Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude and Skills of Telemedicine among Health Professional Faculty Working in Teaching Hospitals.

INTRODUCTION Telemedicine is an emerging technology in health sector in India. The success of any new technology depends on many factors including the knowledge and understanding of the concept, skills acquired, attitude towards technology and working environment by the concerned professionals. AIM The main objective of this study was to assess the awareness, knowledge, attitude and skills of telemedicine among the health professionals working in the teaching hospitals of Puducherry Region of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional survey was carried out among various healthcare professionals using a proper sampling frame obtained from a list of teaching hospitals located in Puducherry Union Territory, India. A total of 120 teaching faculties and practitioners from the preclinical, para-clinical and clinical departments were taken up for the study. A pre-validated self-administered questionnaire was used for the survey to assess the awareness, knowledge, attitude and skills of telemedicine. The questionnaires were mailed to the respondents and the completed questionnaires were analysed as per the study objectives using descriptive statistics for the quantitative data and content analysis for the qualitative data. RESULTS The knowledge level of the respondents was found to be good with 41% of the respondents, 35% possess fair knowledge and 24% don't have adequate knowledge of telemedicine. With regard to the attitude towards telemedicine 39% of the respondents possess high attitude, 31% possess moderate attitude and 30% possess low level of attitude. Investigations on the skills of the respondents on telemedicine showed that 19% respondents are highly skilled or experts, 25% are moderately skilled which includes learners or beginners, and 56% are unskilled in handling telemedicine and its related equipments. CONCLUSION The findings of the study suggest that although the respondents experience and knowledge are limited in telemedicine technology a fair number of them have positive attitude towards telemedicine. It is the need of the hour to educate and train the teaching faculty, practicing physicians, residents, medical students and other health professionals about telemedicine and issues related to its use.
Secondary breast cancer after Hodgkin lymphoma: a case report and literature review

The occurrence of secondary breast cancers in women previously exposed to chest irradiation for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is considered as a major issue for the quality of life of these long-term survivors as well as a challenge for clinical management. This study reports a case of a woman treated for HL at the age of 24 years, who developed breast cancer after an interval of 20 years. This case highlights once again the importance of awareness among HL survivors about their increased breast cancer risk and re-launches the debate about the efficacy of adoption of breast screening guidelines.
STARGARDT DISEASE: Beyond Flecks and Atrophy

Purpose: To identify changes in the outer retina in areas without atrophy or flecks of Stargardt disease (STGD) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Methods: Twenty-three STGD patients and 26 control subjects were assessed for outer retina (from the outer border of Bruch membrane [BrM] to the inner border of the inner segment ellipsoid zone [EZ]), BrM–retinal pigment epithelium apex, the EZ thickness, and apical process interdigitation zone. Results: Patients with STGD had increased BrM–EZ thickness in areas without apparent disease versus control subjects at 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 &mgr;m superior and 1,500 &mgr;m, 2,000 &mgr;m, and 2,500 &mgr;m inferior to the fovea (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001), greatest difference (3.4 &mgr;m) at 2,500 &mgr;m superiorly. The BrM–retinal pigment epithelium segment showed larger fractional contribution of 0.48 to 0.51 to the overall BrM-EZ thickness compared with 0.35 to 0.42 in control subjects. The thickness of EZ and the interspace between the retinal pigment epithelium apex and EZ were smaller in the STGD patients (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Patients with STGD displayed an interrupted interdigitation zone in 16 (84.2%) of 19 eyes versus 6 (23.1%) of 26 eyes of the control subjects (P < 0.001). The BrM-EZ segment of the outer retina of STGD patients lacked the typical normal trilaminar pattern. Conclusion: Subtle changes are present within the BrM-EZ segment of the outer retina of STGD patients in areas that are devoid of atrophy and flecks. These findings suggest that pathologic changes in STGD are more widespread than that seen by clinical examination.
Factors Associated with a Lack of Knowledge of Performing Breast Self-Examination and Unawareness of Cervical Cancer Screening Services: Evidence from the 2015 Egypt Health Issues Survey

Background: The incidence of breast and cervical cancers is growing rapidly among Egyptian women. In this context, we assessed the prevalence of, and factors associated with the lack of knowledge among Egyptian females of performing breast self–examination (BSE) and unawareness of cervical smear cancer screening services. Methods: Secondary data analysis was performed on a representative population-based sample of 7,518 Egyptian females aged 15–59 years from the 2015 Egypt Health Issues Survey (EHIS). Crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were used to explore the relationship between sociodemographic variables and having a lack of knowledge of performing BSE or unaware of cervical smear cancer screening service amongst 6,572 and 6,942 Egyptian females aged 21–59 years, respectively. Results: Mean age of females was 36.9 years with 62% aged between 21–39 years. The proportion of women with a lack of knowledge of performing BSE or who were unaware of cervical smear cancer screening service was 87.4% and 92.3%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounding of sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, young women aged 21–29 years (P<0.001), primary education or below (P<0.001), residing in rural areas (aOR, 1.37 and 1.48, P=0.001), accessing different media outlets “not at all or less than once a week” (aOR, 2.81 and 1.46, P≤0.05), were associated with a greater likelihood of being with lack knowledge of performing BSE or being unaware of cervical smear cancer screening services. Conclusions: In a country burdened with breast and cervical cancers, the majority of Egyptian women have a lack of knowledge on how to perform BSE or were unaware of the available cervical smear cancer screening services. Robust health campaigns are warranted to raise public knowledge of the method of BSE and of cervical smear cancer screening services, especially amongst females aged less than 30 years, with low levels of education, or those living in rural areas.
Testing conditional independence in sets of I × J tables by means of moment and correlation score tests with application to HPV vaccine

A new testing approach is described for improving statistical tests of independence in sets of tables stratified on one or more relevant factors in case of categorical (nominal or ordinal) variables. Common tests of independence that exploit the ordinality of one of the variables use a restricted‐alternative approach. A different, relaxed‐null method is presented. Specifically, the M‐moment score tests and the correlation tests are introduced. Using multinomial‐Poisson homogeneous modeling theory, it is shown that these tests are computationally and conceptually simple, and simulation results suggest that they can perform better than other common tests of conditional independence. To illustrate, the proposed tests are used to better understand the human papillomavirus type‐specific infection by exploring the intention to vaccinate. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
7T Brain MRS in HIV Infection: Correlation with Cognitive Impairment and Performance on Neuropsychological Tests

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Validated neuroimaging markers of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder in patients on antiretroviral therapy are urgently needed for clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between cognitive impairment and brain metabolism in older subjects with HIV infection. It was hypothesized that MR spectroscopy measurements related to neuronal health and function (particularly N-acetylaspartate and glutamate) would be lower in HIV-positive subjects with worse cognitive performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five HIV-positive patients (mean age, 58.9 ± 5.3 years; 33 men) underwent detailed neuropsychological testing and brain MR spectroscopy at 7T. Twenty-four subjects were classified as having asymptomatic cognitive impairment, and 21 were classified as having symptomatic cognitive impairment. Single-voxel proton MR spectra were acquired from 5 brain regions and quantified using LCModel software. Brain metabolites and neuropsychological test results were compared using nonparametric statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Differences in brain metabolites were found between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects, with the main findings being lower measures of N-acetylaspartate in the frontal white matter, posterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus. In the precuneus, glutamate was also lower in the symptomatic group. In the frontal white matter, precuneus, and posterior cingulate cortex, NAA and glutamate measurements showed significant positive correlation with better performance on neuropsychological tests. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with asymptomatic subjects, symptomatic HIV-positive subjects had lower levels of NAA and glutamate, most notably in the frontal white matter, which also correlated with performance on neuropsychological tests. High-field MR spectroscopy offers insight into the pathophysiology associated with cognitive impairment in HIV and may be useful as a quantitative outcome measure in future treatment trials.
Variation learning guided convolutional network for image interpolation

In this paper, we propose a variational learning model that effectively exploits the structural similarities for image representation, and construct a deep network based on this model for image interpolation. Based on the local dependency, our learning model represents an image as the three-dimensional features. Besides two coordinate dimensions, an additional neighboring variation dimension is added to encode every pixel as the variation to its nearest low-resolution pixel by the local similarity. This added dimension lowers the risk of over-fitting for learning approaches and constructs abundant structural correspondences for inferring the missing information lost in image degradation. Then, this three-dimensional features are naturally modeled, extracted and refined by an end-to-end trainable recurrent convolutional network for image interpolation. Comprehensive experiments demonstrate that our method leads to a surprisingly superior performance and offers new state-of-the-art benchmark.
Assessment of cardiac function with Doppler tissue imaging in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients

Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) is a useful tool for the detection of subtle systolic function abnormalities related to the longitudinal contraction. We assessed left ventricular (LV) systolic function with DTI in 45 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients without any heart-related symptoms and in 30 healthy control subjects. Although conventional echocardiography showed no differences between groups, DTI revealed lower peak systolic velocities in group A patients when compared with group B ones (Sms: 8.84 ± 0.94 cm/s vs. 9.42 ± 0.84 cm/s, respectively, P < 0.001 and Sml: 9.58 ± 1.86 cm/s vs. 10.78 ± 2.07 cm/s P = 0.003). In group A patients, both peak systolic myocardial velocities at the septal (Sms) and lateral mitral annulus (Sml) correlated with CD4 lymphocyte count (P = 0.034 and 0.009, respectively). We conclude that pulse wave DTI reveals subtle and non-otherwise detectable abnormalities of the longitudinal LV contractile function in asymptomatic patients with positive HIV serology. DTI study should potentially be expanded in the population of HIV-infected patients, aiming at an early identification of LV systolic dysfunction.
Impact of smoking reduced nicotine content cigarettes on sensitivity to cigarette price: further results from a multi‐site clinical trial

AIMS To assess the impact of a reduction in the nicotine content of cigarettes on estimated consumption of reduced nicotine cigarettes and usual brand cigarettes at a variety of hypothetical prices. DESIGN Double-blind study with participants assigned randomly to receive cigarettes for 6 weeks that were either usual brand or an investigational cigarette with one of five nicotine contents. SETTING Ten sites across the United States. PARTICIPANTS A total of 839 eligible adult smokers randomized from 2013 to 2014. INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR Participants received their usual brand or an investigational cigarette with one of five nicotine contents: 15.8 (primary control), 5.2, 2.4, 1.3, or 0.4 mg/g. MEASUREMENTS The Cigarette Purchase Task was completed at baseline and at the week 6 post-randomization visit. FINDINGS Compared with normal nicotine content controls, the lowest nicotine content (0.4 mg/g) reduced the number of study cigarettes participants estimated they would smoke at a range of prices [mean reduction relative to 15.8 mg/g at a price of $4.00/pack: 9.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 6.81,12.19]. The lowest nicotine content also reduced the maximum amount of money allocated to study cigarettes and the price at which participants reported they would stop buying study cigarettes [median reduction relative to 15.8 mg/g, 95% CI = $8.21 (4.27,12.15) per day and $0.44 (0.17,0.71) per cigarette, respectively]. A reduction in nicotine content to the lowest level also reduced the maximum amount of money allocated to usual brand cigarettes (median reduction relative to 15.8 mg/g: $4.39 per day, 95% CI = 1.88,6.90). CONCLUSIONS In current smokers, a reduction in nicotine content may reduce cigarette consumption, reduce the reinforcement value of cigarettes and increase cessation if reduced nicotine content cigarettes were the only cigarette available for purchase.
Deciphering the virus‐to‐prokaryote ratio (VPR): insights into virus–host relationships in a variety of ecosystems

The discovery of the numerical importance of viruses in a variety of (aquatic) ecosystems has changed our perception of their importance in microbial processes. Bacteria and Archaea undoubtedly represent the most abundant cellular life forms on Earth and past estimates of viral numbers (represented mainly by viruses infecting prokaryotes) have indicated abundances at least one order of magnitude higher than that of their cellular hosts. Such dominance has been reflected most often by the virus‐to‐prokaryote ratio (VPR), proposed as a proxy for the relationship between viral and prokaryotic communities. VPR values have been discussed in the literature to express viral numerical dominance (or absence of it) over their cellular hosts, but the ecological meaning and interpretation of this ratio has remained somewhat nebulous or contradictory. We gathered data from 210 publications (and additional unpublished data) on viral ecology with the aim of exploring VPR. The results are presented in three parts: the first consists of an overview of the minimal, maximal and calculated average VPR values in an extensive variety of different environments. Results indicate that VPR values fluctuate over six orders of magnitude, with variations observed within each ecosystem. The second part investigates the relationship between VPR and other indices, in order to assess whether VPR can provide insights into virus–host relationships. A positive relationship was found between VPR and viral abundance (VA), frequency of visibly infected cells (FVIC), burst size (BS), frequency of lysogenic cells (FLC) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration. An inverse relationship was detected between VPR and prokaryotic abundance (PA) (in sediments), prokaryotic production (PP) and virus–host contact rates (VCR) as well as salinity and temperature. No significant relationship was found between VPR and viral production (VP), fraction of mortality from viral lysis (FMVL), viral decay rate (VDR), viral turnover (VT) or depth. Finally, we summarize our results by proposing two scenarios in two contrasting environments, based on current theories on viral ecology as well as the present results. We conclude that since VPR fluctuates in every habitat for different reasons, as it is linked to a multitude of factors related to virus–host dynamics, extreme caution should be used when inferring relationships between viruses and their hosts. Furthermore, we posit that the VPR is only useful in specific, controlled conditions, e.g. for the monitoring of fluctuations in viral and host abundance over time.
POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION DETECTION OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS FROM SPUTUM

Tuberculosis has remained to be a major public health problem in Nepal. The risk of spread of infection and emergence of drug-resistant strain has created the need for a rapid, sensitive and specific diagnostic test. In addition, clinically suspicious cases that do not give positive result in conventional laboratory test need more sensitive test for diagnosis. A total of 103 specimens were subjected to Z-N staining, culture and PCR for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Of these, 19 were positive by Z-N stain, 26 by PCR and 25 by culture. Four stain negative specimens showed positive result in both culture and PCR. Two specimens of stain and culture positive were PCR negative. Five specimens showed positive result only with PCR. Two culture positive specimens gave negative results by both Z-N stain and PCR. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of PCR which were 84%, 93.5%, 80.8% and 94.9% respectively. This study showed that there is no need for PCR test for the smear positive cases. However, PCR could be a possible diagnostic tool for the confirmation of the smear negative cases that show clinical symptoms of TB.
Implications of till deformation on glacier dynamics

Abstract The dynamics of glacier motion are governed to a large extent by the properties of the basal interface. In this paper we address the interaction of a glacier with a layer of till at its bed in an attempt to test whether our physical understanding of till is sufficient to explain general features of the observed flow field and changes in geometry of Black Rapids Glacier, Alaska, U.S.A. We also investigate whether or not a till layer has a clear surface-observable signature in the dynamics of the glacier. Towards this end we use a finite-element ice-flow model with a Coulomb failure criterion within the basal till layer. We find that simple “till physics” can be used to describe decadal, seasonal and short-term (hours to days) velocity variations, and possibly uplift events. Mechanisms for each of these variations involve an increase in the extent of till at failure, a transfer of shear stress across the bed, and a consequent increase in ice deformation. “Effective shape factors” are calculated that permit a simple incorporation of this boundary condition into glacier response models. Our analyses, however, have not resulted in the identification of a clear and unique signature of a till layer in the surface dynamics of a glacier.
Long-term potentiation expands information content of hippocampal dentate gyrus synapses

Significance Understanding plasticity processes in the hippocampus is critical to our understanding of the biological underpinnings of memory. By applying information theory to quantify information content at synapses, we demonstrate that induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) increases the storage capacity of synapses in hippocampal dentate gyrus. Nevertheless, even after LTP, the information storage capacity of dentate synapses was much lower than in a different part of the hippocampus, area CA1. This work lays a foundation for future studies elucidating the time course for increased information storage content as well as the basis for interregion variability in information storage capacity. An approach combining signal detection theory and precise 3D reconstructions from serial section electron microscopy (3DEM) was used to investigate synaptic plasticity and information storage capacity at medial perforant path synapses in adult hippocampal dentate gyrus in vivo. Induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) markedly increased the frequencies of both small and large spines measured 30 minutes later. This bidirectional expansion resulted in heterosynaptic counterbalancing of total synaptic area per unit length of granule cell dendrite. Control hemispheres exhibited 6.5 distinct spine sizes for 2.7 bits of storage capacity while LTP resulted in 12.9 distinct spine sizes (3.7 bits). In contrast, control hippocampal CA1 synapses exhibited 4.7 bits with much greater synaptic precision than either control or potentiated dentate gyrus synapses. Thus, synaptic plasticity altered total capacity, yet hippocampal subregions differed dramatically in their synaptic information storage capacity, reflecting their diverse functions and activation histories.
The Helicase and RNaseIIIa Domains of Arabidopsis Dicer-Like1 Modulate Catalytic Parameters during MicroRNA Biogenesis1[C][W][OA]

Dicer-Like1 (DCL1), an RNaseIII endonuclease, and Hyponastic Leaves1 (HYL1), a double-stranded RNA-binding protein, are core components of the plant microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis machinery. hyl1 null mutants accumulate low levels of miRNAs and display pleiotropic developmental phenotypes. We report the identification of five new hyl1 suppressor mutants, all of which are alleles of DCL1. These new alleles affect either the helicase or the RNaseIIIa domains of DCL1, highlighting the critical functions of these domains. Biochemical analysis of the DCL1 suppressor variants reveals that they process the primary transcript (pri-miRNA) more efficiently than wild-type DCL1, with both higher Kcat and lower Km values. The DCL1 variants largely rescue wild-type miRNA accumulation levels in vivo, but do not rescue the MIRNA processing precision defects of the hyl1 null mutant. In vitro, the helicase domain confers ATP dependence on DCL1-catalyzed MIRNA processing, attenuates DCL1 cleavage activity, and is required for precise MIRNA processing of some substrates.