Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The cognitive dimensions of music notations

This paper presents and adapts the Cognitive Dimensions of Notations framework (Green and Petre, 1996) for use in designing and analysing notations (and user interfaces) in both digital and traditional music practice and study. Originally developed to research the psychology of programming languages, the framework has since found wider use in both general HCI and music. The paper provides an overview of the framework, its application, and a detailed account of the core cognitive dimensions, each discussed in the context of three music scenarios: the score, Max/MSP, and sequencer/DAW software. Qualitative and quantitative methodologies for applying the framework are presented in closing, highlighting directions for further development of the framework.
Paradoxical effect of diphenyleneiodonium in inducing DNA damage and apoptosis

Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) is often used as a molecular tool in unravelling redox-sensitive cellular events involving NADPH oxidase. However, to better understand unexpected actions of DPI, it was ascertained if DPI affects cellular DNA. DPI induced single-strand breaks in DNA of HCT-116 cells, although this only slightly increased GADD153 expression. Nevertheless, after sustaining DNA damage, the DPI-treated cells subsequently had features characteristic of apoptosis, such as translocated membrane phospholipid and nuclei containing condensed chromatin. Paradoxically, DPI attenuated the DNA damage and overall ROS production caused by sodium deoxycholate (DOC), although DPI did not inhibit DOC-induced generation of mitochondrial . Furthermore, DPI prevented the occurrence of apoptosis caused by DOC. However, other known chemical inhibitors of NADPH oxidase did not produce the same results as DPI in negating the effects of DOC. Collectively, these disparate findings suggest that DPI can act not in accord with conventional wisdom depending on the experimental conditions.
A Review of the Factors Associated With the Timely Initiation of Breastfeeding and Exclusive Breastfeeding in the Middle East

Background: Breastfeeding supplies all the nutrients that infants need for their healthy development. Breastfeeding practice is multifactorial, and numerous variables influence mothers’ decisions and ability to breastfeed. This review identifies the factors potentially affecting the timely initiation of breastfeeding within an hour after birth and exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months in Middle Eastern countries. Methods: The Medline, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases were keyword-searched for primary studies meeting the following inclusion criteria: (1) publication in the English language between January 2001 and May 2017, (2) original research articles reporting primary data on the factors influencing the timely initiation of breastfeeding and/or exclusive breastfeeding, (3) the use of World Health Organization definitions, and (4) Middle Eastern research contexts. A random effect model was used to establish the average prevalence of the timely initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding in the Middle East. Results: The review identified 19 studies conducted in Saudi Arabia (7), Iran (3), Egypt (2), Turkey (2), Kuwait (1), the United Arab Emirates (1), Qatar (1), Lebanon (1), and Syria (1). The meta-analysis established that 34.3% (confidence interval [CI]: 20.2%-51.9%) of Middle Eastern newborns received breastfeeding initiated within an hour of birth, and only 20.5% (CI: 14.5%-28.2%) were fed only breast milk for the first 6 months. The 8 studies exploring breastfeeding initiation most commonly associated it with the following: delivery mode, maternal employment, rooming-in, and prelacteal feeding. The 17 studies investigating exclusive breastfeeding most frequently linked it to the following: maternal age, maternal education, maternal employment, and delivery mode. Conclusions: Middle Eastern health care organizations should fully understand all the determinants of breastfeeding identified by this review to provide suitable practical guidance and advice to help new mothers to overcome barriers where possible and to contribute to improving infant and maternal health in the region.
An SSR‐based approach incorporating a novel algorithm for identification of rare maize genotypes facilitates criteria for landrace conservation in Mexico

Abstract As maize was domesticated in Mexico around 9,000 years ago, local farmers have selected and maintained seed stocks with particular traits and adapted to local conditions. In the present day, many of these landraces are still cultivated; however, increased urbanization and migration from rural areas implies a risk that this invaluable maize germplasm may be lost. In order to implement an efficient mechanism of conservation in situ, the diversity of these landrace populations must be estimated. Development of a method to select the minimum number of samples that would include the maximum number of alleles and identify germplasm harboring rare combinations of particular alleles will also safeguard the efficient ex‐situ conservation of this germplasm. To reach this goal, a strategy based on SSR analysis and a novel algorithm to define a minimum collection and rare genotypes using landrace populations from Puebla State, Mexico, was developed as a “proof of concept” for methodology that could be extended to all maize landrace populations in Mexico and eventually to other native crops. The SSR‐based strategy using bulked DNA samples allows rapid processing of large numbers of samples and can be set up in most laboratories equipped for basic molecular biology. Therefore, continuous monitoring of landrace populations locally could easily be carried out. This methodology can now be applied to support incentives for small farmers for the in situ conservation of these traditional cultivars.
Association between mineralization of third molars and chronological age in a Brazilian sample

Purpose: To evaluate the association between chronological age and mineralization of third molar teeth in a sample from the Northeast region of Brazil. Methods: A sample of 173 digitized panoramic radiographs were selected from a total of 2,442 panoramic radiographs obtained over a period of 6 months at a private Dental Radiology service, in the city of Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil. The patients were aged from 5.5 to 21 years, and a calibrated examiner made the evaluation using the classification proposed by Demirjian. Data were analyzed by using an adjusted multiple linear regression model considering age as a response variable. The level of significance adopted was 0.05. Results: Gender and stage of calcification were significantly correlated associated with age. There was no effect of gender on mineralization of the teeth. Between the two consecutive stages of calcification of third molar teeth, the mean increase in age varied by 16 months. Conclusion: The results suggest that the development of the third molar teeth is similar in both sexes. Calcification of third molars may be an auxiliary tool in the study of chronological age.
Severe forms of fibromyalgia with acute exacerbation of pain: costs, comorbidities, and length of stay in inpatient care

Background and purpose As a disease of the musculoskeletal system, fibromyalgia is becoming increasingly important, because of the direct and indirect costs to health systems. The purpose of this study of health economics was to obtain information about staff costs differentiated by service provider, and staff and material costs of the nonmedical infrastructure in inpatient care. Patients and methods This study looked at 263 patients who received interdisciplinary inpatient treatment for severe forms of fibromyalgia with acute exacerbation of pain between 2011 and 2014. Standardized cost accounting and an analysis of additional diagnoses were performed. Results The average cost per patient was €3,725.84, with staff and material costs of the nonmedical infrastructure and staff costs of doctors and nurses accounting for the highest proportions of the costs. Each fibromyalgia patient had an average of 6.1 additional diagnoses. Conclusion Severe forms of fibromyalgia are accompanied by many concomitant diseases and associated with both high clinical staff costs and high medical and nonmedical infrastructure costs. Indication-based cost calculations provide important information for health policy and hospital managers if they include all elements that incur costs in both a differentiated and standardized way.
Studies on Wound Healing Activity of Heliotropium indicum Linn. Leaves on Rats

The petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, and aqueous extracts of Heliotropium indicum Linn. (Family: Boraginaceae) were separately evaluated for their wound healing activity in rats using excision (normal and infected), incision, and dead space wound models. The effects of test samples on the rate of wound healing were assessed by the rate of wound closure, period of epithelialisation, wound breaking strength, weights of the granulation tissue, determination of hydroxyproline, super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and histopathology of the granulation tissues. Nitrofurazone (0.2% w/w) in simple ointment I. P. was used as reference standard for the activity comparison. The results revealed significant promotion of wound healing with both methanol and aqueous extracts with more promising activity with the methanol extract compared to other extracts under study. In the wound infection model (with S. aureus and P. aeruginosa), the methanol extract showed significant healing activity similar to the reference standard nitrofurazone. Significant increase in the granulation tissue weight, increased hydroxyproline content, and increased activity of SOD and catalase level with the animals treated with methanol extract in dead space wound model further augmented the wound healing potential of H. indicum. The present work substantiates its validity of the folklore use.
The Effect of Vitamin A on Fracture Risk: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

This meta-analysis evaluated the influence of dietary intake and blood level of vitamin A (total vitamin A, retinol or β-carotene) on total and hip fracture risk. Cohort studies published before July 2017 were selected through English-language literature searches in several databases. Relative risk (RR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to evaluate the risk. Heterogeneity was checked by Chi-square and I2 test. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias were also performed. For the association between retinol intake and total fracture risk, we performed subgroup analysis by sex, region, case ascertainment, education level, age at menopause and vitamin D intake. R software was used to complete all statistical analyses. A total of 319,077 participants over the age of 20 years were included. Higher dietary intake of retinol and total vitamin A may slightly decrease total fracture risk (RR with 95% CI: 0.95 (0.91, 1.00) and 0.94 (0.88, 0.99), respectively), and increase hip fracture risk (RR with 95% CI: 1.40 (1.02, 1.91) and 1.29 (1.06, 1.57), respectively). Lower blood level of retinol may slightly increase total fracture risk (RR with 95% CI: 1.11 (0.94, 1.30)) and hip fracture risk (RR with 95% CI: 1.27 (1.05, 1.53)). In addition, higher β-carotene intake was weakly associated with the increased risk of total fracture (RR with 95% CI: 1.07 (0.97, 1.17)). Our data suggest that vitamin A intake and level may differentially influence the risks of total and hip fractures. Clinical trials are warranted to confirm these results and assess the clinical applicability.
Biodiversity of Organic-Walled Eukaryotic Microfossils from the Tonian Visingsö Group, Sweden

The diversification of unicellular, auto- and heterotrophic protists and the appearance of multicellular microorganisms is recorded in numerous Tonian age successions worldwide, including the Visingso Group in southern Sweden. The Tonian Period (1000-720 Ma) was a time of changes in the marine environments with increasing oxygenation and a high input of mineral nutrients from the weathering continental margins to shallow shelves, where marine life thrived. This is well documented by the elevated level of biodiversity seen in global microfossil record. The Visingso Group contains a taxonomically rich assemblage of cyanobacteria, stromatolites, algal phytoplankton, and vase-shaped microfossils. A new study of organic-walled, phytoplanktic microfossils, which are extracted by palynological method from the Visingso 1 borehole samples, reveals the presence of morphologically disparate taxa. They are in gross cysts of microalgae (Pterospermopsimorpha, Pterospermella, Cerebrosphaera, Trachysphaeridium, Simia and certain Leiosphaeridia with pylome) and some are of uncertain affinities (acritarchs). Representative taxa of two lineages among green algae, Prasinophyceae and Chlorophyceae, are recognized. Cyanobacterial clusters and filaments are abundant and specimens of multicellular, yet systematically unrecognized taxa are recorded. Taxonomically, the assemblage is similar to some from other successions distributed along the margins of Baltica, Laurentia and Siberia in the Tonian Period. The ecological habitats of those organisms are inferred by comparing with their potential modern analogues and from the sedimentological setting of the upper formation of the Visingso Group.
The end of the line? The Visual Analogue Scale and Verbal Numerical Rating Scale as pain assessment tools in the emergency department

Objectives To compare the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Verbal Numerical Rating Scale (VNRS), in the assessment of acute pain in the emergency department (ED). Furthermore, to determine the influence of demographics on this agreement and practical limitations of the scales. Setting St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin; a 479-bed teaching hospital; annual ED census 36 000 adult patients. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted on ED patients with acute pain as a component of their presenting complaint. Eligible patients scored their pain on both VAS and VNRS within 1 hour of arrival. They rescored their pain every 30 minutes for 2 hours using both scales. The primary outcome measure was agreement between VAS and VNRS. Secondary outcomes were ease of pain scale use and effect of patient demographics on pain scores. Agreement between scores was evaluated using the Bland-Altman method. Results 123 patients were included (median age 35; 43.9% male). There was a strong correlation between VAS and VNRS (rs=0.93). However, there was not perfect agreement between the two scales. Patient age (older age, p<0.005, t=−4.448), gender (female sex, p<0.005, t=4.903) and educational level attained (third level education, p<0.005, t=5.575) had a statistically significant influence on the agreement between VAS and VNRS. There was a preference for VNRS in those patients who expressed a preference for one pain scale over the other. Conclusions VAS and VNRS are not interchangeable in assessing an individual patient's pain over time in the ED setting. VNRS has practical advantages over VAS in this setting.
Comparison of Some Risk Factors for Diabetes Across Different Social Groups: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: In fast, developing economies such as India, the population is undergoing rapid social transition, which can increase the risk profile for diabetes. Market forces promoting lifestyles such as sedentary habits, alcohol and tobacco use, which earlier were more prevalent among affluent urban populations are now trickling into the urban poor and rural populations. Aim: The aim of the present research was to compare the prevalence of risk factors for diabetes among three distinct social groups-the urban affluent, the urban poor and the rural poor. Subjects and Methods: A total of 775 adult population over 18 years and belonging to both genders were surveyed for prevalence of some of the risk factors for diabetes such as physical inactivity, obesity, alcohol, and tobacco use. The sample comprised of three distinct social groups as follows; 125 medical students representing the affluent, 400 subjects from urban slums, and 250 subjects from rural areas. Obesity was measured by body mass index (BMI) while central obesity was ascertained by waist hip ratio (WHR). Alcohol and tobacco use were elicited by interview. Results: The overall response rate was 88.52% (686/775). Medical students were more sedentary with mean hours spent each day sitting or reclining at 10.47 (3.25) h, compared to corresponding figures of 6.34 (3.1) h and 7.49 (3.74) h for the rural and urban slum residents respectively (P < 0.001). However, all types of leisure time physical activities were significantly more among the medical students compared to the other groups (P < 0.001). BMI was significantly highest among the rural population with mean of 24.22 (4.17) kg/m 2 when compared to the other groups, (P < 0.001). Villagers also had higher WHR and had a higher proportion of persons above the WHR cut-off for gender (P < 0.001). Experimentation with alcohol was more prevalent among the medical students while the urban slum residents were more frequent and heavy drinkers. Smoking was most prevalent among the medical students, while smokeless tobacco use was more among the other groups. Conclusions: Physical inactivity, obesity, including central obesity, alcohol and tobacco use were found in various degrees in the study samples. An important finding was that both obesity and central obesity ascertained by BMI and WHR respectively were highest among the rural population implying the impact of social change on diabetic risk factors.
Echocardiographic characteristics of male athletes of different age

Two dimensionally guided M mode and Doppler echocardiographic data for 578 male subjects (106 non-athletic and 472 athletes) were analysed from two aspects: (a) in the young adult category (19–30 years of age), competitors in different groups of sports were studied; (b) in the different age groups (children, 10–14 years; adolescent juniors, 15–18 years; young adults, 19–30 years; adults, 31–44 years; older adults 45–60 years), data for athletes and non-athletes were compared. Morphological variables were related to body size by indices in which the exponents of the numerator and denominator were matched. Morphological signs of athletic heart were most consistently evident in the left ventricular muscle mass: in the young adult group, the highest values were seen in the endurance athletes, followed by the ball game players, sprinters/jumpers, and power athletes. A thicker muscular wall was the main reason for this hypertrophy. Internal diameter was only increased in the endurance athletes, and this increase was more evident in the younger groups. The E/A quotient (ratio of peak velocity during early and late diastole) indicated more effective diastolic function in the endurance athletes. The values for E/A quotient also suggested that regular physical activity at an older age may protect against age dependent impairment of diastolic function.
A Distribution-based Method for Assessing The Differences between Clinical Trial Target Populations and Patient Populations in Electronic Health Records

Summary Objective: To improve the transparency of clinical trial generalizability and to illustrate the method using Type 2 diabetes as an example. Methods: Our data included 1,761 diabetes clinical trials and the electronic health records (EHR) of 26,120 patients with Type 2 diabetes who visited Columbia University Medical Center of New-York Presbyterian Hospital. The two populations were compared using the Generalizability Index for Study Traits (GIST) on the earliest diagnosis age and the mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values. Results: Greater than 70% of Type 2 diabetes studies allow patients with HbA1c measures between 7 and 10.5, but less than 40% of studies allow HbA1c<7 and fewer than 45% of studies allow HbA1c>10.5. In the real-world population, only 38% of patients had HbA1c between 7 and 10.5, with 12% having values above the range and 52% having HbA1c<7. The GIST for HbA1c was 0.51. Most studies adopted broad age value ranges, with the most common restrictions excluding patients >80 or <18 years. Most of the real-world population fell within this range, but 2% of patients were <18 at time of first diagnosis and 8% were >80. The GIST for age was 0.75. Conclusions: We contribute a scalable method to profile and compare aggregated clinical trial target populations with EHR patient populations. We demonstrate that Type 2 diabetes studies are more generalizable with regard to age than they are with regard to HbA1c. We found that the generalizability of age increased from Phase 1 to Phase 3 while the generalizability of HbA1c decreased during those same phases. This method can generalize to other medical conditions and other continuous or binary variables. We envision the potential use of EHR data for examining the generaliz-ability of clinical trials and for defining population-representative clinical trial eligibility criteria. Citation: Weng C, Li Y, Ryan P, Zhang Y, Liu F, Gao J, Bigger JT, Hripcsak G. A distribution-based method for assessing the differences between clinical trial target populations and patient populations in electronic health records. Appl Clin Inf 2014; 5: 463–479 http://dx.doi. org/10.4338/ACI-2013-12-RA-0105
Solving Very Large Weakly Coupled Markov Decision Processes

We present a technique for computing approximately optimal solutions to stochastic resource allocation problems modeled as Markov decision processes (MDPS). We exploit two key properties to avoid explicitly enumerating the very large state and action spaces associated with these problems. Fist, the problems are composed of multiple tasks whose utilities are independent. Second, the actions taken with respect to (or resources allocated to) a task do not influence the status of any other task. We can therefore view each task as an MDP. However these MDPS are weakly coupled by resource constraints: actions selected for one MDP restrict the actions available to others. We describe heuristic techniques for dealing with several classes of constraints that use the solutions for individual MDPS to construct an approximate global solution. We demonstrate this technique on problems involving thousands of tasks, approximating the solution to problems that are far beyond the reach of standard methods.
Chemo-radiotherapy induced oral mucositis during IMRT for head and neck cancer - An assessment

Background This study is conducted mainly to evaluate the changes in quality and quantity of oral epithelial cells during the course of IMRT. Material and Methods 30 Patients undergoing chemo-radiotherapy were followed through course of treatment. They were compared with a group of age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. The procedure involved WHO clinical scoring, collection of oral washings and preparation of buccal smears from both study group and control group. The changes occurred were recorded as a way of assessing the severity of oral mucositis. Results Revealed a significant occurrence of oral mucositis in almost all patients during weekly follow up. There was a significant increase in percentage of viable buccal epithelial cells in study group when compared to normal controls (P<0.005) during and at the end of chemo-radiotherapy. Conclusions Quantification of oral mucositis can be done at cellular level by determining the oral mucosal cell viability and their maturation during IMRT. Key words:Oral mucositis, in vitro assay, quantification, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, viable cells.