Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Era in Cardiac Rehabilitation Delivery: Research Gaps, Questions, Strategies, and Priorities

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a guideline-recommended, multidisciplinary program of exercise training, risk factor management, and psychosocial counseling for people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) that is beneficial but underused and with substantial disparities in referral, access, and participation. The emergence of new virtual and remote delivery models has the potential to improve access to and participation in CR and ultimately improve outcomes for people with CVD. Although data suggest that new delivery models for CR have safety and efficacy similar to traditional in-person CR, questions remain regarding which participants are most likely to benefit from these models, how and where such programs should be delivered, and their effect on outcomes in diverse populations. In this review, we describe important gaps in evidence, identify relevant research questions, and propose strategies for addressing them. We highlight 4 research priorities: (1) including diverse populations in all CR research; (2) leveraging implementation methodologies to enhance equitable delivery of CR; (3) clarifying which populations are most likely to benefit from virtual and remote CR; and (4) comparing traditional in-person CR with virtual and remote CR in diverse populations using multicenter studies of important clinical, psychosocial, and cost-effectiveness outcomes that are relevant to patients, caregivers, providers, health systems, and payors. By framing these important questions, we hope to advance toward a goal of delivering high-quality CR to as many people as possible to improve outcomes in those with CVD.
Influence of tin oxide decoration on the junction conductivity of silver nanowires

Flexible electrodes using nanowires (NWs) suffer from challenges of long-term stability and high junction resistance which limit their fields of applications. Welding via thermal annealing is a common strategy to enhance the conductivity of percolated NW networks, however, it affects the structural and mechanical integrity of the NWs. In this study we show that the decoration of NWs with an ultrathin metal oxide is a potential alternative procedure which not only enhances the thermal and chemical stability but, moreover, provides a totally different mechanism to reduce the junction resistance upon heat treatment. Here, we analyze the effect of SnO x decoration on the conductance of silver NWs and NW junctions by using a four-probe measurement setup inside a scanning electron microscope. Dedicated transmission electron microscopy analysis in plan-view and cross-section geometry are carried out to characterize the nanowires and the microstructure of the junctions. Upon heat treatment the junction resistance of both plain silver NWs and SnO x -decorated NWs is reduced by around 80%. While plain silver NWs show characteristic junction welding during annealing, the SnO x -decoration reduces junction resistance by a solder-like process which does not affect the mechanical integrity of the NW junction and is therefore expected to be superior for applications.
Efficient generation of ETX embryoids that recapitulate the entire window of murine egg cylinder development

The murine embryonic–trophoblast–extra-embryonic endoderm (ETX) model is an integrated stem cell–based model to study early postimplantation development. It is based on the self-assembly potential of embryonic, trophoblast, and hypoblast/primitive/visceral endoderm-type stem cell lines (ESC, TSC, and XEN, respectively) to arrange into postimplantation egg cylinder–like embryoids. Here, we provide an optimized method for reliable and efficient generation of ETX embryoids that develop into late gastrulation in static culture conditions. It is based on transgenic Gata6-overproducing ESCs and modified assembly and culture conditions. Using this method, up to 43% of assembled ETX embryoids exhibited a correct spatial distribution of the three stem cell derivatives at day 4 of culture. Of those, 40% progressed into ETX embryoids that both transcriptionally and morphologically faithfully mimicked in vivo postimplantation mouse development between E5.5 and E7.5. The ETX model system offers the opportunity to study the murine postimplantation egg cylinder stages and could serve as a source of various cell lineage precursors.
Climate change, human health, and resilience in the Holocene

Climate change is an indisputable threat to human health, especially for societies already confronted with rising social inequality, political and economic uncertainty, and a cascade of concurrent environmental challenges. Archaeological data about past climate and environment provide an important source of evidence about the potential challenges humans face and the long-term outcomes of alternative short-term adaptive strategies. Evidence from well-dated archaeological human skeletons and mummified remains speaks directly to patterns of human health over time through changing circumstances. Here, we describe variation in human epidemiological patterns in the context of past rapid climate change (RCC) events and other periods of past environmental change. Case studies confirm that human communities responded to environmental changes in diverse ways depending on historical, sociocultural, and biological contingencies. Certain factors, such as social inequality and disproportionate access to resources in large, complex societies may influence the probability of major sociopolitical disruptions and reorganizations—commonly known as “collapse. ” This survey of Holocene human–environmental relations demonstrates how flexibility, variation, and maintenance of Indigenous knowledge can be mitigating factors in the face of environmental challenges. Although contemporary climate change is more rapid and of greater magnitude than the RCC events and other environmental changes we discuss here, these lessons from the past provide clarity about potential priorities for equitable, sustainable development and the constraints of modernity we must address.
Assessment of Retinopathy of Prematurity Regression and Reactivation Using an Artificial Intelligence–Based Vascular Severity Score

Key Points Question Can an artificial intelligence–based vascular severity score (VSS) be used for analyzing regression and reactivation of retinopathy of prematurity after anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment? Findings In this prognostic study of 19 infants with retinopathy of prematurity who participated in the Comparing Alternative Ranibizumab Dosages for Safety and Efficacy in Retinopathy of Prematurity randomized clinical trial, VSS decreased rapidly after anti-VEGF treatment. In eyes requiring retreatment, VSS increased again at the time of retreatment; these eyes also displayed a greater change in VSS between baseline and week 1, before the need for retreatment became clinically apparent. Meaning These findings suggest that VSS after anti-VEGF treatment correlates with clinical disease severity and that the initial response in VSS to anti-VEGF therapy (from baseline to week 1) may help identify eyes that will later require retreatment.
The rationale, design and baseline data of FLOW, a kidney outcomes trial with once-weekly semaglutide in people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease

ABSTRACT Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common complication of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) improve glycaemic control and lower body weight in people with T2D, and some reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in those with high CV risk. GLP-1RAs might also have kidney-protective effects. We report the design and baseline data for FLOW (NCT03819153), a trial investigating the effects of semaglutide, a once-weekly (OW) GLP-1RA, on kidney outcomes in participants with CKD and T2D. Methods FLOW is a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, multinational, phase 3b trial. Participants with T2D, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥50‒≤75 ml/min/1.73 m2 and urine albumin:creatinine ratio (UACR) >300‒<5000 mg/g or eGFR ≥25‒<50 ml/min/1.73 m2 and UACR >100‒<5000 mg/g were randomised 1:1 to OW semaglutide 1.0 mg or matched placebo, with renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system blockade (unless not tolerated/contraindicated). The composite primary endpoint is time to first kidney failure (persistent eGFR <15 ml/min/1.73 m2 or initiation of chronic kidney replacement therapy), persistent ≥50% reduction in eGFR or death from kidney or CV causes. Results Enrolled participants (N = 3534) had a baseline mean age of 66.6 years [standard deviation (SD) 9.0], haemoglobin A1c of 7.8% (SD 1.3), diabetes duration of 17.4 years (SD 9.3), eGFR of 47.0 ml/min/1.73 m2 (SD 15.2) and median UACR of 568 mg/g (range 2‒11 852). According to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines categorisation, 68.2% were at very high risk for CKD progression. Conclusion FLOW will evaluate the effect of semaglutide on kidney outcomes in participants with CKD and T2D, and is expected to be completed in late 2024.
Preparation of ZnO Nanospheres and Their Applications in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

ZnO nanospheres are synthesized by a two-step self-assembly method. X-ray diffraction pattern and Raman scattering spectra measurements show that all the samples present a typical wurtzite structure. A regular sphere shape is inspected by field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope for the samples. It is shown that the as-synthesized ZnO nanosphere is composed of numbers of primary particles with size of around 10 nm. A possible growth mechanism for the two-step self-assembly ZnO nanosphere is proposed. After applying the ZnO nanospheres to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), a 117% increase of the overall light to electricity conversion efficiency η is observed compared with that of the ZnO nanoparticles based DSSCs. Associated with the UV–vis results, light scattering is assigned to the great improvement of η.
Differentiated serum levels of Krüppel-like factors 2 and 4, sP-selectin, and sE-selectin in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract Objectives This study aims to determine serum levels of human Krüppel-like factors (KLFs), sP-selectin and sE-selectin and establish correlations between them in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods Twenty-six GDM patients aged between 22 and 35 years and 25 healthy pregnant women aged between 23 and 34 years were recruited. Maternal serum levels of KLF2, KLF4, and their target proteins sP-selectin, sE-selectin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays at 24–28 weeks of gestation. Results Women with GDM had significantly lower serum KLF2 than controls. However, the differences in levels of serum KLF4 between the control and GDM groups were not significant. Additionally, elevated serum sP-selectin and sE-selectin were found in the GDM group and not in the healthy group. Importantly, we also found that serum KLF2 levels were negatively correlated with indicators of glucose metabolism, including insulin, fasting blood glucose, 1-h oral glucose tolerance test, and glycated hemoglobin. Conclusion We conclude that (i) serum KLF2 might be indicative of GDM risk, and (ii) sP-selectin and sE-selectin were increased in GDM patients.
Comparison of clinicopathological characteristics and response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy in patients with HER2-low-positive and HER2-zero breast cancer

Previous studies have observed that human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low-positive patients and HER2-zero patients have different prognoses. This study was conducted to investigate whether there are differences in clinicopathological characteristics and the response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) defined as systemic treatment prior to surgery between HER2-low-positive patients and HER2-zero patients. We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with HER2-negative breast cancer who received NST at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2014 to 2021. There were 238 patients with HER2-low-positive status and 198 patients with HER2-zero status. The proportion of hormone receptor (HR)-positive patients in the HER2-low-positive group was significantly higher than that in the HER2-zero group (82.8% vs 52.0%, p < 0.001). The HER2-low-positive group had more patients with low Ki67 expression (23.9% vs 16.2%, p = 0.045), higher mastectomy rate (94.5% vs 88.9%, p = 0.031), and larger pathological tumor size (21.6 vs 17.8 mm, p = 0.028) than the HER2-zero group. However, no significant differences were found in pathologic complete response (pCR) rates between the two groups. We draw a conclusion that patients with HER2-low status and HER2-zero status were not found to have different pCR rates after NST, irrespective of HR status. However, differences were observed in some clinicopathological characteristics between the two groups.
BAP1 is a novel regulator of HIF-1α

Significance BAP1 modulates crucial cellular pathways that regulate genomic stability and cell death. BAP1 mutations on the one hand favor malignant transformation and mesothelioma development; on the other hand, they reduce mesothelioma aggressiveness. Investigating this apparent paradox, we discovered that BAP1 deubiquitylates and stabilizes HIF-1α in hypoxia; thus, BAP1 inactivating mutations significantly reduce HIF-1α. Given the critical role of HIF-1α in promoting tumor invasion, we propose that: 1) Reduced BAP1 in the tumor cells and tumor microenvironment of individuals carrying germline BAP1 mutations may contribute to the reduced invasion and the significantly improved prognosis of mesothelioma; 2) targeting wild-type BAP1 after tumor development could be a novel effective strategy to reduce HIF-1α protein levels in hypoxic tissues and impair tumor growth.
Monotonicity Preserving Weighted Essentially Non-oscillatory Schemes with Increasingly High Order of Accuracy

In this paper we design a class of numerical schemes that are higher-order extensions of the weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) schemes of G. -S. Jiang and C. -W. Shu (1996) and X. -D. Liu, S. Osher, and T. Chan (1994). Used by themselves, the schemes may not always be monotonicity preserving but coupled with the monotonicity preserving bounds of A. Suresh and H. T. Huynh (1997) they perform very well. The resulting monotonicity preserving weighted essentially non-oscillatory (MPWENO) schemes have high phase accuracy and high order of accuracy. The higher-order members of this family are almost spectrally accurate for smooth problems. Nevertheless, they, have robust shock capturing ability. The schemes are stable under normal CFL numbers. They are also efficient and do not have a computational complexity that is substantially greater than that of the lower-order members of this same family of schemes. The higher accuracy that these schemes offer coupled with their relatively low computational complexity makes them viable competitors to lower-order schemes, such as the older total variation diminishing schemes, for problems containing both discontinuities and rich smooth region structure. We describe the MPWENO schemes here as well as show their ability to reach their designed accuracies for smooth flow. We also examine the role of steepening algorithms such as the artificial compression method in the design of very high order schemes. Several test problems in one and two dimensions are presented. For multidimensional problems where the flow is not aligned with any of the grid directions it is shown that the present schemes have a substantial advantage over lower-order schemes. It is argued that the methods designed here have great utility for direct numerical simulations and large eddy simulations of compressible turbulence. The methodology developed here is applicable to other hyperbolic systems, which is demonstrated by showing that the MPWENO schemes also work very well on magnetohydrodynamical test problems.
Online support groups for carers of people living with dementia: An investigation of videoconferencing support groups in lockdown

Background This study aimed to explore the experiences of carers of people living with dementia who participated in videoconferencing support groups during the COVID-19 pandemic to investigate their preferences and experiences with online, hybrid, and face-to-face support. Methods This convergent mixed methods design study utilised an online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Interviews took place over videoconferencing software and were analysed through thematic analysis. Participants were recruited from support groups based in the UK and Ireland. Results 39 carers of people living with dementia completed the questionnaire and 16 carers participated in interviews. Participants found videoconferencing support groups more convenient, but face-to-face groups more enjoyable. Participants who had found it difficult to access face-to-face groups prior to COVID-19 expressed more positive perceptions of videoconference-based groups. Many felt that hybrid groups would make it easier for more people to attend. However, some carers described lacking the resources and technological skills to participate in online support groups effectively. Some suggested making IT training available may improve the capacity of carers to access support online. Conclusion Videoconferencing support groups can be an appropriate way of supporting carers of people with dementia, especially for those who do not have access to face-to-face support groups. However, face-to-face support remains important to carers and should be made available when it can be implemented safely. Hybrid support groups could allow for increased accessibility while still providing the option of face-to-face contact for those who prefer it or are not adept with technology.
Compression of volumetric medical data based on cube splitting

The increasing use of three-dimensional imaging modalities triggers the need for efficient techniques to transport and store the related volumetric data. Desired properties like quality and resolution scalability, region-of-interest coding, lossy-to-lossless coding and excellent rate-distortion characteristics for as well low as high bit-rates are inherently supported by wavelet-based compression tools. In this paper a new 3D wavelet-based compression engine is proposed and compared against a classical 3D JPEG-based coder and a state-of-the-art 3D SPIHT coder for different medical imaging modalities. Furthermore, we evaluate the performance of a selected set of lossless integer lifting kernels. We demonstrate that the performance of the proposed coder is superior for lossless coding, and competitive with 3D SPIHT at lower bit-rates.
A cascade interpretation of Lundgren’s stretched spiral vortex model for turbulent fine structure

Lundgren’s [Phys. Fluids 25, 2193 (1982)] model for turbulent fine structure comprises coherent vortices which wind up vorticity variations into spiral structures; simultaneously the vortices are stretched axially by a background strain field. The model predicts a k−5/3 energy spectrum and is remarkably robust to the form of the coherent vortices and the form of the vorticity variations. To understand this the present article introduces a simple cascade argument which illuminates how the dynamical processes of vortex stretching and reduction of scale conspire to give this Kolmogorov spectrum. Some generalizations are considered.
The role of dietary salt in metabolism and energy balance: Insights beyond cardiovascular disease

Dietary salt (NaCl) is essential to an organism's survival. However, today's diets are dominated by excessive salt intake, which significantly impacts individual and population health. High salt intake is closely linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially hypertension, through a number of well‐studied mechanisms. Emerging evidence indicates that salt overconsumption may also be associated with metabolic disorders. In this review, we first summarize recent updates on the mechanisms of salt‐induced CVD, the effects of salt reduction and the use of salt substitution as a therapy. Next, we focus on how high salt intake can impact metabolism and energy balance, describing the mechanisms through which this occurs, including leptin resistance, the overproduction of fructose and ghrelin, insulin resistance and altered hormonal factors. A further influence on metabolism worth noting is the reported role of salt in inducing thermogenesis and increasing body temperature, leading to an increase in energy expenditure. While this result could be viewed as a positive metabolic effect because it promotes a negative energy balance to combat obesity, caution must be taken with this frame of thinking given the deleterious consequences of chronic high salt intake on cardiovascular health. Nevertheless, this review highlights the importance of salt as a noncaloric nutrient in regulating whole‐body energy homeostasis. Through this review, we hope to provide a scientific framework for future studies to systematically address the metabolic impacts of dietary salt and salt replacement treatments. In addition, we hope to form a foundation for future clinical trials to explore how these salt‐induced metabolic changes impact obesity development and progression, and to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms that drive these changes, with the aim of developing novel therapeutics for obesity and CVD.
Radioiodine (131I) treatment decision-making for low- and intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect and influencing factors of post-surgical radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy for patients with low- and intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Subjects and methods: A retrospective analysis of 423 low- and intermediate-risk DTC patients admitted to the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2005 to December 2020 was performed. All patients were treated with surgery, had a postoperative pathological diagnosis, and were treated with RAI, including 89 males and 334 females. Recurrence risk stratification: 143 cases were low-risk, and 280 cases were intermediate-risk. Results: The excellent response (ER) rate for low- and intermediate-risk were 93.7% and 78.2%, respectively (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in age, cumulative dose of [131I], and pretreatment stimulated-Tg (pre-Tg) levels between the low- and intermediate-risk groups (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the cumulative dose of 131I and pre-Tg levels between ER and the non-ER group (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.799 in the low-risk group, and 0.747 in the intermediate-risk group for the ROC curve by ER status of pre-Tg. The ER rate with RAI treatment decreased with an increase in pre-Tg levels. Conclusion: Pre-Tg was an important factor for RAI treatment decision-making and prognostic evaluation and differed between low-risk and intermediate-risk DTC. Aggressive RAI therapy was recommended for low-risk DTC with pre-Tg ≥ 20.0 ng/mL and in intermediate-risk group with pre-Tg ≥ 10.0 ng/mL.