Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Practical Method to Optimize Quality Assurance Results of Arc Therapy Plans in Beam Modeling

Dosimetric accuracy of a volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan is directly related to the beam model, particularly with multileaf collimator characterization. Inappropriate dosimetric leaf gap (DLG) value can lead to a suboptimal beam model, with significant failure in patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) of VMAT plans. This study addressed the systematic issue of beam modeling and developed a practical method to determine the optimal DLG value for a beam model. Several complex VMAT plans were selected for the quality assurance analysis using the variable DLG values. The results of three-dimensional (3D) Gamma analysis as a function of the DLG at 3%/3 mm, 2%/2 mm, and 1%/1 mm criteria were fitted by a polynomial curve. The DLG value corresponding to the maximum Gamma passing rate for each polynomial fitting function was derived, and the average was calculated to be the optimal DLG value for each model. The 3D Gamma analysis was repeated with the optimal DLG value to verify the dosimetric accuracy of each VMAT case by PSQA. Gamma passing rates are seen to vary considerably with the DLG values and different analysis criteria (3%/3 mm, 2%/2 mm, and 1%/1 mm) for each case. The optimal DLG derived for each model was 1.16 mm and 1.10 mm, much larger than the measured value (about 0.3 mm). The beam models with the optimal DLG was able to produce an average Gamma passing rate of 97.1% (range, 94.6%– 99.1%) at 3%/3 mm and 93.5% (range, 89.0%– 96.5%) at 2%/2 mm for one beam model, and 97.1% (range, 94.8%– 99.1%) at 3%/3 mm, and 93.3% (range, 88.8%– 96.7%) at 2%/2 mm for another. The overall accuracy of dose calculation for VMAT plans should be optimized with a compromise of varied modulation complexities in a beam model. We have developed a practical method to derive the optimal DLG value for each beam model based on the Gamma passing criterion. This technique should be applicable in general for all beam energies and patient cases.
The role of online communities in reducing urban–rural health disparities in China

The explosive growth of social networks has the potential for online health communities to create social value for users. This study integrates online community with urban–rural health inequality in China to empirically explore whether online communities reduce health disparities between urban and rural areas in China. By collecting a unique data set from an online community in China that focuses on one disease, an exponential random graph model was used to empirically analyze the network structures and relationships formed in this community. The results indicate that technology‐mediated online health communities can alleviate health disparities in China by exchanging information and improving the health capabilities of rural residents. We discuss the implications and guidelines for future research.
Comparison of Tensile and Compressive Properties of Carbon/Glass Interlayer and Intralayer Hybrid Composites

Tensile and compressive properties of interlayer and intralayer hybrid composites were investigated in this paper. The tensile modulus and compression modulus of interlayer and intralayer hybrid composites are the same under the same mixed ratio, the tensile strength is much superior to the compression strength, and while the tensile modulus and strength increase along with the carbon fiber content, the compression values change slightly. The influence of stacking structures on the tensile and compressive strengths is opposite to the ratio of T/C (tensile/compression) strength for interlayer hybrid composites, and while the tensile and compression strengths with glass fiber sandwiching carbon fiber can reach the maximum value, the ratio of T/C strength is minimum. For structures with carbon fiber sandwiching glass fiber, or with asymmetric structures, the tensile and compressive strengths are at a low value. For intralayer hybrid structures, while the carbon/glass (C/G) dispersion degree is high, the tensile and compression strengths are low. The experimental tensile and compressive strengths for interlayer and intralayer hybrid composites are greater than the theoretical values, which demonstrates that strength conforms well to the positive hybrid effect. The tensile fracture strain is greater than the compression fracture strain for hybrid composites, with both of them basically maintained at the same level.
Evaluation of Effectiveness of Two Different Endodontic Retreatment Systems in Removal of Gutta-percha: An in vitro Study.

AIM To determine the effectiveness of two different endodontic retreatment systems for the removal of laterally compacted gutta-percha (GP). MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-three freshly extracted human maxillary central incisors were used for the study. The teeth were instrumented with K-flex files and obturated using lateral condensation technique with GP and AH Plus sealer. The teeth were divided into three retreatment groups, each group consisting of 21 teeth. Group I: D-RaCe desobturation files (D-RaCe); group II: ProTaper Universal retreatment files (PTUR); group III: Hedstrom files (H-file). After removal of GP, the teeth were split longitudinally and divided into three equal parts: Cervical, middle, and apical third. The middle and apical thirds of all root halves were examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The total surface area covered by the residual debris was evaluated using Motic Image plus 2.0 software. Statistical analysis was done by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test with a p-value <0.05 used to determine significance and Tukey's multiple post hoc tests used for comparison between the groups, and 't' test was done for comparison between the thirds within the same group. RESULTS The PTUR retreatment files showed overall better performance compared with D-RaCe files and H-files. The PTUR files performed better at middle third compared with others. The PTUR files and D-RaCe files performed equally at apical third better than H-files. CONCLUSION ProTaper retreatment files are better compared with D-RaCe files and H-files for the retreatment of the previously endodontically treated teeth. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Highest efficacy for the removal of GP was shown by ProTaper Universal System followed by D-RaCe and H-file.
#Healthy Selfies: Exploration of Health Topics on Instagram

BACKGROUND Social media provides a complementary source of information for public health surveillance. The dominate data source for this type of monitoring is the microblogging platform Twitter, which is convenient due to the free availability of public data. Less is known about the utility of other social media platforms, despite their popularity. OBJECTIVE This work aims to characterize the health topics that are prominently discussed in the image-sharing platform Instagram, as a step toward understanding how this data might be used for public health research. METHODS The study uses a topic modeling approach to discover topics in a dataset of 96,426 Instagram posts containing hashtags related to health. We use a polylingual topic model, initially developed for datasets in different natural languages, to model different modalities of data: hashtags, caption words, and image tags automatically extracted using a computer vision tool. RESULTS We identified 47 health-related topics in the data (kappa=.77), covering ten broad categories: acute illness, alternative medicine, chronic illness and pain, diet, exercise, health care & medicine, mental health, musculoskeletal health and dermatology, sleep, and substance use. The most prevalent topics were related to diet (8,293/96,426; 8.6% of posts) and exercise (7,328/96,426; 7.6% of posts). CONCLUSIONS A large and diverse set of health topics are discussed in Instagram. The extracted image tags were generally too coarse and noisy to be used for identifying posts but were in some cases accurate for identifying images relevant to studying diet and substance use. Instagram shows potential as a source of public health information, though limitations in data collection and metadata availability may limit its use in comparison to platforms like Twitter.
Effects of deep brain stimulation on rest tremor progression in early stage Parkinson disease

Objective To evaluate whether the progression of individual motor features was influenced by early deep brain stimulation (DBS), a post hoc analysis of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale–III (UPDRS-III) score (after a 7-day washout) was conducted from the 2-year DBS in early Parkinson disease (PD) pilot trial dataset. Methods The prospective pilot trial enrolled patients with PD aged 50–75 years, treated with PD medications for 6 months–4 years, and no history of dyskinesia or other motor fluctuations, who were randomized to receive optimal drug therapy (ODT) or DBS plus ODT (DBS + ODT). At baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, all patients stopped all PD therapy for 1 week (medication and stimulation, if applicable). UPDRS-III “off” item scores were compared between the ODT and DBS + ODT groups (n = 28); items with significant between-group differences were analyzed further. Results UPDRS-III “off” rest tremor score change from baseline to 24 months was worse in patients receiving ODT vs DBS + ODT (p = 0.002). Rest tremor slopes from baseline to 24 months favored DBS + ODT both “off” and “on” therapy (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively). More ODT patients developed new rest tremor in previously unaffected limbs than those receiving DBS + ODT (p = 0.001). Conclusions These results suggest the possibility that DBS in early PD may slow rest tremor progression. Future investigation in a larger cohort is needed, and these findings will be tested in the Food and Drug Administration–approved, phase III, pivotal, multicenter clinical trial evaluating DBS in early PD. Classification of evidence This study provides Class II evidence that for patients with early PD, DBS may slow the progression of rest tremor.
Eating Healthy, Growing Healthy: Impact of a Multi-Strategy Nutrition Education on the Assortments of Beverages Served in Preschools, Poland

Day-care centers are the ideal place for conducting nutrition intervention to improve children’s nutrition. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-strategy childcare-base intervention in improving compliance with nutrition guidelines regarding beverages supply in preschools. The intervention included the staff training, audit, feedback, and ongoing support provided by trained educators. The emphasis was put on adequate nutrition, including recommended beverages, reducing sugar-sweetened beverages and increasing water availability. Enrolled were 478 full-board preschools from Poland (4.2% of all preschools in the country). The assortment of beverages served to children within ten consecutive days was assessed based on menus and inventory reports at the baseline, and three months after the intervention. Education increased significantly the percentage of preschools serving water to meals and between meals (67% vs. 83% and 93% vs. 99%, respectively), fruit/herbal tea (75% vs. 81%), and natural fruit juices (46% vs. 56%). The percentage of preschools offering fruit/soft drinks decreased from 23% to 15%. This study shows that education has a great potential in improving the assortment of beverages served in preschools. Future research is needed to determine barriers in better optimizing the assortment of beverages in preschool settings.
Comparison of Spinal Curvatures in the Sagittal Plane, as Well as Body Height and Mass in Polish Children and Adolescents Examined in the Late 1950s and in the Early 2000s

Background Humans are exposed to various stimuli which lead to somatic modifications and changes in body posture, negatively affecting many of its characteristics. The purpose of this study was to assess significant alterations which occurred in selected morphological features and spinal curvatures in children and adolescents over a period of 40 years. Material/Methods The total of 7041 subjects, aged 4–18 years (mean age 11.3 years) were included in the study, which was designed to compare measurements performed in year 1959 (Group 1, n=3235 individuals) and in year 2003 (Group 2, n=3806 individuals). The children were examined for body height, body mass, as well as thoracic and lumbar curvatures. In 1959, the measurements were carried out using a spherodorsimeter, while in 2003, the CQ System photogrammetry was used, producing corresponding results. The Mann-Whitney U test and the Student’s t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results The findings showed a significant decrease in the angle of lumbar lordosis and in sacral inclination as well as an increase in body height and mass, particularly in prepubertal children. On the other hand, the angle of thoracic kyphosis and the partial angles of physiological spinal curvatures changed only to a small degree over the 40-year period. Conclusions This study provides evidence related to changes which occurred during the relevant period of over 40 years, namely a decrease in both the angle of lumbar lordosis and the sacral inclination angle, as well as an increase in body height and mass. These changes should be taken into consideration in selecting norms and standards applied in healthcare services, and the findings suggest it is necessary to regularly update such standards.
Intrathecal Tramadol for Prevention of Postanesthesia Shivering after Subarachnoid Block: A Prospective Randomized Placebo-Controlled Comparison of Two Different Doses (10 and 20 mg)

Background: Shivering is a common and distressing complication following subarachnoid block (SAB). Literature comparing the antishivering efficacy of different doses of intrathecal (IT) tramadol is lacking. Aims: This prospective randomized controlled study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the antishivering efficacy of IT tramadol 10 and 20 mg. Methods: Ninety adult patients undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgeries under SAB were randomized into three groups (n = 30) to receive IL 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 3 ml with tramadol 0 mg (Group C), 10 mg (Group T10), or 20 mg (Group T20) in normal saline. Shivering was assessed using a 5-point intensity scoring system intraoperatively and up to 4-h postoperatively. The onset and duration of sensory and motor block, duration of analgesia, and adverse effects were assessed. Statistical Analysis Used: Analysis of variance and Pearson Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The incidence and intensity of shivering were significantly reduced in Group T10 versus C (incidence, P = 0.007; intensity, P = 0.002) and T20 versus C (incidence, P < 0.001; intensity, P < 0.001) but comparable among groups T10 and T20 (incidence, P = 0.133; intensity, P = 0.142). There was a significant dose-dependent prolongation of duration of sensory block (121, 137, and 150.5 min; P = 0.001), motor block (242.83, 298.5, and 344 min; P < 0.001), and analgesia (289.17, 357, and 404.67 min; P < 0.001) with escalating doses of IT tramadol, respectively. All the groups were comparable with respect to hemodynamic variables, core temperature, and adverse effects. Conclusion: The addition of tramadol 10 or 20 mg IT to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine for SAB is associated with significant reduction in the incidence and intensity of postanesthesia shivering and prolongation of the duration of postoperative analgesia. Tramadol 20 mg IT compared to 10 mg IT significantly prolonged the duration of postoperative analgesia but failed to demonstrate any significant attenuation of postanesthesia shivering.
Cultivating undergraduates' plagiarism avoidance knowledge and skills with an online tutorial system

J Comput Assist Learn. 2018;1–12. Abstract With the increased use of digital materials, undergraduate writers in English as a foreign language (EFL) contexts have become more susceptible to plagiarism. In this study, the researchers designed a blended English writing course with an online writing tutorial system entitled DWright. The study examined the effectiveness of the online writing tool for helping a group of EFL sophomores in Taiwan develop plagiarism avoidance knowledge, paraphrasing skills, and citation abilities. Mixed‐method data included pretest, posttest, and delayed test, a feedback sheet, writing assignments, interviews, and a post‐course questionnaire, which reported increased awareness on plagiarism avoidance with evidence such as qualitative paraphrasing improvement and positive feedback on the use of DWright for developing plagiarism avoidance knowledge and citation competence. Pedagogical implications for researchers and instructors interested in blending online writing tutorials into their courses for plagiarism avoidance were also discussed.
Anthropometric Assessment of the Normal Adult Human Ear

Purpose: Knowledge of anthropometric measurements of the external ear is important as variations exist based on gender, age and ethnicity. This study has derived anthropometric data pertaining to the external ear in the Maharashtrian population. Materials and Methods: Nine variables of the external ear were measured in 505 Maharashtrian adults (aged 18–64 years) using photoanthropometric methods. Results: Descriptive data and the left-right symmetry for the study population were obtained. Conclusion: These data have applications in screening for or monitoring diseases, otoplastic surgery, forensics, industrial design, apparel design and ergonomics.
A Comparative Study of Three Vasopressors for Maintenance of Blood Pressure during Spinal Anesthesia in Lower Abdominal Surgeries

Introduction: Subarachnoid block, although being highly efficient with lesser drug doses, often has limitation such as hypotension, continues to be a matter of concern to the anesthetist. The present study was aimed to compare the use of phenylephrine, ephedrine, and mephentermine bolus for maintenance of blood pressure during spinal anesthesia in lower abdominal surgeries. Subjects and Methods: In a randomized, prospective study, 90 adult patients of either sex who developed hypotension during surgery under subarachnoid block were allocated into three groups to receive bolus phenylephrine, ephedrine, and mephentermine. The number of boluses and time taken to recover from hypotension was noted. Occurrence of adverse effects in the perioperative and postoperative period was also noted. Results: Results were analyzed by Student's paired t-test and Chi-square test. The ANOVA test was used to compare the group variances among the study groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Thirty-four hypotensive events (average 1.03 events/patient) took place in mephentermine group. In phenylephrine group, a total of 53 hypotensive events took place. On an average, the group had a total of 1.61 hypotensive events per patient. No hypotensive event took place in ephedrine group after the first bolus of drug (average 1 event/patient). Mean heart rate in phenylephrine group was significantly lower as compared to the other two groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Mephentermine and ephedrine were similar in performance, offered a better hypotensive control, and had lower recurring events as compared to phenylephrine.
External light activates hair follicle stem cells through eyes via an ipRGC–SCN–sympathetic neural pathway

Significance Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) exhibit several important functions including the circadian photo entrainment, pupillary light reflex, alertness, and phototaxis. Whether ipRGCs regulate other physiological activities is unknown. We show that external light stimulation can activate hair follicle stem cells through the eyes via an ipRGC–suprachiasmatic nucleus–sympathetic nervous circuit. Immediately after ipRGCs are stimulated by light, the systemic sympathetic activities are activated. In skin, the local release of norepinephrine activates hair follicle stem cells. This neural circuit enables prompt communication between peripheral tissues and the external environment. Due to the systemic activation of sympathetic activities, this circuit can also allow for timely responses to external light in other organs. It also highlights a function of ipRGCs in regulating autonomic nervous activity. Changes in external light patterns can alter cell activities in peripheral tissues through slow entrainment of the central clock in suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). It remains unclear whether cells in otherwise photo-insensitive tissues can achieve rapid responses to changes in external light. Here we show that light stimulation of animals’ eyes results in rapid activation of hair follicle stem cells with prominent hair regeneration. Mechanistically, light signals are interpreted by M1-type intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which signal to the SCN via melanopsin. Subsequently, efferent sympathetic nerves are immediately activated. Increased norepinephrine release in skin promotes hedgehog signaling to activate hair follicle stem cells. Thus, external light can directly regulate tissue stem cells via an ipRGC–SCN autonomic nervous system circuit. Since activation of sympathetic nerves is not limited to skin, this circuit can also facilitate rapid adaptive responses to external light in other homeostatic tissues.
The ultrastructure of the morula cells of Eupentacta quinquesemita (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) and their role in the maintenance of the extracellular matrix

The ultrastructure of the morula cells of Eupentacta quinquesemita and the distribution of these cells in the dermal connective tissue are described. Morula cells are abundant in the dermis and appear to function in the maintenance of the extracellular matrix (ECM) as a source of ground substance material. The synthetic activity of these cells is described in detail. Morula cells are filled with large secretory vesicles containing three electrondense materials which are derived from rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi activity. The synthetic product of these cells contains glycosaminoglycans and is secreted into the ECM by degranulation. The ultrastructural and histochemical similarity of the degranulation product to the ECM ground substance suggests that they are comprised of the same material. Morula cells appear to function primarily in connective tissues where ground substance predominates. The cells often contain secretory vesicles at various stages of formation, all of which eventually mature and degranulate. The synthetic pathway of the morula cells appears to result ultimately in the complete disruption and death of the cells. The function of morula cells in the holothuroid ECM is discussed, and the synthetic activity of the cells is compared with that of other secretory cells.