Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Usefulness of dried blood spot samples for monitoring hepatitis C treatment outcome and reinfection among people who inject drugs in a test‐and‐treat program

Dried blood spots (DBS) are a reliable tool to diagnose viremic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We evaluated the clinical performance of a DBS‐based molecular assay for the assessment of cure and reinfection after on‐site treatment at a harm reduction center (HRC). Genotyping from DBS samples was also assessed to discriminate reinfection from treatment failure. People who inject drugs (PWID) from an ongoing test‐and‐treat pilot at the largest HRC in Barcelona were included in the study. HCV‐RNA detection from DBS collected after treatment (with follow‐up at 12, 36, and 60 weeks) was compared with a molecular point‐of‐care test using finger‐stick blood (GeneXpert). Baseline and follow‐up DBS samples were genotyped by NS5B sequencing or commercial real‐time PCR. Among treated patients, 193 follow‐up DBS samples were tested. The DBS‐based assay showed 100% specificity (129/129), and sensitivity ranged from 84.4% to 96.1% according to different viral load cut‐offs (from detectable to 3000 IU/mL). Sensitivity as test of cure (follow‐up 12) ranged from 85.1% to 97.4%. Among the 64 patients with recurrent viremia, 10.9% had low viral loads (≤1000 IU/mL); HCV genotyping allowed us to classify 73.5% of viremic cases either as reinfection or as treatment failure. DBS samples are useful to assess cure and differentiate reinfection from relapse after HCV antiviral treatment in the real world, facilitating decentralization of treatment and posttreatment follow‐up in PWID. However, a fraction of patients presented with low viral loads, limiting viremia detection and genotyping in DBS and, therefore, repeat testing is recommended.
A nonparametric alternative to the Cochran-Armitage trend test in genetic case-control association studies: The Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test

Identifications of novel genetic signals conferring susceptibility to human complex diseases is pivotal to the disease diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Genetic association study is a powerful tool to discover candidate genetic signals that contribute to diseases, through statistical tests for correlation between the disease status and genetic variations in study samples. In such studies with a case-control design, a standard practice is to perform the Cochran-Armitage (CA) trend test under an additive genetic model, which suffers from power loss when the model assumption is wrong. The Jonckheere-Terpstra (JT) trend test is an alternative method to evaluate association in a nonparametric way. This study compares the power of the JT trend test and the CA trend test in various scenarios, including different sample sizes (200–2000), minor allele frequencies (0.05–0.4), and underlying modes of inheritance (dominant genetic model to recessive genetic model). By simulation and real data analysis, it is shown that in general the JT trend test has higher, similar, and lower power than the CA trend test when the underlying mode of inheritance is dominant, additive, and recessive, respectively; when the sample size is small and the minor allele frequency is low, the JT trend test outperforms the CA trend test across the spectrum of genetic models. In sum, the JT trend test is a valuable alternative to the CA trend test under certain circumstances with higher statistical power, which could lead to better detection of genetic signals to human diseases and finer dissection of their genetic architecture.
Ultrasound-guided Greater Occipital Nerve Block in Children Undergoing Posterior Fossa Craniotomy: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND Posterior fossa surgery is commonly associated with severe postoperative pain. This study assessed the impact of ultrasound-guided greater occipital nerve (GON) block on postoperative pain and hemodynamic profiles in pediatric posterior fossa craniotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Children aged 2 to 12 years undergoing elective posterior fossa craniotomy with general anesthesia were randomly allocated to a control group receiving standard care (n=18) or a GON block group receiving standard care plus bilateral ultrasound-guided GON block (=17). Outcomes were postoperative pain assessed using the objective pain scale, time to first postoperative analgesia, intraoperative fentanyl consumption, perioperative blood pressure and heart rate, incidence of nausea and vomiting, and nerve-block-related complications. RESULTS Objective pain scale scores were lower in the GON block group than in the control group at 2, 4, 6, 8 (all P=0.0001), 12 (P=0.001), 16 (P=0.03), and 24-hour (P=0.004) postoperatively. The time to first analgesic request was 13.4±7.4 hours in the GON block group and 1.8±1.5 hours in the control group (P <0.001). Intraoperative fentanyl consumption was 2.68±0.53 μg/kg-1 in the GON block group and 4.1±0.53 μg/kg-1 in the control group (P=0.0001). Systolic blood pressure was lower in the GON block group at several intraoperative and postoperative time points, whereas heart rate was similar in the two groups at most time points. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was similar between groups (P=0.38), and there were no nerve-block-related complications. CONCLUSIONS In children undergoing posterior fossa craniotomy, GON block was associated with superior quality and duration of postoperative analgesia and better hemodynamic profile compared with standard care.
Hutlets: a biorthogonal wavelet family and their high-speed implementation with RNS multiplier-free perfect-reconstruction QMF

The relationship between wavelets, Laplace pyramids and QMF are now well established. IN recent years biorthogonal wavelets have become of increased interest because, compared with orthogonal wavelets, they are symmetric and linear phase. In this paper the Hut function is used as a scaling function to construct a biorthogonal wavelet family, we call Hutlets. A realization with perfect reconstruction, multiplier-free quadrature mirror filters using RNS technic is proposed.THe approximation-filter is a CIC lowpass, the detail-filter is a CHPC highpass, and the reconstruction filters are IIRs. Exact pole-zero annihilation is guaranteed by implementing polynomial filters, over an integer ring, in the residue arithmetic system. Since CIC and CHPC designs rely on the exact annihilation of selected poles-zeros, a new facilitating technology is required which is fast, compact, and numerically exact. How this can be achieved is the thrust of this paper. An application of the Hutlets to pulse amplitude modulated signals is explained.
Slab to back-arc to arc: Fluid and melt pathways through the mantle wedge beneath the Lesser Antilles

Volatiles expelled from subducted plates promote melting of the overlying warm mantle, feeding arc volcanism. However, debates continue over the factors controlling melt generation and transport, and how these determine the placement of volcanoes. To broaden our synoptic view of these fundamental mantle wedge processes, we image seismic attenuation beneath the Lesser Antilles arc, an end-member system that slowly subducts old, tectonized lithosphere. Punctuated anomalies with high ratios of bulk-to-shear attenuation (Qκ−1/Qμ−1 > 0.6) and VP/VS (>1.83) lie 40 km above the slab, representing expelled fluids that are retained in a cold boundary layer, transporting fluids toward the back-arc. The strongest attenuation (1000/QS ~ 20), characterizing melt in warm mantle, lies beneath the back-arc, revealing how back-arc mantle feeds arc volcanoes. Melt ponds under the upper plate and percolates toward the arc along structures from earlier back-arc spreading, demonstrating how slab dehydration, upper-plate properties, past tectonics, and resulting melt pathways collectively condition volcanism.
Knowledge on Chlamydia trachomatis and Acceptance to Testing for It Among Young Students in China

A web-based survey found that Chinese young students were not well aware of chlamydia, and the students who had sexual experience were likely to accept a home-based chlamydia screening. Background Actively screening for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is important for young people because of a high prevalence of asymptomatic infection in this population. This study aimed to investigate knowledge on CT and preference to the screening services for CT among young students in China. Methods From June to July 2022, a web-based questionnaire survey was conducted to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, knowledge of CT, previous testing for CT, and preference to platform of testing for CT among Chinese young students. An online home-based self-sampling test (HBSST) service was offered free of charge if the participant was willing to be tested for CT. Statistical analyses included descriptive analysis, χ2 test, and multivariable logistic regression. Results Of 520 participants, 419 (80.6%) were aged between 16 and 24 years, 235 (45.2%) reported having sexual experience in the past, and 27 (5.2%) being tested before for CT. Slightly higher than 10% (57/520) of students were knowledgeable about CT. About one-third (36.9%) expressed their willingness to have a testing for CT but majority of them (63.1%) preferred to a free testing. Having sexual experience was significantly associated with the willingness to take the HBSST service (adjusted odds ratio, 2.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.92–4.58). A total of 139 (26.7%) participants requested the HBSST service online and 43.2% (60/139) returned the specimen for testing, in which 2 positives (3.3%) were found. Conclusions The knowledge on CT and the previous uptake or current willingness to have a testing for CT was low among Chinese young students.
Temperature Trend on Makkah, Saudi Arabia

The main objective of this study is to investigate temperature trend and distribution over 29 years period (1985 to 2013) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for all Muslims. Monthly mean, maximum, and minimum temperature levels and their trends are investigated using Regression analysis and Theil-Sen nonparametric test. Also, trends in deviations from the reference period (1985-2013) are analyzed. The results showed that the number of hot days and nights increased annually by 1.5966 and 1.832, respectively, while the number of cold nights decreased annually by 0.4054 nights. Both Regression analysis and Theil-Sen test demonstrated positive trends in mean, minimum and maximum temperature levels. Trends are determined for various seasons and months of the year. The annual mean of daily mean, maximum and minimum temperature increased by 0.0398°C, 0.0552°C, 0.0398°C per year, respectively. The minimum value of monthly mean temperature (Tmmean = 23.98°C) was found in January, whereas the maximum value of the mean temperature (Tmmean= 35.95°C) was found in July. Maximum value of monthly mean of daily maximum temperature (Tmmax = 43.88°C) was found in June and minimum (30.54°C) in January. The monthly mean of the daily minimum temperature (Tmmin) varied between a minimum of 18.82°C in January and a maximum of 29.59°C in August. From the above analysis it can be concluded that Makkah is suffering from a considerable warming temperature trend which is confirmed by the Theil-Sen non-parametric test and there is potentially an increasing medical risk from heat waves that will be more intense. This requires specific attention toward: the energy demands for extra cooling, water resources, draughts, and medical preparedness by the decision makers in order to minimize these risks to residents, pilgrims who gather annually to perform hajj rituals and other visitors.
Lower anti-Müllerian hormone levels are associated with HIV in reproductive age women and shorter leukocyte telomere length among late reproductive age women

Objectives: We sought to better understand factors associated with ovarian aging in women with HIV (WWH). Design: HIV has been associated with diminished fertility, younger age at menopause, and shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker of cellular aging. We herein examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between LTL, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and HIV. Methods: We included WWH and HIV-negative women 12–50 years of age in the CARMA cohort with one or more study visit(s). LTL and AMH were measured by qPCR and ELISA, respectively. Women were analyzed in peak reproductive (<35 years) vs. late reproductive (≥35 years) life phases. Using multivariable mixed-effect linear or logistic regressions, we assessed factors associated with AMH and ΔAMH/year while adjusting for relevant confounders. Results: WWH had shorter LTL and lower AMH levels compared to HIV-negative controls despite being of similar age. After adjusting for relevant factors, HIV was associated with 20% lower AMH levels in women under 35 years of age and shorter LTL was associated with AMH levels below 2 ng/ml among women aged 35 years or older. Longitudinally, ΔAMH/year was largely related to initial AMH level among older women, and to age in younger women. Conclusions: Factors associated with AMH change across women's reproductive lifespan. Lower AMH among peak reproductive aged WWH suggests that HIV may have an initial detrimental effect on ovarian reserve, an observation that may warrant counseling around pregnancy planning. In women aged 35 years or older, the association between shorter LTL and lower AMH suggests that the immune and reproductive aging connections are more important in this age group.
Molecular laser stabilization at low frequencies for the LISA mission

We have developed a 532 nm iodine stabilized laser system that may be suitable for the LISA mission (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) or other future spaceborne missions. This system is based on an externally frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser source and uses the molecular transfer spectroscopy technique for the frequency stabilization. This technique has been optimized for LISA: compactness (less than $1.1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1.1\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{m}}^{2}$), vacuum compatibility, ease of use and initialization, minimization of the number of active components (acousto-optic modulators are both used for frequency shifting and phase modulating the pump beam). By locking on the ${a}_{10}$ hyperfine component of the R(56)32-0 transition, we find an Allan standard deviation ($\ensuremath{\sigma}$) of $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}$ at 1 s and $\ensuremath{\sigma}l2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}$ for $20\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{s}\ensuremath{\le}\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\le}{10}^{3}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{s}$. In terms of linear spectral density, this roughly corresponds to a stability better than $30\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{Hz}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ between ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ and 1 Hz with a stability decrease close to $1/f$ below 10 mHz.
Biomechanics of keratoconus: Two numerical studies

Background The steep cornea in keratoconus can greatly impair eyesight. The etiology of keratoconus remains unclear but early injury that weakens the corneal stromal architecture has been implicated. To explore keratoconus mechanics, we conducted two numerical simulation studies. Methods A finite-element model describing the five corneal layers and the heterogeneous mechanical behaviors of the ground substance and lamellar collagen-fiber architecture in the anterior and posterior stroma was developed using the Holzapfel-Gasser-Ogden constitutive model. The geometry was from a healthy subject. Its stroma was divided into anterior, middle, and posterior layers to assess the effect of changing regional mechanical parameters on corneal displacement and maximum principal stress under intraocular pressure. Specifically, the effect of softening an inferocentral corneal button, the collagen-based tissues throughout the whole cornea, or specific stromal layers in the button was examined. The effect of simply disorganizing the orthogonally-oriented posterior stromal fibers in the button was also assessed. The healthy cornea was also subjected to eye rubbing-like loading to identify the corneal layer(s) that experienced the most tensional stress. Results Conical deformation and corneal thinning emerged when the corneal button or the mid-posterior stroma of the button underwent gradual softening or when the collagen fibers in the mid-posterior stroma of the button were dispersed. Softening the anterior layers of the button or the whole cornea did not evoke conical deformation. Button softening greatly increased and disrupted the stress on Bowman’s membrane while mid-posterior stromal softening increased stress in the anterior layers. Eye rubbing profoundly stressed the deep posterior stroma while other layers were negligibly affected. Discussion These observations suggest that keratoconus could be initiated, at least partly, by mechanical instability/damage in the mid-posterior stroma that then imposes stress on the anterior layers. This may explain why subclinical keratoconus is marked by posterior but not anterior elevation on videokeratoscopy.
Rural and Urban Home Modification Program Users: A Comparative Study

Objective: To understand the sociodemographic, geographical, and clinical characteristics of rural veterans utilizing home modification (HM) healthcare services under the Home Improvement Structural Alterations (HISA) program, to compare these characteristics between rural and urban veteran users, to estimate the costs of HMs performed, and to present distance that users traveled to HISA-prescribing medical facilities within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Background: Accessible housing is in short supply. HMs allow veterans with disabilities (VWDs) to remain living at home rather than enter institutional-type settings. HISA is associated with decreased inpatient hospitalization rates and increased use of preventative healthcare via outpatient clinic visits. Home accessibility provides psychological benefits improving social interactions and interaction with the physical environment. Methods: This retrospective database study analyzes data from the National Prosthetics Patient Database and other medical datasets within the VHA. Results: Results provide a profile of and comparison between rural and urban veteran users. HISA users are substantially older compared to younger VWDs. The frequency of bathroom, railing, and wooden ramp HMs differed significantly between rural and urban users (p values < .001). Rural users traveled more miles than urban users to reach a prescribing facility. Conclusions: Older adults and individuals with disabilities have unmet housing needs since accessible housing is in short supply. This HM healthcare service is helping to meet the housing accessibility needs of older veterans, VWDs, older adults, and people with disabilities, in general.
Development and Validation of a Quantitative LC-MS/MS Method for CDK4/6 Inhibitors Palbociclib, Ribociclib, Abemaciclib, and Abemaciclib-M2 in Human Plasma

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Background: The cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors, palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib, are standard-of-care agents for patients with hormone receptor–positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative metastatic breast cancer. In support of therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical pharmacokinetic studies, a liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry assay for the simultaneous quantitation of CDK4/6 inhibitors and the major active metabolite M2 of abemaciclib in human plasma has been developed. Methods: Analytes were extracted from 50 μL of human plasma by precipitating proteins with methanol and then collecting the supernatant. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography was performed for analyte separation using a biphasic gradient at a flow rate of 0.25–0.5 mL/min. The total run time was 9.5 minutes. The analytes were detected using MS/MS with electrospray ionization operating in positive ion mode. Results: Validation according to the US Food and Drug Administration's guidance showed that the new assay produced accurate (94.7%–107%) and precise (within-run: 1.2%–8.2%; between-run: 0.6%–7.5%) measurements of all analytes over a concentration range of 5–2000 ng/mL. Overall, analyte recoveries were consistent (mean values: 110%–129%). The analytes were also stable in human plasma and the final extract under various storage conditions. Finally, the clinical applicability of the assay was confirmed by quantitation of all analytes in plasma samples obtained from patients treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors. Reproducibility of the measured analyte concentrations in study samples was confirmed successfully by incurred sample reanalysis. Conclusions: A sensitive liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method to measure CDK4/6 inhibitors was developed and validated according to the Food and Drug Administration criteria. Quantitation of all analytes in clinical plasma samples confirmed that the assay is suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical pharmacokinetic studies of CDK4/6 inhibitors.
Power, Endurance, and Body Composition Changes Over a Collegiate Career in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Women Soccer Athletes

Abstract McFadden, BA, Bozzini, BN, Cintineo, HP, Hills, SP, Walker, AJ, Chandler, AJ, Sanders, DJ, Russell, M, and Arent, SM. Power, endurance, and body composition changes over a collegiate career in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women soccer athletes. J Strength Cond Res 37(7): 1428–1433, 2023—The purpose of this study was to determine longitudinal changes in fitness and body composition throughout athletes' 4-year collegiate soccer careers. Performance testing occurred before preseason during freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year in 17 female Division I soccer players. Body composition was assessed through air-displacement plethysmography to determine percent body fat (%BF), fat-free mass (FFM), and body mass (BM). Maximal countermovement vertical jump height was assessed through contact mat using arm swing (CMJAS) and hands-on-hips (CMJHOH) methods to calculate power (CMJwatts/HOHwatts). Aerobic capacity (V̇o2max) and ventilatory threshold (VT) were assessed by indirect calorimetry during a maximal graded exercise test on a treadmill. Linear mixed models were used to assess changes across academic years (p < 0.05). No changes occurred in %BF, BM, V̇o2max, VT, CMJAS, or CMJwatts. A time main effect was seen for FFM (p = 0.01) with increases from freshman to senior (p = 0.02). Time main effects were observed for CMJHOH (p < 0.001) and CMJHOHwatts (p < 0.001) with increases from freshman to junior (CMJHOH, p = 0.001; CMJHOHwatts, p = 0.02) and senior (CMJHOH, p < 0.001; CMJHOHwatts, p = 0.003) as well as sophomore to senior (CMJHOH, p < 0.001; CMJHOHwatts, p = 0.02). Countermovement vertical jump with hands on hips also increased from sophomore to junior (p = 0.005). The lower FFM and power capabilities as freshmen compared with upperclassman indicate a potential limited readiness. Coaches and training staff should account for these developmental differences when entering the preseason. Adequate conditioning programs before starting a collegiate program may help build a fitness foundation and prepare freshmen athletes to compete at the same level as their upperclassmen counterparts.
Is early bowel resection better than medical therapy for ileocolonic Crohn's disease? A systematic review and meta‐analysis

There is emerging evidence supporting early bowel resection (EBR) for ileocaecal Crohn's disease (CD) as an alternative to conventional escalation of medical therapy (MT). Here, we present a systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies comparing the outcomes of EBR with those of MT in ileocolonic CD, with a focus on ileocaecal disease.