Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Virtual and Augmented Reality in Medical Education

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are two contemporary simulation mod- els that are currently upgrading medical education. VR provides a 3D and dynamic view of structures and the ability of the user to interact with them. The recent technological advances in haptics, display systems, and motion detection allow the user to have a realistic and interactive experience, enabling VR to be ideal for training in hands-on pro- cedures. Consequently, surgical and other interventional procedures are the main fields of application of VR. AR provides the ability of projecting virtual information and struc- tures over physical objects, thus enhancing or altering the real environment. The integration of AR applications in the understanding of anatomical structures and physiological mechanisms seems to be beneficial. Studies have tried to demonstrate the validity and educational effect of many VR and AR applications, in many different areas, employed via various hardware platforms. Some of them even propose a curriculum that integrates these methods. This chapter provides a brief history of VR and AR in medicine, as well as the principles and standards of their function. Finally, the studies that show the effect of the implementation of these methods in different fields of medical training are sum - marized and presented.
ASSOCIATION OF CARDIOPULMONARY STRESS TEST PARAMETERS AND HEART RATE RECOVERY IN OBESE SUBJECTS WITH OR WITHOUT TYPE II DIABETES

Heart rate recovery (HRR) is the rate at which heart rate decreases, usually within minutes, after moderate to heavy exercise, and is regulated by autonomic nervous system. HRR immediately after exercise is a marker of parasympathetic function that has been shown to be inversely associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Reduced HRR following maximal exercise testing is an important predictor of mortality in healthy adults, in patients with cardiovascular disease and with diabetes. The recent “Look AHEAD” study suggested that lifestyle intervention aimed to improve cardiovascular fitness, defined as the estimated metabolic equivalent level based on the treadmill work load, has a beneficial effect upon autonomic nervous system function as reflected in the improvement of heart rate recovery after exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes. However, that study did not analyze changes in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), which is considered the best measure of overall cardiorespiratory fitness and an important predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, and its relationship with HRR. Acta Medica Mediterranea, 2016, 32: 889
Comparing the effect of cooperative exams on student learning between an interactive lecture and a student-centered class

In the 1960’s education research began to shift from behavioral learning theories to cognitive learning theories. This shift was driven by psychologists like Dewey, Piaget, and Vygotsky. Students were viewed as active participants in the learning process rather than passive learners. Research switched to how cognitive learning theories could be applied to education of students. This was the birth of active pedagogy. Current research is focused on comparing different active pedagogies. Recent research on student-centered classes and two-stage cooperative exams have shown positive effects in many fields. However, there is limited research on the effect in large (>100), introductory geology courses. This study is focused on the effect of changing from an interactive to a student-centered class with two-stage cooperative exams used in both settings. Students in consecutive fall semesters taught by the same professor were taught in an interactive pedagogy and then a student-centered pedagogy. Four exams were administered in each semester and kept the same between semesters for comparison. The student-centered class had significantly higher final grades compared to the interactive class. Within the student-centered class, male and STEM majors had significantly higher grades compared with female and non-STEM majors. Both classes show an increase in the retention of material from the first exam to the final exam. The student-centered class had significant improvement in normalized change scores from the beginning to the end of the semester and compared with the interactive class.
Efficacy of methotrexate on rheumatoid arthritis patients with coronary heart disease and its effects on carotid intima-media thickness and patch stability

Objective: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of methotrexate on rheumatoid arthritis patients complicated with coronary heart disease, and its effects on carotid intima-media thickness and patch stability. Methods: A total of 130 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and coronary heart disease were selected from Dezhou People’s Hospital from June 2016 to June 2017. The patients were treated with methotrexate for 6 months, and the treatment efficacy was observed. Results: After 6 months of treatment, the total effective rate was 84.62%. Moreover, the numbers of tender joint count and swollen joint count were significantly smaller, and morning stiff time after treatment were significantlyshorter than that before treatment (all P = 0.000). The carotid intima-media thickness and patch area after treatment were significantly lower than that before treatment (both P = 0.000). After treatment, the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, homocysteine, tumor necrosis factor were significantly lower than those before treatment (all P = 0.000). There was no significant difference in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol before and after treatment (P = 0.896). The incidence of adverse reactions was 9.23%. Conclusion: Methotrexate treatment on patients with rheumatoid arthritis and coronary heart disease has obvious efficacy, and can effectively reduce the progression of patch, improve the carotid intima-media thickness, relieve the inflammatory response of the body. It has a high promotional value in the future.
utting university research in context : Assessing alternative measures of roduction and diffusion at Stanford ndrew

Scholars widely acknowledge that university research is critical to innovation and entrepreneurship. Much of the literature on university research, however, evokes a linear model from “science to products” and focuses, therefore, upon a limited set of indicators such as patents and licenses. Such a perspective runs the danger of missing the myriad ways in which science and commerce are intertwined and the myriad ways in which these activities might be assessed. In this paper, I address the question of how different measures reflect different perspectives and biases by investigating the production and diffusion of research associated with one of Stanford University’s most prolific interdisciplinary centers, the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). I draw upon a unique data set that captures activities and engagement surrounding CCRMA for its 30-year history through a wide variety of measures, ranging from publication citations to industrial affiliates to personnel mobility. Employing the
Optimal Power Flow Solution with Maximum Voltage Stability

This paper presents an Optimal Power Flow (OPF) formulation that is based on multi-objective optimization methodology, which can minimize both of operating costs and losses and it would at same time result in maximizing the distance to voltage collapse. A “Maximum Distance to Voltage Collapse” algorithm, which incorporates constraints on the current operating condition, is firstly presented, while OPF formulations which incorporate voltage stability criteria is secondly presented. The algorithm built on Matlab-Simulink is tested on an IEEE 6-bus test system using a standard power flow model, where the effect of maximum loading point limits is demonstrated.
The Impact of Cultural Dimensions on Student ’ s Use of E-learning System

This paper studies relationships in the conceptual model based on cultural dimensions of learning and users' beliefs. For such purpose, a questionnaire consisted of 44 items was developed and administered to 225 students of undergraduate study programmes. Although no respectable cultural differences were found, this paper enhances the understanding of males’ and females’ perception of using Moodle, social relationships and temporal issues. Also, considerable differences were noted between students of different study programmes in their perception of social relationships.
adults : recommendations from the European LeukemiaNet Diagnosis and treatment of primary myelodysplastic syndromes in

s of conference proceedings. Guidelines were developed on the basis of a list of patientand therapy-oriented questions, and recommendations were formulated and ranked according to the supporting level of evidence. MDSs should be classified according to the 2008 World Health Organization criteria. An accurate risk assessment requires the evaluation of not only disease-related factors but also of those related to extrahematologic comorbidity. The assessment of individual risk enables the identification of fit patients with a poor prognosis who are candidates for up-front intensive treatments, primarily allogeneic stem cell transplantation. A high proportion of MDS patients are not eligible for potentially curative treatment because of advanced age and/or clinically relevant comorbidities and poor performance status. In these patients, the therapeutic intervention is aimed at preventing cytopenia-related morbidity and preserving quality of life. A number of new agents are being developed for which the available evidence is not sufficient to recommend routine use. The inclusion of patients into prospective clinical trials is strongly recommended. (Blood. 2013;122(17):2943-2964)
Positive Parenting Style Moderates Status Violation Behaviors Among Children in Sabah , Malaysia

The aim of this paper is to examine children’s dimension of violence behaviours based on five dimensions found in Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) introduced by Achenbach (1991). Status violation was found significant on aggressive behaviours instrument used among children in Sabah. It is described as violation of rules and regulations set by parents at home or teachers in school, refusal or dislike the rules and regulations set, and ran away or stay out late at night without parents’ knowledge or with parents’ disapprovals. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to highlight the research findings from a study conducted among the children in Sabah, Malaysia by using Child Behaviours Check List (CBCL) by Achenbach (1991) and Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) by Buri (1991). There were N=626 children involved in this study which consist of male (N=367) and female (N=259) from a range of age 12 to 16 years old from urban and rural areas of Sabah. Each of three different parenting styles were tested for their moderating effects and it was found that, parenting style practiced by these parents can be predicted as one of the factors which contribute to the escalation of status violation dimension among children in Sabah. Besides that, it was also found that parenting style could also play the role of a moderator.
Fundamental knowledge about the physical and chemical properties of commercial albumin and its application in clinical practice

Introduction Human albumin (HA) or serum albumin is encoded by the ALB gene and is the most abundant plasma protein in mammals. HA is essential for maintaining the osmotic pressure needed for proper distribution of body fluids between intravascular compartments and body tissues. HA also acts as a plasma carrier by non-specifically binding several hydrophobic steroid hormones and as a transport protein for hemin and fatty acids. The advantages of albumin over less costly alternative fluids continue to be debated. Meta-analyses focusing on survival have been inconclusive, and other clinically relevant end-points have not been systematically addressed. Database searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library) and other methods were used to identify randomized controlled trials comparing albumin with crystalloid, artificial colloid, no albumin, or lower-dose albumin. Major findings for all end-points were extracted and summarized [1,2]. Seventy-nine randomized trials with a total of 4755 patients were included. No significant treatment effects were detectable in 20/79 (25%) trials. In cardiac surgery, albumin administration resulted in lower fluid requirements, higher colloid oncotic pressure, reduced pulmonary edema with respiratory impairment, and greater hemodilution compared with crystalloid and hydroxyethyl starch increased postoperative bleeding. In non-cardiac surgery, fluid requirements and pulmonary and intestinal edema were decreased by albumin compared with crystalloid. In hypoalbuminemia, higher doses of albumin reduced morbidity. In ascites, albumin reduced hemodynamic derangements, morbidity, and length of stay and improved survival after spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. In sepsis, albumin decreased pulmonary edema and respiratory dysfunction compared with crystalloid, while hydroxyethyl starch induced abnormalities of hemostasis. Complications were lowered by albumin compared with crystalloid in burn patients. Albumin-containing therapeutic regimens improved outcomes after brain injury [3]. Neither benefit nor harm was shown when using HA to maintain hemodynamic stability in the perioperative period when compared with crystalloids or any other colloidal volume substitute [4-6].
Dhat Syndrome among Females : Is There Enough Evidence ?

In last few decade researchers have emphasized that non-pathological vaginal discharge has important psychosomatic components and it may represent an entity similar to ‘Dhat syndrome’ among females. Despite this, there is very limited research addressing validation of this entity. Literature is mostly limited to small studies among clinical population or case series and case reports. This article intends to highlight current understanding about ‘Dhat syndrome’ among females and lacunae in the existing body of research. Introduction Dhat syndrome is a well-known entity among south Asian males since long [1]. There is sufficient literature to establish it as an important clinical entity. Over the years, tools and specific psychotherapeutic interventions targeting ‘Dhat syndrome’ have been developed and successfully used. Though further research is warranted to explore its dimensions, validity of this entity is well recognised. Further, recognising it as a separate entity or a specifier for other diagnostic entities is still debatable. Over last few decade idea of presence of similar entity among female was also proposed by some researchers. Although the research in this area is still sparse and inconclusive [2]. Evidences Conceptualisation of Dhat syndrome among females is similar to males, revolving around the central theme of loss of vital fluids through genital secretions. This culturally prevalent belief stems from Ayurvedic concept of seven physiological elements (Dhatu) and genital secretions represent most important element essential for energy and strength [3]. Among South-Asian females excessive vaginal discharge is a common presentation, known as Leucorrhoea in medical terms. Prevalence among Indian population is reported from 13 to 30 % in
Down-regulation and clinical role of miR-30 a-5 p in hepatocellular carcinoma : a study based on public high-throughput datasets

Although some recent studies have shown the aberrant level of miR-30a-5p in a number of classes of malignancies, the level and clinical role of miR-30a-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been fully elucidated. Accordingly, the study was conducted to investigate the clinicopathological contribution of miR-30a-5p expression in HCC through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The TCGA database was used to explore the expression of miR-30a-5p in HCC-related miRNA-HiSeq datasets, as well as relevance between miR-30a-5p and clinicopathological features in HCC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to prove the diagnostic value of miR-30a-5p in HCC patients. Furthermore, metaanalysis was performed based on HCC-related miRNA microarray datasets collected from the GEO database. Quality assessment was carried out with Limma package and ExiMiR package in R. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated and pooled with STATA 13.0. Decreased expression of miR-30a5p in HCC tissues was confirmed via TCGA data (16.30 ± 1.28 in HCC versus 17.36 ± 0.50 in normal liver, P<0.001). Expression of miR-30a-5p was negatively correlated to advanced grade (r=-0.109, P=0.039). The area under curve (AUC) of miR-30a-5p was 0.795 (P<0.001). Besides, in the meta-analysis, nine miRNA microarray datasets including 304 HCC samples and 321 non-cancerous liver tissues were employed. The pooled results calculated by fixed-effect model indicated that miR-30a-5p was also evidently downregulated in HCC tissues (SMD=-0.495; 95% CI, -0.656 to -0.335; P<0.001) with little heterogeneity (P=0.152, I2=33.3%). In conclusion, miR-30a-5p is a tumor-suppressive miRNA that plays a pivotal part in the carcinogenesis and deterioration of HCC.
Maneuvering predictions in the early design phase using CFD generated PMM data

The present paper covers the work made in order to be able to perform standard deep water IMO manoeuvring simulations based on a combination of computed and measured hydrodynamic input data. Based on a full set of measured PMM data a reduced test matrix was identified and the standard 10-10 and 20-20 zigzag and the 35 turning circle manoeuvres was simulated. Based on the reduced test matrix all the static PMM conditions were computed with the RANS code STAR-CCM+ in order to obtain the hydrodynamic forces and moments. The computed static PMM data was subsequently used to replace the corresponding measured static PMM data in the simulations. Comparison between the computed and measured forces and moments showed a quite good agreement. Formal verification and validation, taking numerical and experimental uncertainties into account, was made for a selected condition. The result showed that the X-force is validated, while the Y-force and the yaw moment are not. For the simulated manoeuvres, the results also look promising, since reasonable good agreement was found when comparing the simulated turning circle and zigzag manoeuvres, obtained with measured and computed input data.
Synthesis of Poly(Acrylamide-Graft-Chitosan) Hydrogel: Optimization of The Grafting Parameters and Swelling Studies

Hydrogel polymers were prepared via graft polymerization of acrylamide (AAm) onto chitosan (CTS) backbone in the presence of methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as cross-linker and ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator. Optimizing the crosslinking graft reaction of AAm onto CTS was studied by varying the concentration of CTS and MBA cross-linker and discussing the effect of these conditions on the gel fraction and the grafting parameters. The grafting parameters; grafting percentage (%GP), grafting efficiency (%GE), Add-on (%A) and homopolymer (%H) were studied as a function of the chitosan and the cross-linker concentrations. Also the swelling properties of the prepared hydrogel were examined. In this research, the simple second order kinetic model proposed by Schott has been carried out to describe the swelling mechanism. The effect of the grafting reaction on the thermal properties of the chitosan was also investigated by the thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The structure of the prepared hydrogel polymer was confirmed by FT-IR spectra. The porous structure of the hydrogel was observed by the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and also the elemental composition of the prepared hydrogel was identified by using the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX).
Low shear rate induced particle orientation in aqueous alumina green tape

Aqueous alumina slurry prepared from elongated particles with mean aspect ratio of 1.6 was chosen as the model slurry to observe low shear rate influence on particle alignment in green tape. Polarized microscope with liquid immersion technique was applied for particle orientation measurement. Orientation degree of tape cast with 1 blade set of 0.3 mm at a constant speed of 2.5 cm/min was found in a range of 4-8%. However, the observed particle alignment was slightly different from the upper surface, which particles aligned parallel to casting direction, but on Mylar contacted surface, particles relatively inclined to the surface.
LARP 1 is regulated by the XIST / miR-374 a axis and functions as an oncogene in non-small cell lung carcinoma

La-related protein 1 (LARP1) is a conserved RNA-binding protein and is known to regulate 5'-terminal oligopyrimidine tract (TOP) mRNA translation. Dysregulated LARP1 has been reported to be related to the development of several cancers. However, the exact function and mechanism of LARP1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is largely unknown. In the present study, we found that the mRNA levels of LARP1 were increased in NSCLC cells compared to those in normal control cells. Knockdown of LARP1 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in NSCLC cells and tumourigenicity in H520 cells. Both in vitro and in vivo analyses confirmed that STAT3 signalling was inactivated by the knockdown of LARP1. Moreover, LARP1 was identified as a direct target of miR-374a. Overexpression of miR-374a attenuated the promotor effects of LARP1 by inhibiting proliferation, metastasis and STAT3 signalling. Clinically, LARP1 was markedly overexpressed in NSCLC tissues, and upregulated LARP1 was correlated with tumour progression and poor survival. The expression of miR-374a was negatively correlated with the expression of LARP1 in NSCLC tissues. Furthermore, we found that XIST functioned as a competing endogenous RNA to suppress miR-374a, which regulated its downstream target LARP1. In summary, we suggest that the dysfunction of the XIST/miR-374a/LARP1 axis contributes to NSCLC and may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment.
Assessment of Fluoride and Heavy Metals Concentrations in Toothpastes Marketed in Port Harcourt Nigeria

---The concentrations of fluoride and heavy metals in toothpastes marketed in Port Harcourt were measured using Ion-Selective Electrode method and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer respectively. The results of fluoride concentrations were 497-1453ppm in adult toothpastes, 498ppm in pediatric toothpaste; 1408 -1452ppm in Local toothpastes and 498-1453ppm in foreign toothpastes. The results of heavy metals concentrations were <0.006ppm Cr in all toothpastes, <0.05 to 12.2ppm Mn in local toothpastes, <0.05 to 10.8ppm Mn in foreign toothpastes, 0.23 to 1.62ppm Fe in local toothpastes and <0.03 to 0.45ppm Fe in foreign toothpastes. All the adult toothpastes and local toothpastes analyzed exceeded their permissible limits. Statistical analysis using t-test showed significant difference (P<0.05) between the mean fluoride concentrations in Local and Foreign toothpastes and no significant difference (P>0.05) between Claimed and Measured mean fluoride concentrations. This study showed that some toothpastes contain fluoride and heavy metals at concentrations higher than permissible limits. Furthermore that most manufacturers’ claims are not reliable and some toothpaste have questionable anti-caries efficacy due to high fluoride concentration. It was recommended that adequate fluoride concentration not exceeding permissible limit should be added in toothpastes and Government should sensitize and create awareness in people on fluoride concentration limit and effects.