. Dose-response curves showed a nonlinear positive correlation between blood glucose levels and the prevalence and extent of SUI, and participants in the glucose >98.0 mg/dL group had a 15.2% higher risk (adjusted odds risk, 1.152; 95% confidence interval, 1.027–1.293; P = 0.016) of SUI prevalence and 12.5% higher risk (adjusted odds risk 1.125; 95% confidence interval, 1.009–1.255; P = 0.034) of SUI frequency than participants in the glucose ≤86.0 mg/dL group. Conclusions We found that the prevalence and frequency of SUI in women were positively correlated with blood glucose levels, and these findings warrant further study and application to clinical practice to control SUI in women.
Quantitative Analysis of DNA

The present invention provides a novel quantitative analysis method using the DNA that is present in an equivalent ratio of the DNA. The invention, 1) step of filtration and then purified by the nucleotide dissolved in distilled water; 2) purifying the said the first step repeated two or more times; 3) a step of decomposing the distillation of hydrochloric acid was added to the sample to be analyzed in the second step the nucleotide acid at a high temperature; 4) the acid decomposition step of the sample analysis using the ICP-OES; A DNA oligomer, characterized in that it has, provides a method for the determination of plasmid DNA, genomic or RNA. DNA, quantitative analysis, ICP-OES
Gut microbiota–derived short-chain fatty acids protect against the progression of endometriosis

This study revealed that gut-derived n-butyrate protects against endometriosis by activating the expression of RAP1GAP GTPase to inhibit the RAP1 oncogenic pathway, indicating n-butyrate is linked with intestinal microbiota and endometriosis disease. Worldwide, ∼196 million are afflicted with endometriosis, a painful disease in which endometrial tissue implants and proliferates on abdominal peritoneal surfaces. Theories on the origin of endometriosis remained inconclusive. Whereas up to 90% of women experience retrograde menstruation, only 10% develop endometriosis, suggesting that factors that alter peritoneal environment might contribute to endometriosis. Herein, we report that whereas some gut bacteria promote endometriosis, others protect against endometriosis by fermenting fiber to produce short-chain fatty acids. Specifically, we found that altered gut microbiota drives endometriotic lesion growth and feces from mice with endometriosis contained less of short-chain fatty acid and n-butyrate than feces from mice without endometriosis. Treatment with n-butyrate reduced growth of both mouse endometriotic lesions and human endometriotic lesions in a pre-clinical mouse model. Mechanistic studies revealed that n-butyrate inhibited human endometriotic cell survival and lesion growth through G-protein–coupled receptors, histone deacetylases, and a GTPase activating protein, RAP1GAP. Our findings will enable future studies aimed at developing diagnostic tests, gut bacteria metabolites and treatment strategies, dietary supplements, n-butyrate analogs, or probiotics for endometriosis.
Diagnostic performance of qualitative and radiomics approach to parotid gland tumors: which is the added benefit of texture analysis?

Objective: To investigate whether MRI-based texture analysis improves diagnostic performance for the diagnosis of parotid gland tumors compared to conventional radiological approach. Methods: Patients with parotid gland tumors who underwent salivary glands MRI between 2008 and 2019 were retrospectively selected. MRI analysis included a qualitative assessment by two radiologists (one of which subspecialized on head and neck imaging), and texture analysis on various sequences. Diagnostic performances including sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of qualitative features, radiologists’ diagnosis, and radiomic models were evaluated. Results: Final study cohort included 57 patients with 74 tumors (27 pleomorphic adenomas, 40 Warthin tumors, 8 malignant tumors). Sensitivity, specificity, and AUROC for the diagnosis of malignancy were 75%, 97% and 0.860 for non-subspecialized radiologist, 100%, 94% and 0.970 for subspecialized radiologist and 57.2%, 93.4%, and 0.927 using a MRI radiomics model obtained combining texture analysis on various MRI sequences. Sensitivity, specificity, and AUROC for the differential diagnosis between pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin tumors were 81.5%, 70%, and 0.757 for non-subspecialized radiologist, 81.5%, 95% and 0.882 for subspecialized radiologist and 70.8%, 82.5%, and 0.808 using a MRI radiomics model based on texture analysis of T2 weighted sequence. A combined radiomics model obtained with all MRI sequences yielded a sensitivity of 91.5% for the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma. Conclusion: MRI qualitative radiologist assessment outperforms radiomic analysis for the diagnosis of malignancy. MRI predictive radiomics models improves the diagnostic performance of non-subspecialized radiologist for the differential diagnosis between pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin tumor, achieving similar performance to the subspecialized radiologist. Advances in knowledge: Radiologists outperform radiomic analysis for the diagnosis of malignant parotid gland tumors, with some MRI qualitative features such as ill-defined margins, perineural spread, invasion of adjacent structures and enlarged lymph nodes being highly specific for malignancy. A radiomic model based on texture analysis of T2 weighted images yields higher specificity for the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma compared to a radiologist non-subspecialized in head and neck radiology, thus minimizing false-positive pleomorphic adenoma diagnosis rate and reducing unnecessary surgical complications.
Pharmacologic predictors of benzodiazepine response trajectory in anxiety disorders: a Bayesian hierarchical modeling meta-analysis

Abstract Background Despite frequent benzodiazepine use in anxiety disorders, the trajectory and magnitude of benzodiazepine response and the effects of benzodiazepine potency, lipophilicity, and dose on improvement are unknown. Methods We performed a meta-analysis using weekly symptom severity data from randomized, parallel group, placebo-controlled trials of benzodiazepines in adults with anxiety disorders. Response was modeled for the standardized change in continuous measures of anxiety using a Bayesian hierarchical model. Change in anxiety was evaluated as a function of medication, disorder, time, potency, lipophilicity, and standardized dose and compared among benzodiazepines. Results Data from 65 trials (73 arms, 7 medications, 7110 patients) were included. In the logarithmic model of response, treatment effects emerged within 1 week of beginning treatment (standardized benzodiazepine-placebo difference = −0.235 ± 0.024, CrI: −0.283 to −0.186, P < .001) and placebo response plateaued at week 4. Doses <6 mg per day (lorazepam equivalents) produced faster and larger improvement than higher doses (P = .039 for low vs medium dose and P = .005 for high vs medium dose) and less lipophilic benzodiazepines (beta = 0.028 ± 0.013, P = .030) produced a greater response over time. Relative to the reference benzodiazepine (lorazepam), clonazepam (beta = −0.217 ± 0.95, P = .021) had a greater trajectory/magnitude of response (other specific benzodiazepines did not statistically differ from lorazepam). Conclusions In adults with anxiety disorders, benzodiazepine-related improvement emerges early, and the trajectory and magnitude of improvement is related to dose and lipophilicity. Lower doses and less lipophilic benzodiazepines produce greater improvement.
Deep Learning Based Centerline-Aggregated Aortic Hemodynamics: An Efficient Alternative to Numerical Modeling of Hemodynamics

Image-based patient-specific modelling of hemodynamics are gaining increased popularity as a diagnosis and outcome prediction solution for a variety of cardiovascular diseases. While their potential to improve diagnostic capabilities and thereby clinical outcome is widely recognized, these methods require considerable computational resources since they are mostly based on conventional numerical methods such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD). As an alternative to the numerical methods, we propose a machine learning (ML) based approach to calculate patient-specific hemodynamic parameters. Compared to CFD based methods, our approach holds the benefit of being able to calculate a patient-specific hemodynamic outcome instantly with little need for computational power. In this proof-of-concept study, we present a deep artificial neural network (ANN) capable of computing hemodynamics for patients with aortic coarctation in a centerline aggregated (i.e., locally averaged) form. Considering the complex relation between vessels shape and hemodynamics on the one hand and the limited availability of suitable clinical data on the other, a sufficient accuracy of the ANN may however not be achieved with available data only. Another key aspect of this study is therefore the successful augmentation of available clinical data. Using a statistical shape model, additional training data was generated which substantially increased the ANN's accuracy, showcasing the ability of ML based methods to perform in-silico modelling tasks previously requiring resource intensive CFD simulations.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection in an Adolescent With X-linked Agammaglobulinemia

We present a case of a 17-year-old boy with X-linked agammaglobulinemia who had mild disease when initially infected with SARS-CoV-2 but after recovering from acute infection developed fevers and a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate that persisted for several weeks without any ongoing respiratory symptoms. Multiple nasopharyngeal swabs were found to be negative for SARS-CoV-2 during the febrile period, but typical changes of COVID-19 on high resolution CT chest scan led to the detection of SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR in a sample from a bronchoalveolar lavage. His fevers completely resolved after a 5-day course of remdesivir.
Examining Associations Between Food Insecurity, Inhibitory Control, and Body Mass Index in Preschoolers

ABSTRACT: Objective: This study examines relations between food insecurity, inhibitory control, and body mass index (BMI) in early childhood. Method: The sample comes from an evaluation of a state-funded prekindergarten program and includes 126 children (mean age = 4.73 yrs, female = 42%) from families with low incomes. Parents reported on their child's food insecurity. Child inhibitory control was assessed using a performance-based task, and children's height and weight were objectively collected at the same time as the inhibitory control assessment. A regression model was used to test whether inhibitory control moderated the association between food insecurity and BMI. The model included a large battery of covariates and adjusted for clustering at the classroom level. Ad hoc analyses were conducted to examine the robustness of findings to different conceptualizations of food insecurity based on the US Department of Agriculture's categories for severity. Results: A significant interaction revealed that inhibitory control moderated the association between food insecurity and children's BMI percentile. Investigation of the simple slopes suggested that greater food insecurity was related to a higher BMI percentile among children who demonstrated stronger inhibitory control. In addition, results from ad hoc analyses examining categories of food insecurity indicated that experiencing very low food security was also related to a higher BMI among children with average and strong inhibitory control. Conclusion: This study makes a unique contribution to the existing literature by examining relations among food insecurity, inhibitory control, and BMI during a critical period in children's physical and brain development. Findings have implications for public health efforts to address childhood obesity among populations with low incomes.
Interferon alpha-inducible protein 27 (IFI27) is a prognostic marker for pancreatic cancer based on comprehensive bioinformatics analysis

ABSTRACT Accurate biomarkers to predict the genesis and progression of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) are needed in the fight against this deadly disease. Here, we combined multiple datasets (GEO, TCGA and GTEx) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of pancreatic cancer. Through an in-depth analysis, we discovered that the expression of the gene encoding interferon alpha-inducible protein 27 (IFI27) was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer tissues than that in normal tissues, and that higher expression of IFI27 was negatively correlated with the overall survival rate of pancreatic cancer patients. The functional annotation of IFI27 demonstrated relationships to cellular immunity and metabolism, especially glycolysis. Analysis of infiltrating immune cells displayed that higher expression of IFI27 expression correlates with decreased CD8 + T cells and increased M2 macrophages in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), then biochemical analyses of a mouse model and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining verified that glycolytic enzymes and M2 macrophages increased significantly in pancreatic cancer tissues. We speculate that IFI27 may affect the tumor microenvironment (TME) of PAAD by regulating cellular immunity and metabolism, thereby promoting the progression of pancreatic carcinoma and worsening the prognosis. These findings of our present study are solid evidence that IFI27 is a potential prognostic biomarker of pancreatic cancer and that it affects the tumor immune microenvironment.
Sucrose detection and discrimination estimated by the analysis of psychometric functions with linear and non-linear models

Abstract Sucrose detection and discrimination thresholds were determined by conducting two alternative forced-choice tests with aqueous solutions. The standard models probit and logit, and non-linear were fitted to the empirical psychometric functions. 0, 7 and 15 g/L sucrose solutions were used as standard stimuli in the detection and discrimination experiments (two levels) respectively. Comparison stimuli consisted of aqueous sucrose solutions with concentrations from 0.5 to 25 g/L. Observed absolute threshold was around 2.96 g/L and the difference limen for 7 and 15 g/L standard stimuli was around 2.98 g/L and 5.29 g/L, respectively. Calculated Weber fractions for 7 and 15 g/L standard stimuli were 0.42 and 0.35, respectively. Judges’ performance in the discrimination experiment was similar to that observed in the detection experiment. Goodness of fit for probit and logit models was similar. The non-linear model showed a lower average error and demonstrated an excellent predictive ability.
Current and future transcatheter aortic valve replacement valves

Purpose of review This review analyzes currently available commercial transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) valves as well as valves in investigational status and those in preclinical testing. The design features and clinical outcomes of the Edwards SAPIEN S3 and Medtronic Evolut PRO+ are described and compared with highlight clinical circumstances where one may be favoured over the other. Recent findings Multiple randomized and nonrandomized trials have compared commercial and investigational TAVR valves. The results of these are summarized and discussed within this review with a focus on how the SAPIEN S3 and Evolut PRO+ both compare to each other as well as various valves in different investigational stages. Summary TAVR is an innovative and ground-breaking technology that will forever have revolutionized the management of aortic stenosis. Though the technology and valves themselves have come a long way, further developments are necessary if we are to continue to expand its indications and achieve a safer perioperative experience with more durable valves.