Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examining opioid prescribing trends for non-cancer pain using an estimated oral morphine equivalence measure: a retrospective cohort study between 2005 and 2015

Background Over the past 20 years prescription of opioid medicines has markedly increased in the UK, despite a lack of supporting evidence for use in commonly occurring, painful conditions. Prescribing is often monitored by counting numbers of prescriptions dispensed, but this may not provide an accurate picture of clinical practice. Aim To use an estimated oral morphine equivalent (OMEQe) dose to describe trends in opioid prescribing in non-cancer pain, and explore if opioid burden differed by deprivation status. Design & setting A retrospective cohort study using cross-sectional and longitudinal trend analyses of opioid prescribing data from Welsh Primary Care General Practices (PCGP) took place. Data were used from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) databank. Method An OMEQe measure was developed and used to describe trends in opioid burden over the study period. OMEQe burden was stratified by eight drug groups, which was based on usage and deprivation. Results An estimated 643 436 843 milligrams (mg) OMEQe was issued during the study. Annual number of prescriptions increased 44% between 2005 and 2015, while total daily OMEQe per 1000 population increased by 95%. The most deprived areas of Wales had 100 711 696 mg more OMEQe prescribed than the least deprived over the study period. Conclusion Over the study period, OMEQe burden nearly doubled, with disproportionate OMEQe prescribed in the most deprived communities. Using OMEQe provides an alternative measure of prescribing and allows easier comparison of the contribution different drugs make to the overall opioid burden.
Fundamental Processes in Solid Propellant Ignition

Abstract : Analytically and numerically determined behaviour of the diffusion equations, with chemical reactions, describing a gas phase ignition process for homogeneous and composite solid propellants, suddenly exposed to an ignition stimulus, are reported. Stimuli considered are a high pressure and temperature, stagnant gas of specified oxidizer content, or a radiant heat flux impinging on a non-opaque propellant exposed to a low temperature gas phase of specified pressure and composition. The results, assuming a radiant stimulus, indicate that purely gas phase reaction processes play only a minor role in the overall ignition behaviour. Qualitative agreement with experiments is found for several flux and pressure levels. Most interesting are the results using a hot ga stimulus. In homogeneous propellants, ignition involves consecutive development of a primary flame between propellant pyrolysis products, and a secondary flame using unburned fuel from the primary flame and any ambient oxidizer present. A unique calculation of light emission during ignition development allowed direct theoretical/experimental comparison of results. Composite propellants ignite via pyrolysis of the propellant and reaction of fuel species with any ambient oxidizer present, followed by reaction with propellant produced oxidizer species. Matching of gas phase ignition processes produce ignition behaviour in excellent, quantitative agreement with experiments using a hot gas stimulus, regarding effects of ambient gas phase pressure and composition on the ignition delay.
Response of Horticultural Soil Microbiota to Different Fertilization Practices

Environmentally friendly agricultural production necessitates manipulation of microbe–plant interactions, requiring a better understanding of how farming practices influence soil microbiota. We studied the effect of conventional and organic treatment on soil bacterial richness, composition, and predicted functional potential. 16S rRNA sequencing was applied to soils from adjacent plots receiving either a synthetic or organic fertilizer, where two crops were grown within treatment, homogenizing for differences in soil properties, crop, and climate. Conventional fertilizer was associated with a decrease in soil pH, an accumulation of Ag, Mn, As, Fe, Co, Cd, and Ni; and an enrichment of ammonia oxidizers and xenobiotic compound degraders (e.g., Candidatus Nitrososphaera, Nitrospira, Bacillus, Pseudomonas). Soils receiving organic fertilization were enriched in Ti (crop biostimulant), N, and C cycling bacteria (denitrifiers, e.g., Azoarcus, Anaerolinea; methylotrophs, e.g., Methylocaldum, Methanosarcina), and disease-suppression (e.g., Myxococcales). Some predicted functions, such as glutathione metabolism, were slightly, but significantly enriched after a one-time manure application, suggesting the enhancement of sulfur regulation, nitrogen-fixing, and defense of environmental stressors. The study highlights that even a single application of organic fertilization is enough to originate a rapid shift in soil prokaryotes, responding to the differential substrate availability by promoting soil health, similar to recurrent applications.
Expert Opinion Fusion Framework Using Subjective Logic for Fault Diagnosis

Fault diagnosis plays a critical role in maintaining and troubleshooting engineered systems. Various diagnosis models, such as Bayesian networks (BNs), have been proposed to deal with this kind of problem in the past. However, the diagnosis results may not be reliable if second-order uncertainty is involved. This article proposes a hierarchical system diagnosis fusion framework that considers the uncertainty based on a belief model, called subjective logic (SL), which explicitly deals with uncertainty representing a lack of evidence. The proposed system diagnosis fusion framework consists of three steps: 1) individual subjective BNs (SBNs) are designed to represent the knowledge architectures of individual experts; 2) experts are clustered as expert groups according to their similarity; and 3) after inferring expert opinions from respective SBNs, the one opinion fusion method was used to combine all opinions to reach a consensus based on the aggregated opinion for system diagnosis. Via extensive simulation experiments, we show that the proposed fusion framework, consisting of two operators, outperforms the state-of-the-art fusion operator counterparts and has stable performance under various scenarios. Our proposed fusion framework is promising for advancing state-of-the-art fault diagnosis of complex engineered systems.
Microbial diversity and structure in the gastrointestinal tracts of two stranded short‐finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and a pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps)

Abstract Information on the gut microbiome composition of different mammals could provide novel insights into the evolution of mammals and succession of microbial communities in different hosts. However, there is limited information on the gut microbiome composition of marine mammals, especially cetaceans because of sampling constraints. In this study, we investigated the diversity and composition of microbial communities in the stomach, midgut, and hindgut of 2 stranded short‐finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and hindgut of a stranded pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) by using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing technology. On the basis of the 50 most abundant operational taxonomic units, principal coordinate analysis, and non‐metric multidimensional scaling analysis, we confirmed that the gut microbial communities of the 3 whales were different. Our results revealed that the gut microbiome of 1 stranded short‐finned pilot whale GM16 was dominated by Firmicutes (mainly Clostridium) and Fusobacteria; whereas that of the other pilot whale GM19 was composed of Gammaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes (mainly Vibrio and Bacteroides, respectively), probably caused by intestinal disease and antibiotic treatment. The gut microbiome of the pygmy sperm whale was dominated by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Moreover, different gastrointestinal tract regions harbored different microbial community structures. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the gut microbiome of short‐finned pilot whales, and our findings will expand our current knowledge on microbial diversity and composition in the gastrointestinal tract of cetaceans.
Low-Complexity Design and Validation of Wireless Motion Sensor Node to Support Physiotherapy

We present a motion sensor node to support physiotherapy, based on an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The node has wireless interfaces for both data exchange and charging, and is built based on commodity components. It hence provides an affordable solution with a low threshold to technology adoption. We share the hardware design and explain the calibration and validation procedures. The sensor node has an autonomy of 28 h in operation and a standby time of 8 months. On-device sensor fusion yields static results of on average 3.28° with a drift of 2° per half hour. The final prototype weighs 38 g and measures ø6 cm × 1.5 cm. The resulting motion sensor node presents an easy to use device for both live monitoring of movements as well as interpreting the data afterward. It opens opportunities to support and follow up treatment in medical cabinets as well as remotely.
Intrinsic cholinergic innervation in the human sigmoid colon revealed using CLARITY, three‐dimensional (3D) imaging, and a novel anti‐human peripheral choline acetyltransferase (hpChAT) antiserum

We previously reported the specificity of a novel anti‐human peripheral choline acetyltransferase (hpChAT) antiserum for immunostaining of cholinergic neuronal cell bodies and fibers in the human colon. In this study, we investigate 3D architecture of intrinsic cholinergic innervation in the human sigmoid colon and the relationship with nitrergic neurons in the enteric plexus.
Venous Thromboembolic Events in African American Lupus Patients in Association With Antiphospholipid Antibodies Compared to White Patients

The risk of thrombotic events is elevated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to the general population and has been attributed to both systemic inflammation and to the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). Our objective was to examine differences in aPL prevalence in White and African American patients with SLE and venous thromboembolic (VTE) events, and to compare inflammatory markers at the time of a VTE event.
Long-term trans-inhibition of the hepatitis B and D virus receptor NTCP by taurolithocholic acid.

Human hepatic bile acid transporter Na+/taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) represents the liver-specific entry receptor for the Hepatitis B and D Viruses (HBV/HDV). Chronic hepatitis B and D affect several million people worldwide, but treatment options are limited. Recently, HBV/HDV entry inhibitors targeting NTCP have emerged as promising novel drug candidates. Nevertheless, the exact molecular mechanism that NTCP uses to mediate virus binding and entry into hepatocytes is still not completely understood. It is already known that human NTCP mRNA expression is down-regulated under cholestasis. Furthermore, incubation of rat hepatocytes with the secondary bile acid taurolithocholic acid (TLC) triggers internalization of the rat Ntcp protein from the plasma membrane. In the present study, the long-term inhibitory effect of TLC on transport function, HBV/HDV receptor function and membrane expression of human NTCP were analyzed in HepG2 and HEK293 cells stably overexpressing NTCP. Even after short pulse preincubation, TLC had a significant long-lasting inhibitory effect on the transport function of NTCP, but the NTCP protein was still present at the plasma membrane. Furthermore, binding of the HBV/HDV myr-preS1 peptide and susceptibility for in vitro HDV infection were significantly reduced by TLC preincubation. We hypothesize that TLC rapidly accumulates in hepatocytes and mediates long-lasting trans-inhibition of the transport and receptor function of NTCP via a particular TLC binding site at an intracellularly accessible domain of NTCP. Physiologically, this trans-inhibition might protect hepatocytes from toxic overload of bile acids. Pharmacologically, it provides an interesting novel NTCP target site for potential long-acting HBV/HDV entry inhibitors.
DETERMINATION OF FREE HYDROGEN FLUORIDE IN NONVOLATILE METAL FLUORIDES BY GAS--LIQUID PHASE CHROMATOGRAPHY.

Gas-liquid phase chromatographic (GLC}deter minations of hydrogen fl~oride in nonvolatile metal fluorides were investigated in order to establish a direct . method for free hydrogen fluoride in products from the fluoride volatility system. The GLC method is feasible for such a system, allows determinations to be performed on a routine basis, and can be adapted to the automatic operation of l'rocess streams. Hydrogen fluoride (HF) detection limits ranged from 0.008 by weight to 2.50 percent by weight. The relative reproducibility of the method on samples in the 0.01 to 0.04 percent ofHF by weight range varied from 4 to 12 percent. The method, however, has a relative reproducibility of better than 4 percent on samples containing free hydrogen fluoriut: iu con centrations of greater than 0.05 percent by weight.
The Relationship between Flourishing and Depression in Children in the U.S. Using a Socioecological Perspective

Children’s flourishing is likely to be associated with achieving a positive mental and physical quality of life, which is considered as an important factor for helping children to overcome psychological adversity during the critical stage of emotional development. This study examined the relationships between children’s flourishing and childhood depression. This was a cross-sectional study using the 2011–2012 National Children’s Health Survey in the U.S. The conceptual framework that guided this study was a modified ecological system theory model. Multiple regressions were performed to investigate the associations between flourishing and pediatric depression, controlling for demographics, physical activity-related behaviors, family and environmental conditions. A total of 45,309 children (representing 33,293,823 children at the population level) were identified in this study (mean age: 13.63 years; female: 48.7%). Children’s childhood depression was highly related to direct parenting functions, individual needs and environmental availabilities and accessibilities from a socioecological perspective. This study revealed multiple dimensions of how sociological factors influence children’s flourishing and mental health. Parents’ involvement in children’s physical activities and family and social support are crucial for children’s flourishing and mental health status. More attention needs to be paid to provide children with family and social support to help them to overcome and reduce childhood depression.
Reproductive hormone measurement from minimally invasive sample types: Methodological considerations and anthropological importance

Energetic investment in human reproduction has long been recognized as costly, influencing developmental, physiological, and behavioral patterns in males and females. These effects are largely coordinated through the actions of reproductive hormones (eg, testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone). Here, the utility and limitations of minimally invasive sampling techniques are explored, providing a novel perspective on how reproductive hormone measurements can enhance reproductive endocrinology research. Salivary steroid measures are most commonly used, although several dried blood spot and urine assays are also available, and researchers continue to explore the efficacy of other sample types. These relatively simple measures have facilitated the collection of multiple samples from a single participant, allowing researchers to more accurately track the diurnal and cyclical variation exhibited by many reproductive hormones. Ultimately, the ability to collect fine‐grained participant data allows biological anthropologists to better test questions central to human reproductive ecology, life history theory, and public health. For example, fieldwork using these techniques suggests that testosterone profile variation across populations is influenced by energetic constraints and reproductive status. Moreover, hormone concentrations shape the development of sex characteristics, with implications for evolutionary questions related to sexual selection. Hormone levels also can be used to identify a range of medical concerns (eg, suppressed hormone production levels linked with psychosocial stress). These findings highlight how minimally invasive collection techniques can be applied to test diverse evolutionary hypotheses and identify important health concerns. Still, more work is needed to standardize collection and laboratory analysis procedures, thereby enabling more direct data comparisons between researchers.
Induction of dynamic hyperinflation by expiratory resistance breathing in healthy subjects – an efficacy and safety study

What is the central question of this study? The study aimed to establish a novel model to study the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)‐related cardiopulmonary effects of dynamic hyperinflation in healthy subjects. What is the main finding and its importance? A model of expiratory resistance breathing (ERB) was established in which dynamic hyperinflation was induced in healthy subjects, expressed both by lung volumes and intrathoracic pressures. ERB outperformed existing methods and represents an efficacious model to study cardiopulmonary mechanics of dynamic hyperinflation without potentially confounding factors as present in COPD.
Local spatial analysis: an easy-to-use adaptive spatial EEG filter

Spatial EEG filters are widely used to isolate event-related potential (ERP) components. The most commonly used spatial filters (e.g. the Average Reference and the Surface Laplacian) are stationary. Stationary filters are conceptually simple, easy to use and fast to compute, but all assume that the EEG signal does not change across sensors and time. Given that ERPs are intrinsically non-stationary, applying stationary filters can lead to misinterpretations of the measured neural activity. In contrast, adaptive spatial filters (e.g. Independent Component Analysis, ICA; and Principal Component Analysis, PCA) infer their weights directly from the spatial properties of the data. They are thus not affected by the shortcomings of stationary filters. The issue with adaptive filters is that understanding how they work and how to interpret their output requires advanced statistical and physiological knowledge. Here we describe a novel, easy-to-use and conceptually-simple adaptive filter (Local Spatial Analysis, LSA) for highlighting local components masked by large widespread activity. This approach exploits the statistical information stored in the trial-by-trial variability of stimulus-evoked neural activity to estimate the spatial filter parameters adaptively at each time point. Using both simulated data and real ERPs elicited by stimuli of four different sensory modalities (audition, vision, touch, pain), we show that this method outperforms widely-used stationary filters and allows identifying novel ERP components masked by large widespread activity. Implementation of the LSA filter in Matlab is freely available to download.
Decisive effects of atomic vacancies and structural ordering on stable phases and band structures in copper–gallium–chalcogenide compounds

Atomic vacancies usually exist in the Cu–Ga–S ternary system, except for chalcopyrite CuGaS2 as a promising light-harvesting material for solar cells, and are expected to have decisive effects on the structure stability and electronic structure. We demonstrate that ordered arrangements of the straight lines locally formed by atomic vacancies prefer a stable structure through lowering the formation energy. Accidentally, we confirm that a metastable van der Waals P21/c-Cu2S phase shares better optical properties than newly-found ground-state P42-Cu2S, and possesses the photovoltaic-potentially direct band gap of 1.09 eV. We find anomalous changes in band gap induced by varying chemical composition and applying pressure, according to the variation in p–d coupling between S and Cu atoms. Our Monte Carlo simulations together with the special quasirandom structures further suggest that the band gap of CuGaS2 can be tuned continuously from 2.51 eV for the chalcopyrite phase to 0.13 eV for the fully disordered configuration by controlling the degree of ordering, which determined by the synthesis temperature and annealing time experimentally.
Single-Molecule FRET Detection of Sub-Nanometer Distance Changes in the Range below a 3-Nanometer Scale

Single-molecule fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) detection has become a key technique to monitor intra- and intermolecular distance changes in biological processes. As the sensitive detection range of conventional FRET pairs is limited to 3–8 nm, complement probes are necessary for extending this typical working range. Here, we realized a single-molecule FRET assay for a short distance range of below 3 nm by using a Cy2–Cy7 pair having extremely small spectral overlap. Using two DNA duplexes with a small difference in the labeling position, we demonstrated that our assay can observe subtle changes at a short distance range. High sensitivity in the range of 1–3 nm and compatibility with the conventional FRET assay make this approach useful for understanding dynamics at a short distance.
Analysis and Evaluation of COVID-19 Web Applications for Health Professionals: Challenges and Opportunities

The multidisciplinary nature of the work required for research in the COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges for health professionals in the battle against the virus. They need to be equipped with novel tools, applications, and resources—that have emerged during the pandemic—to gain access to breakthrough findings; know the latest developments; and to address their specific needs for rapid data acquisition, analysis, evaluation, and reporting. Because of the complex nature of the virus, healthcare systems worldwide are severely impacted as the treatment and the vaccine for COVID-19 disease are not yet discovered. This leads to frequent changes in regulations and policies by governments and international organizations. Our analysis suggests that given the abundance of information sources, finding the most suitable application for analysis, evaluation, or reporting, is one of such challenges. However, health professionals and policy-makers need access to the most relevant, reliable, trusted, and latest information and applications that can be used in their day-to-day tasks of COVID-19 research and analysis. In this article, we present our analysis of various novel and important web-based applications that have been specifically developed during the COVID-19 pandemic and that can be used by the health professionals community to help in advancing their analysis and research. These applications comprise search portals and their associated information repositories for literature and clinical trials, data sources, tracking dashboards, and forecasting models. We present a list of the minimally essential online, web-based applications to serve a multitude of purposes, from hundreds of those developed since the beginning of the pandemic. A critical analysis is provided for the selected applications based on 17 features that can be useful for researchers and analysts for their evaluations. These features make up our evaluation framework and have not been used previously for analysis and evaluation. Therefore, knowledge of these applications will not only increase productivity but will also allow us to explore new dimensions for using existing applications with more control, better management, and greater outcome of their research. In addition, the features used in our framework can be applied for future evaluations of similar applications and health professionals can adapt them for evaluation of other applications not covered in this analysis.