Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulse Oximetry Con: Stop Living in the Cave

Pulse oximetry is a clinical monitoring tool that commonly serves as a biomarker for hypoxia. It is a simple, practical, noninvasive tool so deeply embedded in medicine that it is typically the first interaction a patient has with a monitoring technology. It is such an integral part of vital signs measurement in critical care that any argument questioning its efficacy or safety is ridiculed and treated as heresy. However, as described by Plato, we have been living in a cave where we are the prisoners of a false reality of the infallibility of this medical technology, like shadows cast upon the cave wall by firelight. The cave is all most of us know, and few are willing to venture out of the cave into the sunlight; the rest remaining inside considering the truth not worth seeking. Like any instrument we use in our critical care cave, pulse oximetry has become such a part of our daily existence that we may have neglected to see that both the tool itself, and our use of it may be fraught with fallacies and represent a “false reality. ” As a profession, we need to venture out of the cave and reconsider the accuracy and value of pulse oximetry and respond appropriately. Pulse oximetry has several limitations. No perfect tool exists, and any tool is only as good as the operator’s understanding of its perils and pitfalls in using it effectively. We describe the current state of science as it relates to the limitations of pulse oximetry, with the hope that this will become a trigger for igniting further research into improving its use.
Physiological ramifications of constrained collective cell migration

Constraining collective cell migration in vitro using different types of engineered substrates such as microstructured surfaces or adhesive patterns of different shapes and sizes often leads to the emergence of specific patterns of motion. Recently, analogies between the behavior of cellular assemblies and that of active fluids have enabled significant advances in our understanding of collective cell migration; however, the physiological relevance and potential functional consequences of the resulting migration patterns remain elusive. Here we describe the different patterns of collective cell migration that have been reported in vitro in response to geometrical constraints, explore the in vivo pertinence of the in vitro systems used to impose the geometrical constraints, and discuss the potential physiological ramifications of the collective migration patterns that emerge as a result of physical constraints. We conclude by highlighting key upcoming challenges in the exciting field of constrained collective cell migration.
1-O-Octadecyl-2-O-benzyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phospho-GS-441524 (V2043). Evaluation of Oral V2043 in a Mouse Model of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Synthesis and Antiviral Evaluation of Additional Phospholipid Esters with Enhanced Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity

Early antiviral treatments, including intravenous remdesivir (RDV), reduce hospitalization and severe disease caused by COVID-19. An orally bioavailable RDV analog may facilitate earlier treatment of non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Here we describe the synthesis and evaluation of alkyl glyceryl ether phosphodiesters of GS-441524 (RVn), lysophospholipid analogs which allow for oral bioavailability and stability in plasma. Oral treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected BALB/c mice with 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-benzyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phospho-RVn (60 mg/kg orally, once daily for 5 days starting 12h after infection) reduced lung viral load by 1.5 log10 units versus vehicle at day 2 and to below the limit of detection at day 5. Structure/activity evaluation of additional analogs that have hydrophobic ethers at the sn-2 of glycerol revealed improved in vitro antiviral activity by introduction of a 3-fluoro-4-methoxy-substituted benzyl or a 3- or 4-cyano-substituted benzyl. Collectively, our data support the development of RVn phospholipid prodrugs as oral antiviral agents for prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Using EEG signals to assess workload during memory retrieval in a real-world scenario

Objective. The electroencephalogram (EEG) is gaining popularity as a physiological measure for neuroergonomics in human factor studies because it is objective, less prone to bias, and capable of assessing the dynamics of cognitive states. This study investigated the associations between memory workload and EEG during participants’ typical office tasks on a single-monitor and dual-monitor arrangement. We expect a higher memory workload for the single-monitor arrangement. Approach. We designed an experiment that mimics the scenario of a subject performing some office work and examined whether the subjects experienced various levels of memory workload in two different office setups: (1) a single-monitor setup and (2) a dual-monitor setup. We used EEG band power, mutual information, and coherence as features to train machine learning models to classify high versus low memory workload states. Main results. The study results showed that these characteristics exhibited significant differences that were consistent across all participants. We also verified the robustness and consistency of these EEG signatures in a different data set collected during a Sternberg task in a prior study. Significance. The study found the EEG correlates of memory workload across individuals, demonstrating the effectiveness of using EEG analysis in conducting real-world neuroergonomic studies.
Avian influenza A H5N1: are we really sure it is a spillover?

Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; Instituto Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo, Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, University of Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy; Department of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
Targeting Wnt-ß-Catenin-FOSL Signaling Ameliorates Right Ventricular Remodeling

Background: The ability of the right ventricle (RV) to adapt to an increased pressure afterload determines survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. At present, there are no specific treatments available to prevent RV failure, except for heart/lung transplantation. The wingless/int-1 (Wnt) signaling pathway plays an important role in the development of the RV and may also be implicated in adult cardiac remodeling. Methods: Molecular, biochemical, and pharmacological approaches were used both in vitro and in vivo to investigate the role of Wnt signaling in RV remodeling. Results: Wnt/β-catenin signaling molecules are upregulated in RV of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and animal models of RV overload (pulmonary artery banding-induced and monocrotaline rat models). Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling leads to RV remodeling via transcriptional activation of FOSL1 and FOSL2 (FOS proto-oncogene [FOS] like 1/2, AP-1 [activator protein 1] transcription factor subunit). Immunohistochemical analysis of pulmonary artery banding -exposed BAT-Gal (β-catenin-activated transgene driving expression of nuclear β-galactosidase) reporter mice RVs exhibited an increase in β-catenin expression compared with their respective controls. Genetic inhibition of β-catenin, FOSL1/2, or WNT3A stimulation of RV fibroblasts significantly reduced collagen synthesis and other remodeling genes. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of Wnt signaling using inhibitor of PORCN (porcupine O-acyltransferase), LGKK-974 attenuated fibrosis and cardiac hypertrophy leading to improvement in RV function in both, pulmonary artery banding - and monocrotaline-induced RV overload. Conclusions: Wnt- β-Catenin-FOSL signaling is centrally involved in the hypertrophic RV response to increased afterload, offering novel targets for therapeutic interference with RV failure in pulmonary hypertension.
Algèbres quasi-commutatives et carrés de Steenrod

Résumé Soit $k$ un corps de caractéristique $p$ quelconque. Nous définissons la catégorie des $k$ -algèbres de cochaînes fortement quasi-commutatives et nous donnons une condition nécessaire et suffisante pour que l’algèbre de cohomologie à coefficients dans ${{\text{Z}}_{2}}$ d’un objet de cette catégorie soit un module instable sur l’algèbre de Steenrod à coefficients dans ${{\text{Z}}_{2}}$ . A tout c.w. complexe simplement connexe de type fini $X$ on associe une $k$ -algèbre de cochaînes fortement quasi-commutative; la structure de module sur l’algèbre de Steenrod définie sur l’algèbre de cohomologie de celle-ci coïncide avec celle de ${{H}^{*}}(X;\,{{\text{Z}}_{2}})$ .
Solute transport in divergent radial flow through heterogeneous porous media

Radial flow takes place in a heterogeneous porous formation of random and stationary log-conductivity Y(x), characterized by the mean 〈Y〉, the variance σ2Y and the two- point autocorrelation ρY which in turn has finite and different horizontal and vertical integral scales, I and Iv, respectively. The steady flow is driven by a head difference between a fully penetrating well and an outer boundary, the mean velocity U being radial. A tracer is injected for a short time through the well envelope and the thin plume spreads due to advection by the random velocity field and to pore-scale dispersion. Transport is characterized by the mean front r=R(t) and by the second spatial moment of the plume Srr. Under ergodic conditions, i.e. for a well length much larger than the vertical integral scale, Srr is equal to the radial fluid trajectory variance Xrr. The aim of the study is to determine Xrr(t) for a given heterogeneous structure and for given pore-scale dispersivities. The problem is more complex than the similar one for mean uniform flow. To simplify it, the well is replaced by a line source, the domain is assumed to be infinite and a first-order approximation in σ2Y is adopted. The solution is still difficult, being expressed with the aid of a few quadratures. It is found, however, that it can be derived quite accurately for a sufficiently small anisotropy ratio e=Iv/I by retaining only one term of the velocity two-point covariance. This major simplification leads to simple calculations and even to analytical solutions in the absence of pore-scale dispersion. To compare the results with those prevailing in homogeneous media, apparent and equivalent macrodispersivities are defined for convenience. The major difference between transport in radial and uniform flow is that the asymptotic, large-time, apparent macrodispersivity in the former is smaller by a factor of 3 than in the latter. For a three-dimensional point source the reduction is by a factor of 5. This effect is explained by the rapid change of the mean velocity during the period in which the velocities of two particles injected at the source become uncorrelated. In contrast, the equivalent macrodispersivity tends to its value in uniform flow far from the well, where the flow is slowly varying in space.
Energy Distribution of Neutrals from a Hyperthermal Neutral Beam (HNB) Source

The energy distribution of the hyperthermal neutral beam (HNB) produced by impingement of plasma ions onto a metal surface was measured. A HNB source has been developed with a hotfilament discharge. The plasma was confined near the metal surface by using the magnetic field of a magnetron configuration. The produced HNB can be ionized in the plasma by electron impact ionization and charge exchange processes. The energy of the ionized HNB reflects the energy of the HNB. The energy distribution of the ionized HNB passing through the plasma can be detected by using an ion energy analyzer (IEA) that consists of two parallel plates to deflect ions. The peak value and the width of the HNB energy distribution were affected by the bias voltage of the metal surface and the gas pressure. This paper presents the experimental details for HNB generation and the characteristics of the HNB.
A narrative review on asthma and pest sensitization (cockroach, mouse and rat allergens): a social issue besides the medical problem

Abstract Objective Among animals defined as “pests”, cockroaches and rodents (mouse and rat) represent the most common cause of airway allergic sensitization and bronchial asthma worldwide. Their frequency of sensitization has been widely assessed in US and other countries but poorly in Western Europe. This narrative review aims to provide a synthesis of data resulting in MEDLINE concerning allergic sensitization/asthma to pests as well as their related environmental/social risk factors, specifically in the European area. Data Sources We performed a literature research in MEDLINE for clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Study Selections We selected studies to the following key words: allergic sensitization, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, cockroach, hypersensitivity, integrated pest management, material hardship, medication compliance, mouse, pest, poverty, rat, rodents. Results Current evidence indicates that residence in poor and urban areas, exposure to outdoor/indoor pollutants and tobacco smoke, poverty, material hardship, poor-quality housing, differences in health care quality, medication compliance, health care access contribute to increased pest-related allergic sensitization and asthma morbidity. Conclusion Further research should be done on many aspects of pest allergy such as a better characterization of allergens and epidemiological aspects. Relevant social actions should be carried out against poverty, healthcare disparities, psycho-social stress, poor compliance to therapy, with economic contributions to improve private and public living environments. Allergic sensitization to pests and pest-allergic respiratory diseases like asthma are "paradoxical" conditions, as they typically affect the poorest communities but can only be corrected by high-cost (diagnostic and preventive) interventions. We hope that progress can be made in this direction in the future.
Prenatal maternal depressive symptoms are associated with neonatal left amygdala microstructure in a sex‐dependent way

Exposures to prenatal maternal depressive symptoms (PMDS) may lead to neurodevelopmental changes in the offspring in a sex‐dependent way. Although a connection between PMDS and infant brain development has been established by earlier studies, the relationship between PMDS exposures measured at various prenatal stages and microstructural alterations in fundamental subcortical structures such as the amygdala remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the associations between PMDS measured during gestational weeks 14, 24 and 34 and infant amygdala microstructural properties using diffusion tensor imaging. We explored amygdala mean diffusivity (MD) alterations in response to PMDS in infants aged 11 to 54 days from birth. PMDS had no significant main effect on the amygdala MD metrics. However, there was a significant interaction effect for PMDS and infant sex in the left amygdala MD. Compared with girls, boys exposed to greater PMDS during gestational week 14 showed significantly higher left amygdala MD. These results indicate that PMDS are linked to infants' amygdala microstructure in boys. These associations may be relevant to later neuropsychiatric outcomes in the offspring. Further research is required to better understand the mechanisms underlying these associations and to develop effective interventions to counteract any potential adverse consequences.
Effects of Scalp Nerve Block on the Quality of Recovery after Minicraniotomy for Clipping of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms : A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective This study compared the quality of recovery (QoR) after minicraniotomy for clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) between patients with and without scalp nerve block (SNB). Methods Patients were randomly assigned to the SNB (SNB using ropivacaine with epinephrine, n=27) and control (SNB using normal saline, n=25) groups. SNB was performed at the end of surgery. To assess postoperative QoR, the QoR-40, a patient-reported questionnaire, was used. The QoR-40 scores were measured preoperatively, 1–3 days postoperatively, at hospital discharge, and 1 month postoperatively. Pain and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) consumption were evaluated 3, 6, 9, and 12 hours and 1–3 days postoperatively. Results All QoR-40 scores, including those measured 1 day postoperatively (primary outcome measure; 155.0 [141.0–176.0] vs. 161.0 [140.5–179.5], p=0.464), did not significantly differ between the SNB and control groups. The SNB group had significantly less severe pain 3 (numeric rating scale [NRS]; 3.0 [2.0–4.0] vs. 5.0 [3.5–5.5], p=0.029), 9 (NRS; 3.0 [2.0–4.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0–5.0], p=0.048), and 12 (NRS; 3.0 [2.0–4.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0–5.0], p=0.035) hours postoperatively. The total amount of IV-PCA consumed was significantly less 3 hours postoperatively in the SNB group (2.0 [1.0–4.0] vs. 4.0 [2.0–5.0] mL, p=0.044). Conclusion After minicraniotomy for clipping of UIAs, SNB reduced pain and IV-PCA consumption in the early postoperative period but did not improve the QoR-40 scores.
How to assess severe burnout? Cutoff points for the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) based on three European samples

Objective Despite decades of burnout research, clinical validated cut-off scores that discriminate between those who suffer from burnout and those who don’t are still lacking. To establish such cut-off scores, the current study uses a newly developed questionnaire, the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) that consists of four subscales (exhaustion, mental distancing, and emotional and cognitive impairment). Separate cut-offs were computed for those at risk for burnout and those suffering from severe burnout for the original BAT-23 as well as for the shortened BAT-12. Methods Relative operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were carried out using representative samples of healthy employees from The Netherlands (N=1370), Belgium (Flanders; N=1403) and Finland (N=1350). In addition, samples of employees who received a burnout diagnosis were used (N=335, 158 and 50, respectively). Results The diagnostic accuracy of the BAT (area under the curve) ranges from good to excellent with the exception of mental distancing, which is fair. The country-specific cut-off values as well as their specificity and sensitivity are comparable to those of the pooled sample. Conclusions In addition to country-specific cut-offs, general cut-offs can be used tentatively in other similar countries, pending future replication studies. Caution is warranted for using cut-offs for mental distance as the sensitivity and specificity of this subscale is relatively poor. It is concluded that the BAT can be used in organizational surveys for identifying employees at risk for burnout and, in clinical treatment settings, for identifying those with severe burnout, keeping in mind the tentativeness of the present cut-offs.
Unraveling the potential of bacterial phytases for sustainable management of phosphorous

Phosphorous actively participates in numerous metabolic and regulatory activities of almost all living organisms including animals and humans. Therefore, it is considered as an essential macronutrient required supporting their proper growth. On contrary, phytic acid (PA), an antinutritional substance, is widely known for its strong affinity to chelate essential mineral ions including PO43−, Ca2+, Fe2+, Mg2+, and Zn2+. Being one the major reservoir of PO43− ions, PA has great potential to bind PO43− ions in diverse range of foods. Once combined with P, PA transforms into an undigested and insoluble complex namely phytate. Produced phytate leads to a notable reduction in the bioavailability of P due to negligible activity of phytases in monogastric animals and humans. This highlights the importance and consequent need of enhancement of phytase level in these life forms. Interestingly, phytases, catalyzing the breakdown of phytate complex and recycling the phosphate into ecosystem to its available form, have naturally been reported in a variety of plants and microorganisms over past few decades. In pursuit of a reliable solution, the focus of this review is to explore the keynote potential of bacterial phytases for sustainable management of phosphorous via efficient utilization of soil phytate. The core of the review covers detailed discussion on bacterial phytases along with their widely reported applications viz. biofertilizers, phosphorus acquisition, and plant growth promotion. Moreover, meticulous description on fermentation‐based strategies and future trends on bacterial phytases have also been included.
Processus de Fleming-Viot, distributions quasi-stationnaires et marches aléatoires en interaction de type champ moyen

Dans cette these nous etudions le comportement asymptotique de systemes de particules en interaction de type champ moyen en espace discret, systemes pour lesquels l'interaction a lieu par l'intermediaire de la mesure empirique. Dans la premiere partie de ce memoire, nous nous interessons aux systemes de particules de type Fleming-Viot: les particules se deplacent independamment suivant une dynamique markovienne jusqu'au moment ou l'une d'entre elles touche un etat absorbant. A cet instant, la particule absorbee choisit uniformement une autre particule et saute sur sa position. L'ergodicite du processus est etablie dans le cadre de marches aleatoires sur N avec derive vers l'origine et pour une dynamique proche de celle du graphe complet. Pour ce dernier, nous obtenons une estimation quantitative de la convergence en temps long a l'aide de la courbure de Wasserstein. Nous montrons de plus la convergence de la distribution empirique stationnaire vers une unique distribution quasi-stationnaire, quand le nombre de particules tend vers l'infini. Dans la deuxieme partie de ce memoire, nous nous interessons au comportement en temps long et quand le nombre de particules devient grand, d'un systeme de processus de naissance et mort pour lequel les particules interagissent a chaque instant par le biais de la moyenne de leurs positions. Nous etablissons l'existence d'une limite macroscopique, solution d'une equation non lineaire ainsi que le phenomene de propagation du chaos avec une estimation quantitative et uniforme en temps