Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sharp Decay of the Internal Plateau in Gamma-Ray Bursts: The Effect of a Cocoon's Thermal Photons on the Jet Emission

Sub-TeV or TeV γ-rays have been convincingly detected in the afterglows of some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The relativistic jet associated with GRBs may be surrounded by a cocoon and thus the thermal photons of the cocoon pervading the emission region of the jet can be upscattered to the very-high-energy regime (e.g., sub-TeV/TeV) by the electrons in the jet. In this scenario, the electrons in the jet cool down and thus the jet emission in the low-energy regime, e.g., the X-ray or optical, may be suppressed. In this paper, we study the effect of the cocoon's thermal photons on the jet emission in the low-energy regime. We find that the jet emission in the low-energy regime is significantly suppressed when the emission region of the jet is just encircled by a hot cocoon. Correspondingly, there is a sharp decay in the light curves of the jet emission in the low-energy regime, which can be understood to signify strong TeV emission in GRBs. Since the radius of the cocoon expands with the observer time t obs, the suppression of the jet emission in the low-energy regime may be relieved and thus the light curves of the jet emission would return to those of emission without a cocoon-external inverse-Compton cooling effect. For a long-lasting jet with power ∝(1+tobs/tc)α , an internal plateau followed by a sharp decay may generally appear.
Short-term and Mid-term Blood Pressure Variability and long-term Mortality: evidence from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Study

In considering the impact of blood-pressure variability on health outcomes, two methodological challenges arise: The presence of multiple timescales of variability that may act independently and interactively, and the fairly large stochastic uncertainty that is inevitable in estimates of individual variability based on modest numbers of observations. Here we present an application of Bayesian hierarchical modeling to the problem of estimating the effect of blood pressure (BP) variability on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality with two timescales – short-term variation among multiple measures at one visit, and medium-term variation between the measures at two visits several months apart. We use data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey linked with up to 27 years of mortality follow-up. We find that medium-term systolic BP variability had a very significant predictive value for CV and all-cause mortality, around one-third as large as the well-established impact of mean systolic BP. Medium-term diastolic variability had an additional, though smaller, predictive effect. Short-term variability, on the other hand, had little or no measurable predictive value. The medium-term variability effect persisted when controlling for Framingham risk score.
Public perceptions of Ebola vaccines and confidence in health services to treat Ebola, malaria, and tuberculosis: Findings from a cross-sectional household survey in Uganda, 2020

Uganda used Ebola vaccines as part of its preparedness and response during the 2018–2020 10th Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We evaluated the public’s perceptions of Ebola vaccines and compared their confidence in health services to treat Ebola versus malaria and tuberculosis as part of a survey on Ebola knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) conducted in March 2020. A cross-sectional household survey was implemented in six districts in Uganda using multi-stage cluster sampling to randomly select participants. The districts were purposively selected from districts classified by the government as at high- or low-risk for an EVD outbreak. We describe perceptions of Ebola vaccines and confidence in health services to treat Ebola, tuberculosis, and malaria. Modified Poisson regression modeling was used to identify the demographic correlates of these outcomes. Among 3,485 respondents, 18% were aware of Ebola vaccines. Of those, 92% agreed that the vaccines were needed to prevent Ebola. Participants aged 15–24 years were 4% more likely to perceive such need compared to those 60 years and older (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0–1.08). The perceived need was 5% lower among participants with at least some secondary education compared to uneducated participants (aPR 0.95; 0.92–0.99). Overall, 81% of those aware of the vaccines believed that everyone or most people in their community would get vaccinated if offered, and 94% said they would likely get vaccinated if offered. Confidence in health services to treat Ebola was lower compared to treating malaria or tuberculosis (55% versus 93% and 77%, respectively). However, participants from the EVD high-risk districts were 22% more likely to be confident in health services to treat Ebola compared to those in low-risk districts (aPR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.38). Our findings suggest that intent to take an Ebola vaccine during an outbreak was strong, but more work needs to be done to increase public awareness of these vaccines. The public’s high confidence in health services to treat other health threats, such as malaria and tuberculosis, offer building blocks for strengthening their confidence in health services to treat EVD in the event of an outbreak.
Addressing childhood obesity through policy: A cross-sectional study in Malta

Summary Introduction Childhood overweight and obesity are major public health challenges, with Malta having one of the highest prevalences among European countries. The COVID-19 pandemic may further worsen this epidemic. The food and physical activity environments impact children’s behaviours. This study looks at barriers to maintain a healthy weight, responsibility to address obesity, and assesses parental support for 22 policies aimed at addressing childhood obesity. Public support for policy is key because it influences which policies are adopted and their success. Methods A cross-sectional, paper-based, quantitative survey was conducted amongst parents of primary school-aged children in Malta in 2018-2019. Ethical approval was obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Results 1,169 parents participated. The food environment was more commonly identified as a barrier to maintain a healthy weight than the physical activity environment. Parents were least supportive of taxation policies, and most in favour of increasing spaces available for safe physical activity (94.0%), followed by providing free weight management services for children (90.8%). The level of support varied significantly by various socio-demographic/economic characteristics; parents with a higher educational level were significantly more supportive of most policies. Most findings were consistent with the international literature. Conclusions Most policies supported are trans-sectoral; a health-in-all policies approach is needed to address the obesogenic environment. The strong public support identified for several policies should embolden policymakers to consider policy options that were not previously considered.
Oral health and nicotine dependence in tobacco users visiting a Dental Institution in North India

Summary Objective The cross-sectional study was intended to evaluate the oral health and nicotine dependence among tobacco users. Material & Methods Fagerstorm Test for Nicotine Dependence estimated nicotine dependence and clinically oral examination was performed in recording the dentition status, oral hygiene, gingivitis and periodontal health. Descriptive statistics was computed using mean, percentage and standard deviation. Association was estimated using Independent T Test. Binary logistic regression and multiple regression analysis was used in inferential statistics. Results In general, 55.3% had dental caries, followed by 92.6% having gingivitis and 7.4% had clinical attachment loss. Mean DMF was 2.60 (± 3.88) and the subjects mean oral hygiene score was 3.49 (± 1.11). The mean DMF score of tobacco users worsened with increasing age. Current smokers were 1.07 times more predisposed to get dental caries than former smokers and smokeless tobacco chewers had higher odds of 1.060 times to fall susceptible to dental caries than those smoking tobacco. Dependence on tobacco substantially worsened oral hygiene. Conclusions Tobacco cessation practices shall be effectively enforced to minimize the burden of nicotine dependence.
The RNA helicase Dbp10 coordinates assembly factor association with PTC maturation during ribosome biogenesis

Abstract During ribosome biogenesis a plethora of assembly factors and essential enzymes drive the unidirectional maturation of nascent pre-ribosomal subunits. The DEAD-box RNA helicase Dbp10 is suggested to restructure pre-ribosomal rRNA of the evolving peptidyl-transferase center (PTC) on nucleolar ribosomal 60S assembly intermediates. Here, we show that point mutations within conserved catalytic helicase-core motifs of Dbp10 yield a dominant-lethal growth phenotype. Such dbp10 mutants, which stably associate with pre-60S intermediates, impair pre-60S biogenesis at a nucleolar stage prior to the release of assembly factor Rrp14 and stable integration of late nucleolar factors such as Noc3. Furthermore, the binding of the GTPase Nug1 to particles isolated directly via mutant Dbp10 bait proteins is specifically inhibited. The N-terminal domain of Nug1 interacts with Dbp10 and the methyltransferase Spb1, whose pre-60S incorporation is also reduced in absence of functional Dbp10 resulting in decreased methylation of 25S rRNA nucleotide G2922. Our data suggest that Dbp10’s helicase activity generates the necessary framework for assembly factor docking thereby permitting PTC rRNA methylation and the progression of pre-60S maturation.
Optimizing river flows for salmon and energy

This study identified trade-offs and complementarities between seasonal flow regimes that favor energy producers and those that benefit salmon production in the Tuolumne River, California below Don Pedro Dam. We produced and analyzed a non-dominated set of solutions using two models, one to estimate relative energy value and one to estimate relative salmon production from candidate flow regimes. The analysis suggested that both salmon and energy producers benefitted from pulse-flow releases during hot summer temperatures. However, the timing of an earlier pulse flow differed substantially between optimal flow regimes favoring the two objectives. Earlier flow releases that favored salmon production were allocated in late-winter over an extended period. This broad late-winter pulse inundated floodplain and promoted faster juvenile growth for early cohorts, whereas the later pulse flow mitigated exposure to high river temperatures by later cohorts of juvenile salmon. Optimal minimum flows were also higher in salmon-oriented solutions than in those that favored energy value. Flow releases allocated to maximize energy value occurred in both summer and winter, when cooling and heating increased electricity demand. Intermediate solutions generally allocated steeper and narrow pulses both in summer and during the late-winter, at times mirroring those used by salmon regimes. The steepness of pulse flows to maximize energy was driven primarily by hydraulic capacity (maximum generating flows). In summary, this analysis has improved understanding of the trade-offs and complementarities between seasonal patterns of reservoir releases that favor salmon and those that favor energy value to producers.
Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic activities of methanolic extract of Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A. Chev. Leaves

Traditionally Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A. Chev. is being used for the treatment of various disorders, such as fever, headache, diarrhea, coughs, haemoptysis, small pox, madness, skin eruptions, joint pains, rheumatic bone pains, swelling pain and it is also used for abortion. The aim of our study wast o evaluate analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic activities of methanolic extract of C. Fruticosa leaves (MCFL). Analgesic effect of MCFL was investigated by using acetic acid induced writhing test, formalin-induced paw licking test, tail immersion test and hot plate test. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by using xylene induced ear edema test and cotton pellet induced granuloma test, whereas antipyretic effect was observed by utilizing Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia test. In analgesic test, MCFL significantly (∗p< 0.05, vs. control) reduced paw licking and abdominal writhing of mice in a dose dependent manner. MCFL at a dose of 800 mg/kg body weight, significantly increased pain threshold in tail immersion test and hot plate test. Significant anti-inflammatory effect was produced by MCFL by reducing xylene induced air edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma in a dose dependent manner. In anti-pyretic test, after 4th hour of respective treatment, MCFL at all doses exhibited anti-pyretic activity, when compared with control (∗p < 0.05, vs. control). The results obtained demonstrate that C. fruticosa may provide a source of plant compounds with analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities.
Organoid assessment technologies

Abstract Despite enormous advances in the generation of organoids, robust and stable protocols of organoids are still a major challenge to researchers. Research for assessing structures of organoids and the evaluations of their functions on in vitro or in vivo is often limited by precision strategies. A growing interest in assessing organoids has arisen, aimed at standardizing the process of obtaining organoids to accurately resemble human‐derived tissue. The complex microenvironment of organoids, intricate cellular crosstalk, organ‐specific architectures and further complicate functions urgently quest for high‐through schemes. By utilizing multi‐omics analysis and single‐cell analysis, cell‐cell interaction mechanisms can be deciphered, and their structures can be investigated in a detailed view by histological analysis. In this review, we will conclude the novel approaches to study the molecular mechanism and cell heterogeneity of organoids and discuss the histological and morphological similarity of organoids in comparison to the human body. Future perspectives on functional analysis will be developed and the organoids will become mature models.
Nurse-led sustainable plastic surgery trauma service transformation: a positive COVID-19 legacy

The aim of this quality improvement was to develop a sustainable nurse-led ‘See and Treat’ service in a regional plastic surgery unit in England for patients requiring plastic surgery under local anaesthetic following traumatic injury. Trauma-related injuries are a substantial part of the workload in the plastic surgery department in question; with people with the most minor injuries requiring surgery under local anaesthetic accounting for 17%. COVID-19 threatened the continuation of any minor surgery service, but the initial crisis-driven response to the pandemic provided the opportunity to develop a new, more effective, nurse-led service for this patient group. The Model for Improvement was used and four ‘Plan, Do, Study, Act’ cycles deployed over an 8-week period, involving 102 patients. Routine quantitative and qualitative data in the form of a semistructured patient feedback proforma were used to guide the improvement process, optimising the new service design and delivery. The results demonstrated that 98% (n=100) of patients received same-day surgery via the new ‘See and Treat’ service. Staff and patient satisfaction remained high throughout; all patients preferred same-day surgery. No negative unintended consequences, for example, postoperative infections, were identified. One positive unintended consequence was the reduction in carbon footprint achieved by decreasing clinical waste and patient travel. Improvement methodology was successfully used by a nurse-led team to enable the continuation and enhancement of surgical services for trauma patients during COVID-19-driven service disruption. This service transformation has resulted in the retention of the revised service delivery model as the ‘new normal’ approximately 2 years later. The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the resilience of the trauma surgery service but led to a positive long-term legacy that sustainably improved waiting times and patient experience while maintaining safety.
Unraveling viral drug targets: a deep learning-based approach for the identification of potential binding sites

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spurred a wide range of approaches to control and combat the disease. However, selecting an effective antiviral drug target remains a time-consuming challenge. Computational methods offer a promising solution by efficiently reducing the number of candidates. In this study, we propose a structure- and deep learning-based approach that identifies vulnerable regions in viral proteins corresponding to drug binding sites. Our approach takes into account the protein dynamics, accessibility and mutability of the binding site and the putative mechanism of action of the drug. We applied this technique to validate drug targeting toward severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike glycoprotein S. Our findings reveal a conformation- and oligomer-specific glycan-free binding site proximal to the receptor binding domain. This site comprises topologically important amino acid residues. Molecular dynamics simulations of Spike in complex with candidate drug molecules bound to the potential binding sites indicate an equilibrium shifted toward the inactive conformation compared with drug-free simulations. Small molecules targeting this binding site have the potential to prevent the closed-to-open conformational transition of Spike, thereby allosterically inhibiting its interaction with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. Using a pseudotyped virus-based assay with a SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody, we identified a set of hit compounds that exhibited inhibition at micromolar concentrations.
Pulmonary Fibrosis Stakeholder Summit: A Joint NHLBI, Three Lakes Foundation, and Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Workshop Report

Despite progress in elucidation of disease mechanisms, identification of risk factors, biomarker discovery, and the approval of two medications to slow lung function decline in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and one medication to slow lung function decline in progressive pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis remains a disease with a high morbidity and mortality. In recognition of the need to catalyze ongoing advances and collaboration in the field of pulmonary fibrosis, the NHLBI, the Three Lakes Foundation, and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation hosted the Pulmonary Fibrosis Stakeholder Summit on November 8–9, 2022. This workshop was held virtually and was organized into three topic areas: 1) novel models and research tools to better study pulmonary fibrosis and uncover new therapies, 2) early disease risk factors and methods to improve diagnosis, and 3) innovative approaches toward clinical trial design for pulmonary fibrosis. In this workshop report, we summarize the content of the presentations and discussions, enumerating research opportunities for advancing our understanding of the pathogenesis, treatment, and outcomes of pulmonary fibrosis.
Treatment Outcomes After Switching to Second-Line Anti-Retroviral Therapy: Results From the Thai National Treatment Program

This study aimed to assess second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) outcomes in a National HIV Treatment program. People living with HIV aged ≥18 years initiating first-line ART who switched to second-line protease inhibitor-based regimens from January 2008 to May 2019, with a minimum of 1-year follow-up were studied. The primary outcome was second-line treatment failure (two consecutive virological failure episodes (viral load ≥1000 copies/mL)). Of 318,506 PLH initiating ART, 29,015 (9.1%) switched to second-line regimens after a median (IQR) ART duration of 1.63 (0.60-3.59) years. Lost to follow-up (LTFU) occurred in 5316 (18.3%) of whom 1376 (5%) remained LTFU and alive; 4606 (15.9%) died. Cumulative second-line failure incidence was 9.8% at 6 years, more common in females, younger PLH those with lower switch CD4 cell counts. Multidisciplinary, innovative support systems are needed to improve second-line treatment outcomes, particularly those relating to modifiable risk factors.
Subseafloor Investigation of Sediments at Southern Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand, before Capital Dredging

ABSTRACT Jorat, M.E. ; Moon, V.G. ; Hepp, D.A. ; Kreiter, S. ; de Lange, W.P.; Feldmann, S. , and Mörz, T. , 2017. Subseafloor investigation of sediments at southern Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand, before capital dredging. The Port of Tauranga plays a key role in New Zealand's export–import industry, and capital dredging commenced in October 2015 to extend the shipping channels to accommodate larger container vessels. This study investigated two-dimensional and three-dimensional subsurface estuarine sediment stratigraphy to predict the sedimentological conditions encountered during dredging operations to ensure that appropriate dredging methodologies were used to minimise the generation of turbidity. Eight cone penetration tests (CPTs), 14 core descriptions, and a high-resolution seismic investigation in Stella Passage (the main shipping channel of Tauranga Harbour) provided the basis for this research. Six major units comprise the stratigraphy; in ascending order they are lower pumiceous sand and silt (UNIT6), quartz-feldspar sand and silt (UNIT5), middle pumiceous sand and silt (UNIT4), silt–sand–clay (UNIT3), upper pumiceous sand and silt (UNIT2), and Holocene marine (UNIT1) sediments forming the modern seafloor. Three paleovalleys filled with sediments from UNIT2 were identified extending west to east across the channel. The CPT profiles were correlated with the seismostratigraphic units and their corresponding soil behaviour type to characterise each unit's sediment stiffness. The UNIT6 is unlikely to be encountered in current and future capital dredging operations because it is the lowest observed unit. A special dredging methodology may be required for UNIT5 and UNIT4 as they have high CPT tip resistance and undrained shear strength. For UNIT3, UNIT2, and UNIT1, which have very low CPT tip resistance and undrained shear strength, trailing suction and cutter suction dredging is appropriate. The potential turbidity of the water column, however, could impose a significant threat to marine biota and has to be taken into account.
Synoptic analysis and urban signatures of a heavy rainfall on 7 August 2015 in Beijing

A heavy rainfall event that occurred in Beijing on 7 August 2015 was investigated by means of several nonconventional observational data and the Beijing Rapid Update Cycle Model (v3.0). A cold front guided by an upper trough and the wind shear line are main factors influencing this rainfall event. The two factors combined were enhanced after passing the Beijing downtown area. A Nourban land use scenario was employed to analyze the impact of urbanization on this rainfall event. The results show that the urban land use type, which induces the wind shear line, is indispensable in forecasting the rainstorm. The urban land use type leads to gradients of the sensible heat flux, temperature, and wind increasing in the suburban area, which may allow the synoptic systems to merge and enhance. Urbanization caused the precipitation to increase in the downstream suburban area and the spatial distribution of precipitation to become more concentrated. Ensemble tests of different parameterization schemes confirm that the results are reliable.