Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association Between Olfactory Dysfunction and Cognitive Impairment in Dementia-Free Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study in Taiwan

Background: Previous studies assessing olfactory function and cognition have mostly been cross-sectional, and few have investigated the Asian geriatric population. Objective: To examine the relationships of olfaction with global or domain-specific cognitive function in Taiwanese community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This cohort study (2015–2019) is part of the Taiwan Initiative for Geriatric Epidemiological Research. The Taiwanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-T) and a battery of neuropsychological tests were assessed at baseline and at a two-year follow-up. The cross-culture modified Sniffin’ Sticks Identification Test (SSIT) was utilized to measure olfactory function. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the association of olfaction with cognitive performance over two years. Results: Data were collected from 376 participants (55.1% women), with a mean age of 75.6 years. A one-point decrease in the SSIT score (worsening of olfaction) was associated with worse global cognition (MoCA-T: βˆ = –0.13), memory ( βˆ = –0.08 to –0.06), and verbal fluency ( βˆ = –0.07). Compared with an SSIT score ≥ 11 (normosmia), an SSIT score < 8 (anosmia) was associated with worse global cognition (MoCA-T: βˆ = –0.99), memory ( βˆ = –0.48 to –0.42), executive function (Trail Making Test A: βˆ = –0.36), attention (digit span backward: βˆ = –0.34), and verbal fluency ( βˆ = –0.45). After stratified analyses, the associations remained in older adults ≥ 75 years, males, and non-carriers of apolipoprotein E ɛ4 in terms of global cognition, memory, and verbal fluency. Conclusions: Odor identification deficits were associated with poor global or domain-specific cognitive function in a four-year cohort of community-dwelling older adults. Cognitive assessments should be conducted in dementia-free elderly individuals with impaired odor identification.
Changes in Refractive Error During Young Adulthood: The Effects of Longitudinal Screen Time, Ocular Sun Exposure, and Genetic Predisposition

Purpose Changes in refractive error during young adulthood is common yet risk factors at this age are largely unexplored. This study explored risk factors for these changes, including gene–environmental interactions. Methods Spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length (AL) for 624 community-based adults were measured at 20 (baseline) and 28 years old. Participants were genotyped and their polygenic scores (PGS) for refractive error calculated. Self-reported screen time (computer, television, and mobile devices) from 20 to 28 years old were collected prospectively and longitudinal trajectories were generated. Past sun exposure was quantified using conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (CUVAF) area. Results Median change in SER and AL were −0.023 diopters (D)/year (interquartile range [IQR] = −0.062 to –0.008) and +0.01 mm/year (IQR = 0.000 to 0.026), respectively. Sex, baseline myopia, parental myopia, screen time, CUVAF, and PGS were significantly associated with myopic shift. Collectively, these factors accounted for approximately 20% of the variance in refractive error change, with screen time, CUVAF, and PGS each explaining approximately 1% of the variance. Four trajectories for total screen time were found: “consistently low” (n = 148), “consistently high” (n = 250), “consistently very high” (n = 76), and “increasing” (n = 150). Myopic shift was faster in those with “consistently high” or “consistently very high” screen time compared to “consistently-low” (P ≤ 0.031). For each z-score increase in PGS, changes in SER and AL increased by −0.005 D/year and 0.002 mm/year (P ≤ 0.045). Of the three types of screen time, only computer time was associated with myopic shift (P ≤ 0.040). There was no two- or three-way interaction effect between PGS, CUVAF, or screen time (P ≥ 0.26). Conclusions Higher total or computer screen time, less sun exposure, and genetic predisposition are each independently associated with greater myopic shifts during young adulthood. Given that these factors explained only a small amount of the variance, there are likely other factors driving refractive error change during young adulthood.
Paravertebral Nerve Block for Procedural Pain in Percutaneous Vertebroplasty

Objectives: This study aimed to unidimensionally measure procedural pain at each percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) stage and evaluate the effectiveness of paravertebral nerve block (PVNB) in reducing procedural pain. Methods: A retrospective study of prospectively collected data was conducted on 66 patients who underwent PVP for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group A (fluoroscopic-guided PVNB; 5 cm3 of 0.75% ropivacaine on each side) and group B (local anesthesia). To investigate procedural pain associated with PVP, the visual analog scale score was assessed at each surgical stage: before the incision (stage 1), transpedicular approach (stage 2), and polymethylmethacrylate cement injection (stage 3). After the procedure, patients were asked about their surgical experience and satisfaction using the Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale. Periprocedural complications were also recorded. Results: A total of 63 patients (78.65 y of age) were finally enrolled: 30 from group A and 33 from group B. In both groups, a significant ≥2-point increase in procedural pain was observed during PVP compared with that during stage 1 (P < 0.001). In stages 2 and 3, the pain intensity was significantly lower in group A (P < 0.001). Upon discharge, the visual analog scale score improved in all groups; however, the Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale score was significantly higher in group A (P < 0.001). There was no difference in periprocedural complications between the two groups (P = 0.743). Conclusion: PVP causes significant procedural pain, and PVNB is a potentially effective modality for enhancing patient satisfaction and reducing procedural pain.
Valuable heavy minerals from the Brahmaputra River sands of Northern Bangladesh

The sands of Bangladesh's rivers are potentially economically important hosts for heavy mineral (HM) resources. Characterisation tests carried out by the authors on 50 sand samples collected from sand bars of the Brahmaputra River in northern Bangladesh revealed that the HM assemblage of the predominantly quartz-rich sands ranged from 4.5 to 17.0% (by weight) HM. The HM assemblage of the samples tested predominantly comprised amphibole, epidote, garnet, kyanite and feldspars along with minor amounts of the valuable heavy mineral (VHM) components of ilmenite, magnetite, rutile and zircon. The HMs were generally well liberated and had an angular to sub-round texture. A grain size analysis of a composite sample prepared from a subset of 7 of the 50 samples collected indicated that >75% of the total HM assemblage was within the +250 to −125 µm size fraction with VHMs enriched in the size fractions −250 to +125 µm and −125 to +63 µm. The total HM contents in the coarser −500 to +250 µm size fraction and the finer −63 µm size fractions were negligible. The potentially recoverable VHM components of the composite included magnetite (∼3%), ilmenite (∼4%), titanite (∼1%), titanomagnetite (∼1%), zircon (∼0.5%) and rutile (∼0.4%). Preliminary laboratory separation studies on a bulk sample indicated that magnetite-, ilmenite-, rutile- and zircon-rich concentrates could be prepared from the sands. Analyses of the ilmenite indicated that the ilmenite was primary in composition (∼34% Ti), low in detrimental impurities and would be suitable for pigment production via the sulphate processing route. The zircon and rutile components were also low in total impurities and as such, little or no further processing would be required to produce saleable concentrates of these VHMs. However, the magnetite concentrate was contaminated by composite magnetite/silicate particles and further work involving fine grinding would be required to liberate the magnetite particles and generate a magnetite-rich product.
Quality by design endorsed atorvastatin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers embedded in pH-responsive gel for melanoma

Abstract Aim Our aim was to repurpose atorvastatin for melanoma by encapsulating in a nanostructured lipid carrier matrix to promote tumour cell internalisation and skin permeation. pH-responsive chitosan gel was employed to restrict At-NLCs in upper dermal layers. Methods We utilised a quality by design approach for encapsulating At within the NLC matrix. Further, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity was evaluated along with pH-responsive release and ex vivo skin permeation. Results Cytotoxicity assay showed 3.13-fold enhanced cytotoxicity on melanoma cells compared to plain drug with nuclear staining showing apoptotic markers. In vitro, release studies showed 5.9-fold rapid release in chitosan gel matrix at pH 5.5 compared to neutral pH. Conclusions At-NLCs prevented precipitation, promoted skin permeation, and SK-MEL 28 cell internalisation. The localisation of NLCs on the upper dermal layer due to electrostatic interactions of skin with chitosan gel diminished the incidence of untoward systemic effects.
Role of Exosomal Non-Coding RNA in the Tumour Microenvironment of Genitourinary System Tumours

In recent years, genitourinary system tumors are common in people of all ages, seriously affecting the quality of life of patients, the pathogenesis and treatment of these diseases are constantly being updated and improved. Exosomes, with a lipid bilayer that enable delivery of their contents into body fluids or other cells. Exosomes can regulate the tumor microenvironment, and play an important role in tumor development. In turn, cellular and non-cellular components of tumor microenvironment also affect the occurrence, progression, invasion and metastasis of tumor. Non-coding RNAs have been shown to be able to be ingested and released by exosomes, and are seen as a potential tool in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, we summarize the effect of non-coding RNAs of exosome contents on the tumor microenvironment of genitourinary system tumor, expound the significance of non-coding RNAs of exosome in the occurrence, development, diagnosis and treatment of cancers.
Longitudinal analysis of behavioral factors and techniques used to identify vaccine hesitancy among Twitter users: Scoping review

ABSTRACT While vaccines have played a pivotal role in the fight against infectious diseases, individuals engage in online resources to find vaccine-related support and information. The benefits and consequences of these online peers are unclear and mainly cause a behavioral shift in user sentiment toward vaccination. This scoping review aims to identify the community and individual factors that longitudinally influence public behavior toward vaccination. The secondary aim is to gain insight into techniques and methodologies used to extract these factors from Twitter data. We followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines to search various online repositories. From this search process, a total of 28 most relevant articles out of 705 relevant studies. Three main themes emerged including individual and community factors influencing public attitude toward vaccination, and techniques employed to identify these factors. Anti-vax, Pro-vax, and neutral are the major communities, while misinformation, vaccine campaign, and user demographics are the common individual factors assessed during this reviewing process. Twitter user sentiment (positive, negative, and neutral) and emotions (fear, trust, sadness) were also discussed to identify the intentions to accept or refuse vaccines. SVM, LDA, BERT are the techniques used for topic modeling, while Louvain, NodeXL, and Infomap algorithms are used for community detection. This research is notable for being the first systematic review that emphasizes the dearth of longitudinal studies and the methodological and underlying practical constraints underpinning the lucrative implementation of an explainable and longitudinal behavior analysis system. Moreover, new possible research directions are suggested for the researchers to perform accurate human behavior analysis.
Differing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health: combined population and clinical study

Background Identifying youths most at risk to COVID-19-related mental illness is essential for the development of effective targeted interventions. Aims To compare trajectories of mental health throughout the pandemic in youth with and without prior mental illness and identify those most at risk of COVID-19-related mental illness. Method Data were collected from individuals aged 18–26 years (N = 669) from two existing cohorts: IMAGEN, a population-based cohort; and ESTRA/STRATIFY, clinical cohorts of individuals with pre-existing diagnoses of mental disorders. Repeated COVID-19 surveys and standardised mental health assessments were used to compare trajectories of mental health symptoms from before the pandemic through to the second lockdown. Results Mental health trajectories differed significantly between cohorts. In the population cohort, depression and eating disorder symptoms increased by 33.9% (95% CI 31.78–36.57) and 15.6% (95% CI 15.39–15.68) during the pandemic, respectively. By contrast, these remained high over time in the clinical cohort. Conversely, trajectories of alcohol misuse were similar in both cohorts, decreasing continuously (a 15.2% decrease) during the pandemic. Pre-pandemic symptom severity predicted the observed mental health trajectories in the population cohort. Surprisingly, being relatively healthy predicted increases in depression and eating disorder symptoms and in body mass index. By contrast, those initially at higher risk for depression or eating disorders reported a lasting decrease. Conclusions Healthier young people may be at greater risk of developing depressive or eating disorder symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Targeted mental health interventions considering prior diagnostic risk may be warranted to help young people cope with the challenges of psychosocial stress and reduce the associated healthcare burden.
Efficacy and Safety of Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Thoracolumbar Interfascial Plane Block in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery

Objectives: As 2 novel peripheral nerve blocks, the erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and thoracolumbar interfascial plane (TLIP) block can relieve postoperative pain in spinal surgery. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of ESPB versus TLIP block in patients undergoing spine surgery. Methods: An extensive search of English online databases, including PubMed, Web of Sciences, Embase, Medline, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Chinese online databases like Wanfang Data, CNKI, and CQVIP until March 31, 2023, with no language restrictions, was performed. This systematic review and meta-analysis are based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and have been registered on PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) with registered ID: CRD42023420987. Results: Five studies involving 457 patients were eligible for inclusion in this study. Compared with TLIP block, ESPB had lower postoperative opioid consumption at postoperative 48 hours (standard mean difference =−1.31, 95% CI:−2.54 to −0.08, P=0.04, I 2=80%) and postoperative pain score at postoperative 24 hours (standard mean difference =−0.72, 95% CI=−1.43 to −0.02, P=0.04, I 2=95%) in patients undergoing spine surgery. Complications associated with ESPB and TLIP block were not reported in the included studies. Discussion: ESPB and TLIP block are 2 novel and effective block methods. Patients receiving ESPB had lower postoperative opioid consumption and postoperative pain scores compared with patients receiving TLIP block; there was no statistically significant difference’s between the 2 groups in intraoperative opioid consumption, adverse events, and rescue analgesia.
Reapplication of the Pavlik Harness for Treatment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip After Initial Pavlik Harness Failure

Objective: The Pavlik harness (PH) has been widely used as the standard treatment for infants with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). When the initial application of the PH fails, alternative treatments, such as closed reduction, open reduction, and reapplication of the PH will be considered. Compared with other treatments, reapplication of the PH offers certain advantages, including simplicity and reduced physical, and psychological stress, on both infants and caregivers. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of reapplying the PH in patients with DDH. Methods: This study included patients with DDH (complete dislocation) who were treated by reapplication of PH between 1988 and 2012. Patients who were able to follow-up for more than 5 years were included. We examined the reduction rate and several factors to identify indicators associated with successful reduction during reapplication, including age, sex, side of hip dislocation, and the presence of the Ortolani sign. At the final follow-up, hip development was assessed using the Severin classification, whereas avascular necrosis (AVN) was evaluated using the Kalamchi classification and the Salter criteria. Results: A total of 56 patients (48 females and 8 males) and 57 hips were included in this study. The mean age at first and second application of PH was 4.2 months old (range: 0.12 to 6.4), and 5.8 months old (3.0 to 11.4), respectively. The reduction rate was 49% (28 out of 57 hips). Among the successfully reduced hips, the AVN rate was 3.6% (1 out of 28 hips). The Severin classification revealed 27 hips in class I and 1 hip in class III. Statistical analysis indicated a significantly higher proportion of left hip involvement in the reduction group (85% vs 41%, χ2 test, P < 0.001). Although not statistically significant, the rate of positive Ortolani sign tended to be higher in the reduction group (61% vs 38%, χ2 test, P = 0.06). Conclusion: The reapplication method demonstrated a 49% reduction rate and a low AVN rate of 3.6% in our study. It is worth considering for patients who fail the initial PH treatment, particularly in cases of left-side dislocation and a positive Ortolani sign during the initial application.
ON THE SUB-SEASONAL PROCESSES CONTROLLING THE NATURAL PHYTOPLANKTON ABUNDANCE AND BIOLOGICAL PUMP IN THE DRAKE PASSAGE

The biological pump is an important aspect of the global carbon cycle. Phytoplankton blooms in the surface ocean draw down atmospheric carbon dioxide and package it as organic particulates that sink into the deep ocean, where carbon can be sequestered on millennial timescales. Phytoplankton blooms are controlled by nutrient availability, changes in light exposure, respiration, and grazing. In the high nitrate, low chlorophyll surface waters of the open Southern Ocean (SO), blooms are further limited by insufficient iron concentrations. Hence, the SO draws considerable attention as a potential site for geoengineered atmospheric carbon concentrations via iron fertilization. However, there are no prolonged, in-situ observations of the mechanisms controlling the formation of naturally occurring phytoplankton blooms in the SO. To better understand the bloom formation mechanisms in the SO, an APEX biofloat was deployed in the energetic Drake Passage. The biofloat profiled the water column every two days and resolved the development of a natural phytoplankton bloom, along with a subsequent organic carbon export event. Satellite observations suggest that the phytoplankton abundance in the Drake Passage is low when the surface mesoscale kinetic energy (KE) is high. This observation is supported by biofloat observations that revealed, on average, high levels of KE deepen the mixed layer and may therefore control phytoplankton abundance through light limitation. Satellite observations further suggest that the relationship between high KE and phytoplankton abundance could be extended to the entire SO. Furthermore, our analysis indicates that when the high mesoscale kinetic energy control on phytoplankton abundance is alleviated, the mechanisms important for natural bloom formation include sub-mesoscale grazing relaxation and foreign iron deposition. Following the bloom, we infer that high levels of mesoscale kinetic energy contributed to organic carbon export.
Feasibility of Roof Water Harvesting in a Cold Climate

Faced with mounting security of supply issues, the water supply authority in an Australian snowplay resort is trialling roof water harvesting to reduce mains water demand. A trial was established to harvest roof water from a building in Perisher Valley, New South Wales with both a roof and ground collection system. While the trial is ongoing, results from June 2004 to January 2005 show that the ground and roof collection systems collected approximately 100kL and 81kL respectively. Analysis of water quality also indicated that with no treatment, the collected water complied with Australian Drinking Water Guideline requirements, though it did have some bacterial contamination. The results provide encouragement that roof water harvesting is a viable and sustainable alternative to reducing mains water demand in alpine/cold climates.
A novel neutrophil extracellular traps-related lncRNA signature predicts prognosis in patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract Background Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) could entrap tumour cells and promote their dissemination and metastasis. Further analysis of NETs-related molecules is expected to provide a new strategy for prognosis prediction and treatment of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. Methods The model construction was established through co-expression analysis, Lasso Cox regression, univariate and multivariate COX regression, Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway. The potential drugs and analysed drug sensitivity were screened by pRRophetic packages. Results In this study, we constructed a 15 NETs-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) prognostic prediction model (AC091057.1, SPART-AS1, AC023796.2, AL031600.2, AC084781.1, AC032011.1, FAM66C, C026355.2, AL096870.2, AC092718.5, PELATON, AC008635.1, AL162632.3, AC087501.4 and AC123768.3) for patients with early-stage LUAD based on public databases and datasets. The signature is associated with immune cell functions, tumour mutation burden and treatment sensitivity in LUAD patients. Additionally, we found that FAM66C is highly expressed in lung cancer patients for the first time, which is associated with poor prognosis. FAM66C knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration ability of the tumour cells. Conclusions In conclusion, this model is a new and effective prognostic and efficacy predictive biomarker, FAM66C plays an oncogene role in the process of LUAD development. It may provide a new theoretical basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment in LUAD patients in early stage.