Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bayesian prediction of winning times for elite swimming events

ABSTRACT To develop a statistical model of winning times for international swimming events with the aim of predicting winning time distributions and the probability of winning for the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games. The data set included first and third place times from all individual swimming events from the Olympics and World Championships from 1990 to 2019. We compared different model formulations fitted with Bayesian inference to obtain predictive distributions; comparisons were based on mean percentage error in out-of-sample predictions of Olympics and World Championships winning swim times from 2011 to 2019. The Bayesian time series regression model, comprising auto-regressive and moving average terms and other predictors, had the smallest mean prediction error of 0.57% (CI 0.46–0.74%). For context, using the respective previous Olympics or World Championships winning time resulted in a mean prediction error of 0.70% (CI 0.59–0.82%). The Olympics were on average 0.5% (CI 0.3–0.7%) faster than World Championships over the study period. The model computes the posterior predictive distribution, which allows coaches and athletes to evaluate the probability of winning given an individual’s swim time, and the probability of being faster or slower than the previous winning time or even the world record.
Surgical Management of Focal Chondral Defects of the Talus: A Bayesian Network Meta-analysis

Background: No consensus has been reached regarding the optimal surgical treatment for focal chondral defects of the talus. Purpose: A Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted to compare the clinical scores and complications of mosaicplasty, osteochondral auto- and allograft transplant, microfracture, matrix-assisted autologous chondrocyte transplant, and autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) for chondral defects of the talus at midterm follow-up. Study Design: Bayesian network meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This Bayesian network meta-analysis followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) extension statement for reporting of systematic reviews incorporating network meta-analyses of health care interventions. PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were accessed in February 2021. All clinical trials comparing 2 or more surgical interventions for the management of chondral defects of the talus were accessed. The outcomes of interest were visual analog scale (VAS) score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, rate of failure, and rate of revision surgery. The network meta-analysis were performed through the routine for Bayesian hierarchical random-effects model analysis. The log odds ratio (LOR) effect measure was used for dichotomous variables, and the standardized mean difference (SMD) was used for continuous variables. Results: Data from 13 articles (521 procedures) were retrieved. The median length of the follow-up was 47.8 months (range, 31.7-66.8 months). Analysis of variance revealed no difference between the treatment groups at baseline in terms of age, sex, body mass index, AOFAS score, VAS score, and mean number of defects. AMIC demonstrated the greatest AOFAS score (SMD, 11.27) and lowest VAS score (SMD, –2.26) as well as the lowest rates of failure (LOR, 0.94) and revision (LOR, 0.94). The test for overall inconsistency was not significant. Conclusion: At approximately 4 years of follow-up, the AMIC procedure for management of focal chondral defects of the talus produced the best outcome.
Extracellular matrix protein N-glycosylation mediates immune self-tolerance in Drosophila melanogaster

Significance The ability of immune cells to distinguish self tissue from nonself pathogens is a key characteristic of immunity, allowing responses to be targeted against invading pathogens while protecting against self-directed immune damage. The recognition of nonself by innate immune cells has been extensively characterized, but the mechanisms that allow for self recognition and self-tolerance remain largely unexplored. Here, we uncover a self-tolerance system in Drosophila that relies on the N-glycosylation of extracellular matrix proteins: immune activity is restrained by recognition of a self signal and proceeds when encountering self tissues missing the self signal. This allows the host to recognize and protect self tissues, destroy aberrant tissue, and, perhaps, respond to pathogens that evade nonself recognition systems. In order to respond to infection, hosts must distinguish pathogens from their own tissues. This allows for the precise targeting of immune responses against pathogens and also ensures self-tolerance, the ability of the host to protect self tissues from immune damage. One way to maintain self-tolerance is to evolve a self signal and suppress any immune response directed at tissues that carry this signal. Here, we characterize the Drosophila tuSz1 mutant strain, which mounts an aberrant immune response against its own fat body. We demonstrate that this autoimmunity is the result of two mutations: 1) a mutation in the GCS1 gene that disrupts N-glycosylation of extracellular matrix proteins covering the fat body, and 2) a mutation in the Drosophila Janus Kinase ortholog that causes precocious activation of hemocytes. Our data indicate that N-glycans attached to extracellular matrix proteins serve as a self signal and that activated hemocytes attack tissues lacking this signal. The simplicity of this invertebrate self-recognition system and the ubiquity of its constituent parts suggests it may have functional homologs across animals.
Student ethnicity predicts social learning experiences, self‐regulatory focus and grades

Ethnic minority students find that their ethnicity negatively affects the evaluation of their capacities and their feelings in medical school. This study tests whether ethnic minority and majority students differ in their ‘self‐regulatory focus’ in clinical training, that is, their ways to approach goals, due to differences in social learning experiences. Self‐regulatory focus consists of a promotion and prevention focus. People who are prone to stereotypes and unfair treatments are more likely to have a prevention focus and conceal certain identity aspects. The objectives of the study are to test whether ethnic minority students, as compared with ethnic majority students, are equally likely to have a promotion focus, but more likely to have a prevention focus in clinical training due to more negative social learning experiences (Hypothesis 1), and whether the relationship between student ethnicity and clinical evaluations can be explained by students' gender, social learning experiences, self‐regulatory focus and impression management (Hypothesis 2).
The impact of music therapy on anxiety and pregnancy rate among infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective: We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of music therapy on anxiety and pregnancy rates among infertile women undergoing to perform assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Methods: Cochrane Library, PubMed, ISI web of science, and Scopus were searched from inception to May 2021. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared music therapy (intervention group) to no music intervention (control group). Our primary outcomes were anxiety score using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) tool and pain score utilizing the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Our secondary outcomes were the overall satisfaction score and clinical pregnancy rate. We extracted the available data from included studies and pooled them in a meta-analysis model using RevMan software. The overall quality of evidence was assessed through GRADEpro GDT software. Results: Seven RCTs with a total number of 793 patients were included in our study. Music therapy significantly reduced the anxiety score compared to control group (MD= −3.09, 95% CI [−5.57, −0.61], p = 0.01). Moreover, pain score was significantly improved after music treatment (MD= −2.93, 95% CI [−3.86, −2.00], p > 0.001). A significant improvement in the overall satisfaction score was found among music therapy group (MD= 1.51, 95% CI [0.40, 2.61], p = 0.008). Although more women in music therapy group experienced an increase in the clinical pregnancy rate in comparison with control group, the result was not statistically significant (RR= 1.08, 95% CI [0.94, 1.26], p = 0.28). The GRADEpro GDT tool showed a moderate quality of evidence for the evaluated outcomes. Conclusions: There is evidence of moderate quality that music therapy improves anxiety, pain, and satisfaction scores among infertile women undergoing ART. Moreover, it increases the clinical pregnancy rate but without statistical significance. More trials with a larger sample size are needed to investigate the influence of music therapy on the clinical outcomes of ART.
Myocarditis after COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccinations have been deployed to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, vaccine-associated myocarditis has been reported. Two typical cases in terms of young age and after the second vaccination were admitted to our hospital with symptoms of worsening chest pain, ST elevation on the electrocardiogram (ECG) and creatine kinase elevation. Emergency coronary angiography revealed no coronary arteries, and an endomyocardial biopsy showed no remarkable findings. Their symptoms were resolved within a few days of sufficient rest and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The ECG of Patient 1 showed typical change; therefore, the diagnosis of myocarditis was easy. However, the ECG of Patient 2 did not show typical change for myocarditis, and there was no abnormality in the wall motion on echocardiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), strain analysis by speckle-tracking echocardiography and serial ECG were useful for the diagnosis of myocarditis. This work shows that conducting early examinations with multimodality imaging and sufficient rest are needed to prevent the worsening of vaccine-associated myocarditis. Although the benefits of the vaccines outweigh the risks, we should be aware that myocarditis can occur after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination regardless of race, especially in young males.
Management of haematoma after thyroid surgery: systematic review and multidisciplinary consensus guidelines from the Difficult Airway Society, the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons and the British Association of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

Haematoma after thyroid surgery can lead to airway obstruction and death. We therefore developed guidelines to improve the safety of peri‐operative care of patients undergoing thyroid surgery. We conducted a systematic review to inform recommendations, with expert consensus used in the absence of high‐quality evidence, and a Delphi study was used to ratify recommendations. We highlight the importance of multidisciplinary team management and make recommendations in key areas including: monitoring; recognition; post‐thyroid surgery emergency box; management of suspected haematoma following thyroid surgery; cognitive aids; post‐haematoma evacuation care; day‐case thyroid surgery; training; consent and pre‐operative communication; postoperative communication; and institutional policies. The guidelines support a multidisciplinary approach to the management of suspected haematoma following thyroid surgery through oxygenation and evaluation; haematoma evacuation; and tracheal intubation. They have been produced with materials to support implementation. While these guidelines are specific to thyroid surgery, the principles may apply to other forms of neck surgery. These guidelines and recommendations provided are the first in this area and it is hoped they will support multidisciplinary team working, improving care and outcomes for patients having thyroid surgery.
Association between dietary inflammatory index and cardiometabolic risk factors among Brazilian adolescents: results from a national cross-sectional study

Abstract Dietary factors play a role in modulating chronic inflammation and in the development of CVD. We aimed to investigate the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and cardiometabolic risk factors among adolescents. A total of 31 684 Brazilian adolescents (aged 12–17 years) from the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA) were included. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-h dietary recall. The energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (E-DII) score was calculated based on data for twenty-five available nutrients. The anthropometric profile, blood pressure, lipid profile, glucose, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and glycated Hb were measured. Poisson regression models were used to examine the associations between sex-specific quartiles of the E-DII and cardiometabolic risk factors. In the energy-adjusted models, when comparing a high pro-inflammatory diet (quartile 4) with an anti-inflammatory diet (quartile 1), there was a positive association with high HOMA-IR among boys (prevalence ratios (PR)Q4 = 1·37, 95 % CI: 1·04, 1·79); and with high fasting glucose (PRQ4 = 1·96, 95 % CI: 1·02, 3·78), high TAG (PRQ4 = 1·92, 95 % CI: 1·06, 3·46), low HDL-cholesterol (PRQ4 = 1·16, 95 % CI: 1·02, 1·32) and high LDL-cholesterol (PRQ4 = 1·93, 95 % CI: 1·12, 3·33) among girls. Additionally, a moderately pro-inflammatory diet was positively associated with high HOMA-IR (PRQ2 = 1·14, 95 % CI: 1·02, 1·29) among girls and high total cholesterol (PRQ3 = 1·56, 95 % CI: 1·20, 2·01) among boys. In conclusion, this study provides new evidence on the association between inflammatory diets with cardiometabolic risk factors among adolescents.
A Scalable-Bandwidth Extended State Observer-Based Adaptive Sliding-Mode Control for the Dissolved Oxygen in a Wastewater Treatment Process

Strong nonlinearities, uncertainties, and disturbances present great challenges to the control of the dissolved oxygen (DO) in a wastewater treatment process (WWTP). To deal with those undesired issues, in this article, a scalable-bandwidth extended state observer (SESO) is proposed, and the SESO-based adaptive sliding-mode control (ASMC) is designed. By the SESO, the time-varying total disturbance can be estimated more accurately and compensated more effectively. For the disturbances that are not addressed completely, an ASMC is employed to suppress them. Due to the advantages of both SESO and ASMC, the DO can be regulated more desirably. The benchmark simulation model Number 1 is taken to verify the proposed SESO-based ASMC. Comparative simulation results highlight the advantages of the proposed approach.
Balanced Solvent Model for Intrinsically Disordered and Ordered Proteins

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) have no fixed three-dimensional (3D) structures under physiological conditions, with the content being about 51% in human proteomics. IDPs are associated with many human diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Because IDPs do not crystallize and have diverse conformers, traditional experimental methods such as crystallization and NMR can hardly capture their conformation ensemble and just provide average structural characters of IDPs. Therefore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations become a valuable complement to the experimental data. However, the accuracy of molecular dynamics simulation for IDPs depends on the combination of force fields and solvent models. Recently, we released an environment-specific force field (ESFF1) for IDPs, which can well reproduce the local structural properties (such as J-coupling and secondary chemical shifts). However, there is still a large deviation for the radius of gyration (Rg). Therefore, a solvent model combined with ESFF1 is necessary to capture the local and global characters for IDPs and ordered proteins. Here, we investigated the underestimation or overestimation of the solvent interaction for four solvent models (TIP3P, TIP4P-Ew, TIP4P-D, OPC) under ESFF1 and found the important ε parameter of the solvent model to play a key role in scaling Rg. A near-linear relationship between the simulation Rg and the ε parameter was used to develop the new solvent model, named TIP4P-B. The results indicate that the simulated Rg with TIP4P-B is in better agreement with the experimental observations than the other four solvent models. Simultaneously, TIP4P-B can also maintain the advantages of the ESFF1 force field for the local structural properties. Additionally, TIP4P-B can successfully sample the conformation of ordered proteins. These findings confirm that TIP4P-B is a balanced solvent model and can improve sampling Rg performance for folded proteins and IDPs.
Economic evaluation of the Happy Talk pilot effectiveness trial: A targeted selective speech, language and communication intervention for children from areas of social disadvantage

Abstract Purpose: This study presents a cost-effectiveness analysis of a targeted selective pre-school intervention programme, “Happy Talk”, which focuses on language development, by simultaneously enhancing parental interaction and the pre-school environment. Method: Happy Talk (delivered to 77 children) is an add on intervention, and is compared to usual care, adopting a healthcare perspective. Cost-effectiveness analyses were carried out using the Pre-school Language Scale 5- Total (PLS-5) for baseline analysis and the Child Health Utility Instrument (CHU9D) in a secondary analysis. Result: Baseline cost-effectiveness analysis showed Happy Talk was more effective (6.3 point change in total PLS-5 standard score – effect size 0.463SD and more expensive (€82.06) than usual care (cost-effectiveness ratio is €13.02 per unit change). Employing a proxy to estimate monetary net benefit, the benefits outweigh the costs, showing that it is cost-effective. However, results do not persist when health-related quality of life outcome measures are considered. Conclusion: Findings suggest a targeted selective public health approach, could be considered value for money to reduce the societal burden of children with low levels of speech, language and communication. However, measurement of longer term outcomes and a larger trial are required, to definitively inform policy changes.
Developing the Nausea and Vomiting Thermometer Scale in children with cancer

Background/aim This study aimed to develop the Nausea and Vomiting Thermometer Scale (NVTS) in children with cancer. Materials and methods This methodological study was conducted on 250 children with cancer at the research and training university hospital in Turkey between September 2019 and January 2020. The t-test, the ROC analysis, the Diagnostic index, and the Youden index were used for determining the scale of the cutting point. The regression analysis, the intra-class correlation coefficient, and the Bland–Altman analysis were used for the data analysis. Results The scale-level content validity index was . 94, which was coherent. As a result of the ROC analysis, the cut-off point was determined as three points. The NVTS showed good reliability, with an intra-class correlation coefficient of . 99. In the linear regression analysis, a model was created for chemotherapy drugs, nausea and vomiting type, vomiting status, and the number of children with cancer who vomited explained 44.9% of their nausea and vomiting status. The results of the Bland–Altman analysis showed that the correlation coefficient between the differences and the means was insignificant. Conclusion The NVTS was found to be a valid and reliable measurement tool for children with cancer in the Turkish sample.
Evaluation of atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation patients with three different methods

Background/aim The presence of atrial fibrosis has already been known as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) development. We aimed to evaluate atrial fibrosis with previously defined three different methods, which were cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (C-MRI), echocardiographic strain imaging, and biomarkers and show the relationship between these methods in patients with AF scheduled for cryoballoon ablation. Materials and methods A total of 30 patients were enrolled. Atrial T1 relaxation durations were measured using C-MRI before the procedure of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) levels were measured at serum derived from the femoral artery (Peripheral FGF 21 and 23) and left atrium blood samples (Central FGF 21 and 23) before catheter ablation. Preprocedural transthoracic echocardiography was performed. The median follow-up duration for atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATa) recurrence was 13 (12–18 months) months. Results The mean ages of the study group were 55.23 ± 12.37 years, and there were 17 (56.7%) female patients in study population. There were negative correlations between post contrast T1 relaxation durations of both posterior and posterosuperior atrium, and central FGF-23 (r: − 0.561; p = 0.003; r: −0.624; p = 0.001; Posterior T1 vs. central FGF-23 levels and Posterosuperior T1 vs central FGF-23 levels, respectively). The positive correlations were observed between postcontrast posterior T1 relaxation durations and left ventricle ejection fraction (r:0.671; p = 0.001); left atrial emptying fraction (r:0.482; p = 0.013); peak atrial longitudinal strain (r:0.605; p = 0.001), and peak atrial contraction strain (r:0.604; p = 0.001). Also negative correlation was observed between postcontrast posterior T1 relaxation durations, and left atrial volume index (r: − 0.467; p = 0.016). Conclusion Our studies showed that there are correlations between T1 mapping of atrial tissue, biomarkers, and atrial mechanics evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography. Our findings are significant as they demonstrate the compatibility of these techniques for the atrial fibrosis evaluation.
What is a processing speed weakness? Importance of cognitive ability when defining processing speed in a child psychiatric population

ABSTRACT There is growing evidence that processing speed (PS) deficits in youth with neuropsychiatric conditions are associated with functional difficulties. However, there is no consistent definition of slower PS; specifically, whether slower PS should be defined as a discrepancy from same-aged peers (normative weakness) or as an intrapersonal deficit relative to overall cognitive ability (relative weakness). In a sample of clinically-referred youth, we calculated slower PS both ways and examined the impact on adaptive, academic, and psychopathology outcomes in relation to different levels of cognitive ability. Significant PS x cognitive ability interactions were found on adaptive and academic outcomes. A norm-based weakness in PS (PSI Standard Score <85) was associated with lower adaptive skills and lower academic skills regardless of cognitive ability. In the above average cognitive ability group, relatively lower PS (PSI >15 point difference from VCI) was associated with significantly lower academic performance. No significant associations were found for general psychopathology. Results suggest a normative weakness in PS impacts functional outcomes interactively and differently with level of general cognitive ability. Data suggest that higher cognitive ability may be somewhat protective from the impact of normatively weak PS on adaptive outcomes; however, youth across all abilities with normatively weak PS showed weaker academic performance. Second, children with high cognitive abilities and relatively weak PS showed discrepant performance compared to comparison group. Implications and areas for future research are discussed.