Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Household polluting cooking fuels and adverse birth outcomes: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and aim The current study aimed to clarify the association between household polluting cooking fuels and adverse birth outcomes using previously published articles. Methods In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a systematic literature search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were undertaken for relevant studies that had been published from inception to 16 January 2023. We calculated the overall odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for adverse birth outcomes [low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), stillbirth, and preterm birth (PTB)] associated with polluting cooking fuels (biomass, coal, and kerosene). Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were also conducted. Results We included 16 cross-sectional, five case–control, and 11 cohort studies in the review. Polluting cooking fuels were found to be associated with LBW (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.52), SGA (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.94), stillbirth (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.23, 1.55), and PTB (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.36). The results of most of the subgroup analyses were consistent with the main results. In the meta-regression of LBW, study design (cohort study: P < 0.01; cross-sectional study: P < 0.01) and sample size (≥ 1000: P < 0.01) were the covariates associated with heterogeneity. Cooking fuel types (mixed fuel: P < 0.05) were the potentially heterogeneous source in the SGA analysis. Conclusion The use of household polluting cooking fuels could be associated with LBW, SGA, stillbirth, and PTB. The limited literature, observational study design, exposure and outcome assessment, and residual confounding suggest that further strong epidemiological evidence with improved and standardized data was required to assess health risks from particular fuels and technologies utilized.
The Multiple Facets and Disorders of B Cell Functions in Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection continues to be a global public health burden. B cells play a pivotal role in mediating HBV clearance and can participate in the development of anti-HBV adaptive immune responses through multiple mechanisms, such as antibody production, antigen presentation, and immune regulation. However, B cell phenotypic and functional disorders are frequently observed during chronic HBV infection, suggesting the necessity of targeting the disordered anti-HBV B cell responses to design and test new immune therapeutic strategies for the treatment of chronic HBV infection. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the multiple roles of B cells in mediating HBV clearance and pathogenesis as well as the latest developments in understanding the immune dysfunction of B cells in chronic HBV infection. Additionally, we discuss novel immune therapeutic strategies that aim to enhance anti-HBV B cell responses for curing chronic HBV infection.
Study on Ectoparasites of Free-Ranging Domestic Cats (Felidae; Felis catus) and Introducing Trichodectes canis as a New Record Louse in Tehran Urban Parks, Iran

Free-ranging domestic cats (Felidae, Felis catus) can potentially play host to some life-threatening zoonotic pathogens including ectoparasites such as fleas, ticks, and lice. These ectoparasites are capable of transmitting zoonotic disease. Cats (Felis catus) were captured using baited cage traps with raw red meat from five parks in central areas of Tehran, Iran, in the summer of 2018. The collected cats were moved to the laboratory, and their ectoparasites were removed from their skin by forceps and combing for five minutes for each cat. Ectoparasites were stored in 70% ethanol and later mounted for identification of species, using species identification keys. Forty-one cats were collected from these study areas. Among all captured cats, 26 specimens (63.41%) were infected with 83 ectoparasites and the average infection rate was 3.19 in cats. Six arthropod species were identified, including four fleas (89.16%), one louse (8.43%), and one tick (2.41%). The four flea species included Ctenocephalides canis (39.76%), Ctenocephalides felis (18.07%), Xenopsylla nubica (16.87%), and Pulex irritans (14.46%). The one louse species was Trichodectes canis (8.43%), and the one tick species recovered was identified as Hyalomma spp. (2.41%). Based on the findings, Ctenocephalides canis was the most common ectoparasite species (39.76%). Fleas were the most prevalent ectoparasites on Felis catus cats, with the highest prevalence, observed for Ctenocephalides canis. Due to the large and growing population of cats and the high risk of transmission of common diseases between humans and cats, as well as the high contact and communication of people with cats, we were encouraged to study the ectoparasites of cats in five important parks in the city of Tehran.
An Out-of-Plane CO (J = 2-1) Survey of the Milky Way. II. Physical Conditions of Molecular Gas

Physical conditions of molecular gas in the first quadrant of the Galaxy are examined through comparison of the CO J = 2-1 data of the Tokyo-Nobeyama Radio Observatory survey with the CO J = 1-0 data of the Columbia survey. A gradient of the CO J = 2-1/J = 1-0 intensity ratio (≡ R2-1/1-0) with Galactocentric distance is reported. The ratio varies from ≃0.75 at 4 kpc to ≃0.6 at 8 kpc in Galactocentric distance. This confirms the early in-plane results reported by Handa et al. We classify molecular gas into three categories in terms of R2-1/1-0 on the basis of a large velocity gradient model calculation. Very high ratio gas (VHRG; R2-1/1-0 > 1.0) is either dense, warm, and optically thin gas or externally heated, dense gas. High ratio gas (HRG; R2-1/1-0 = 0.7-1.0) is warm and dense gas with high-excitation temperature of the J = 2-1 transition (Tex ≳ 10 K), and it is often observed in central regions of giant molecular clouds. Low ratio gas (LRG; R2-1/1-0 < 0.7) has low-excitation temperature of the J = 2-1 transition (Tex ≲ 10 K) because of low density or low kinetic temperature, or both, and is often observed in dark clouds and outer envelopes of giant molecular clouds. It is shown that the CO J = 2-1 emission is better characterized as a tracer of dense gas rather than a tracer of warm gas for molecular gas with kinetic temperature higher than 10 K. The observed large-scale decrease in R2-1/1-0 as a function of Galactocentric distance is ascribed to the fractional decrease of HRG and VHRG from ≃40% near 5 kpc to ≃20% near the solar circle. The HRG and VHRG are found predominantly along the Sagittarius and Scutum arms, probably in their downstream. This fact and the deficiency of atomic gas compared with molecular gas in the inner Galaxy indicate that physical conditions of interstellar gas are affected by grand-design, nonlinear processes, such as compression by spiral density waves followed by gravitational collapse, and not by dissociation of low-density molecular gas by young stars.
Pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of immune complex vasculitides

Immune complex (IC) vasculitides present inflammations of vessel walls associated with perivascular deposition of immunoglobulins (Igs), mostly ICs. They encompass systemic and skin-limited variants of IgA vasculitis (IgAV), cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV), rheumatoid, lupus, and hypocomplementemic vasculitides, serum sickness cutaneous IgM/IgG (non-IgA) vasculitis, and recurrent macular (hypergammaglobulinemic or exertion-induced) vasculitis. Serum sickness and CV fulfill the criteria of a type III hypersensitivity immune reaction as large lattices of the IC precipitate at vessel walls and activate polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). Immunoglobulin-A vasculitis differs with regard to the causes of perivascular deposition of ICs since here many IgA1 molecules are hypoglycosylated (Gd-IgA1), which appears to facilitate their perivascular deposition in skin and mesangium (via e.g. CD71). The reasons for increased generation of immunoglobulins or formation of IC and their perivascular deposition in either skin or systemic organs are different and not fully explored. A common denominator of OC vasculitides is the activation of PMNs near the vessel wall via Fcy or Fcα receptors. Acute episodes of IgAV additionally require PMNs to become preactivated by IgA1 or by IC already in circulation. This intravascular priming results in increased adherence and subsequently vessel-destructive NETosis when they encounter IgA deposited at the vessel walls. Binding of IgA1 to PMNs in blood stream is associated with increased serum levels of hypogalactosidated IgA1. The characteristic clinical picture of IgAV (and also of so-called IgG/IgM vasculitis) comprises palpable or retiform purpura with a clear predilection for lower legs, probably due to stasis-related reduction in blood velocity, while in other IC vasculitides, additional factors influence the sites of vasculitides. Our knowledge of distinct forms and different pathophysiological pathways of IC vasculitides may lead to in efficacious or targeted therapies. Antibodies to complement components or intestinal budesonide for IgAV are promising agents (the latter suppresses the pathophysiologically related IgA nephropathy by reducing the generation of mucosal IgA.
Siblings, shopping, and sustainability: Birth-order differences in green consumption

Several studies have examined the role of birth order in shaping human personality, but fewer have tested this variable in relation to other pressing issues. We conducted a birth-order study on green consumption, which enabled us to detect a small-to-moderate effect size equivalent to r = 0.15 or d = 0.30 with sufficient statistical power (N = 335). To capture green consumption, participants indicated their tendency to express the value of environmental protection through purchases and consumption behaviors. Firstborns (vs. laterborns) consistently expressed lower concerns linked to environmental protection in their purchase patterns. While the effect size of this finding was small-to-moderate by conventional standards and in direct contrast to the findings from a recent article on the same topic, these results could still be informative to address challenges associated with climate change considering the number of individuals with siblings in the world and the ease with which birth-order data can be collected.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: A Review of Imaging Modalities with Special Focus on Pathology Concordance

Invasive lobular cancer (ILC) is the second most common type of breast cancer. It is characterized by a unique growth pattern making it difficult to detect on conventional breast imaging. ILC can be multicentric, multifocal, and bilateral, with a high likelihood of incomplete excision after breast-conserving surgery. We reviewed the conventional as well as newly emerging imaging modalities for detecting and determining the extent of ILC- and compared the main advantages of MRI vs. contrast-enhanced mammogram (CEM). Our review of the literature finds that MRI and CEM clearly surpass conventional breast imaging in terms of sensitivity, specificity, ipsilateral and contralateral cancer detection, concordance, and estimation of tumor size for ILC. Both MRI and CEM have each been shown to enhance surgical outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed ILC that had one of these imaging modalities added to their preoperative workup.
Increasing Unbalanced Distribution Network’s Hosting Capacity for Distributed Energy Resources by Voltage Regulators

Renewable energy sources (RESs) are becoming promising nowadays. Deploying distributed energy resources (DERs) is thus increasing accordingly, but the intermittent nature associated with RES remains a significant challenge. Also, the distribution grid faces technological difficulties with the large-scale integration of PV generations and EV charging loads. This paper suggests a strategy for a novel optimal voltage regulator (VR) placement model associated with the optimal placement of electric vehicle chargers (EVCs) and photovoltaic (PV) cells. Also, VRs’ reference voltages are determined optimally to enhance the hosting capacity (HC) of three-phase unbalanced distribution feeders for large-scale residential/public EVCs and PVs. Two scenarios are defined to study the impact of VRs on the network’s HC for DERs, namely with and without VRs in the real three-phase unbalanced feeder. The developed model determines the optimal placement of VRs and their reference voltages linked with EVCs and PVs penetration. Time-Varying Acceleration Coefficients Iteration Particle Swarm Optimization (TVAC-IPSO) algorithm has been implemented to improve the real three-phase unbalanced distribution feeder’s HC for DERs. The efficiency of the proposed model and the solution method is validated on the modified IEEE 37-node medium voltage (MV) radial distribution network connected to 35 low voltage (LV) distribution feeders. The obtained results represent that installing a proper number of VRs will increase the network’s HC for DERs.
Training vs. Tolerance: The Yin/Yang of the Innate Immune System

For almost nearly a century, memory functions have been attributed only to acquired immune cells. Lately, this paradigm has been challenged by an increasing number of studies revealing that innate immune cells are capable of exhibiting memory-like features resulting in increased responsiveness to subsequent challenges, a process known as trained immunity (known also as innate memory). In contrast, the refractory state of endotoxin tolerance has been defined as an immunosuppressive state of myeloid cells portrayed by a significant reduction in the inflammatory capacity. Both training as well tolerance as adaptive features are reported to be accompanied by epigenetic and metabolic alterations occurring in cells. While training conveys proper protection against secondary infections, the induction of endotoxin tolerance promotes repairing mechanisms in the cells. Consequently, the inappropriate induction of these adaptive cues may trigger maladaptive effects, promoting an increased susceptibility to secondary infections—tolerance, or contribute to the progression of the inflammatory disorder—trained immunity. This review aims at the discussion of these opposing manners of innate immune and non-immune cells, describing the molecular, metabolic and epigenetic mechanisms involved and interpreting the clinical implications in various inflammatory pathologies.
A constrained variational model for radial symmetry breaking

A simple constrained minimization problem with an integral constraint describes a symmetry breaking of a circular front around a point source. As a single control parameter, the total ux from the source, is varied, apparently polygonal solutions with an arbitrary number of corners m are shown to bifurcate from the circular solution. Our asymptotic analysis shows that the branches with m 3 bifurcate supercritically at = (m 2 + 2) and continue as ! 1 whereas those with m = 1 or 2 bifurcate subcritically and are terminated at = 3 and 4 , respectively. The second variation can be evaluated directly for the circular state which is proven to be the minimizing solution only up to = 3 .
Minimaxness and Cofiniteness Properties of Local Cohomology Modules

Let R be a commutative Noetherian ring, I an ideal of R, and M a non-zero R-module. The purpose of this article is to introduce the notation of the nth finiteness dimension for all n ∈ ℕ0, and to prove the following results: (i) ; (ii) The R-modules are I-cofinite for all and for all minimax submodules N of , the R-modules are finitely generated, whenever is finite. This implies that if I has dimension one, then is I-cofinite for every i ≥ 0, which is a generalization of the main results of Delfino–Marley, Yoshida, and Bahmanpour–Naghipour. (iii) , whenever R is semilocal. (iv) The R-modules are weakly Laskerian for all j ≥ 0 and all , whenever (R, 𝔪) is a complete Noetherian local ring. Moreover, in this situation for all weakly Laskerian submodules N of , the R-modules are weakly Laskerian, whenever is finite. In addition, some examples about , for n = 0, 1, 2, 3, are included.
Diffraction efficiency and guided light control by two-dimensional photonic-bandgap lattices

We report on the measurement of the diffraction efficiency of two-dimensional photonic-bandgap lattices consisting of a triangular array of circular air holes etched in a semiconductor waveguide. We use the spontaneous emission of the material as an internal point source. Combined with previous reflectivity and transmission measurements, the diffraction data allow us to assess the total amount of out-of-plane losses experienced by a guided wave traversing the dielectric lattice, as a function of the lattice pitch. We found that these losses are particularly weak for some range of parameters, especially in the photonic bandgap of interest. We discuss the reasons why they can be substantial with other parameters.
A comparison and coupling of two novel sensors for intertidal bed‐level dynamics observation

Previous studies have revealed the importance of short‐term bed‐level change on the long‐term development of intertidal ecosystems. One of the recent advancements in the short‐term bed dynamics observation is the developments of laser‐based surface elevation dynamics (LSED) and acoustic surface elevation dynamics (ASED) sensors. These two sensors are developed to automatically monitor tidally induced bed‐level changes, and their measuring windows are during emergent and submerged periods, respectively. So far, there is no direct comparison or joint application of these two sensors. Therefore, in the current study, we first compare their observation precision in both laboratory and field conditions. Results show that both sensors' measurements are in good agreement with the manual measurements in the flume (R2 > 0.99) and field (R2 ≈ 0.70), indicating the applicability of each sensor in natural environment. Finally, a coupled system (i.e., combining LSED and ASED) is established in a mangrove wetland and both sensors show good agreement with each other (R2 = 0.69). Results also demonstrate that the coupled observation system can well capture the bed‐level change during emergent and submerged conditions, which provides detailed continuous data sets to study the bed‐level dynamics within a tidal cycle. Furthermore, large‐scale monitoring systems can also be established via mobile network module embedded in the sensor, providing real‐time monitoring for bed‐level changes, which is valuable to coastal morphological research and vital for detecting deterioration of coastal ecosystems and the services they provide to be able to apply adaptive management.
Determination of the fiber birefringence induced by transversal loads by means of fiber Bragg gratings

The application of transversal strain on an optical fiber leads to an asymmetry of the fiber section that locally induces fiber birefringence. In this paper, we show that it is possible to use FBG as a probe to obtain the amount of this induced birefringence. We describe two techniques able to get the birefringence value. They are both based on differential group delay (DGD) measurement. The first technique makes use of the comparison between the measurement and the simulation of the wavelength dependency of grating DGD. Considering that all grating parameters are known, we adjust the birefringence value to obtain the best fit between experiment and simulation. For the second technique, we first demonstrate that the wavelength dependencies of chromatic dispersion (CD) and DGD parameters differ in their amplitude by a quantity proportional to the birefringence. We exploit this relationship to get the birefringence value by separately measuring the DGD and CD spectral evolutions. The birefringence value is adjusted to obtain the best fit between the two measurements. These two techniques are discussed and experimental results are finally reported.
A New Look on the Skin Depth of the Normal Skin Effect in a Metal Submitted to a Frequency-Dependent Electromagnetic Field

Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland (Received June 4, 2012) The theory of the skin depth in metals is re-examined by revision of the conductivity expression entering the Maxwell equations leading to the normal skin e ect. In fact this conductivity formula should be improved by considering its special behaviour at low temperatures in case of the presence of the magnetic eld. For very pure specimens and very low temperatures the correction of the conductivity tensor leads to the skin depth approximately proportional to the square root of the amplitude strength of the magnetic eld. DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.123. 750
New solutions of the Bethe ansatz equations for the isotropic and anisotropic spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain

Bethe ansatz equations (BAE) are investigated for the isotropic spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain as well as the XXZ chain with real solutions characterized by identical integers in the logarithmic form of the BAE. Such states do not belong to the usual classification scheme (string hypothesis). They always exist in critical sectors with respect to the total spin of the chain and the anisotropy. The conception of holes has to be changed in this case, because there occur more holes than expected. The finite-size corrections for the XXX model are calculated including complex roots and the new type of real solutions with repeating integers. The 'tower structure' predicted by the hypothesis of conformal invariance is shown to remain unchanged.
Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Adjusted for CKD Patients: The MedRen Diet

A number of studies in the general population showed that healthy dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean Diet, can improve or prevent the development of several chronic diseases and are associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The Mediterranean diet may also have favorable effects for the prevention of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but no evidence of renoprotection exists in CKD patients. The Mediterranean Renal (MedRen) diet is an adaptation of the Mediterranean diet recommendations comprising a quantitative reduction in the RDA values of protein, salt and phosphate intake for the general population. Hence, MedRen supplies 0.8 g/Kg of protein, 6 g of salt and less than 800 mg of phosphate daily. Obviously, there is a preference for products of plant origin, which contain more alkali, fibers, unsaturated fatty acids than animal-based food. The MedRen diet can be implemented easily in mild-to-moderate stages of CKD with good results, both in terms of adherence to prescriptions and metabolic compensation. In our opinion, it should be the first step of CKD stage 3 nutritional management. This paper describes the features and reports our experience in the implementation of the MedRen diet as an early nutritional approach to CKD.