Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Prospective Cohort Study of the Clinical Predictors of Bacteremia in Under-Five Children With Acute Undifferentiated Fever Attending a Secondary Health Facility in Northwestern Nigeria

Background Children with acute febrile illness with no localizing signs often receive antibiotics empirically in most resource-poor settings. However, little is known about the burden of bacteremia in this category of patients, and an appraisal is thus warranted. This will guide clinical practice and promote rational antibiotics use. Methods We prospectively followed up 140 under-five children who presented with acute undifferentiated fever at the emergency/outpatient pediatric unit of a secondary healthcare facility. Baseline clinical and laboratory information was obtained and documented in a structured questionnaire. We compared baseline characteristics between participants with bacteremia and those without bacteremia. We further fitted a multivariable logistic regression model to identify factors predictive of bacteremia among the cohort. Result The prevalence of bacteremia was 17.1%, and Salmonella Typhi was the most frequently (40.9%) isolated pathogen. The majority (78.6%) of the study participants were managed as outpatients. The participants who required admission were four times more likely to have bacteremia when compared to those managed as outpatients (AOR 4.08, 95% CI 1.19 to 14.00). There is a four times likelihood of bacteremia (AOR 4.75, 95% CI 1.48 to 15.29) with a fever duration of beyond 7 days. Similarly, participants who were admitted with lethargy were six times more likely to have bacteremia (AOR 6.20, 95% CI 1.15 to 33.44). Other significant predictors were tachypnea and lymphopenia. Conclusion Among under-five children with acute undifferentiated fever, longer duration of fever, lethargy, inpatient care, tachypnea, and lymphopenia were the significant predictors of bacteremia.
CIRCE: Architectural Patterns for Circular and Trustworthy By-Design IoT Orchestrations

The adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, applications and services gradually transform our everyday lives. In parallel, the transition from linear to circular economic (CE) models provide an even more fertile ground for novel types of services, and the update and enrichment of legacy ones. To fully realize the potential of the interplay between IoT and CE, the design-time definition of IoT orchestrations with proven circularity properties, and the run-time management of these orchestrations based on said properties, is of paramount importance. Nevertheless, the circularity requirements and associated properties are not only difficult to achieve at the IoT orchestration design and deployment initialization phases, but also hard to prove and maintain at run-time. Motivated by this, this paper presents the CIRCE framework for circular and trustworthy by-design IoT orchestrations. The CIRCE approach leverages concepts from pattern-driven engineering, whereby patterns are used to encode proven dependencies between the Location, Condition, and Availability (LCA) properties of individual smart objects and corresponding properties of orchestrations (compositions) involving them. These are augmented by patterns encoding trustworthiness-related properties, namely Connectivity, Security, Privacy, Dependability, and Interoperability (CSPDI). Thereby, these patterns are used to generate IoT orchestrations with proven LCA and CSPDI properties, as needed, at design time. At runtime, these properties are monitored in real-time, leveraging reasoning engines deployed across system layers, triggering adaptations to return the deployed orchestration to the desired LCA and CSPDI states, when required. Details are provided on the above novel combination of IoT, CE and pattern-based engineering, along with a proposed architecture and implementation approach. Furthermore, an assessment of a proof-of-concept implementation is provided, validating the feasibility of the proposed approach.
Artificial Intelligence-Aided Diagnosis Software to Identify Highly Suspicious Pulmonary Nodules

Introduction To evaluate the value of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted software in the diagnosis of lung nodules using a combination of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Method A total of 113 patients with pulmonary nodules were screened using LDCT. For nodules with the largest diameters, an HRCT local-target scanning program (combined scanning scheme) and a conventional-dose CT scanning scheme were also performed. Lung nodules were subjectively assessed for image signs and compared by size and malignancy rate measured by AI-assisted software. The nodules were divided into improved visibility and identical visibility groups based on differences in the number of signs identified through the two schemes. Results The nodule volume and malignancy probability for subsolid nodules significantly differed between the improved and identical visibility groups. For the combined scanning protocol, we observed significant between-group differences in subsolid nodule malignancy rates. Conclusion Under the operation and decision of AI, the combined scanning scheme may be beneficial for screening high-risk populations.
Integrated 16S rDNA Gene Sequencing and Untargeted Metabolomics Analyses to Investigate the Gut Microbial Composition and Plasma Metabolic Phenotype in Calves With Dampness-Heat Diarrhea

Dampness-heat diarrhea (DHD), a common syndrome in Chinese dairy farms, is mainly resulted from digestive system disorders, and accompanied with metabolic disorders in some cases. However, the underlying mechanisms in the intestinal microbiome and plasma metabolome in calves with DHD remain unclear. In order to investigate the pathogenesis of DHD in calves, multi-omics techniques including the 16S rDNA gene sequencing and metabolomics were used to analyze gut microbial compositions and plasma metabolic changes in calves. The results indicated that DHD had a significant effect on the intestinal microbial compositions in calves, which was confirmed by changes in microbial population and distribution. A total of 14 genera were changed, including Escherichia-Shigella, Bacteroides, and Fournierella, in calves with DHD (P < 0.05). Functional analysis based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotations indicated that 11 metabolic functions (level 2) were significantly enriched in DHD cases. The untargeted metabolomics analysis showed that 440 metabolites including bilineurin, phosphatidylcholine, and glutamate were significantly different between two groups (VIP > 1 and P < 0.05), and they were related to 67 signal pathways. Eight signal pathways including alpha-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and glycerophospholipid metabolism were significantly enriched (P < 0.05), which may be potential biomarkers of plasma in calves with DHD. Further, 107 pairs of intestinal microbiota-plasma metabolite correlations were determined, e.g., Escherichia-Shigella was significantly associated with changes of sulfamethazine, butyrylcarnitine, and 14 other metabolites, which reflected that metabolic activity was influenced by the microbiome. These microbiota-metabolite pairs might have a relationship with DHD in calves. In conclusion, the findings revealed that DHD had effect on intestinal microbial compositions and plasma metabolome in calves, and the altered metabolic pathways and microorganisms might serve as diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets for DHD in calves.
Differential Efficacy of Digital Scaffolding of Numeracy Skills in Kindergartners With Mild Perinatal Aversities

Introduction: Children who experienced mild perinatal adversity (i.e., born late preterm or small for gestational age) are at increased risk for delays in early numeracy and literacy, which increases inequality in educational opportunities. However, this group showed increased susceptibility to the characteristics of their educational environment for literacy, especially for those born late preterm. Intervening in this group may thus be particularly beneficial, provided that their educational environment is highly structured. Delays in numeracy and mathematics are most firmly acknowledged in these children. It remains unclear if these children are also more susceptible to their educational numeracy environment. We test the hypothesis of increased susceptibility to characteristics of their educational environment in the field of numeracy. Methods: We tested the efficacy of a digital intervention of two to 3 months, which focused on visual spatial skills in a large randomized controlled trial in a sample of five-to-six-year-old kindergarten pupils from 140 elementary schools. About 45% of all participants showed delays in numeracy, of whom n = 67 (11%) were born late preterm, n = 157 (26%) were born small for gestational age, and n = 389 (63%) had no mild perinatal adversities. Pupils were assigned to a guiding and structured intervention focused on visual spatial skills (n = 294) or a control program (n = 319), targeting literacy skills. Results: The intervention did not show a main effect. The program was not effective in children small for gestational age, but it was for children born late preterm (Cohen’s d = .71, CI = .07–1.36), showing stronger numeracy skills compared to term-born peers in the intervention condition. Early numeracy skills in children born late preterm fell behind compared to term-born peers in the control condition. Conclusion: A highly structured educational numeracy environment, using repetition and adaptive feedback benefited early numeracy skills of late preterm children. These children outperformed their peers in early numeracy skills, while those in the control condition fell behind. Findings align with earlier findings on promoting early literacy in this group through an equivalent literacy intervention. A relatively simple and cost-effective intervention thus may help reduce the risk of educational inequality for children born late pre-term.
An Integrated Quantitative Assessment of Urban Water Security of a Megacity in the Global South

Water security, the access to adequate amounts of water of adequate quality, is and will remain a hugely important issue over the next decades as climate change and related hazards, food insecurity, and social instability will exacerbate insecurities. Despite attempts made by researchers and water professionals to study different dimensions of water security in urban areas, there is still an absence of comprehensive water security measurement tools. This study aims to untangle the interrelationship between biophysical and socio-economic dimensions that shape water security in a megacity in the Global South—Kolkata, India. It provides an interdisciplinary understanding of urban water security by extracting and integrating relevant empirical knowledge on urban water issues in the city from physical, environmental, and social sciences approaches. To do so we use intersectional perspectives to analyze urban water security at a micro (respondent) level and associated challenges across and between areas within the city. The study concludes with the recommendation that future studies should make use of comprehensive and inclusive approaches so we can ensure that we leave no one behind.
Metabolites With Cytotoxic Activities From the Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Fusarium sp. 2ST2

Two new 3-decalinoyltetramic acid derivatives with peroxide bridge fusarisetins E (1) and F (2), one new chromone fusarimone A (5), two new benzofurans fusarifurans A (9) and B (10), three new isocoumarins fusarimarins A–C (11–13), as well as five known analogues 3, 4, 6–8 and 14 were isolated from mangrove endophytic fungus Fusarium sp. 2ST2. Their structures and absolute configurations were established by spectroscopic analysis, density functional theory-gauge invariant atomic orbital NMR calculation with DP4+ statistical analysis, and electronic circular dichroism calculation. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant cytotoxicity against human A549 cell lines with IC50 values of 8.7 and 4.3 μM, respectively.
Comprehensive Analysis of LncRNA AC010789.1 Delays Androgenic Alopecia Progression by Targeting MicroRNA-21 and the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Hair Follicle Stem Cells

Background: Androgen alopecia (AGA), the most common type of alopecia worldwide, has become an important medical and social issue. Accumulating evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in the progression of various human diseases, including AGA. However, the potential roles of lncRNAs in hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and their subsequent relevance for AGA have not been fully elucidated. The current study aimed to explore the function and molecular mechanism of the lncRNA AC010789.1 in AGA progression. Methods: We investigated the expression levels of AC010789.1 in AGA scalp tissues compared with that in normal tissues and explored the underlying mechanisms using bioinformatics. HFSCs were then isolated from hair follicles of patients with AGA, and an AC010789.1-overexpressing HFSC line was produced and verified. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were performed to verify the molecular mechanisms involved. Results: AC010789.1 overexpression promoted the proliferation and differentiation of HFSCs. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that AC010789.1 overexpression promotes the biological function of HFSCs by downregulating miR-21-5p and TGF-β1 expression but upregulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Conclusion: These results reveal that overexpression of AC010789.1 suppresses AGA progression via downregulation of hsa-miR-21-5p and TGF-β1 and promotion of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, highlighting a potentially promising strategy for AGA treatment.
PowerBoost

This paper examines a feature present in some cable broadband networks that can enable, for multiple megabytes of data, higher data rates than what can be sustained over the long term. Commonly referred to as "Powerboost," this feature represents a strategy for sharing unused link capacity among users of cable broadband networks. We explain how Powerboost works under current implementations, consider how it may impact the experiences of broadband users, and examine the challenges that Powerboost poses for the design of performance metrics that may be used to evaluate the service quality of broadband ISPs. We present sample measurement data for a Powerboost enabled broadband connection and discuss how such measurements might be reported in the current large scale broadband measurement study led by the FCC.
Decoding designers' inspiration process

Every great invention, innovative design or visionary art piece ever created started in the same way: with a blank canvas. However, you never begin a new project with a completely clean slate: besides memories, past experiences and general knowledge, all of us are constantly surrounded by information, which can have a profound influence in our daily lives. Designers, just like other problem solvers, often find inspiration for their solutions in the myriad of stimuli they encounter. Nevertheless, these random encounters with inspiration are unpredictable. When they are required to consistently deliver creative solutions, designers can become stuck or fixated, unable to continue generating ideas. And because inspiration is not understood as a step-wise process that can be neatly followed by a method, nobody knows whether a stimulus found by chance may lead to an insight and, subsequently, to the development of a novel and practical solution. Although this is a process that designers naturally, and often unconsciously experience in practice, research on design inspiration has not gained much traction so far. This thesis aimed to address that, to better support the inspiration process of designers and thereby promote the development of creative solutions. This thesis is composed by a theoretical and empirical investigation, which culminates in the conclusions chapter, with implications and recommendations for design education and practice. In the theoretical investigation, chapters 1 and 2 introduce the topic of inspiration in design. More specifically, chapter 1 describes the main phenomenon explored in this thesis and the research methodology adopted for each study. Chapter 2 reviews meaningful theoretical streams of literature, relevant for the study of inspiration in design, by including concrete definitions of inspiration in relation to information, inspiration sources and stimuli. The empirical investigation section of this thesis is composed by four studies, ranging from quantitative (such as questionnaire and empirical studies) to qualitative methods (case studies and interviews). Thus, chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6 offer a multi-faceted exploration of the inspiration process: whilst chapter 3 (Study I) explores what designers search for, chapter 4 (Study II) investigates the influence of stimuli in design ideation and, finally, chapters 5 and 6 (Studies III and IV) zoom in the inspiration process of designers. The outcome of this thesis is in-depth knowledge on the inspiration process of designers within the field of design creativity. Furthermore, I present a model of designers’ inspiration process, which accounts for the specific steps involved in the use of external stimuli for inspirational purposes in design. These findings contributed to the development of recommendations for design practice and education, which can be used to support designers in their inspiration process to enhance creativity.
Studies on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Al2O3 Reinforced AA5083 Matrix Composite

The expectations over novel composite materials have been increased especially in automotive and aerospace applications due to its superior weight to strength ratio and tailored mechanical properties. In this frame work, aluminum alloy AA5083 alloy matrix reinforced with micron (10% wt – 5% wt) and nanoparticles (1% wt – 5% wt) of Al2O3. The composite samples were fabricated through powder metallurgy route. Optimum amount of reinforcement were determined by evaluating mechanical properties like micro-hardness and compressive strength of composites. The characterizations were probed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) methods. The results reveal that the composites containing 2% wt of nanoAl2O3 and 8 % micro Al2O3 reinforcement witnessed superior mechanical properties due to its combined effect of concentration and particulate scale and the great isotropic behavior was achieved by homogenous dispersion of reinforcement in the matrix phase.
Racial Differences on Post Exercise Heart Rate Recovery in Healthy Sedentary Adult Males-- A Meta-Analysis Study

Received: July 11, 2021 Accepted: December 30, 2021 DOI: 10.46568/bios.v2i2. 41 Abstract: Introduction: Post-exercise heart rate recovery (PEHRR) is the measure of parasympathetic function of heart which decreases the heart rate as the person stops exercising. The post exercise heart rate recovery is easily measurable index of heart parasympathetic activity. The post – exercise heart rate recovery is computed as peak heart rate minus the heart rate measured after 1 min of termination of exercise. The risk of cardiovascular disease in individual with African background is greater as compared to Caucasians and Asian population. The aim of this study was to analyze the difference in post exercise heart rate recovery in individuals from different ethnic backgrounds. Methods: A thorough literature search was carried out on PubMed, Google Scholar and PakMediNet with articles published between 2007 till 2021. The articles with post – exercise heart rate recovery in male adults with different ethnic backgrounds were included. A total of 8 studies were included after meeting the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The studies that measured heart rate recovery after 1 minute of termination of exercise were included. Results: Out of 174 subjects 51 individuals were Africans, 104 were Asians and 19 were Caucasians. The post exercise heart raterecovery was not found to be statistically significant between the individuals from different ethnic groups (p value-0.258). Conclusion: The post – exercise heart rate recovery is not influenced by the racial differences. Further research on larger scale assessing the impact of parasympathetic activity in terms of heart rate recovery in individual from different ethnic background is required as very limited data is available till date.
How effective is perceptual training? Evaluating two perceptual training methods on a difficult visual categorisation task

Perceptual training leads to improvements in a wide range of simple visual tasks. However, it is still unclear how effective it can be for more difficult visual tasks in real-world domains such as radiology. Is it possible to train people to the level of experts? If so, what method is best, and how much training is necessary? Over four training sessions, we trained medically naı̈ve participants to identify the degree of fatty liver tissue present in ultrasound images. We found that both COMPARISON and SINGLE-CASE perceptual training techniques resulted in significant post-training improvement, but that the SINGLECASE training was more effective. Whilst people showed rapid learning with less than one hour of training, they did not improve to the level of experts, and additional training sessions did not provide significant benefits beyond the initial session. This suggests that perceptual training could usefully augment, but not replace, the traditional rule-based training that medical students currently receive.
High Load few Repetitions Exercise is better for the Cardiovascular System than low Load Many Repetitions Exercise

Blood pressure, pulse rate, and blood lactate concentration in response to resistance training are of critical significance for people, who could benefit from performing it, but to whom extreme blood pressure levels may be harmful. Traditionally high load training was held to cause an exaggerated blood pressure response but few recent studies challenged this. Since the published data is not unanimous, we examined whether longer duration with low load or high load in shorter duration would be favorable to heart rate, blood pressure, double product, and lactate levels in a group of healthy young people. Twenty-three young students performed twice, a week apart, a sequence of four sets of an exercise, once with 20 repetitions of 50% of maximal resistance of 1 Repetition Maximum and once with 10 repetitions of 75% of 1 Repetition Maximum. Heart rate was measured continuously while blood pressure and blood lactate levels were measured before exercise and after the conclusion of each set. Heart rate, blood pressure, and blood lactate levels increased significantly more following the 20, lower load repetition sets compared to the higher load 10 repetition sets. We conclude that high load low repetition exercise is less demanding on the cardiovascular system compared to lower load high repetition exercise, which should be considered in prescribing physical activity to older beginners and cardiac rehabilitation patients.