Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short-Term Safety and Efficacy of Intravitreal Brolucizumab Injections for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Multicenter Retrospective Real-World Study

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the short-term real-world safety and efficacy of intravitreal brolucizumab injections in Korean patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Methods: This multicenter retrospective study involved 294 eyes (treatment naïve 20 eye [6.8%] and nontreatment naïve 274 eyes [93.2%]) of 290 patients from 13 hospitals or retinal centers in South Korea. Patients with nAMD who received brolucizumab injection(s) between April 1 and November 30, 2021, with a follow-up ≥1 month, were included. Primary outcomes were safety, incidence of intraocular inflammation (IOI), and potential risk factors. The secondary outcome was efficacy, i.e., change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography-measured macular thickness and retinal fluid. Results: The mean age was 71.63 ± 8.66. The follow-up period was 2.38 ± 0.79 months. The mean number of brolucizumab injections during the follow-up was 1.52 ± 0.58. The overall incidence of IOI was 13.9% (n = 41 eyes). Most IOI cases were of anterior uveitis (8.8%, 26 eyes), followed by retinal vasculitis (2.4%, seven eyes) and occlusive retinal vasculitis (0.3%, one eye). Most eyes showed IOI resolution (n = 40, 97.5%) and BCVA restoration (n = 39, 95.1%) with or without corticosteroid treatment during the follow-up. Age, sex, IOI history, or other anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection histories were not associated with the occurrence of IOI. However, only thin subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) was associated with the occurrence of IOI (odds ratio = 0.995, p = 0.020). BCVA at 1 month improved from baseline (baseline 0.518 ± 0.356 vs. 1 month 0.503 ± 0.383, p = 0.023), but the improvement was not maintained. Anatomical improvement was significant after 3 months. Conclusion: In Korean patients with nAMD, the incidence of IOI following brolucizumab injections was 13.9%. IOI was well-controlled with or without steroid treatment. Most IOI eyes (95.1%) were restored to the level of vision before. IOI occurrence and occlusive vasculitis was rare. In the short term, brolucizumab injection effectively improved vision at 1 month and dried retinal fluid for 3 months.
Bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis at a livestock–wildlife interface in Zimbabwe: A nexus for amplification of a zoonosis or a myth?

Abstract Background Bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis are important zoonoses affecting both livestock and wildlife. Objectives The study aimed to investigate seroprevalence of brucellosis and to isolate Brucella spp. and Mycobacterium bovis in cattle from livestock–wildlife interface areas. Methods Three sites were selected from high, medium and low interface. The high interface was adjacent to the park and separated by a broken fence, while the medium and low interface were 15–20 and 50 km from the perimeter fence, respectively. Cattle aged ≥2 years were randomly selected and bled for serology. Culture for brucellae and Mycobacterium species was attempted on lymph nodes collected at the slaughter floor. Sera were screened for Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal test and confirmed by the Complement fixation test. Data were analysed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results Overall, seroprevalence was 11.7% (125/1068; 95% CI: 9.8–13.6%). High interface areas recorded significantly higher (p < 0.05) seroprevalence of 20.9% (85/406; 95% CI: 17.0–24.9%), compared to low 8.9% (31/350; 95% CI: 5.9–11.8%) and medium interface 2.9% (9/312; 95% CI: 1.0–4.8%). Brucella seropositivity was approximately three times higher (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 2.1–5.3) for Malipati compared to Chiredzi. Similarly, the odds were twice (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2–3.5) in cows with history of abortion compared to those without. Brucella and Mycobacterium species were not isolated from all samples. Conclusions The study highlighted the significance of high interface as a nexus for amplification of brucellosis in cattle. Thus, a brucellosis control programme that takes into consideration limiting livestock–wildlife interaction should be considered.
Oscillometric pulse wave velocity estimated via the Mobil-O-Graph shows excellent accuracy in children, adolescents and young adults: an invasive validation study

Aims: Increased arterial stiffness, measured as arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) is associated with an elevated cardiovascular risk. Although noninvasive PWV measurement methods have been validated by invasive measurement, there is little such data on pediatric patients. The purpose of this study was to ‘fill the gap’ by validating PWV obtained by Mobil-O-Graph in children, adolescents in comparison to young adults. Methods: Sixty patients (25 male, mean age 16.6 years; range 3–35 years) were included in this study. Fifty-one patients underwent cardiac catheterization after a heart transplantation (HTX) and nine for interventional atrial septal defect-closure. Specific invasive pulse wave velocities were assessed for the ascending aorta (aPWV) and entire central aorta (cPWV). These invasive PWV results were compared to simultaneously measured brachial cuff readings using Mobil-O-Graph (oPWV) stratified by age in two groups (PEDIATRICS <18 years|ADULTS ≥18 years). Results: Correlation analysis showed a positive linear relation between both invasive PWV measurements and the oPWV in all ages (cPWV/oPWV: r = 0.417, aPWV/oPWV: r = 0.628; P < 0.001). The oPWV data agreed better with the aPWV in mean-value comparisons and correlations with mean difference in PEDIATRICS was 0.41 ± 0.41 m/s (95% confidence interval 0.27–0.55). We also found the cPWV to be faster than the aPWV particularly in adults. In addition, cPWV correlated closer with age (r = 0.393, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Estimated oPWV using the Mobil-O-Graph demonstrated excellent accuracy in adults and pediatric patients. Therefore, the Mobil-O-Graph can be implemented as an ambulatory PWV measuring tool for pediatric cardiovascular risk stratification. Clinical Trial Registration: German clinical trial registration, DRKS00015066.
Electron paramagnetic resonance from actinide elements

Investigations of actinide ions using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques have resulted in the acquisition of new information pertinent to the electronic and nuclear properties of these synthetically produced elements and their ions. The special experimental problems and concomitant techniques which have been employed in acquiring this new information are presented, along with more general information regarding those aspects of actinide technology which are applicable to disciplines other than electron resonance. The results of electron resonance investigations of the actinides are discussed and examined, with emphasis on comparisons between these results and those obtained for rare-earth ions. Problems which remain unresolved are presented and suggestions for possible future experiments are considered.
High-resolution study of the young stellar objects in Mon R2 IRS 3

We present a bispectrum speckle interferometry study of the embedded young stellar objects in Mon R2 IRS 3 in the near-infrared H and K bands. Our images with a resolution of 75 mas (b 62 AU) show a close triple system surrounded by strong diuse nebulosity and three additional infrared sources (K magnitudes11.8-13.7) within 3 00 of the brightest object IRS 3 A (K 7:9). We use HST/NICMOS archive images to derive near-infrared photometry for the sources and estimate the stellar masses of the three brightest objects IRS 3 A, B, and C to be in the range5-15 M. IRS 3 A is surrounded by a bipolar nebula (position angle30), suggesting it to be embedded in a thick circumstellar disk or a torus with polar cavities. IRS 3 B shows a remarkable jet-like emission feature pointing towards the north-east (position angle 50). This feature consists of at least three individual knots with projected separations of 130, 230, and 290 mas (110, 190, and 240 AU) from IRS 3 B, which are much brighter in the K band than in the H band. This strongly indicates outflow activity from IRS 3 B, which is therefore probably the source of the compact high velocity molecular outflow reported from Mon R2 IRS 3. We also analyze Chandra X-ray archive data for the Mon R2 region and find IRS 3 A and IRS 3 C to be sources of hard (3 10 keV) and variable X-ray emission, suggesting plasma temperatures of at least 50 10 6 K. The similarity of the X-ray properties to those of Class I protostars suggests magnetic interaction between the protostars and their circumstellar disks to be the origin of the X-ray emission; this provides indirect evidence for the presence of circumstellar disks in the intermediate- to high-mass young stellar objects IRS 3 A and IRS 3 C.
Sources of excess noise in silicon piezoresistive microphones

The reduction of acoustic microphone size using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology enables increased spatial and temporal resolution. Whether the small size can be effectively utilized depends on the signal‐to‐noise ratio and minimum detectable signal (MDS) that are a function of the structural geometry, material properties, and transduction method. The optimal MDS depends on both electronic and thermomechanical noise sources. Fundamental noise sources may be divided into frequency independent thermal noise and frequency dependent excess noise dominating at low frequencies. There have been some questions regarding the dominance of electrical or mechanical sources of the excess noise in piezoresistive microphones [A. Zuckerwar et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 113, p. 3179–3187 (2003)]. Noise power spectra have been measured for various piezoresistive microphones. We present results on the bias dependence of the excess noise that indicate that the primary source of excess noise is electrical. The r.
Payload-binding Fab fragments increase the therapeutic index of MMAE antibody-drug conjugates.

Monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) is a potent tubulin inhibitor that is used as the payload for four FDA-approved antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). Deconjugated MMAE readily diffuses into untargeted cells resulting in off-target toxicity. Here we report the development and evaluation of a humanized Fab fragment (ABC3315) that enhances the therapeutic selectivity of MMAE ADCs. ABC3315 increased the IC50 of MMAE against human cancer cell-lines by >500-fold with no impact on the cytotoxicity of MMAE ADCs, including polatuzumab vedotin and trastuzumab-vc-MMAE (TvcMMAE). Co-administration of ABC3315 did not reduce the efficacy of polatuzumab vedotin or TvcMMAE in xenograft tumor models. Co-administration of ABC3315 with 80 mg/kg TvcMMAE significantly (p<0.0001) increased the cumulative amount of MMAE that was excreted in urine 0-4-days after administration from 789.4 ±19.0 nanograms (TvcMMAE alone) to 2625±206.8 nanograms (for mice receiving TvcMMAE with co-administration of ABC3315). Mice receiving 80 mg/kg TvcMMAE and PBS exhibited a significant drop in white blood cell counts (p=0.025) and red blood cell counts (p=0.0083) in comparison to control mice. No significant differences, relative to control mice, were found for white blood cell counts (p=0.15) or for red blood cell counts (p=0.23) for mice treated with 80 mg/kg TvcMMAE and ABC3315. Co-administration of ABC3315 with 120 mg/kg polatuzumab vedotin significantly (p=0.045) decreased the percentage body weight loss at nadir for treated mice from 11.9 ± 7.0% to 4.1 ± 2.1%. Our results demonstrate that ABC3315, an anti-MMAE Fab fragment, decreases off-target toxicity while not decreasing anti-tumor efficacy, increasing the therapeutic window of MMAE ADCs.
Microbial species from multiple maternal body sites shape the developing giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) cub gut microbiome

The gut microbiome of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) plays a vital role in nutrient acquisition from its specialized bamboo diet. Giant panda cubs harbour significantly different gut microbiota during their growth and development when feeding on milk before switching to bamboo. The fetal gut is sterile, and following birth, mother‐to‐infant microbial transmission has been implicated as a seeding source for the infant gut microbiota. Details of this transmission in giant pandas remain unclear. In this study, faecal samples were collected from seven panda mother–cub pairs when the cubs were 4–16 months old. Additional samples from the cubs' diet, soil and drinking water, and multiple body sites of the mothers were collected. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing were performed to determine the source and potential transmission routes of the cub gut microbiome. Source tracking analysis showed that maternal vagina, milk and faeces were the primary contributory sources of microbes, shaping the cub gut microbiome. Bacterial species from maternal faeces persisted the longest in the cub gut. Bacterial species in the diet contributed to the microbial community. Metagenomics analysis indicated that the predicted metabolic pathways of the gut microbiome also varied at different growth stages. Gut colonization with bacteria from various body sites of the mothers provides a foundational microbial community that is beneficial in fulfilling the evolving dietary needs of the cubs. This study suggests that mother‐to‐cub transmission is indispensable in shaping the gut microbiome of the developing panda cub.
Aortic regurgitation progression after mitral valve replacement for rheumatic heart disease

Objectives Little is known about the fate of untreated moderate aortic regurgitation after mitral valve replacement for rheumatic heart disease. The aim of this study was to compare the progression to significant aortic valve disease of untreated moderate and mild aortic regurgitation after mitral valve replacement for rheumatic heart disease. Methods Among patients who underwent mitral valve replacement for rheumatic heart disease without concomitant aortic valve intervention at our institution between January 2005 and December 2017, we selected 338 patients with pure aortic regurgitation (273 patients with mild and 65 patients with moderate aortic regurgitation). Results After a median follow-up of 10.0 years, 16 patients developed significant aortic valve disease. Freedom from significant aortic valve disease at 3 years, 8 years, and 14 years was 100%, 97.8 ± 1.1%, and 93.5 ± 2.3% in patients with mild aortic regurgitation, and 98.5 ± 1.5%, 94.5 ± 3.2%, and 80.6 ± 7.5% in patients with moderate aortic regurgitation (log-rank test: p = 0.007). Seven patients with mild aortic regurgitation and two patients with moderate aortic regurgitation underwent aortic valve replacement. Conclusions After mitral valve replacement for rheumatic heart disease, untreated moderate aortic regurgitation progressed more frequently to significant aortic valve disease compared to untreated mild aortic regurgitation. A marked difference in freedom from significant aortic valve disease occurred after eight years. Aortic valve replacement was rarely needed.
A systematic review of interventions targeting physical activity and/or healthy eating behaviours in adolescents: practice and training.

AbstractDespite the many health benefits of physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE) most adolescents do not meet current guidelines which poses future health risks. This review aimed to (1) identify whether adolescent PA and HE interventions show promise at promoting behaviour change and maintenance, (2) identify which behaviour change techniques (BCTs) are associated with promising interventions, and (3) explore the optimal approaches to training deliverers of adolescent PA/HE interventions. Nine databases were searched for randomised controlled, or quasi-experimental, trials targeting 10-19 year olds, with a primary aim to increase PA/HE, measured at baseline and at least six months post-intervention, in addition to papers reporting training of deliverers of adolescent PA/HE interventions. Included were seven PA studies, three HE studies and four studies targeting both, with two training papers. For PA studies, two were promising post-intervention with two promising BCTs, and five were promising for maintenance with two promising BCTs. For HE studies, three were promising at post-intervention and four at maintenance, both with four promising BCTs. There is preliminary evidence that interventions support adolescents to improve their PA and HE behaviours over a period of at least six months.
General Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems are universal approximators

We prove that a general class of multi-input single-output Takagi-Sugeno (TS) fuzzy systems are universal approximators. The fuzzy systems studied in this paper are general and typical: they use any types of continuous fuzzy sets, any types of fuzzy logic AND, fuzzy rules with linear TS rule consequent and the generalized defuzzifier containing the popular centroid defuzzifier as a special case. We first constructively prove that the general TS fuzzy systems can uniformly approximate any multivariate polynomial with arbitrarily small error and then prove that the general fuzzy systems can uniformly approximate any multivariate continuous function with arbitrarily high approximation accuracy.
A Study of Design and Control of a Quadruped Walking Vehicle

The paper addresses some of the fundamental problems of energy efficiency, design, and adaptive gait control of quadru ped walking vehicles. The design principle of a leg called a gravitationally decoupled actuator (GDA) is shown to be indispensable for realizing energetically efficient walking mo tion. A novel mechanism, the three-dimensional Cartesian- coordinate pantograph (PANTOMEC), which follows the GDA principle and has a lightweight structure, is introduced. A constructed quadruped walking vehicle model is then de scribed : the walking vehicle has the PANTOMEC leg mecha nisms, eight tactile sensors and a posture detector, and is hierarchically controlled by a microcomputer. Comparatively high energy efficiency and a certain degree of terrain adapt ability is demonstrated. It is thus shown that a practical walking vehicle can be designed using the proposed method. The adaptive gait control problem is formalized, and an algorithm for terrain-adaptive gait control is presented. By computer simulation, it is shown that the algorithm produces an efficient gait while avoiding "deadlock" positions in nego tiating terrain. The algorithm is shown to be applicable for the control of future quadruped walking vehicles with visual sensors.
Experimental demonstration of a damage detection technique for nonlinear hysteretic structures

Many civil and mechanical engineering structures exhibit nonlinear hysteretic behavior when subject to dynamic loads, such as earthquakes. The modeling and identification of non-linear hysteretic systems with stiffness and strength degradations is a practical but challenging problem encountered in the engineering field. A recently developed technique, referred to as the adaptive quadratic sum-square error with unknown inputs (AQSSE-UI), is capable of identifying time dependant parameters of nonlinear hysteretic structures. In this paper, the AQSSE-UI technique is applied to the parametric identification of nonlinear hysteretic reinforced concrete structures with stiffness and strength degradations, and the performance of the AQSSE technique is demonstrated by the experimental test data. A 1/3 scaled 2-story RC frame has been tested experimentally on the shake table at NCREE, Taiwan. This 2-story RC frame was subject to different levels of ground excitations back to back. The structure is firstly considered as an equivalent linear model with time-varying stiffness parameters, and the tracking of the degradation of the stiffness parameters is carried out using the AQSSE-UI technique. Then the same RC frame is considered as a nonlinear hysteretic model with inelastic hinges following the generalized Bouc-Wen model, and the time-varying nonlinear parameters are identified again using the AQSSE-UI technique. Experimental results demonstrate that the AQSSE technique is quite effective for the tracking of: (i) the stiffness degradation of linear structures, and (ii) the non-linear hysteretic parameters with stiffness and strength degradations.
Single Breath-Hold 3-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Elastography Depicts Liver Fibrosis and Inflammation in Obese Patients

Objectives Three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) measures liver fibrosis and inflammation but requires several breath-holds that hamper clinical acceptance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical and clinical feasibility of a single breath-hold 3D MRE sequence as a means of measuring liver fibrosis and inflammation in obese patients. Methods From November 2020 to December 2021, subjects were prospectively enrolled and divided into 2 groups. Group 1 included healthy volunteers (n = 10) who served as controls to compare the single breath-hold 3D MRE sequence with a multiple–breath-hold 3D MRE sequence. Group 2 included liver patients (n = 10) who served as participants to evaluate the clinical feasibility of the single breath-hold 3D MRE sequence in measuring liver fibrosis and inflammation. Controls and participants were scanned at 60 Hz mechanical excitation with the single breath-hold 3D MRE sequence to retrieve the magnitude of the complex-valued shear modulus (|G*| [kPa]), the shear wave speed (Cs [m/s]), and the loss modulus (G" [kPa]). The controls were also scanned with a multiple–breath-hold 3D MRE sequence for comparison, and the participants had histopathology (Ishak scores) for correlation with Cs and G". Results For the 10 controls, 5 were female, and the mean age and body mass index were 33.1 ± 9.5 years and 23.0 ± 2.1 kg/m2, respectively. For the 10 participants, 8 were female, and the mean age and body mass index were 45.1 ± 16.5 years and 33.1 ± 4.0 kg/m2 (obese range), respectively. All participants were suspected of having nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Bland-Altman analysis of the comparison in controls shows there are nonsignificant differences in |G*|, Cs, and G" below 6.5%, suggesting good consensus between the 2 sequences. For the participants, Cs and G" correlated significantly with Ishak fibrosis and inflammation grades, respectively (ρ = 0.95, P < 0.001, and ρ = 0.84, P = 0.002). Conclusion The single breath-hold 3D MRE sequence may be effective in measuring liver fibrosis and inflammation in obese patients.
Hybrid Assembly from 75 E. coli Genomes Isolated from French Bovine Food Products between 1995 and 2016

Here, we report the complete (or near-complete) genome sequences of 75 Escherichia coli isolates, including 71 stx-positive E. coli isolates, isolated in France between 1995 and 2016 from food of bovine origin. Genomes were assembled using a combination of long- and short-read sequencing. ABSTRACT Here, we report the complete (or near-complete) genome sequences of 75 Escherichia coli isolates, including 71 stx-positive E. coli isolates, isolated in France between 1995 and 2016 from food of bovine origin. Genomes were assembled using a combination of long- and short-read sequencing.