Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metapopulation dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a small-scale Amazonian society

The severity of infectious disease outbreaks is governed by patterns of human contact, which vary by geography, social organization, mobility, access to technology and healthcare, economic development, and culture. Whereas globalized societies and urban centers exhibit characteristics that can heighten vulnerability to pandemics, small-scale subsistence societies occupying remote, rural areas may be buffered. Accordingly, voluntary collective isolation has been proposed as one strategy to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and other pandemics on small-scale Indigenous populations with minimal access to healthcare infrastructure. To assess the vulnerability of such populations and the viability of interventions such as voluntary collective isolation, we simulate and analyze the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection among Amazonian forager-horticulturalists in Bolivia using a stochastic network metapopulation model parameterized with high-resolution empirical data on population structure, mobility, and contact networks. Our model suggests that relative isolation offers little protection at the population level (expected approximately 80% cumulative incidence), and more remote communities are not conferred protection via greater distance from outside sources of infection, due to common features of small-scale societies that promote rapid disease transmission such as high rates of travel and dense social networks. Neighborhood density, central household location in villages, and household size greatly increase the individual risk of infection. Simulated interventions further demonstrate that without implausibly high levels of centralized control, collective isolation is unlikely to be effective, especially if it is difficult to restrict visitation between communities as well as travel to outside areas. Finally, comparison of model results to empirical COVID-19 outcomes measured via seroassay suggest that our theoretical model is successful at predicting outbreak severity at both the population and community levels. Taken together, these findings suggest that the social organization and relative isolation from urban centers of many rural Indigenous communities offer little protection from pandemics and that standard control measures, including vaccination, are required to counteract effects of tight-knit social structures characteristic of small-scale populations.
Predictive value of serum retinol binding protein in severity and complications of acute pancreatitis: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract Objectives Retinol binding protein (RBP) is associated with an increased risk of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis and hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate serum RBP levels in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods The study included 1,871 AP patients, including 1,411 with mild AP (MAP), 244 with moderately severe AP (MSAP), and 186 with severe AP (SAP). Retrospective analysis was conducted on RBP concentrations and other clinical data of AP patients. Results AP patients were subgrouped by RBP level into low RBP (LRBP), normal RBP (NRBP), and high RBP (HRBP) groups. The LRBP group showed a significantly higher proportion of SAP patients than NRBP and HRBP groups. Additionally, the LRBP group had the highest BISAP and CTSI scores among the three groups; WBC and CRP levels in the NRBP group were significantly lower than those in the LRBP and HRBP groups. RBP was better at predicting acute necrotic collection (ANC) than other local complications, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.821. RBP was also an independent risk factor for acute lung injury (ALI) and ANC in AP patients. The AUC of RBP for predicting ALI was 0.829, with 30.45 mg/L as the optimal cutoff value, and the sensitivity and specificity were 59.70% and 96.50%, respectively. The AUC of RBP for predicting ANC was 0.821, with 28.35 mg/L as the optimal cutoff value, and the sensitivity and specificity were 61.20% and 95.50%, respectively. Conclusions Serum RBP had predictive value for AP severity, local and systemic complications.
Polyhydroxybutyrate synthesis in Camelina: Towards coproduction of renewable feedstocks for bioplastics and fuels

Summary Plant‐based co‐production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and seed oil has the potential to create a viable domestic source of feedstocks for renewable fuels and plastics. PHAs, a class of biodegradable polyesters, can replace conventional plastics in many applications while providing full degradation in all biologically active environments. Here we report the production of the PHA poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) in the seed cytosol of the emerging bioenergy crop Camelina sativa engineered with a bacterial PHB biosynthetic pathway. Two approaches were used: cytosolic localization of all three enzymes of the PHB pathway in the seed, or localization of the first two enzymes of the pathway in the cytosol and anchoring of the third enzyme required for polymerization to the cytosolic face of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER‐targeted approach was found to provide more stable polymer production with PHB levels up to 10.2% of the mature seed weight achieved in seeds with good viability. These results mark a significant step forward towards engineering lines for commercial use. Plant‐based PHA production would enable a direct link between low‐cost large‐scale agricultural production of biodegradable polymers and seed oil with the global plastics and renewable fuels markets.
Quantitative assessment of the effects of chitosan intervention on blood pressure control

Background: Chitosan is a popular dietary fiber often used to reduce dietary fat absorption to control weight and blood lipids. However, its effects on blood pressure (BP) have not been fully elucidated. We evaluated the effects of chitosan administration on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) through a pooled analysis of available randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Materials and methods: Electronic searches were conducted in Medline, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and EMBASE to identify relevant human placebo-control RCTs. Trials that reported BP changes from baseline to study endpoint in patients receiving treatment of chitosan were included for analysis. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CIs were pooled using fixed-effects or random-effects models. Statistical heterogeneity, prespecified subgroup, publication bias, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression assessments were also tested. Results: Six hundred and seventeen participants from eight trials with 10 arms were included. Overall, chitosan administration did not significantly lower SBP (WMD: - 1.41 mmHg, 95% CI: - 3.29 to 0.47; P = 0.14) and DBP (WMD: - 0.61 mmHg, 95% CI: - 1.75 to 0.52; P = 0.29). However, our subgroup analyses indicated that chitosan consumption significantly reduced DBP in shorter-term ( , 12 weeks) and higher-dose ( . 2.4 g/day) arms. Funnel plots or Egger’s tests analysis ( P = 0.36 and 0.43 for SBP and DBP, respectively) demonstrated that there was no significant publication bias in this study. Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicates that chitosan consumption significantly decreases DBP at higher dosage and in shorter-term interventions, while chitosan has no significant effects on SBP. However, these results should be interpreted cautiously because of the limited eligible RCTs included in this meta-analysis; further large-scale, well-designed RCTs on this topic are urgently needed.
Genomic Characteristics of Emerging Intraerythrocytic Anaplasma capra and High Prevalence in Goats, China

Anaplasma capra is an emerging tickborne human pathogen initially recognized in China in 2015; it has been reported in ticks and in a wide range of domestic and wild animals worldwide. We describe whole-genome sequences of 2 A. capra strains from metagenomic sequencing of purified erythrocytes from infected goats in China. The genome of A. capra was the smallest among members of the genus Anaplasma. The genomes of the 2 A. capra strains contained comparable G+C content and numbers of pseudogenes with intraerythrocytic Anaplasma species. The 2 A. capra strains had 54 unique genes. The prevalence of A. capra was high among goats in the 2 endemic areas. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the A. capra strains detected in this study were basically classified into 2 subclusters with those previously detected in Asia. Our findings clarify details of the genomic characteristics of A. capra and shed light on its genetic diversity.
Differences in neonatal adverse outcomes among women with gestational diabetes mellitus managed by diet or medication: a propensity score matched analysis of a population-based sample

Abstract Objective Neonatal outcomes in women with and without medically managed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were compared after accounting for differences in maternal baseline characteristics using a propensity score (PS) analysis. Methods Women without preexisting diabetes, delivering singletons during 2010-2017 in a large hospital, were eligible for inclusion. Using nearest-neighbour PS matching, women with non-pharmacological managed GDM were matched with women whose GDM was medically managed. A conditional logistic regression consequently compared the neonatal adverse outcomes between the groups after adjusting for gestational age, induction of labor, birth type, and number of ultrasounds conducted during the pregnancy. Results Of the overall 10028 births, GDM was diagnosed in 930 (9.3%), of whom 710 (76.3%) were successfully matched. The conditional regressions found higher risk of neonatal adverse outcomes in neonates of women with non-pharmacological managed GDM compared to neonates of women with medically managed GDM. These included a higher risk of hypoglycemia (odds ratio (OR) 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–2.38, p = 0.037), hypothermia (OR 2.29, 95%CI 1.05-5.00, p = 0.037), and birth injuries (OR 3.50, 95%CI 1.62–7.58, p = 0.001), and a higher risk of being small for gestational age (OR 2.06, 95%CI 1.01-4.18, p = 0.046) and being admitted to a special care unit (OR 2.04, 95%CI 1.29-3.21, p = 0.002). Conclusions The increased neonatal morbidity associated with non-medicated GDM identified in our study may indicate that diet and lifestyle changes alone are not sufficient to achieve glycaemic control in some women with GDM. Our findings indicate that gestational diabetes management approach is independently associated with neonatal outcomes.
Rare events meta‐analysis using the Bayesian beta‐binomial model

In meta‐analyses of rare events, it can be challenging to obtain a reliable estimate of the pooled effect, in particular when the meta‐analysis is based on a small number of studies. Recent simulation studies have shown that the beta‐binomial model is a promising candidate in this situation, but have thus far only investigated its performance in a frequentist framework. In this study, we aim to make the beta‐binomial model for meta‐analysis of rare events amenable to Bayesian inference by proposing prior distributions for the effect parameter and investigating the models' robustness to different specifications of priors for the scale parameter. To evaluate the performance of Bayesian beta‐binomial models with different priors, we conducted a simulation study with two different data generating models in which we varied the size of the pooled effect, the degree of heterogeneity, the baseline probability, and the sample size. Our results show that while some caution must be exercised when using the Bayesian beta‐binomial in meta‐analyses with extremely sparse data, the use of a weakly informative prior for the effect parameter is beneficial in terms of mean bias, mean squared error, and coverage. For the scale parameter, half‐normal and exponential distributions are identified as candidate priors in meta‐analysis of rare events using the Bayesian beta‐binomial model.
Investigating the energy consumption in different operations of oilseed productions in Iran.

The energy consumption in different operations of soybean, canola and sunflower productions in Golestan province of Iran was investigated. This study also focused sketches the environmental footprints of energy use in oilseed production. For these purpose Inquiries on 319 oilseed farms were conducted in 2009/10 production period. The results revealed that soybean gave the highest operational energy input (22235 MJ ha); while, total operational energy for canola and sunflower was relatively low as 8317 and 6013 MJ ha, respectively. Irrigation operation consumed the highest share of total operational energy in soybean and sunflower productions; it was mainly in the form of electricity energy; however, in canola production, the tillage operation was the most intensive energy consumer, followed by harvesting practice. From this study it was found that increasing energy use efficiency of water pumping systems by good repair and maintenance and employing improved tillage and harvesting practices, such as low till agriculture, could be the pathways to make oilseed productions more environmental friendly and thus reduce their environmental footprints.
Aerobic high‐intensity intervals improve V̇O2max more than supramaximal sprint intervals in females, similar to males

Maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) is a pivotal factor for aerobic endurance performance. Recently, aerobic high‐intensity interval training (HIIT) was documented to be superior to sprint interval training (SIT) in improving V̇O2max in well‐trained males. However, as mounting evidence suggests that physiological responses to training are sex‐dependent, examining the effects of HIIT versus SIT on V̇O2max, anaerobic capacity, and endurance performance in females is warranted.
Mobile Health Hearing Aid Acclimatization and Support Program in Low-Income Communities: Feasibility Study

Background The most common management option for hearing loss is hearing aids. In addition to devices, patients require information and support, including maintenance and troubleshooting. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies can support hearing aid management, acclimatization, and use. This study developed an mHealth acclimatization and support program for first-time hearing aid users and subsequently implemented and pilot-tested the feasibility of the program. The program was facilitated by community health workers (CHWs) in low-income communities in South Africa. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an mHealth acclimatization and support program supported by CHWs in low-income communities. Methods An application-based acclimatization and support was adapted and translated for use in low- and middle-income countries. This program was delivered in the form of 20 different voice notes accompanied by graphical illustrations via WhatsApp or 20 different SMS text messages. The program was provided to first-time hearing aid users immediately after a community-based hearing aid fitting in March 2021 in 2 low-income communities in the Western Cape, South Africa. The 20 messages were sent over a period of 45 days. Participants were contacted telephonically on days 8, 20, and 43 of the program and via open-ended paper-based questionnaires translated to isiXhosa 45 days and 6 months after the program started to obtain information on their experiences, perceptions, and accessibility of the program. Their responses were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results A total of 19 participants fitted with hearing aids received the mHealth acclimatization and support program. Most participants (15/19, 79%) received the program via WhatsApp, with 21% (4/19) of them receiving it via SMS text message. Participants described the program as helpful, supportive, informative, sufficient, and clear at both follow-ups. A total of 14 participants reported that they were still using their hearing aids at the 6-month follow-up. Three participants indicated that not all their questions about hearing aids were answered, and 5 others had minor hearing aid issues. This included feedback (n=1), battery performance (n=1), physical fit (n=2), and issues with hearing aid accessories (n=1). However, CHWs successfully addressed all these issues. There were no notable differences in responses between the participants who received the program via WhatsApp compared with those who received it through SMS text message. Most participants receiving WhatsApp messages reported that the voice notes were easier to understand, but the graphical illustrations supplemented the voice notes well. Conclusions An mHealth acclimatization and support program is feasible and potentially assists hearing aid acclimatization and use for first-time users in low-income communities. Scalable mHealth support options can facilitate increased access and improve outcomes of hearing care.
Utility of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for distinguishing between the histological types of early stage thymic epithelial tumours.

OBJECTIVES Recent studies have shown the usefulness of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in differentiating between World Health Organization (WHO) histological subgroups of thymic epithelial tumours. However, these reports may have included many advanced cases of these lesions (Masaoka stage III or IV) of high-risk subtypes. The objective of our present study was to assess the usefulness of FDG-PET for distinguishing the histological subtypes of early stage thymic epithelial tumours (Masaoka stage I or II). METHODS Twenty patients who had undergone an FDG-PET examination prior to treatment and had been diagnosed with an early stage thymic epithelial tumour between July 2005 and July 2011 were enrolled in the present study. All patients underwent a total thymectomy. This cohort was divided into two groups according to the WHO histological classification of their lesion, i.e. low-risk tumours (types A, AB or B1) in one group and high-risk tumours (types B2, B3 or thymic carcinoma) in the other. Focal FDG accumulation was evaluated by determining the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV-max). RESULTS The patient cohort for this study included 13 men and 7 women ranging in age from 26 to 70 years (mean 55 years). The low-risk group included seven cases (type A, 0; type AB, 7; type B1, 0), and the high-risk group comprised 13 cases (type B2, 7; type B3, 3; thymic carcinoma, 3). The SUV-max values of the low-risk and high-risk tumours were 3.09 ± 0.51 and 6.19 ± 3.13, respectively, and this was a significant difference. For the differential diagnosis of low-risk and high-risk tumours, sensitivity and specificity were 92.3% and 83.3%, respectively, when an SUV-max of 3.5 was used as a cutoff. CONCLUSIONS FDG-PET is a useful method for distinguishing histological types of early stage thymic epithelial tumours.
Modeling of the atmospheric transport of the cosmogenic radionuclides ¹⁰Be and ⁷Be using the ECHAM5-HAM general circulation model

Cosmogenic radionuclide data retrieved from natural archives, such as ice cores, are excellent tools to use for reconstruction of past solar activity and geomagnetic field intensity, and to study past climate changes. To interpret the data correctly, however, it is essential to separate these different signals. The physics of the production rate of the cosmogenic radionuclides as a function of solar and geomagnetic activity is known, but their transport from the atmosphere into natural archives is not well understood. The main goal of this thesis is to fill this gap and to improve our understanding of the atmospheric transport of the cosmogenic radionuclides Be and Be. This was made using new observational data and performing modeling experiments with the ECHAM5–HAM general circulation model. This model is a three–dimensional atmospheric circulation model that includes aerosol physics and chemistry. New Be and Be data measured in precipitation at a high (Jungfraujoch, 3580 m) and a low (Dübendorf, 440 m) altitude stations in Switzerland are presented. These data are used to study the altitudinal dependence of the Be/Be ratio, which is a proxy for the age of air and is sensitive to intrusions of stratospheric air into the troposphere. The comparison of the Be/Be ratio between the two stations shows a different seasonal dependence indicating that the Be/Be ratio measured at the high altitude station Jungfraujoch is more influenced by the stratospheric air than the ratio in Dübendorf. In the next step, the model was validated by comparing modeled and observed surface air concentrations and deposition fluxes of Be worldwide. The results showed good agreement between observational data and model results. Another model experiment was performed to simulate the Be concentrations and deposition fluxes during the Maunder Minimum (1645–1715 AD), a period characterized by low solar activity and a cooler climate. Comparison with a present day simulation shows that the dominant signal in the Be flux is the production increase caused by the lower solar activity. The fluctuations caused by meteorology are less important. Nevertheless, in polar regions these fluctuations are relatively large because of the very low Be deposition. In the last step, the influence of the solar activity induced production changes on the Be deposition was modeled especially in polar regions. The results were compared with high resolution (seasonal) Be concentrations measured at Summit, Greenland within the Greenland Ice Core Project (GRIP). Excellent agreement between the modeled and measured Be concentrations was obtained. Also a clear trend was observed in both the measured and modeled concentrations, parallel with the trend in the solar activity. This confirms that the measured Be concentrations in polar ice reflect mainly production changes, such as those caused by solar activity and geomagnetic field intensity. The effect of local meteorology is significantly smaller.
Suicidal ideation and suicide attempt following ketamine prescription in patients with treatment-resistant depression: a nation-wide cohort study

Abstract Ketamine, including esketamine, is an effective treatment for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD); however, its long-term efficacy in real-world populations remains poorly characterized. This is a retrospective cohort study using TriNetX US Collaborative Network, a platform aggregating electronic health records (EHRs) data from 93 million patients from 56 health care organizations in the US, and the study population includes 321,367 patients with a diagnosis of TRD who were prescribed relevant treatment in their EHRs. The prescription of ketamine (including esketamine) was associated with significant decreased risk of suicidal ideation compared to prescription of other common antidepressants: HR = 0.65 (95% CI: 0.53 – 0.81) at 1 day – 7 days, 0.78 (95% CI: 0.66 – 0.92) at 1 day – 30 days, 0.81 (95% CI: 0.70 – 0.92) at 1 day – 90 days, 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72 – 0.92) at 1 day – 180 days, and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.74 – 0.93) at 1 day – 270 days. This trend was especially robust among adults over 24 years of age, males, and White patients with TRD. No significant difference was observed for suicide attempts, except significantly increased risk for adolescents (aged 10-24) at 1 day – 30 days with HR = 2.22 (95% CI: 1.01-4.87). This study provides real-world evidence that ketamine has long-term benefits in mitigating suicidal ideation in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Future work should focus on optimizing dosage regimens for ketamine, understanding the mechanism, and the difference in various demographic subpopulations.