Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing material and embodied flows related to building services in office buildings — the case of Brussels, Belgium

An increasing number of cities and regions are promoting reuse as a key strategy in the transition towards a more circular economy in the construction sector. However, the reuse supply chains for building services are currently underdeveloped in most cities and regions. There is a need for a better understanding of the material flows at the city and regional levels. This study describes a bottom-up approach to quantify material flows related to building services as well as their embodied environmental and economic flows. It relies on the selection of a minimum of 1 new construction or renovation project representing material inflows and 1 demolition or renovation project representing material outflows. Actual products from bill of quantities and pre-demolition audits are mapped against a list of 234 archetypes, and archetypal inflows and outflows are extrapolated to the city or regional level. This model is applied to all office buildings in the Region of Brussels, Belgium. Results show that rectangular ductwork is responsible for almost 30% of annual inflows of building services, which amount to 32 km/year, 1,6 kt/year, require 96 thousand m3 of freshwater/year, 131 TJ of primary energy/year, emit 9,9 kt CO2 eq/year, cost 3;4 MEUR/year to project developers, and whose installation in buildings represents 51 khours/year. In addition, results show that the outflows of black steel pipes, recessed luminaires and electrical cables exceed the inflows on an annual basis, suggesting that there is significant potential for covering needs through the reuse of those products.
Coherent structure and sound production in the helical mode of a screeching axisymmetric jet

Abstract The structure of a screeching axisymmetric jet in the helical C mode at a nozzle pressure ratio of 3.4 issuing from a convergent nozzle is studied using high-resolution particle image velocimetry. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is used to extract the dominant coherent structures within the jet. The first two modes produced by the POD are used to reconstruct a phase-averaged data sequence. A triple decomposition into mean, coherent and random velocity components is performed. The embedded shock structures within the jet are shown to strongly modulate the coherent axial stresses within the shear layer and to weakly modulate the random axial stresses. Analysis of the third and fourth moments of the velocity probability density function is used as an indicator of possible regions of shock–vortex interaction and thus screech tone generation. Peaks of kurtosis (flatness) occur at the second, third and fourth shock–boundary intersection points, with the radial position shifting towards the centreline with increasing downstream distance. Analysis of the coherent component of vorticity shows that the largest fluctuations in coherent vorticity occur at the high-speed side of the shear layer in an area extending from the second to the fourth shock cell. With reference to prior literature, the argument is made that it is this increased magnitude of coherent vorticity fluctuation that is the primary factor in the determination of which shock cells act as dominant screech sources.
Clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic risk factors of cervical cancer patients aged ≤35 years old

We aimed to explore the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic risk factors of cervical cancer in patients aged ≤35 years. A total of 256 cervical cancer patients treated at Anhui Medical University Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Hospital and The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2016 to October 2018 were divided into ≤35-year-old (n = 136) and >35-year-old (n = 120) groups. Their clinicopathological characteristics and 3-year cumulative disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were compared. The factors influencing the 3-year cumulative DFS rate of patients in the ≤35-year-old group were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression models. The human papillomavirus (HPV) infection rate, incidence rate of contact vaginal bleeding, depth of cervical interstitial infiltration, and incidence rates of parametrial metastasis and vascular infiltration were all significantly higher in the ≤35-year-old group than in the >35-year-old group. The 3-year cumulative DFS rates of all patients and those with HPV infection and contact vaginal bleeding were significantly lower in the ≤35-year-old group than in the >35-year-old group (69.12% vs. 77.50%, 68.29% vs. 80.85%, and 66.04% vs. 81.48%) (log-rank χ2 = 7.429, 4.339, and 4.276, P < .05). Depth of cervical interstitial infiltration >4 mm, parametrial metastasis, lymph node metastasis, and vascular infiltration were independent risk factors for the prognosis of cervical cancer patients aged ≤35 years (P < .05). Cervical cancer aged ≤35 years have a worse postoperative prognosis than those aged >35 years, which is affected by the depth of cervical interstitial infiltration >4 mm, parametrial metastasis, lymph node metastasis, and vascular infiltration. Therefore, it is necessary to identify more effective treatment methods for young patients with cervical cancer to improve the therapeutic effect and reduce the risk of recurrence and metastasis.
Evaluation of voice function after BABA robotic thyroid lobectomy: A comparative analysis with endoscopic thyroid lobectomy

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of robotic thyroid lobectomy via Bilateral Axlio-Breast Approach (BABA) and endoscopic thyroid lobectomy on the voice function. A total of 125 patients with thyroid cancer from March 2021 to July 2022 were divided into the robotic thyroid lobectomy group and the endoscopic thyroid lobectomy group. Acoustic index and voice handicap index (VHI-10) were compared between the 2 groups before and after (1 week, 1 month, 3 month) the surgery. In the robotic group, VHI-10 score was not significantly different before and after the surgery. In the endoscopic group, VHI-10 score after the surgery was significantly higher than that before the surgery. In the endoscopic group, the fundamental frequency (F0) declined significantly 1 week and 1 month after the surgery compared with that before the surgery. One week after surgery, F0 in the endoscopic group was (197.91 ± 24.15) Hz, which was significantly lower than that (206.77 ± 20.13) Hz in the robotic group. In the robotic group, there was no obvious decline in F0 and MPT in each follow-up period after surgery compared with those before surgery. In the endoscopic group, MPT declined significantly 1 week after the surgery compared with that before surgery. One week after surgery, MPT in the endoscopic group was (13.02 ± 9.28) s, which was significantly lower than that (17.55 ± 9.25) s in the robotic groups. There were no significant differences in Shimmer, Jitter, DSI and NHR during all postoperative follow-up periods compared with those before surgery in both groups. The voice function of robotic thyroid lobectomy via BABA is superior to endoscopic thyroid lobectomy.
A Comparison of Tracers of Cool Gas in Galaxies and the 12CO/13CO Luminosity Ratio in Luminous Infrared Galaxies

We present new observations of 12CO (J = 2-1), 13CO (J = 2-1), and 1.3 mm dust continuum emission toward seven diverse galaxies (IC 10, IRAS 10565+2448, the Antennae—NGC 4038 and 4039, NGC 4736, Mrk 231, and NGC 6090). Compared with the other galaxies in the sample, the two ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIGs) exhibit reduced 13CO line luminosities with respect to the 12CO line luminosities and 1.3 mm dust luminosities. These observations parallel the established trend of large R-values in ULIGs compared with more quiescent spiral galaxies. The two luminous merging pairs in our sample with moderate starburst activity, the Antennae and NGC 6090, do not appear to show the large R-values. The results are consistent with models in which 12CO emission is dominated in the most luminous mergers by warm regions of ISM with moderate optical depths (τ ∼ 1). For the other galaxies, R is more typical of the optically thick case 10 < R < 20, and most of the emission probably arises from within cooler molecular clouds. We compare these data with previous 12CO (J = 3-2) and [C I] (3P1-3P0) observations from the literature.
Study on the effect of acupunture treatment on autonomic nerve dysfunction in convalescent period of stroke based on heart rate variability assessment technique

Stroke patients with autonomic dysfunction are more likely to develop cardiac problems, which have been linked to lower functional outcomes and increased mortality. In this study, heart rate variability (HRV) detection paired with the Clinical Feature Scale will be utilized to elucidate the immediate impact of manual acupuncture on autonomic dysfunction of varying severity in the convalescence stroke phase. This is a randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial approach. At a ratio of 1:1, 60 appropriate patients will be randomly randomized into either the experimental or control group. On the basis of symptomatic treatment drugs, the experimental group will additionally undertake acupuncture therapy 3 times a week for 4 weeks, for a total of 12 times. Primary outcomes include 24-hour HRV and 60-minute HRV detection at week 4 compared with baseline. The secondary outcome is the score of clinical feature scale at week 4 compared with the baseline. Adverse events and safety indices will be recorded throughout the experiment. The SPSS V.25. 0 statistical program was applied for analysis, and measurement data were expressed as mean ± SD.
Inhaled Bacteriophage Therapy for Multi-Drug Resistant Achromobacter

The rise of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria is a global public health threat. AMR Achromobacter bacteria pose a challenging clinical problem, particularly for those with cystic fibrosis (CF) who are predisposed to chronic bacterial lung infections. Lytic bacteriophages (phages) offer a potential alternative to treat AMR infections, with the possible benefit that phage selection for resistance in target bacteria might coincide with reduced pathogenicity. The result is a genetic “trade-off,” such as increased sensitivity to chemical antibiotics, and/or decreased virulence of surviving bacteria that are phage resistant. Here, we show that two newly discovered lytic phages against Achromobacter were associated with stabilization of respiratory status when deployed to treat a chronic pulmonary infection in a CF patient using inhaled (nebulized) phage therapy. The two phages demonstrate traits that could be generally useful in their development as therapeutics, especially the possibility that the phages can select for clinically useful trade-offs if bacteria evolve phage resistance following therapy. We discuss the limitations of the current study and suggest further work that should explore whether the phages could be generally useful in targeting pulmonary or other Achromobacter infections in CF patients.
Five Species of Taxus Karyotype Based on Oligo-FISH for 5S rDNA and (AG3T3)3

As a relict plant, Taxus is used in a variety of medicinal ingredients, for instance to treat a variety of cancers. Taxus plants are difficult to distinguish from one another due to their similar morphology; indeed, some species of Taxus cytogenetic data still are unclear. Oligo-FISH can rapidly and efficiently provide insight into the genetic composition and karyotype. This is important for understanding the organization and evolution of chromosomes in Taxus species. We analysed five Taxus species using two oligonucleotide probes. (AG3T3)3 signals were distributed at the chromosome ends and the centromere of five species of Taxus. The 5S rDNA signal was displayed on two chromosomes of five species of Taxus. In addition to Taxus wallichiana var. mairei, 5S rDNA signals were found proximal in the remaining four species, which signals a difference in its location. The karyotype formula of Taxus wallichiana was 2n = 2x = 24m, its karyotype asymmetry index was 55.56%, and its arm ratio was 3.0087. Taxus × media’s karyotype formula was 2n = 2x = 24m, its karyotype asymmetry index was 55.09%, and its arm ratio was 3.4198. The karyotype formula of Taxus yunnanensis was 2n = 2x = 24m, its karyotype asymmetry index was 55.56%, and its arm ratio was 2.6402. The karyotype formula of Taxus cuspidate was 2n = 2x = 24m, its karyotype asymmetry index was 54.67%, its arm ratio was 3.0135, and two chromosomes exhibited the 5S rDNA signal. The karyotype formula of T. wallichiana var. mairei was 2n= 2x = 22m + 2sm, its karyotype asymmetry index was 54.33%, and its arm ratio was 2.8716. Our results provide the karyotype analysis and physical genetic map of five species of Taxus, which contributes to providing molecular cytogenetics data for Taxus.
Rapid Detection of the Varicella-Zoster Virus Using a Recombinase-Aided Amplification-Lateral Flow System

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the etiological agent of varicella (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (shingles). VZV infections are ubiquitous and highly contagious, and diagnosis is mostly based on the assessment of signs and symptoms. However, monkeypox, an emerging infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), has clinical manifestations that are similar to those of VZV infections. With the recent monkeypox outbreak in non-endemic regions, VZV infections are likely to be misdiagnosed in the absence of laboratory testing. Considering the lack of accessible diagnostic tests that discriminate VZV from MPXV or other poxviruses, a handy and affordable detection system for VZV is crucial for rapid differential diagnosis. Here, we developed a new detection method for VZV using recombinase-aided amplification technology, combined with the lateral flow system (RAA-LF). Given the prevalence of VZV worldwide, this method can be applied not only to distinguish VZV from other viruses causing rash, but also to foster early detection, contributing substantially to disease control.
Transcriptomic Signature of Horseshoe Crab Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda Hemocytes’ Response to Lipopolysaccharides

Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (C. rotundicauda) is one of the four species of horseshoe crabs (HSCs). The HSC hemocytes store defense molecules that are released upon encountering invading pathogens. The HSCs rely on this innate immunity to continue its existence as a living fossil for more than 480 million years. To gain insight into the innate mechanisms involved, transcriptomic analysis was performed on isolated C. rotundicauda hemocytes challenged with lipopolysaccharides (LPS), the main components of the outer cell membrane of gram-negative bacteria. RNA-sequencing with Illumina HiSeq platform resulted in 232,628,086 and 245,448,176 raw reads corresponding to 190,326,253 and 201,180,020 high-quality mappable reads from control and LPS-stimulated hemocytes, respectively. Following LPS-stimulation, 79 genes were significantly upregulated and 265 genes were downregulated. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were related to multiple immune functional categories and pathways such as those of the cytoskeleton, Toll and Imd, apoptosis, MAP kinase (MAPK), inositol phosphate metabolism, phagosome, leucocyte endothelial migration, and gram-negative bacterial infection, among others. This study provides important information about the mechanisms of response to LPS, which is relevant for the understanding the HSCs’ immune response.
Noncompliance with Therapeutic Guidelines for Chronic Hepatitis B Patients in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Standardized treatment regimens for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are crucial in suppressing viral replication, disease progression and the development of complications. However, information on routine compliance with such therapeutic recommendations in medical practice is rare. Aim: To evaluate the application of Brazilian therapeutic guidelines for CHB within the scope of the Unified Health System in Minas Gerais state. Four key recommendations from the national guidelines were compared with data from treated patients: (i) eligibility to start treatment; (ii) type of treatment applied; (iii) rescue antiviral therapy; and (iv) monitoring of virological response. Most physicians (69.8%) declared to adopt these guidelines, while 10 of them were unaware. However, according to the criteria established by the guidelines, only 39.5% of treated patients should have been considered “truly” eligible to start treatment and only 67.6% of these underwent the recommended pharmacological treatment. The virological response was laboratory monitored in just over a third of patients. Rescue therapy was adequately supplanted in 41.2% of patients previously treated with lamivudine. There was low compliance with national guidelines by public service physicians in Brazil, highlighting the need to raise awareness of the importance of its adherence to expand the control of CHB. Thus, increasing the adherence of health professionals to this tool is a current challenge for health institutions and managers.
The statistical self‐similarity hypothesis in grain growth and particle coarsening

The time dependence of particle size (e.g., mean volume) in normal grain growth, bubble growth, and late‐stage coarsening is deduced from a statistical self‐similarity (SSS) hypothesis, according to which consecutive configurations of the system in the self‐similar mode are geometrically similar in a statistical sense, and from the scaling characteristic of v, the rate of change of the volume of a given particle. It is shown that if v scales as vα under uniform magnification, where v is the mean particle volume and α a constant depending on the controlling kinetics and geometry of the system, then v1−α is a linear function of the time. Values of α are obtained for a number of cases. The treatment is free of many of the approximations and geometrical simplifications used in most theories. Evidence for the SSS hypothesis is discussed. Special new results are obtained for two‐dimensional bubble and idealized grain growth that should be testable by computer simulation or by observation of a well‐behaved soap‐bubble array.
Protein Targeting to Glycogen (PTG): A Promising Player in Glucose and Lipid Metabolism

Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are widely considered to be the key regulatory factors of cell function, and are often referred to as “molecular switches” in the regulation of cell metabolic processes. A large number of studies have shown that the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of related signal molecules plays a key role in the regulation of liver glucose and lipid metabolism. As a new therapeutic strategy for metabolic diseases, the potential of using inhibitor-based therapies to fight diabetes has gained scientific momentum. PTG, a protein phosphatase, also known as glycogen targeting protein, is a member of the protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) family. It can play a role by catalyzing the dephosphorylation of phosphorylated protein molecules, especially regulating many aspects of glucose and lipid metabolism. In this review, we briefly summarize the role of PTG in glucose and lipid metabolism, and update its role in metabolic regulation, with special attention to glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism.
Medical Assistance in Dying in Oncology Patients: A Canadian Academic Hospital’s Experience

Background: Medical assistance in dying (MAID) was legislatively enacted in Canada in June 2016. Most studies of patients who received MAID grouped patients with cancer and non-cancer diagnoses. Our goal was to analyze the characteristics of oncology patients who received MAID in a Canadian tertiary care hospital. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients with cancer who received MAID between June 2016 and July 2020 at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). We describe patients’ demographics, oncologic characteristics, symptoms, treatments, and palliative care involvement. Results: Ninety-two oncology patients received MAID. The median age was 72. The leading cancer diagnoses among these patients were lung, colorectal, and pancreatic. At the time of MAID request, 68% of patients had metastatic disease. Most patients (90%) had ECOG performance status of 3 or 4 before receiving MAID. Ninety-nine percent of patients had distressing symptoms at time of MAID request, most commonly pain. One-third of patients with metastatic or recurrent cancer received early palliative care. The median time interval between the first MAID assessment and receipt of MAID was 7 days. Interpretation: Most oncology patients who received MAID at LHSC had poor performance status and almost all had distressing symptoms. The median time interval between first MAID assessment and receipt of MAID was shorter than expected. Only one-third of patients with metastatic or recurrent cancer received early palliative care. Improving access to early palliative care is a priority in patients with advanced cancer. Study registration: We received research approval from Western University’s Research Ethics Board (REB) with project ID number 115367, and from Lawson’s Research Database Application (ReDA) with study ID number 9579.
A Primal-Dual 3-Approximation Algorithm for Hitting 4-Vertex Paths

We consider the problem of removing a minimum number of vertices of a given graph G so that the resulting graph does not contain the path Pk on k vertices as a subgraph. (Thus for k = 2 this is the vertex cover problem.) While for k ∈ {2, 3} the problem admits a 2-approximation algorithm, nothing better than a trivial k-approximation is known for k > 4. Our main contribution is a 3approximation algorithm in the case k = 4, that is, for hitting P4’s. The algorithm is inspired by the elegant primal-dual 2-approximation algorithm of Chudak, Goemans, Hochbaum, and Williamson (Operations Research Letters, 1998) for the feedback vertex set problem.
A novel histopathological classification of implant periapical lesion: A systematic review and treatment decision tree

Background Implant periapical lesion (IPL), as a peri-implant disease originating from implant apex, maintains coronal osseointegration in the early stage. With the understanding to IPL increasingly deepened, IPL classification based on different elements was proposed although there still lacks an overall classification system. This study, aiming to systematically integrate the available data published in the literature on IPL associated with histopathology, proposed a comprehensive classification framework and treatment decision tree for IPL. Methods and findings English articles on the topic of “implant periapical lesion”, “retrograde peri-implantitis” and “apical peri-implantitis” were searched on PubMed, Embase and Web of Science from 1992 to 2021, and citation retrieval was performed for critical articles. Definite histopathology and radiology of IPL are indispensable criteria for including the article in the literature. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022378001). A total of 509 papers identified, 28 studies were included in this review. In only one retrospective study, 37 of 39 IPL were reported to be at the inflammatory or abscess stage. 27 cases (37 implants) were reported, including acute non-suppurative (1/37, developed to chronic granuloma), chronic granuloma (5/37), acute suppurated (2/37), chronic suppurated-fistulized (6/37), implant periapical cyst (21/37), poor bone healing (2/37), foreign body reaction (1/37). Antibiotics alone did not appear to be effective, and the consequence of surgical debridement required cautious interpretation because of the heterogeneity of lesion course and operation. Implant apicoectomy and marsupialization were predictable approaches in some cases. Conclusions The diversiform nature of IPL in the case reports confirms the need for such histopathological classification, which may enhance the comparison and management of different category.