Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Splitting methods for split feasibility problems with application to Dantzig selectors

The split feasibility problem (SFP), which refers to the task of finding a point that belongs to a given nonempty, closed and convex set, and whose image under a bounded linear operator belongs to another given nonempty, closed and convex set, has promising applicability in modeling a wide range of inverse problems. Motivated by the increasingly data-driven regularization in the areas of signal/image processing and statistical learning, in this paper, we study the regularized split feasibility problem (RSFP), which provides a unified model for treating many real-world problems. By exploiting the split nature of the RSFP, we shall gainfully employ several efficient splitting methods to solve the model under consideration. A remarkable advantage of our methods lies in their easier subproblems in the sense that the resulting subproblems have closed-form representations or can be efficiently solved up to a high precision. As an interesting application, we apply the proposed algorithms for finding Dantzig selectors, in addition to demonstrating the effectiveness of the splitting methods through some computational results on synthetic and real medical data sets.
Making Surgery as Safe as It Should Be: A Qualitative Study

Existing literature supports the view that adverse outcomes from surgical interventions are more likely to be the result of degraded nontechnical skills (NTS) rather than the technical skills of surgeons. In the present context, NTS comprise the behaviors and cognitions deployed by surgeons to make decisions, maintain awareness of the operating environment, communicate with and lead supporting personnel. A contemporary safety thesis suggests that focusing on what makes things go right (eg, NTS) is far more productive than retrospective analysis (learning from mistakes). The present qualitative research explored how surgeons deploy NTS to facilitate safe and effective outcomes from surgical interventions. The thematic analysis revealed that this surgical cohort engaged specific self-regulated NTS along an intervention construct consisting of planning, implementation, monitoring progress, and deliberate learning through reflection during the preoperative, operative, and postoperative phases of care. Behaviors supporting these contentions were identified in the data and used to amplify use of the construct.
Chimeric HLA antibody receptor T cells for targeted therapy of antibody‐mediated rejection in transplantation

The presence of donor‐specific antibodies (DSA), mainly against HLA, increases the risk of allograft rejection. Moreover, antibody‐mediated rejection (ABMR) remains an important barrier to optimal long‐term outcomes after solid organ transplantation. The development of chimeric autoantibody receptor T lymphocytes has been postulated for targeted therapy of autoimmune diseases. We aimed to develop a targeted therapy for DSA desensitization and ABMR, generating T cells with a chimeric HLA antibody receptor (CHAR) that specifically eliminates DSA‐producing B cells. We have genetically engineered an HLA‐A2‐specific CHAR (A2‐CHAR) and transduced it into human T cells. Then, we have performed in vitro experiments such as cytokine measurement, effector cell activation, and cytotoxicity against anti‐HLA‐A2 antibody‐expressing target cells. In addition, we have performed A2‐CHAR‐Tc cytotoxic assays in an immunodeficient mouse model. A2‐CHAR expressing T cells could selectively eliminate HLA‐A2 antibody‐producing B cells in vitro. The cytotoxic capacity of A2‐CHAR expressing T cells mainly depended on Granzyme B release. In the NSG mouse model, A2‐CHAR‐T cells could identify and eradicate HLA‐A2 antibody‐producing B cells even when those cells are localized in the bone marrow. This ability is effector:target ratio dependent. CHAR technology generates potent and functional human cytotoxic T cells to target alloreactive HLA class I antibody‐producing B cells. Thus, we consider that CHAR technology may be used as a selective desensitization protocol or an ABMR therapy in transplantation.
Quantitative Systems Toxicology Identifies Independent Mechanisms for Hepatotoxicity and Bilirubin Elevations Due to AKR1C3 Inhibitor BAY1128688

BAY1128688 is a selective inhibitor of AKR1C3, investigated recently in a trial that was prematurely terminated due to drug‐induced liver injury. These unexpected observations prompted use of the quantitative systems toxicology model, DILIsym, to determine possible mechanisms of hepatotoxicity. Using mechanistic in vitro toxicity data as well as clinical exposure data, DILIsym predicted the potential for BAY1128688 to cause liver toxicity (elevations in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)) and elevations in serum bilirubin. Initial simulations overpredicted hepatotoxicity and bilirubin elevations, so the BAY1128688 representation within DILIsym underwent optimization. The liver partition coefficient Kp was altered to align simulated bilirubin elevations with those observed clinically. Altering the mode of bile acid canalicular and basolateral efflux inhibition was necessary to accurately predict ALT elevations. Optimization results support that bilirubin elevations observed early during treatment are due to altered bilirubin metabolism and transporter inhibition, which is independent of liver injury. The modeling further supports that on‐treatment ALT elevations result from inhibition of bile acid transporters, particularly the bile salt excretory pump, leading to accumulation of toxic bile acids. The predicted dose‐dependent intrinsic hepatotoxicity may increase patient susceptibility to an adaptive immune response, accounting for ALT elevations observed after completion of treatment. These BAY1128688 simulations provide insight into the mechanisms behind hepatotoxicity and bilirubin elevations and may inform the potential risk posed by future compounds.
Explainable Siamese Neural Network for Classifying Pediatric Respiratory Sounds

The field of medical acoustics is gaining constantly-increasing attention by the scientific community, with the the general goal being the automatic understanding of medical related signals to assist medical personnel in the decision making process. In this direction, this work introduces a framework able to differentiate between normal and abnormal respiratory sounds by learning relationships characterizing pairs of sounds. More specifically, considering the nature of respiratory sounds, we designed a feature set able to capture the coarse and fine structure exhibited such signals by means of multiresolution analysis. Similar/dissimilar relationships are modeled via a suitably-learned Siamese Neural Network encompassing a series of convolutional layers. Interestingly, such a relationship learning framework conveniently solves the existing class imbalance problem as it is trained on pairs of similar/dissimilar audio signals. Importantly, we employed the dataset designed for the IEEE BioCAS 2022 Grand challenge on Respiratory Sound Classification along with a standardized experimental protocol allowing reproducibility and reliable comparison between different approaches. After extensive experiments assessing the proposed framework from diverse points of view, including an ablation study, it is shown that it outperforms existing approaches, while providing explainable predictions via a Q&A scheme allowing interaction with the medical experts.
Perceptions of COVID-19 and the Use of Health Information Technology Among People Who Are Uninsured: Multimethod Survey Study

Background As of May 2023, the novel SARS-CoV-2 has claimed nearly 7 million lives globally and >1.1 million lives in the United States. Low-income populations are often disproportionately affected by risk factors such as lifestyle, employment, and limited health literacy. These populations may lack the knowledge of appropriate infection precautions or have reduced access to care during illness, particularly in countries without universal health care. Objective We aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of COVID-19, including symptoms and risk factors among uninsured individuals seeking care at a free medical clinic, and to obtain respondents’ perceptions of and suggestions for adapting a mobile health (mHealth) app to an uninsured population known to have low health literacy. Methods We conducted a prospective multimethod survey study with a convenience sample of uninsured adults seeking care at 3 free clinics in the United States. Respondents were questioned about their risk for and awareness of COVID-19 symptoms, COVID-19 testing, current technology use, and the use of technology to facilitate their health regarding COVID-19. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (eg, frequencies and mean differences). In addition, a small subset of respondents from one of the clinics (n=10) participated in interviews to provide feedback about the design of a COVID-19 web-based smartphone (mHealth) app. Results The survey respondents (N=240) were 53.8% (n=129) female, were primarily White (n=113, 47.1%), and had a mean age of 50.0 (SD 11.67; range 19-72) years. Most respondents (162/222, 73%) did not think that they were at risk for COVID-19. Although respondents reported only moderate confidence in their knowledge of the short- and long-term symptoms of COVID-19, their knowledge of the symptoms aligned well with reports published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the most common acute (590/610, 96.7%) and long-term (217/271, 80.1%) symptoms. Most respondents (159/224, 71%) reported an interest in using the mHealth app to gain additional information regarding COVID-19 and available community resources. Respondents who were interviewed provided suggestions to improve the mHealth app but had overall positive perceptions about the potential usefulness and usability of the app. Conclusions It was encouraging that the knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms aligned well with the reports published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and that respondents were enthusiastic about using an mHealth app to monitor symptoms. However, it was concerning that most respondents did not think they were at a risk of contracting COVID-19.
Favorable Antitumor Activity of Citrus microcarpa B. on Human Colon Adenocarcinoma Tumor Xenografted in Immunosupressed Mice

Background: The antitumor activity of Citrus microcarpa B. on HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma tumors xenografted in immunosuppressed mice was determined in this study. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine if the crude extract of C. microcarpa B. exhibited antitumor activity against HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma tumors xenografted in immunosuppressed mice. Methods: Cyclosporine-induced immunosuppressed mice were injected subcutaneously with 106 HT29 cells in the caudo-dorsal area of the back near the base of the tail to induce tumor growth. Tumors were grown for 9 days, and the mice were then administered with C. microcarpa B. (160 and 630 mg/kg) (Group A; n = 4 and B; n = 4) and normal saline solution (Group C; n = 4) intraperitoneally. Tumor volume was measured to assess the change in tumor volume after 24, 48, and 72-hour post-treatment administration. Tumors were then excised and analyzed histopathologically to evaluate the ratio of necrotic area to viable cancer cells in the tumors. Results: Treatment of C. microcarpa B. with a dose of 160 mg/kg (P=0.002) and 630 mg/kg produced a significant decrease in tumor volume with the significance only observed at 72 hours post-treatment. Histopathological analysis showed a considerable decrease in the area of necrosis against viable tumor cells in the treatment of C. microcarpa B. with a dose of 630 mg/kg. Conclusion: It can thus be said that C. microcarpa B. is effective in reducing tumor volume, specifically at a dose of 630 mg/kg 72-hours post-treatment.
Clinical Practice Guidelines for Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

Objective Dysphagia is a common clinical condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing. It is sub-classified into oropharyngeal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the mouth and pharynx, and esophageal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the esophageal body and esophagogastric junction. Dysphagia can have a significant negative impact one’s physical health and quality of life as its severity increases. Therefore, proper assessment and management of dysphagia are critical for improving swallowing function and preventing complications. Thus a guideline was developed to provide evidence-based recommendations for assessment and management in patients with dysphagia. Methods Nineteen key questions on dysphagia were developed. These questions dealt with various aspects of problems related to dysphagia, including assessment, management, and complications. A literature search for relevant articles was conducted using Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and one domestic database of KoreaMed, until April 2021. The level of evidence and recommendation grade were established according to the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. Results Early screening and assessment of videofluoroscopic swallowing were recommended for assessing the presence of dysphagia. Therapeutic methods, such as tongue and pharyngeal muscle strengthening exercises and neuromuscular electrical stimulation with swallowing therapy, were effective in improving swallowing function and quality of life in patients with dysphagia. Nutritional intervention and an oral care program were also recommended. Conclusion This guideline presents recommendations for the assessment and management of patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia, including rehabilitative strategies.
Can Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Lead to First-Time Heart Failure in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type-2: Is There a Link?

Dear Editor, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed drugs; however, they can lead to potential adverse effects [1]. The detrimental association between NSAIDs (apart from aspirin) usage and the peril to cardiac health has been documented profoundly in the literature [2–7]. The possible mechanism behind this adverse relationship can be due to an imbalance in the levels of prostaglandin E2 and vasodilatory prostacyclin compared to those of vasoconstrictive thromboxane A2, established due to NSAID usage targeting the endothelium and eventually leading to thrombus formation [8, 9]. Unlike other NSAIDs, aspirin irreversibly inhibits COX-1, leading to a reduction in thromboxane A2 and clot formation, while not significantly impacting vasodilatory prostaglandins and at low doses, this provides a cardioprotective effect [2]. NSAIDs are further known to exacerbate heart failure (HF) through increased salt and water retention [10–12]. A study conducted by Page and Henry [13] evaluated the hospitalization risk of HF for patients on NSAIDs. A relative risk of 2.1 was found in patients taking NSAIDs compared to nonusers. According to this study, NSAIDs use might contribute to 19% of newly diagnosed congestive HF cases. A study by Mamdani et al. [14] compared the hospitalization risk for congestive HF for patients being managed with nonselective NSAIDs, coxibs, and controls. Patients taking rofecoxib showed the most significant risk (RR = 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.5–2.2). While those taking nonselective NSAIDs showed a relative risk of 1.4 (95% CI = 1.0–1.9). These studies demonstrate that NSAIDs can cause as well as exacerbate preexisting HF. However, there is very limited data available that can relate to patients with first-time cardiac failure prescribed NSAIDs having T2DM. A study recently presented at the 2022 Congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) revealed that short-term NSAID use could potentially augment the chance of first-time HF in patients having T2DM [15]. A greater than 40% increase in the likelihood of hospitalization for first-time HF in patients who took NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, the most widely used drug, was observed. According to the statement from ESC, lead investigator Anders Holt, MD, stated that almost 1 in 6 patients with T2DM in their study had usage of at least one NSAID for 1 year. Holt and a team of colleagues from institutions in Denmark and the United Kingdom designed this study as an observational one using data from Danish registers to find patients suffering with DM from 1998 to 2018. Investigators used a case-crossover method where the
Prophylaxis of Oral Mucositis with Iodine Solution during Concurrent Chemoradiation of Head and Neck Cancer: Preliminary Results of a Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of an in-house iodine solution (IS) mouthwash for the prophylaxis of concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) induced oral mucositis (OM) in head & neck cancer (HNC) patients. Methods: This prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted on 20 HNC patients, being treated with definite or postoperative CCRT, at the Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to the treatment group or the control group. Patients in the treatment group gargled IS three times daily after meals, while patients in the control group gargled normal saline solutions (NSS). Assessment of OM was performed before starting CCRT, once a week during CCRT, and 4 weeks after CCRT was completed. The primary outcome was Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (OMAS). Results: The mean weekly OMAS, pain score, and impact on swallowing score were not statistically significant in patients who rinsed with IS mouthwash compared to those who received NSS (p > 0.999 in every week). There was no difference in the mean onset to OM (all grades) (p = 0.704), and the mean duration of OM (all grades) (p = 0.365). Severe OM (WHO grade 3-4) occurred in three patients [IS=2, NSS=1] with the median onset of 45.50 and 33.00 days (p = NA), and the duration of 8.00 and 57.00 days (p = NA) in the IS and NSS groups, respectively. Oral candidiasis occurred in one patient from the NSS group while no secondary infection of oral mucosa was observed in the patients receiving IS mouthwash. Conclusion: The study could not reach statistically significance to show that IS mouthwash was effective in of prevention CCRT-induced OM. Further study with a larger number of participants is encouraged.
Mediators of the Link Between Psychopathy and Sexual Coercion: The Role of Rape Myth Acceptance, Arousal, and Misperception of Sexual Interest

The current study explores the relationship between psychopathy, cognitive distortions that could promote sexual coercion, i.e., rape myth acceptance (RMA) and misperception of sexual intent (MPSI), and one's level of sexual arousal on the intentions to use sexual coercion. Using a sample of 218 college men (aged 18–69) and a hypothetical vignette design, we examine potential direct and indirect effects of psychopathy on coercion intentions. Psychopathy directly related to coercion intentions and also operated indirectly through RMA. Furthermore, RMA was related to coercion intentions through MPSI. Implications for understanding sexual coercion pathways and prevention efforts are discussed.
On uniqueness in some physical systems

In this work we present some uniqueness and cloaking results for a related pair of inverse problems. The first concerns recovering the parameter q in a Bessel-type operator pencil, over L^2(0, 1; rdr) from (a generalisation of) the Weyl–-Titchmarsh boundary m-function. We assume that both coefficients, w and q, are singular at 0. We prove q is uniquely determined by the sequence m(-n^2) (n = 1, 2, 3, .), using asymptotic and spectral analysis and m-function interpolation results. For corollary we find, in a halfdisc with a singular “Dirichlet-point” boundary condition on the straight edge, a singular radial Schroedinger potential is uniquely determined by Dirichlet-to- Neumann boundary measurements on the semi-circular edge. The second result concerns recovery of three things—a Schroedinger potential in a planar domain, a Dirichlet-point boundary condition on part of the boundary, and a self-adjointness-imposing condition—from Dirichlet-to-Neumann measurements on the remaining boundary. With modern approaches to the inverse conductivity problem and a solution-space density argument we show the boundary condition cloaks the potential and vice versa. Appealing to negative eigen-value asymptotics we find the full-frequency problem has full uniqueness.
Ambient Air Pollution and Risk of Enterotomy, Gastrointestinal Cancer, and All-Cause Mortality among 4,708 Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Previous studies indicated that air pollution plausibly increases the risk of adverse outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) via proinflammatory mechanisms. However, there is scant epidemiological data and insufficient prospective evidence assessing associations between ambient air pollution and clinical outcomes of IBD. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the associations between ambient air pollution and clinical outcomes among individuals with IBD. Methods: Leveraging data from the UK Biobank, we included 4,708 individuals with IBD recruited in the period 2006–2010 in this study. A land use regression model was used to assess annual mean concentrations of ambient air pollutants nitrogen including oxides (NOx), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter ≤10μm (PM10) and PM with aerodynamic diameter ≤2. 5μm (PM2.5). Individuals with IBD were followed up for incident clinical outcomes of enterotomy, gastrointestinal cancer, and all-cause mortality, ascertained via death registry, inpatient, primary care, and cancer registry data. Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the magnitude of the associations. Results: During a mean follow-up of 12.0 y, 265 enterotomy events, 124 incident gastrointestinal cancer, and 420 death events were documented among individuals with IBD. We found that each interquartile range (IQR) increase in exposure to PM2.5 was associated with increased risk of enterotomy (HR=1.16; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.34, p=0.043), whereas an IQR increase in exposure to NOx (HR=1.10; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.20, p=0.016), NO2 (HR=1.16; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.29, p=0.010), PM10 (HR=1.15; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.30, p=0.015), and PM2.5 (HR=1.14; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.28, p=0.019) was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality among individuals with IBD. We did not observe any significant associations between air pollutants and gastrointestinal cancer in the primary analyses. Consistent results were observed in subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: Ambient pollution exposure was associated with an increased risk of enterotomy and all-cause mortality among individuals with IBD, highlighting the important role of environmental health in improving the prognosis of IBD. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12215