Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the impact of delayed delivery of cardiac rehabilitation on patients’ health

Background Despite its role as an effective intervention to improve the long-term health of patients with cardiovascular disease and existence of national guidelines on timeliness, many health services still fail to offer cardiac rehabilitation in a timely manner after referral. The impact of this failure on patient health and the additional burden on healthcare providers in an English setting is quantified in this article. Methods Two logistic regressions are conducted, using the British Heart Foundation National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation dataset, to estimate the impact of delayed cardiac rehabilitation initiation on the level of uptake and completion. The results of these regressions are applied to a decision model to estimate the long-term implications of these factors on patient health and National Health Service expenditure. Results We demonstrate that the failure of 43.6% of patients in England to start cardiac rehabilitation within the recommended timeframe results in a 15.3% reduction in uptake, and 7.4% in completion. These combine to cause an average lifetime loss of 0.08 years of life expectancy per person. Scaled up to an annual cohort this implies 10,753 patients not taking up cardiac rehabilitation due to the delay, equating to a loss of 3936 years of life expectancy. We estimate that an additional £12.3 million of National Health Service funding could be invested to alleviate the current delay. Conclusions The current delay in many patients starting cardiac rehabilitation is causing quantifiable and avoidable harm to their long-term health; policy and research must now look at both supply and demand solutions in tackling this issue.
Childhood socioeconomic status and inflammation: Psychological moderators among Black and White Americans.

OBJECTIVE The current study examined race differences in how childhood socioeconomic status (SES) predicted midlife inflammation. It also tested psychological resources (purpose in life, optimism, and conscientiousness) as moderators of the association between childhood SES and inflammation among Black and White adults. METHOD Data came from the biomarker subsamples of the Midlife in the United States Core and Refresher studies (n = 1,578 White and n = 395 Black participants). Childhood SES was operationalized as a composite of parental education, perceived financial status, and welfare status. Outcomes included circulating IL-6 and CRP. RESULTS Childhood SES did not predict IL-6 or CRP among Black or White adults in fully adjusted models. Among Black adults with low optimism, lower childhood SES predicted higher IL-6 and CRP. Among Black adults with low purpose in life, lower childhood SES predicted higher CRP (but not IL-6). Conscientiousness did not moderate childhood SES-inflammation associations among Black adults. Among White adults with low conscientiousness or low optimism, lower childhood SES predicted higher IL-6 (but not CRP). Purpose in life did not moderate associations among White adults. Effect sizes were small (≤1% variance explained) and comparable to effects of clinical risk factors in this sample (e.g., age, chronic conditions). CONCLUSIONS Race differences in the childhood SES and inflammation association were not apparent. Childhood SES was linked to inflammation more strongly among those with fewer psychological resources across both racial groups. Psychological resources may be important moderators of inflammation in the context of early life SES disadvantage. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Genomic structure and transcript analysis of the Rapid Alkalinization Factor (RALF) gene family during host-pathogen crosstalk in Fragaria vesca and Fragaria x ananassa strawberry

Rapid Alkalinization Factors (RALFs) are cysteine-rich peptides ubiquitous within plant kingdom. They play multiple roles as hormonal signals in diverse processes, including root elongation, cell growth, pollen tube development, and fertilization. Their involvement in host-pathogen crosstalk as negative regulators of immunity in Arabidopsis has also been recognized. In addition, peptides homologous to RALF are secreted by different fungal pathogens as effectors during early stages of infection. Previous studies have identified nine RALF genes in the diploid strawberry (Fragaria vesca) genome. This work describes the genomic organization of the RALF gene families in commercial octoploid strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) and the re-annotated genome of F. vesca, and then compares findings with orthologs in Arabidopsis thaliana. We reveal the presence of 15 RALF genes in F. vesca genotype Hawaii 4 and 50 in Fragaria x ananassa cv. Camarosa, showing a non-homogenous localization of genes among the different Fragaria x ananassa subgenomes. Expression analysis of Fragaria x ananassa RALF genes upon infection with Colletotrichum acutatum or Botrytis cinerea showed that FanRALF3-1 was the only fruit RALF gene upregulated after fungal infection. In silico analysis was used to identify distinct pathogen inducible elements upstream of the FanRALF3-1 gene. Agroinfiltration of strawberry fruit with deletion constructs of the FanRALF3-1 promoter identified a 5’ region required for FanRALF3-1 expression in fruit, but failed to identify a region responsible for fungal induced expression.
N-glycosylation of infectious bronchitis virus M41 spike determines receptor specificity

Infection of chicken coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is initiated by binding of the viral heavily N-glycosylated attachment protein spike to the alpha-2,3-linked sialic acid receptor Neu5Ac. Previously, we have shown that N-glycosylation of recombinantly expressed receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike of IBV-M41 is of critical importance for binding to chicken trachea tissue. Here we investigated the role of N-glycosylation of the RBD on receptor specificity and virus replication in the context of the virus particle. Using our reverse genetics system we were able to generate recombinant IBVs for nine-out-of-ten individual N-glycosylation mutants. In vitro growth kinetics of these viruses were comparable to the virus containing the wild-type M41-S1. Furthermore, Neu5Ac binding by the recombinant viruses containing single N-glycosylation site knock-out mutations matched the Neu5Ac binding observed with the recombinant RBDs. Five N-glycosylation mutants lost the ability to bind Neu5Ac and gained binding to a different, yet unknown, sialylated glycan receptor on host cells. These results demonstrate that N-glycosylation of IBV is a determinant for receptor specificity.
Effect of Structure of Polymers Grafted from Graphene Oxide on the Compatibility of Particles with a Silicone-Based Environment and the Stimuli-Responsive Capabilities of Their Composites

This study reports the utilization of controlled radical polymerization as a tool for controlling the stimuli-responsive capabilities of graphene oxide (GO) based hybrid systems. Various polymer brushes with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution were grafted from the GO surface by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The modification of GO with poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA), poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA), poly(trimethylsilyloxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMATMS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with online Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Various grafting densities of GO-based materials were investigated, and conductivity was elucidated using a four-point probe method. Raman shift and XPS were used to confirm the reduction of surface properties of the GO particles during SI-ATRP. The contact angle measurements indicated the changes in the compatibility of GOs with silicone oil, depending on the structure of the grafted polymer chains. The compatibility of the GOs with poly(dimethylsiloxane) was also investigated using steady shear rheology. The tunability of the electrorheological, as well as the photo-actuation capability, was investigated. It was shown that in addition to the modification of conductivity, the dipole moment of the pendant groups of the grafted polymer chains also plays an important role in the electrorheological (ER) performance. The compatibility of the particles with the polymer matrix, and thus proper particles dispersibility, is the most important factor for the photo-actuation efficiency. The plasticizing effect of the GO-polymer hybrid filler also has a crucial impact on the matrix stiffness and thus the ability to reversibly respond to the external light stimulation.
Bio-Inspired Strategies for Improving the Selectivity and Sensitivity of Artificial Noses: A Review

Artificial noses are broad-spectrum multisensors dedicated to the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Despite great recent progress, they still suffer from a lack of sensitivity and selectivity. We will review, in a systemic way, the biomimetic strategies for improving these performance criteria, including the design of sensing materials, their immobilization on the sensing surface, the sampling of VOCs, the choice of a transduction method, and the data processing. This reflection could help address new applications in domains where high-performance artificial noses are required such as public security and safety, environment, industry, or healthcare.
3D printing of Haversian bone–mimicking scaffolds for multicellular delivery in bone regeneration

Tissue engineering scaffolds are supposed to mimick the native tissue to achieve the functionalized tissue regeneration. The integration of structure and function for tissue engineering scaffolds is of great importance in mimicking native bone tissue. However, the complexity of hierarchical structures, the requirement for mechanical properties, and the diversity of bone resident cells are the major challenges in constructing biomimetic bone tissue engineering scaffolds. Herein, a Haversian bone–mimicking scaffold with integrated hierarchical Haversian bone structure was successfully prepared via digital laser processing (DLP)–based 3D printing. The compressive strength and porosity of scaffolds could be well controlled by altering the parameters of the Haversian bone–mimicking structure. The Haversian bone–mimicking scaffolds showed great potential for multicellular delivery by inducing osteogenic, angiogenic, and neurogenic differentiation in vitro and accelerated the ingrowth of blood vessels and new bone formation in vivo. The work offers a new strategy for designing structured and functionalized biomaterials through mimicking native complex bone tissue for tissue regeneration.
Supplementation of Lactobacillus plantarum or Macleaya cordata Extract Alleviates Oxidative Damage Induced by Weaning in the Lower Gut of Young Goats

Simple Summary Weaning stress is a serious problem in the goat production industry. This article demonstrates that weaning can induce intestinal oxidative damage, and adding Lactobacillus plantarum or Macleaya cordata can alleviate the oxidative damage of the lower gut in weaned young goats in an intestinal region-specific way. Abstract Weaning usually leads to stress in livestock, which has a negative impact on their growth and development. Research on oxidative stress and inflammation induced by weaning has not been reported in goats. Here, we focused on oxidative stress profile and inflammation status of the lower gut (jejunum, ileum, and colon) of goats. First, we illustrated the status of antioxidant activity and inflammation in the intestine of young goats on pre-(2 weeks postnatal, 2 wkpn) or post-(11 wkpn, weaning at day 45 postnatal)-weaned period of young goats. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher (p < 0.0001) in jejunum and ileum of the young goats in 11 wkpn than that in 2 wkpn, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was lower (p = 0.012) in the lower gut of the young goats with 11 wkpn than that in 2 wkpn. Furthermore, we intended to explore the protective influence of a probiotic additive (Lactobacillus plantarum (LAC) P-8, 10 g/d) and a prebiotic additive (Sangrovit®, Macleaya cordata (MAC) extract 3.75% w/w premix, 0.3 g/d) on intestinal oxidative stress and inflammation status of early-weaned young goats (average weights of 5.63 ± 0.30 kg, weaned on d 45 postnatal). We observed that LAC reduced MDA in jejunum and ileum (p < 0.0001), increased SOD activity in ileum (p < 0.01), and increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in jejunum (p < 0.05). Similarly, MAC reduced MDA contents (p < 0.0001), increased SOD activities (p < 0.01) in both of ileum and jejunum, and increased GSH-Px activity (p < 0.05) in jejunum. However, there were no differences in feed intake, average daily gain, inflammation parameters (interleukin 2 and interleukin 6), and colon oxidative stress profile (MDA, SOD, or GSH-Px) among treatments. These results provide evidence that weaning induces oxidative damage in the lower gut of young goats, and the oxidative damage in the small intestine can be reduced by adding the addition of LAC or MAC in diets depending on the region of the lower gut.
The acromion–greater tuberosity impingement index: A new radiographic measurement and its association with rotator cuff pathology

Purpose: Several radiographic parameters describe humeral head coverage by the acromion. We describe a new radiographic measurement, the acromion–greater tuberosity impingement index (ATI), and its ability to predict rotator cuff pathology. Methods: The ATI was measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray analysis in 83 patients with rotator cuff pathology and 76 patients with acute rotator cuff tears. The lateral acromial angle (LAA), acromion type, the acromion index (AI) and the critical shoulder angle (CSA) were measured to assess their correlations with the ATI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to predict degenerative rotator cuff pathology. The change in the ATI after acromion surgery was evaluated in both groups. Results: According to the ROC curves, the ATI is a good predictor of degenerative rotator cuff pathology on both X-ray (cut-off, 0.865) and MRI (cut-off, 0.965). Patients with degenerative rotator cuff pathology had a significantly higher average ATI compared to the trauma group (p = 0.001 for X-ray and MRI). The degenerative group had a significantly lower LAA (p = 0.001) and a higher ratio of type III acromion (p = 0.035) than the trauma group. The ATI on X-ray was negatively related to the LAA and positively related to the AI, the CSA and acromion type (each p < 0.05). The ATI on MRI was negatively related to the LAA and positively related to the AI and acromion type (each p <0.05). More patients in the degenerative group than the trauma group needed acromioplasty or acromion decompression (p < 0.05). The ATI on MRI was significantly lower after acromion surgery compared to before surgery in both groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The ATI is a good predictor of degenerative supraspinatus tendon tears or subacromial impingement syndrome. The ATI on MRI is more accurate and can precisely guide acromion surgery.
Incursions of Candida auris into Australia, 2018

Candida auris is an emerging global healthcare-associated pathogen. During July–December 2018, four patients with C. auris were identified in Victoria, Australia, all with previous overseas hospitalization. Phylogenetic analysis revealed putative transmission between 2 patients and suspected overseas acquisition in the others. Vigilant screening of at-risk patients is required.
Development of Cycloaliphatic Epoxy-POSS Nanocomposite Matrices with Enhanced Resistance to Atomic Oxygen

The preparation of ultra-thin CFRP laminates, which incorporate a cycloaliphatic epoxy resin reinforced with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) reagent nanofiller, using out-of-autoclave procedure is reported. The influence of the amount of POSS within the laminate on the mechanical properties and surface roughness of the laminates is analysed before and after exposure to atomic oxygen (AO) to simulate the effects of low Earth orbit (LEO). The addition of 5 wt% POSS to the base epoxy leads to an increase in both flexural strength and modulus, but these values begin to fall as the POSS content rises, possibly due to issues with agglomeration. The addition of POSS offers improved resistance against AO degradation with the laminates containing 20 wt% POSS demonstrating the lowest erosion yield (1.67 × 10−24 cm2/atom) after the equivalent of a period of 12 months in a simulated LEO environment. Exposure to AO promotes the formation of a silicon-rich coating layer on the surface of the laminate, which in turn reduces roughness and increases stiffness, as evidenced by measurements of flexural properties and spectral data after exposure.
White-matter integrity and hearing acuity decline in healthy subjects: Magnetic resonance tractography

Abstract Aim The association between hearing acuity and white-matter (WM) microstructure integrity was evaluated in a normal healthy population with a variety of hearing acuity using an automated tractography technique known as TRACULA (TRActs Constrained by UnderLying Anatomy) in order to investigate whether hearing acuity decline is correlated with brain structural connectivity. Methods Forty healthy controls were recruited to this study, which used a Siemens 3T Trio with a standard eight-channel head coil. Hearing acuity was assessed using pure-tone air conduction audiometry (Amplivox 2160, with Audiocups to eliminate noise and allow accurate pure-tone audiometry). Handedness and anxiety and depression were assessed for all participants in this study using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, respectively. Results This study showed a significant reduction in WM volume of the left cingulum angular bundle (CAB; t = 2.32, p = 0.02) in the mild to moderate hearing-loss group (238 ± 223 mm2) compared to the group with normal hearing (105 ± 121 mm2). The WM integrity of the left CAB was found to be significantly different (t = 2.06, p = 0.04) in the mild to moderate hearing-loss group (0.18 ± 0.06 mm2/s) compared to the group with normal hearing (0.22 ± 0.05 mm2/s). The WM integrity of the left anterior thalamic radiation (ATR) was found to be significantly different (t = 2.58, p = 0.014) in the mild to moderate hearing-loss group (0.33 ± 0.05 mm2/s) compared to the group with normal hearing (0.37 ± 0.03 mm2/s). A significant negative correlation was found between age and the WM integrity of the right ATR (r = −0.33, p = 0.038), and between hearing acuity and the WM integrity of the right ATR (r = −0.38, p = 0.013) and left CAB (r = −0.36, p = 0.019). Discussion and conclusion: An important finding in this study is that brain structural connectivity changes in the left hemisphere seem to be associated with age-related hearing loss found mainly in the ATR and CAB tracts.
Gold-Carbon Contacts from Oxidative Addition of Aryl Iodides.

Aryl halide are ubiquitous functional groups in organic chemistry, yet despite their obvious appeal as surface-binding linkers and as precursors for controlled graphene nanoribbon synthesis, they have seldom been used as such in molecular electronics. The confusion regarding the bonding of aryl iodides to Au electrodes is a case in point, with ambiguous reports of both dative Au-I and covalent Au-C contacts. Here we form single-molecule junctions with a series of oligophenylene molecular wires terminated asymmetrically with iodine and thiomethyl to show that the dative Au-I contact has a lower conductance than the covalent Au-C interaction, which we propose occurs via an in situ oxidative addition reaction at the Au surface. Furthermore, we confirm the formation of the Au-C bond by measuring an analogous series of molecules prepared ex situ with the complex AuI(PPh3) in place of the iodide. Density functional theory-based transport calculations support our experimental observations that Au-C linkages have higher conductance than Au-I linkages. Finally, we demonstrate selective promotion of the Au-C bond formation by controlling the bias applied across the junction. In addition to establishing the different binding modes of aryl iodides, our results chart a path to actively controlling oxidative addition on an Au surface using an applied bias.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy combinations in renal cell carcinoma

The treatment landscape of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has been transformed with the advent of antiangiogenics, notably tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Both treatment options have improved outcomes of patients and modified the natural history of mRCC. Clinical investigations have focused on evaluating combination regimens containing ICIs and VEGFR-directed TKIs. Namely, the combinations of axitinib plus pembrolizumab (KEYNOTE-426) and axitinib plus avelumab (JAVELIN RENAL 101) have shown improved outcomes compared with sunitinib in treatment-naïve patients with mRCC. In this review, we discuss the clinical data of single-agent TKIs and ICIs in mRCC and the rationale for the combination ICIs and TKIs based on preclinical and clinical evidence. We also explore the current challenges for regimen selection and development of predictive biomarkers.