Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction of Male Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Outcomes Using Body Surface Area Weighted Left Ventricular End-diastolic Diameter: Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Background The presence of a high left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) has been linked to a less favorable outcome in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures. However, by taking into consideration the reference of left ventricular size and volume measurements relative to the patient's body surface area (BSA), it has been suggested that the accuracy of the predicting outcomes may be improved. Objective We propose that BSA weighted LVEDD (bLVEDD) is a more accurate predictor of outcomes in patients undergoing CABG compared to simply using LVEDD alone. Methods This study was a comprehensive retrospective cohort study that was conducted across multiple medical centers. The inclusion criteria for this study were patients who were admitted for treatment between October 2016 and May 2021. Only elective surgery patients were included in the study, while those undergoing emergency surgery were not considered. All participants in the study received standard care, and their clinical data were collected through the institutional registry in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Adult Cardiac Database. bLVEDD was defined as LVEDD divided by BSA. The primary outcome was in-hospital all-cause mortality (30 days), and the secondary outcomes were postoperative severe adverse events, including use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, multiorgan failure, use of intra-aortic balloon pump, postoperative stroke, and postoperative myocardial infarction. Results In total, 9474 patients from 5 centers under the Chinese Cardiac Surgery Registry were eligible for analysis. We found that a high LVEDD was a negative factor for male patients’ mortality (odds ratio 1.44, P<.001) and secondary outcomes. For female patients, LVEDD was associated with secondary outcomes but did not reach statistical differences for morality. bLVEDD showed a strong association with postsurgery mortality (odds ratio 2.70, P<.001), and secondary outcomes changed in parallel with bLVEDD in male patients. However, bLVEDD did not reach statistical differences when fitting either mortality or severer outcomes in female patients. In male patients, the categorical bLVEDD showed high power to predict mortality (area under the curve [AUC] 0.71, P<.001) while BSA (AUC 0.62) and LVEDD (AUC 0.64) both contributed to the risk of mortality but were not as significant as bLVEDD (P<.001). Conclusions bLVEDD is an important predictor for male mortality in CABG, removing the bias of BSA and showing a strong capability to accurately predict mortality outcomes. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02400125; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02400125
The Diversity of the Brains of Ray-Finned Fishes

Brains are very plastic, both in response to phenotypic diversity and to larger evolutionary trends. Differences between taxa cannot be easily attributed to either factors. Comparative morphological data on higher taxonomic levels are scarce, especially in ray-finned fishes. Here we show the great diversity of brain areas of more than 150 species of ray-finned fishes by volumetric measurements using block-face imaging. We found that differences among families or orders are more likely due to environmental needs than to systematic position. Most notable changes are present in the brain areas processing sensory input (chemosenses and lateral line vs. visual system) between salt- and freshwater species due to fundamental differences in habitat properties. Further, some patterns of brain volumetry are linked to characteristics of body morphology. There is a positive correlation between cerebellum size and body depth, as well as the presence of a swim bladder. Since body morphology is linked to ecotypes and habitat selection, a complex character space of brain and body morphology and ecological factors together could explain better the differentiation of species into their ecological niches and may lead to a better understanding of how animals adapt to their environment.
Preferential Hematopoietic Differentiation in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived From Human Umbilical Cord Arterial Endothelial Cells

Background: The major obstacle for applications of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is efficient and controlled lineage-specific differentiation. Hence, a deeper understanding of the initial populations of hiPSCs is required to instruct proficient lineage commitment. Methods: hiPSCs were generated from somatic cells by transduction of 4 human transcription factors (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and C-MYC) using Sendai virus vectors. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis and transcriptional analysis were performed to evaluate the pluripotent capacity and somatic memory state of hiPSCs. Flow cytometric analysis and colony assays were performed to assess the hematopoietic differentiation capacity of hiPSCs. Results: Here, we reveal human umbilical arterial endothelial cell–derived induced pluripotent stem cells (HuA-iPSCs) exhibit indistinguishable pluripotency in comparison with human embryonic stem cells and hiPSCs derived from other tissues of origin (umbilical vein endothelial cells, cord blood, foreskin fibroblasts, and fetal skin fibroblasts). However, HuA-iPSCs retain a transcriptional memory typical of the parental human umbilical cord arterial endothelial cells, together with a strikingly similar DNA methylation signature to umbilical cord blood–derived induced pluripotent stem cells that distinguishes them from other human pluripotent stem cells. Ultimately, HuA-iPSCs are most efficient in targeted differentiation toward hematopoietic lineage among all human pluripotent stem cells based on the functional and quantitative evaluation of both flow cytometric analysis and colony assays. Application of the Rho-kinase activator significantly reduces the effects of preferential hematopoietic differentiation in HuA-iPSCs, reflected in CD34+ cell percentage of day 7, hematopoietic/endothelial-associated gene expression, and even colony-forming unit numbers. Conclusions: Collectively, our data suggest that somatic cell memory may predispose HuA-iPSCs to differentiate more amenably into hematopoietic fate, bringing us closer to generating hematopoietic cell types in vitro from nonhematopoietic tissue for therapeutic applications.
Human–Machine Interaction via Dual Modes of Voice and Gesture Enabled by Triboelectric Nanogenerator and Machine Learning

With the development of science and technology, human–machine interaction has brought great benefits to the society. Here, we design a voice and gesture signal translator (VGST), which can translate natural actions into electrical signals and realize efficient communication in human–machine interface. By spraying silk protein on the copper of the device, the VGST can achieve improved output and a wide frequency response of 20–2000 Hz with a high sensitivity of 167 mV/dB, and the resolution of frequency detection can reach 0.1 Hz. By designing its internal structure, its resonant frequency and output voltage can be adjusted. The VGST can be used as a high-fidelity platform to effectively recover recorded music and can also be combined with machine learning algorithms to realize the function of speech recognition with a high accuracy rate of 97%. It also has good antinoise performance to recognize speech correctly even in noisy environments. Meanwhile, in gesture recognition, the triboelectric translator is able to recognize simple hand gestures and to judge the distance between hand and the VGST based on the principle of electrostatic induction. This work demonstrates that triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology can have great application prospects and significant advantages in human–machine interaction and high-fidelity platforms.
Autobiographical memories cued by self-statements in patients with alcohol use disorder: linking self-conceptions to past events

ABSTRACT The study examined the personal sense of identity in alcohol use disorder (AUD) through the relation between autobiographical memories and individuals’ self-conception. The AUD detoxified patients and control participants were asked to create a list of self-statements to which they associated for the three main autobiographical memories illustrating them. The group variable was not associated with the number of positive self-statements, but it was associated with the number of negative self-statements. Furthermore, for the autobiographical memories cued by a positive self-statement, the group was related to the number of positive memories and general memories, while no relation was observed for the memories cued by a negative self-statement. Our results also support that AUD patients’ memories cued by self-statements are older and more alcohol-related. Hierarchical regression analyses in the AUD patients demonstrated that the use of adaptive emotional regulation strategies was the only significant predictor of the use of positive or negative self-statements.
Key stakeholders’ perspectives on providing oral pre-exposure prophylaxis as HIV-prevention standard of care in clinical trials in South Africa

Introduction: HIV-prevention and endpoint-driven clinical trials enrol individuals at substantial risk of HIV. Recently, these trials have provided oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as HIV-prevention standard of care; however, data on PrEP uptake and use during the trial and post-trial access are lacking. Methods: We conducted once-off, telephonic, in-depth interviews from August 2020 to March 2021, with 15 key stakeholders (including site directors/leaders, principal investigators and clinicians), purposively recruited from research sites across South Africa that are known to conduct HIV-prevention and endpoint-driven clinical trials. The interview guide probed for facilitators and barriers to PrEP uptake and use during the trial, and post-trial PrEP access. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Coding was facilitated using NVivo and emergent themes were identified. Results: Most stakeholders reported incorporating PrEP as part of the HIV-prevention package in HIV-prevention and endpoint-driven clinical trials. Stakeholders identified multiple barriers to PrEP uptake and use, including difficulties with daily pill taking, side effects, stigma, a lack of demand creation and limited knowledge and education about PrEP in communities. Facilitators of PrEP uptake and use included demand-creation campaigns and trial staff providing quality counselling and education. Post-trial PrEP access was frequently challenging as facilities were located a considerable distance from research sites, had long queues and inconvenient operating hours. Conclusions: Strategies to address barriers to PrEP uptake and use during trials and post-trial access, such as PrEP demand creation, education and counselling, addressing stigma, support for daily pill-taking and increased post-trial access, are urgently needed.
Longitudinal biomarkers and kidney disease progression after acute kidney injury

BACKGROUND Longitudinal investigations of murine acute kidney injury (AKI) suggest that injury and inflammation may persist long after the initial insult. However, the evolution of these processes and their prognostic values are unknown in patients with AKI. METHODS In a prospective cohort of 656 participants hospitalized with AKI, we measured 7 urine and 2 plasma biomarkers of kidney injury, inflammation, and tubular health at multiple time points from the diagnosis to 12 months after AKI. We used linear mixed-effect models to estimate biomarker changes over time, and we used Cox proportional hazard regressions to determine their associations with a composite outcome of chronic kidney disease (CKD) incidence and progression. We compared the gene expression kinetics of biomarkers in murine models of repair and atrophy after ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI). RESULTS After 4.3 years, 106 and 52 participants developed incident CKD and CKD progression, respectively. Each SD increase in the change of urine KIM-1, MCP-1, and plasma TNFR1 from baseline to 12 months was associated with 2- to 3-fold increased risk for CKD, while the increase in urine uromodulin was associated with 40% reduced risk for CKD. The trajectories of these biological processes were associated with progression to kidney atrophy in mice after IRI. CONCLUSION Sustained tissue injury and inflammation, and slower restoration of tubular health, are associated with higher risk of kidney disease progression. Further investigation into these ongoing biological processes may help researchers understand and prevent the AKI-to-CKD transition. FUNDING NIH and NIDDK (grants U01DK082223, U01DK082185, U01DK082192, U01DK082183, R01DK098233, R01DK101507, R01DK114014, K23DK100468, R03DK111881, K01DK120783, and R01DK093771).
First-moment filters for spatial independent cluster processes

A group target is a collection of individual targets which are, for example, part of a convoy of articulated vehicles or a crowd of football supporters and can be represented mathematically as a spatial cluster process. The process of detecting, tracking and identifying group targets requires the estimation of the evolution of such a dynamic spatial cluster process in time based on a sequence of partial observation sets. A suitable generalisation of the Bayes filter for this system would provide us with an optimal (but computationally intractable) estimate of a multi-group multi-object state based on measurements received up to the current time-step. In this paper, we derive the first-moment approximation of the multi-group multi-target Bayes filter, inspired by the first-moment multi-object Bayes filter derived by Mahler. Such approximations are Bayes optimal and provide estimates for the number of clusters (groups) and their positions in the group state-space, as well as estimates for the number of cluster components (object targets) and their positions in target state-space.
The Kruppel-like factor 4-signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A axis promotes pancreatic fibrosis in mice with caerulein-induced chronic pancreatitis

Pancreatic fibrosis (PF) is a hallmark of chronic pancreatitis (CP), but its molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore the role of Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) in PF in CP mice. The CP mouse model was established using caerulein. After KLF4 interference, pathological changes in pancreatic tissues and fibrosis degree were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining, and levels of Collagen I, Collagen III, and alpha-smooth muscle actin, inflammatory cytokines, KLF4, signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A (STAT5) in pancreatic tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot assay, and immunofluorescence. The enrichment of KLF4 on the STAT5 promoter and the binding of KLF4 to the STAT5 promoter were analyzed. The rescue experiments were performed by co-injection of sh-STAT5 and sh-KLF4 to confirm the regulatory mechanism of KLF4. KLF4 was upregulated in CP mice. Inhibition of KLF4 effectively attenuated pancreatic inflammation and PF in mice. KLF4 was enriched on the STAT5 promoter and enhanced the transcriptional and protein levels of STAT5. Overexpression of STAT5 reversed the inhibitory role of silencing KLF4 in PF. In summary, KLF4 promoted the transcription and expression of STAT5, which further facilitated PF in CP mice.
Sleep and circadian rhythms in α‐synucleinopathies—Perspectives for disease modification

The global north is facing an unprecedented rise in the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases. The increasing incidence of Parkinson's disease is being referred to as a pandemic. The reason for the enormous increase is only partly understood. Lifestyle factors are known to play a role, but they alone cannot account for the surge. One factor that—although being recognized as important—has not been explored in detail so far is the influence of circadian rhythms. Sleep and circadian rhythm disruption are known as key factors in neurodegeneration, and their occurrence during early disease stages suggests a causal role in the pathogenesis. Isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) has been identified as a prodromal state of α‐synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, and multiple system atrophy offering a window for insights into the early development of these diseases. Even though REM sleep is the sleep state most pronounced, driven and modulated by the circadian timing system, specific circadian abnormalities have not been described in iRBD. Novel experimental and clinical approaches exploiting the molecular circuitry underlying circadian timekeeping hold promise to disentangle some of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of α‐synucleinopathies. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions in α‐synucleinopathies with an emphasis on molecular aspects and therapeutic potentials. These insights might contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and may allow therapeutic interventions addressing the disturbed circadian system at the early stage of disease.
Policy approaches to nutrition-focused food banking in industrialized countries: a scoping review

Abstract Objective This review aims to synthesize the literature describing policy approaches to nutrition-focused food banking in industrialized countries, spanning the period 2000 to October 2021. Background The charitable food system provides food assistance to increasing numbers of people experiencing food insecurity in industrialized countries. Calls to improve the nutrition quality of foods provided by foods banks, pantries, and shelves have increased, yet little is known about the challenges faced when initiating policy in this setting. Methods A protocol based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Guidelines was developed and registered with Open Science Framework. Four electronic databases (MEDLINE [Ovid], Global Health, ProQuest, and Scopus) were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English. A gray literature search was conducted using Google Advanced Search. Results Of 642 peer-reviewed articles screened, 15 were eligible for inclusion. In addition, 24 gray literature documents were included. These 39 papers were assessed against the Iron Triangle of Hunger Relief and the Campbell et al framework of organizational factors. Six themes were identified: (1) there is a moral imperative to take action to ensure the provision of appropriate and nutritious food for vulnerable clients; (2) nutrition policies are unlikely to be formalized; (3) the unpredictability of donated food is a barrier to providing healthy foods; (4) reliance on donations affects the sector’s willingness to reduce the unhealthy inventory for fear of losing donors, and the challenges of managing donor relationships were emphasized; (5) organizational capacity (volunteer workforce, executive leadership support) must be considered; (6) the existing measure of success is a weight-based metric that does not support food banks’ prioritizing of healthy foods. These, and other characteristics, were incorporated into an adapted framework. Conclusion There is a need and opportunity for nutrition-focused food banking. A priority action area is the adoption of an outcome metric that is based on nutritional quality, to reorient the charitable food system.
Review of the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of invasive meningococcal disease in Vietnam

ABSTRACT Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), caused by Neisseria meningitidis, is life-threatening with a high case fatality rate (CFR) and severe sequelae. We compiled and critically discussed the evidence on IMD epidemiology, antibiotic resistance and disease management in Vietnam, focusing on children. PubMed, Embase and gray literature searches for English, Vietnamese and French publications, with no date restrictions, retrieved 11 eligible studies. IMD incidence rate (/100,000 population) was 7.4 [95% confidence interval 3.6–15.3] in children under 5 years of age; driven by high rates in infants (e.g. 29.1 [8.0–106.0] in 7–11 month-olds). Serogroup B IMD was predominant. Neisseria meningitidis strains may have developed resistance to streptomycin, sulfonamides, ciprofloxacin, and possibly ceftriaxone. There was a lack of current data on diagnosis and treatment of IMD, which remain challenging. Healthcare professionals should be trained to rapidly recognize and treat IMD. Preventive measures, such as routine vaccination, could help address the medical need.
Aircraft Flow Effects on Cloud Drop Images and Concentrations Measured by the NAE Twin Otter

Abstract A theoretical model for the local flow velocity ahead of the wing quarter-chord point on the National Aeronautical Establishment Twin Otter has been developed and experimentally verified by flight measurements using a pitot-static equipped Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) canister. This flow velocity model was used to calculate drop trajectories and the resulting airflow effects on drop images and concentrations. Results indicate that drop images and concentrations measured by the Twin Otter are distorted in the worst case by no more than 25% for an unusually high aircraft lift coefficient (CL) of 0.79, and by only a few percent for lower values of CL typical of normal flight. A method to correct water drop images and concentrations is described and results for a PMS probe mounted at one underwing station are presented.
3D model of bow shocks

Context. Shocks produced by outflows from young stars are often observed as bow-shaped structures in which the H 2 line strength and morphology are characteristic of the physical and chemical environments and the velocity of the impact. Aims. We present a 3D model of interstellar bow shocks propagating in a homogeneous molecular medium with a uniform magnetic field. The model enables us to estimate the shock conditions in observed flows. As an example, we show how the model can reproduce rovibrational H 2 observations of a bow shock in OMC1. Methods. The 3D model is constructed by associating a planar shock with every point on a 3D bow skeleton. The planar shocks are modelled with a highly sophisticated chemical reaction network that is essential for predicting accurate shock widths and line emissions. The shock conditions vary along the bow surface and determine the shock type, the local thickness, and brightness of the bow shell. The motion of the cooling gas parallel to the bow surface is also considered. The bow shock can move at an arbitrary inclination to the magnetic field and to the observer, and we model the projected morphology and radial velocity distribution in the plane-of-sky. Results. The morphology of a bow shock is highly dependent on the orientation of the magnetic field and the inclination of the flow. Bow shocks can appear in many different guises and do not necessarily show a characteristic bow shape. The ratio of the H 2 v = 2―1 S(1) line to the v = 1-0 S(1) line is variable across the flow and the spatial offset between the peaks of the lines may be used to estimate the inclination of the flow. The radial velocity comes to a maximum behind the apparent apex of the bow shock when the flow is seen at an inclination different from face-on. Under certain circumstances the radial velocity of an expanding bow shock can show the same signatures as a rotating flow. In this case a velocity gradient perpendicular to the outflow direction is a projection effect of an expanding bow shock lighting up asymmetrically because of the orientation of the magnetic field. With the 3D model we reproduce the brightness levels in three H 2 lines as well as the shape and size of a chosen bow shock in OMC1. The inferred bow inclination and the orientation and strength of the magnetic field fit into the pattern suggested by independent observations.