Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A multi‐hit hypothesis for an APOE4‐dependent pathophysiological state

The APOE gene encoding the Apolipoprotein E protein is the single most significant genetic risk factor for late‐onset Alzheimer's disease. The APOE4 genotype confers a significantly increased risk relative to the other two common genotypes APOE3 and APOE2. Intriguingly, APOE4 has been associated with neuropathological and cognitive deficits in the absence of Alzheimer's disease‐related amyloid or tau pathology. Here, we review the extensive literature surrounding the impact of APOE genotype on central nervous system dysfunction, focussing on preclinical model systems and comparison of APOE3 and APOE4, given the low global prevalence of APOE2. A multi‐hit hypothesis is proposed to explain how APOE4 shifts cerebral physiology towards pathophysiology through interconnected hits. These hits include the following: neurodegeneration, neurovascular dysfunction, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, endosomal trafficking impairments, lipid and cellular metabolism disruption, impaired calcium homeostasis and altered transcriptional regulation. The hits, individually and in combination, leave the APOE4 brain in a vulnerable state where further cumulative insults will exacerbate degeneration and lead to cognitive deficits in the absence of Alzheimer's disease pathology and also a state in which such pathology may more easily take hold. We conclude that current evidence supports an APOE4 multi‐hit hypothesis, which contributes to an APOE4 pathophysiological state. We highlight key areas where further study is required to elucidate the complex interplay between these individual mechanisms and downstream consequences, helping to frame the current landscape of existing APOE‐centric literature.
The diagnostic utility of unenhanced computed tomography of the brain and D-dimer levels in acute cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: A quantitative study

Objectives (1) To calculate the sensitivity and specificity of the Hounsfield Unit (HU), the HU to hematocrit (H:H) ratio, and the D-dimer level in the diagnosis of acute CVST. (2) To assess the D-dimer level’s linear relationship with the HU and the H:H ratio. Materials and Methods A single-center retrospective case-control study was conducted from 2005 to 2020. The inclusion criteria for the thrombosed and control groups were specified. A region of interest (ROI) was plotted on the respective sinuses to calculate the HU. The H:H ratio was calculated by dividing the HU value by the hematocrit value. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of the HU and the H:H ratio at different cutoff values. The Pearson correlation was used to assess the linear relationship between the D-dimer level and the HU and H:H ratio. Results There were 19 patients in the thrombosed group and 28 patients in the control group. There were significant differences in the mean HU (71 ± 6.3 vs. 45 ± 4.8, P < 0.001) and the mean H:H ratio (2.11 ± 0.38 vs. 1.46 ± 0.63,P < 0.001). An optimal HU value of 56 yielded 100% sensitivity and specificity. An H:H value of 1.48 yielded a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 65%, an H:H ratio of 1.77 demonstrated a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 90%, and an H:H ratio of 1.88 yielded a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 93%. D-dimer levels had a 95% and 71% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. There was a significant moderately positive linear correlation between the D-dimer level and the HU (r = 0.52, P < 0.001) and the H:H ratio (r = 0.61, P < 0.001). Conclusion Unenhanced CT of the brain can be a valuable objective diagnostic tool for acute CVST diagnosis. Hounsfield blood density and its normalized ratio with hematocrit are positively correlated with D-dimer levels, which may indicate active blood coagulation in a cerebral venous sinus.
Passive wireless strain measurement based upon the Villari effect and giant magnetoresistance

A passive wireless radio frequency-identification (RFID) stress/strain sensor is presented. Stress is transformed into a change of magnetic field by utilizing an amorphous metal ribbon. This magnetic field change is measured by a giant magnetoresistance magnetic field sensor and converted into a digital value with a RFID chip for wireless access. Standard metal foil strain gauges have a gauge factor GF from around 2 to 5 and suffer from the disadvantage of a physically connected power supply and measurement equipment. For the presented sensor, a strain range of −10 μmm to 190 μmm results in a linear sensor response, a gauge factor of GF ≈ 245, and a detectivity of 4.10 nmm1Hz. The detectivity of the presented sensor is similar to the detectivity of a reference metal foil strain gauge. Due to low power consumption and easy signal analysis, this sensor is well suited for long term strain measurement inside closed spaces. RFID adds features like multiple tag detection, wireless passive operation and a user d.
Classification of human moving patterns using air pressure and acceleration

A new method to classify human moving behavior using one acceleration sensor and one air pressure sensor is discussed. Foot-to-head acceleration frequently varies during walking, and is used to classify the moving behavior into stepping action and rest. Walking patterns such as normal walking and jogging are estimated from variances of foot-to-head acceleration. Slight change of air pressure which results from vertical movement is used to detect the moving styles of going up/down the stairs or in an elevator. A combination of these features gives several kinds of moving patterns. The proposed method enables simple and reliable estimation of human moving pattern at the rate of 95% accuracy.
Examining micro-ribonucleic acids as diagnostic and therapeutic prospects in autoimmune hepatitis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Micro-ribonucleic acids modulate the immune response by affecting the post-transcriptional expression of genes that influence the proliferation and function of activated immune cells, including regulatory T cells. Individual expressions or patterns in peripheral blood and liver tissue may have diagnostic value, reflect treatment response, or become therapeutic targets. The goals of this review are to present the properties and actions of micro-ribonucleic acids, indicate the key individual expressions in autoimmune hepatitis, and describe prospective clinical applications in diagnosis and management. Areas covered: Abstracts were identified in PubMed using the search words “microRNAs,” “microRNAs in liver disease,” and “microRNAs in autoimmune hepatitis. ” The number of abstracts reviewed exceeded 2000, and the number of full-length articles reviewed was 108. Expert opinion: Individual micro-ribonucleic acids, miR-21, miR-122, and miR-155, have been associated with biochemical severity, histological grade of inflammation, and pivotal pathogenic mechanisms in autoimmune hepatitis. Antisense oligonucleotides that down-regulate deleterious individual gene expressions, engineered molecules that impair targeting of gene products, and drugs that non-selectively up-regulate the biogenesis of potentially deficient gene regulators are feasible treatment options. Micro-ribonucleic acids constitute an under-evaluated area in autoimmune hepatitis that promises to improve diagnosis, pathogenic concepts, and therapy.
Men’s experience of perpetrating intimate partner violence following disclosure of HIV status by their seropositive female intimate partners: a qualitative study

Abstract Background Gender-Based (GB) intimate partner violence is a social and public health issue globally. Several risks of violence related to male sexual partners’ perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) following the disclosure of their female intimate partners’ HIV + status have been reported. No research has been conducted on male sexual partner’s perspectives of perpetrating IPV following their female intimate partners’ disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive status as a risk factor for the perpetration of IPV in Ghana. Objective The objective of this study is to explore and describe male sexual partners’ views or perspectives of perpetrating IPV following their female intimate partners’ disclosure of being HIV positive in Ghana. Methods Interpretive phenomenological approach was used to collect and analyse data from a purposive sample of 18 Male participants whose female intimate relations informed them of being HIV + in Ghana. The sample population was taken from Ghana because such research has been reported elsewhere but none has been done in Ghana. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect the data. The interview guide covered topics such as background information, participants’ reaction to HIV positive disclosure, lived experiences of participants, and Participants’ understanding of different forms of IPV. Results The findings of this study reveal five main themes that emerged from the interviews which include views on the perpetration of emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse; views on the perpetration of sexual deprivation; views on the perpetration of social isolation; views on the perpetration of financial abuse and views on escalated perpetration of physical abuse. Conclusion From the data, HIV positive status disclosure served as a risk factor for different forms of GB IPV against HIV positive women in Ghana, thus making this group more vulnerable and exposed to more GB IPV. Strategies to prevent the perpetration of IPV against women newly diagnosed as HIV positive are needed. We recommend screening all newly diagnosed HIV-positive women for abuse as an additional prevention strategy for IPV associated with disclosure of positive HIV status. KEY MESSAGES HIV positive status disclosure serves as a risk for the perpetration of IPV. Men are predisposed to violence upon hearing that their female heterosexual intimate partners are HIV positive. HIV infection information is distressful to receive from an intimate partner.
Deep Nonnegative Matrix Factorization Using a Variational Autoencoder With Application to Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Data

Single-cell RNA sequencing is used to analyze the gene expression data of individual cells, thereby adding to existing knowledge of biological phenomena. Accordingly, this technology is widely used in numerous biomedical studies. Recently, the variational autoencoder has emerged and has been adopted for the analysis of single-cell data owing to its high capacity to manage large-scale data. Many different variants of the variational autoencoder have been applied, and have yielded superior results. However, because it is nonlinear, the model does not provide parameters that can be used to explain the underlying biological patterns. In this paper, we propose an interpretable nonnegative matrix factorization method that decomposes parameters into those shared across cells and those that are cell-specific. Effective nonlinear dimension reduction was achieved via a variational autoencoder applied to the cell-specific parameters. In addition to achieving nonlinear dimension reduction, our model could estimate the cell-type-specific gene expression. To improve the estimation accuracy, we introduced log-regularization, which reflects the single-cell property. Overall, our approach displayed excellent performance in a simulation study and in real data analyses, while maintaining good biological interpretability.
Residents' Perspective on Need for Point-of-Care Ultrasound Education During Pediatric Residency.

OBJECTIVES Many medical disciplines incorporate point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) into their practice. Despite well-defined applications, POCUS has not been widely adopted in pediatrics and is not commonly taught during residency. Our objective was to profile the current state of POCUS education in pediatric residency training from the resident perspective. METHODS We surveyed pediatric trainees about their POCUS education, general opinions about POCUS, and perceived barriers to POCUS training in residency. We distributed the survey to a random sample of Ohio pediatric residents, stratified by program size and training level. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize responses. RESULTS We sampled 66.4% of the population (371 of 559) of Ohio pediatric residents and achieved a response rate of 59.3%. Only 15% of respondents received POCUS training during residency, with 85% having never performed a POCUS scan. Most (86%) desired POCUS education and 67% believed it should be required during residency. Residents felt that POCUS would be useful for procedural guidance (95%), clinical diagnosis (94%), and patient safety (74%). Most residents (61%) believed POCUS education would benefit their careers, particularly those planning on subspecialization. Barriers to POCUS education included lack of an established curriculum (75%), competing educational priorities (58%), and a shortage of qualified instructors (52%). CONCLUSIONS Although Ohio pediatric residents do not receive formal POCUS education in residency, they desire such training and believe it would benefit their future practice. Consensus on scope of practice, development of a standardized curriculum, and increased faculty training in POCUS may help address this educational gap.
Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering: An emerging tool for sensing cellular function

Abstract Continuous long‐term intracellular imaging and multiplexed monitoring of biomolecular changes associated with key cellular processes remains a challenge for the scientific community. Recently, surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been demonstrated as a powerful spectroscopic tool in the field of biology owing to its significant advantages. Some of these include the ability to provide molecule‐specific information with exquisite sensitivity, working with small volumes of precious samples, real‐time monitoring, and optimal optical contrast. More importantly, the availability of a large number of novel Raman reporters with narrower full width at half maximum (FWHM) of spectral peaks/vibrational modes than conventional fluorophores has created a versatile palette of SERS‐based probes that allow targeted multiplex sensing surpassing the detection sensitivity of even fluorescent probes. Due to its nondestructive nature, its applicability has been recognized for biological sensing, molecular imaging, and dynamic monitoring of complex intracellular processes. We critically discuss recent developments in this area with a focus on different applications where SERS has been used for obtaining information that remains elusive for conventional imaging methods. Current reports indicate that SERS has made significant inroads in the field of biology and has the potential to be used for in vivo human applications. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > In Vitro Nanoparticle‐Based Sensing Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging
Characterising body composition and bone health in transgender individuals receiving gender‐affirming hormone therapy

Abstract Background Gender‐affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is prescribed to produce secondary sex characteristics aligning external anatomy with gender identity to mitigate gender dysphoria. Transgender women are generally treated with oestrogens and anti‐androgens, whereas transgender men are treated with testosterone. The objective of this narrative review was to characterise the influence of GAHT on body composition and bone health in the transgender population to help address weight concerns and chronic disease risk. Methods Studies were extracted from PubMed and Scopus and limited to only those utilising imaging technologies for precise adipose tissue, lean mass, and bone mineral density (BMD) quantification. Results Although methodologies differed across the 20 investigations that qualified for inclusion, clear relationships emerged. Specifically, among transgender women, most studies supported associations between oestrogen therapy and decreases in lean mass and increases in both, fat mass and body mass index (BMI). Within transgender men, all studies reported associations between testosterone therapy and increases in lean mass, and although not as consistent, increases in BMI and decreases in fat mass. No consistent changes in BMD noted for either group. Conclusions Additional research is needed to appropriately assess and evaluate the implications of these body composition changes over time (beyond 1 year) in larger, more diverse groups across all BMI categories. Future studies should also seek to evaluate nutrient intake, energy expenditure and other important lifestyle habits to diminish health disparities within this vulnerable population. Policies are needed to help integrate registered dietitians into the routine care of transgender individuals.
Multidrug Resistance Genes Carried by a Novel Transposon Tn7376 and a Genomic Island Named MMGI-4 in a Pathogenic Morganella morganii Isolate

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs), especially for IS26-bounded translocatable units, may act as a reservoir for a variety of antimicrobial resistance genes in clinically important pathogenic bacteria. We expounded this significant genetic characteristic by investigating a representative M. morganii isolate containing multidrug resistance genes, including the infrequent dfrA24. ABSTRACT Antimicrobial resistance in Morganella morganii is increasing in recent years, which is mainly introduced via extra genetic and mobile elements. The aim of our study is to analyze the multidrug resistance (MDR) and characterize the mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in M. morganii isolates. Here, we report the characteristic of a pathogenic M. morganii isolate containing multidrug resistance genes that are mainly carried by a novel transposon Tn7376 and a genomic island. Sequence analysis suggested that the Tn7376 could be generated through homologous recombination between two different IS26-bounded translocatable units (TUs), namely, module A (IS26-Hp-IS26-mph(A)-mrx(A)-mphR-IS6100-chrA-sul1-qacEΔ1) and module B (ISCR1-sul1-qacEΔ1-cmlA1-aadA1-aadB-intI1-IS26), and the genomic island named MMGI-4 might derive from a partial structure of different original genomic islands that also carried IS26-mediated TUs. Notably, a 2,518-bp sequence linked to the module A and B contains a 570-bp dfrA24 gene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the novel Tn7376 possessing a complex class 1 integron that carried an infrequent gene dfrA24 in M. morganii. IMPORTANCE Mobile genetic elements (MGEs), especially for IS26-bounded translocatable units, may act as a reservoir for a variety of antimicrobial resistance genes in clinically important pathogenic bacteria. We expounded this significant genetic characteristic by investigating a representative M. morganii isolate containing multidrug resistance genes, including the infrequent dfrA24. Our study suggested that these acquired resistance genes were mainly driven by IS26-flanked important MGEs, such as the novel Tn7376 and the MMGI-4. We demonstrated that IS26-related MGEs contributed to the emergence of the extra gene dfrA24 in M. morganii through some potential genetic events like recombination, transposition, and integration. Therefore, it is of importance to investigate persistently the prevalence these MEGs in the clinical pathogens to provide risk assessment of emergence and development of novel resistance genes.
Axial vane rotary engines preliminary design by quasi dimensional modeling technique

ARTICLE INFO The rotary motion engines have still potentially many advantages over the conventional reciprocating engines. But only the reciprocating engine became the dominant mechanism for engines because of the simplicity of the combustion chamber sealing mechanism. This paper describes the basic concept, design, modeling and analysis of a new rotary engine type, axial vane rotary engine. One of important component in the axial vane rotary engine is cam profile which can affect the dynamic behaviors of engine. Seven cam profiles are simulated and compared kinematically to find an optimum cam profile with minimum velocity, acceleration, jerk and pressure angle to have an axial vane rotary engine with high TBO (Time between Overhaul) with respect to conventional type. In addition, a two-zone, quasi-dimensional model as a simple, fast and accurate model, is developed to simulate engine operating cycle and find the chambers pressure. The parametric modeling of an axial vane rotary engine as a prototype, including main parameters (geometrical and operating) is studied and some design considerations are investigated.
Designing a Fuzzy Inference System for Multi-Criteria Assessment of Urban Green Space Development (Case study: Shiraz Metropolitan Area)

Urban green spaces are recognized as key ecological service providers to urban dwellers with multiple functions and also an important pillar of sustainable development. The multi criteria nature and the uncertainty associated with the assessing of green space development make the issue as complex as cannot be addressed with conventional logical methods. One of the most important methods of multi criteria assessment is Fuzzy Inference System (FIS). This paper assesses urban green space development within Shiraz metropolitan area, Iran based on various criteria by designing a special fuzzy inference system. The data for the present study were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The result revealed that increase in green space area and the per capita allocated to each person and subsequently the improvement in their distribution pattern in the last decade have changed the status of the majority of regions' green spaces toward relatively developed and definitely developed regions. Predictions and strategic analysis of the developing green space found that, if the growth rate of green space area exceeds 30%, region 7 will be a relatively developed region and if the increase in the area of this land use exceeds 45%, it will be definitely a developed region.
An Investigation into the Tacit Knowledge Transfer Process in an Open Plan Office Environment

The research described in this article aimed to investigate the link between the internal organisational layout and its impact on the tacit knowledge transfer process in an open plan administrative working environment. In recent years academic literature in the area of Knowledge Management has concentrated on the management of knowledge within the organisation with particular focus placed upon management systems and the introduction of knowledge measurement tools. The value of this research lies in the identification of barriers to knowledge transfer within an open plan working environment and subsequent alignment of strategic goals in order to overcome these barriers. This summary is based on the research completed as part of the author’s Masters Dissertation. The literature reviewed provides a comprehensive overview of current academic research published both in the core topic of knowledge management but also on organisational design. The links and gaps in the literature between these two areas are highlighted and form the basis of the research questions posed. An online questionnaire was used to collect primary data in response to the research questions developed. The research was undertaken in environments where the respondents work in an open plan environment and in order to obtain honest feedback and responses, an anonymous questionnaire was chosen. The participants worked for a variety of industries and office environments. A 62 per cent response rate on the questionnaire resulted in an acceptable level of responses for the subsequent analysis and the study concludes by outlining the limitations to the research and makes recommendations for future research.