Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epileptic seizures classification in EEG using PCA based genetic algorithm through machine learning

In this research, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Genetic Algorithm based Machine Learning (ML) approach is developed for the binary classification of epileptic seizures from the EEG dataset. The proposed approach utilizes PCA to reduce the number of features for binary classification of epileptic seizures and is applied to the existing machine learning models to evaluate the model performance in comparison to the higher number of features. Here, Genetic Algorithm (GA) is employed to tune the hyperparameters of the machine learning models for identifying the best ML model. The proposed approach is applied to the UCI epileptic seizure recognition dataset, which is originated from the EEG dataset of Bonn University. As a preliminary analysis of the proposed approach, the data analysis result shows a significant reduction in the number of features but has minimal impact on the ML performance parameters in comparison to the existing ML method.
Modified filters with Penicillium chrysogenum culture enhance removal of copper and iron contaminants in water

ABSTRACT Development of a cost-effective and broad-based practical approach to wastewater treatment is of utmost importance, especially in developing countries. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of using Penicillium chrysogenum cells with sand filters for removal of heavy metals from contaminated water. This was done by designing three fungal-based sand filters (FSF) containing 30, 40, 50 spores/mL and sand filter (SF) without the fungus. These preparations were used to treat deionized water simulated with two concentrations of copper and iron (5 and 10 mg L−1 respectively). These simulations were prepared to create commonly observed contamination levels in many water sources. Effluent reductions relative to treatments effects were analysed using the standard protocol for eight days under aseptic conditions. On the eighth day, it was observed that the copper concentration (10 mg L−1) was reduced to 0.106 mg L−1 in the 30 spores/mL treatment as compared to 0.198 mg L−1 observed in SF. It was also observed that copper concentrations were significantly reduced (p ≤ 0.05) between FSF and the SF. There was also a significant reduction while comparing the metal removal in treatments after the second and eighth days. The general affinity range for iron in the four treatments was 30 > 40 > SF > 50, in that order has 94.26, 91.66, 87.98 and 85.48 as removal efficiency for iron (5 mg L−1) on the eighth day. P. chrysogenum is therefore a valuable biosorbent that can help improve the quality of wastewater by biosand filter treatment. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Real-Time Video Scan Method for Community Partner Use to Inform Play Streets Implementation

System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) can provide accurate assessment of physical activity; however, the skills, time, and human resources necessary to collect/interpret SOPARC data can be challenging for community organizations. This article describes a more accessible adaptation of SOPARC using video recordings for community organizations to obtain physical activity feedback at Play Streets. Narrated panoramic video scans occurred every 30 minutes at each Play Street using an iPad. Videographers narrated: (1) sex, (2) age group (child, teen, adult, senior), and (3) activity level (sedentary, walking, vigorous) for everyone recorded. SOPARC video scans, in-person iSOPARC observations, and interviews were conducted with Play Streets implementors to determine validity and feasibility. Validity was examined using Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). In-person and video scans showed near perfect agreement for sedentary individuals (CCC = .95) and substantial agreement for active individuals (CCC = .72). Overall, community partners felt that they “could see how [the scans] could be useful” and “help[ed] see a bit more clearly what’s happening. ” The method described here is a more accessible systematic observation approach to measure physical activity for communities implementing Play Streets. Further, this method can be used without research training while still providing valuable activity feedback.
Dual-source dual-energy thin-section CT combined with small field of view technique for small lymph node in thyroid cancer: a retrospective diagnostic study.

Background To evaluate the diagnostic performance of quantitative spectral parameters derived from dual-source dual-energy CT at small field of view (FOV) for small lymph node metastasis in thyroid cancer. Methods This was a retrospective diagnostic study. From 2016 to 2019, 280 patients with thyroid disease underwent thin-section dual-source dual-energy thyroid CT and thyroid surgery. The data of patients with lymph nodes having a short diameter of 2-6 mm was analyzed. The quantitative dual-energy CT parameters of targeted lymph nodes were measured, and all parameters between metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes were compared. These parameters were then fitted to univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression models. The diagnostic role of spectral parameters was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and compared with the McNemar test. Small FOV CT images and a mathematical model were used to judge the status of lymph nodes respectively, and then compared with the golden criterion-pathological diagnosis. The cut-off value of the model was 0.4419, with a sensitivity of 90.2% and a specificity of 92.7%. Results Of the 216 lymph nodes investigated in this study, 52.3% and 23.6% had a short diameter of 2-3 and 4 mm, respectively. Multiple quantitative CT parameters were significantly different between benign and malignant lymph nodes, and binary regression analysis was performed. The mathematical model was: p=ey/(1+ ey), y=-23.119+0.033× precontrast electron cloud density +0.076× arterial phase normalized iodine concentration +2.156× arterial phase normalized effective atomic number -0.540× venous phase slope of the spectral Hounsfield unit curve +1.676× venous phase iodine concentration. This parameter model had an AUC of 92%, with good discrimination and consistency, and the diagnostic accuracy was 90.3%. The diagnostic accuracy of the CT image model was 43.1%, and for lymph nodes with a short-diameter of 2-3 mm, the diagnostic accuracy was 22.1%. Conclusions The parameter model showed higher diagnostic accuracy than the CT image model for diagnosing small lymph node metastasis in thyroid cancer, and quantitative dual-energy CT parameters were very useful for small lymph nodes that were difficult to be diagnosed only on conventional CT images. Trial registration This study is retrospectively registered, and we have registered a prospective study (Registration number: ChiCTR2000035195; http://www.chictr.org.cn).
Stroke and neurointervention in the COVID-19 pandemic: a narrative review

ABSTRACT Introduction: In this review, we will summarize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on neurointerventional care for patients with cerebrovascular disease, with a particular emphasis on epidemiology, neurointerventional processes, and lessons learned from paradigm shifts in endovascular care. Areas covered: Peer-reviewed research is summarized regarding the complications of COVID-19 as related to the pandemic’s impact on hospital admissions, imaging capabilities, treatment times, and outcomes of neurointerventional cases. Expert opinion: In the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a global decline in neuroimaging, use of intravenous thrombolysis, thrombectomy, and coil embolization for ruptured intracranial aneurysms. An early recommendation to utilize general anesthesia and intubate all patients undergoing intervention to avoid an emergent aerosolizing procedure was found to have worse outcomes. The decline in new stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage diagnoses may be related to patient and/or family fear of seeking acute medical care. A true shift in stroke epidemiology is also possible. As several vaccines become more readily available and the world rebounds from this pandemic, we hope to transform the neurointerventional experiences discussed in this paper into strategies that may improve care delivery of neurologically ill patients during a global crisis.
The EVAPORATE trial provides important mechanistic data on plaque characteristics that have relevance to the REDUCE-IT results and clinical use of icosapent ethyl.

This commentary ‘Effect of icosapent ethyl on progression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with elevated triglycerides on statin therapy: final results of the EVAPORATE trial’, MJ and the discussion piece ‘Underlying mechanisms involved in the icosapent ethyl reduction of cardiovascular events still cannot be attributed to an anti-atherosclerotic effect’, G.A. Rodriguez-Granillo and H.M. Garcia-Garcia, We appreciate the comments made regarding the potential mechanistic benefits attributable to icosapent ethyl (IPE) on cardiovascular event reduction. The authors several reasons why the EVAPORATE (NCT02926027) trial does not provide absolute evidence of an anti-atherosclerotic effect of icosapent ethyl. However, the evidence supporting the cardiovascular benefits of IPE is and
The BodyMind Approach® to support students in higher education: Relationships between student stress, medically unexplained physical symptoms and mental health

ABSTRACT Using the UK as an example, students attending higher education providers (HEPs) increasingly suffer mental ill-health due to new stress factors. Relationships between stress, frequently co-occurring chronic medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) and mental health are explored as the basis for proposing The BodyMind Approach® (TBMA) as an innovative intervention, addressing the body and mind experience of MUS. Excessive stress can lead to/exacerbate, mental health difficulties and/or MUS (such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue/pain for which tests and scans are normal). MUS mostly affects women, non-native speakers and young people, all high numbers at HEPs. Students resist mental health services, and half in need do not disclose or seek help. TBMA, as an evidence-based, research-informed intervention, tested in the health service, is more accessible when framed as learning to self-manage symptom distress. Policymakers might consider this intervention to help improve student mental health as part of an institution-wide approach.
Preventive Measures and Management of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection in Adult Intensive Care Units in Saudi Arabia

Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) has been studied worldwide as part of device-related healthcare infection. CAUTI is one of the most commonly reported infections in the literature, which occurs during clinical practice in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and non-ICU departments. Many studies have covered the CAUTI rate in Saudi Arabia mainly in the ICU covering single or multiple hospitals as surveillance for device-related infections in the ICU. Few studies have conducted an interventional approach that examined the implementation of infection control protocols and then compared them to international practice as a standard. This review aims to explore the literature to provide insight into the infection control practices that have been reported in Saudi Arabia during the last two decades on the preventive measures and clinical consequences of CAUTIs. Very few studies have recorded the pattern of resistant microorganisms that burdens clinical practice in ICUs concerning CAUTIs. Only one study compared the type of catheter materials and discussed the effect of these materials on reducing CAUTIs. It is essential to cover catheter utilization and to understand how a sufficient infection control protocol with educational programs for healthcare personnel can transform practice, for the better, regarding CAUTI rates in Saudi hospitals. There is a demand for more interventional and epidemiological studies on the causes and factors affecting the rate of CAUTI in the area. Studies may help reduce the CAUTI incidence rate, which consequently reduces the costs and morbidity associated with this type of infection and other healthcare-related infections.
Estrogen normalizes maternal HFD induced cardiac hypertrophy in offspring by regulating AT2R.

Our previous study has demonstrated maternal high-fat diet (HFD) caused a sex-dependent cardiac hypertrophy in adult male, but not female offspring. The present study tested the hypothesis that estrogen normalizes maternal HFD-induced cardiac hypertrophy by regulating angiotensin II receptor (ATR) expression in adult female offspring. Pregnant rats were divided into normal diet (ND) and HFD (60% kcal fat) groups. Ovariectomy (OVX) and 17β-estradiol (E2) replacement were performed on 8-week-old female offspring. Maternal HFD had no effect on left ventricular (LV) wall thickness, cardiac function and molecular markers of cardiac hypertrophy function in sham groups. However, maternal HFD caused cardiac hypertrophy of offspring in OVX groups, which was abrogated by E2 replacement. In addition, maternal HFD had no effect on ERα and ERβ in sham groups. In contrast, HFD significantly decreased ERα, but not ERβ in OVX groups. In sham groups, there was no difference in the cardiac ATR type 1 (AT1R) and ATR type 2 (AT2R) between ND and HFD offspring. HFD significantly increased AT2R, but not AT1R in OVX groups. Furthermore, maternal HFD resulted in decreased glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) binding to the glucocorticoid response elements at the AT2R promoter, which was due to decreased GRs in hearts from OVX offspring. These HFD-induced changes in OVX groups were abrogated by E2 replacement. These results support a key role of estrogen in the sex difference of maternal HFD-induced cardiac hypertrophy in offspring, and suggest that estrogen protects female offspring from cardiac hypertrophy in adulthood by regulating AT2R.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Social Isolation in Long-term Care Homes: Perspectives of Policies and Strategies from Six Countries

ABSTRACT Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care homes is critical for the health of residents who live in these institutions. As a result, broad policies restricting visits to these facilities were put in place internationally. While well meaning, these policies have exacerbated the ongoing social isolation crisis present in long-term care homes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. This perspective highlights the dominant COVID-19 LTC policies from six countries, and proposes five strategies to address or mitigate social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic that can also be applied in a post-pandemic world.
Higher circular RNA_0015278 correlates with absence of extrathyroidal invasion, lower pathological tumor stages, and prolonged disease‐free survival in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients

Circular RNA_0015278 (circ_0015278) inhibits the progression of several cancers and is greatly reduced in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissues compared with benign thyroid lesions by microarray profiling. This study aimed to further investigate the correlation of circ_0015278 with tumor characteristics and prognosis in PTC patients.
Susceptibility-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Microbleeds in Pediatric Concussion

Objective: The long-term consequences of pediatric concussion on brain structure are poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the presence and clinical significance of cerebral microbleeds several years after pediatric concussion. Methods: Children and adolescents 8-19 years of age with either a history of concussion (n = 35), or orthopedic injury (n = 20) participated. Mean time since injury for the sample was 30.4 months (SD = 19.6). Participants underwent susceptibility-weighted imaging, rated their depression and postconcussion symptoms, and completed cognitive testing. Parents of participants also completed symptom ratings for their child. Hypointensities in susceptibility-weighted images indicative of cerebral microbleeds were calculated as a measure of hypointensity burden. Results: Hypointensity burden did not differ significantly between participants with a history of concussion and those with a history of orthopedic injury. Depression ratings (self and parent report), postconcussion symptom ratings (self and parent report), and cognitive performance did not significantly correlate with hypointensity burden in the concussion group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that at approximately 2.5 years postinjury, children and adolescents with prior concussion do not have a greater amount of cerebral microbleeds compared to those with orthopedic injury. Future research should use longitudinal study designs and investigate children with persistent postconcussive symptoms to gain better insight into the long-term effects of concussion on cerebral microbleeds.
Enhanced Clostridioides difficile Infection Prevention With a Pharmacy-Controlled Policy That Adds a 3-Strain Lactobacillus Probiotic Concomitantly to Antibiotic Therapy

Abstract When 70% of antibiotic users took a 3-strain Lactobacillus probiotic preparation the hospital-wide rate of healthcare-associated Clostridioides difficile infection improved significantly. The incidence of C. difficile infection for those taking the probiotic along with multiple antibiotics or a single high-risk antibiotic was decreased by at least half.
L-theanine and Neumentix mixture improves sleep quality and modulates brain neurotransmitter levels in mice.

BACKGROUND L-theanine (L-THE), a natural amino acid found in green tea, has been shown to improve anxiety and sleep. Neumentix proprietary spearmint extract (PSE), which is commonly found in beverage flavoring a pharmaceutical, also has a wide range of health benefits, including cognitive performance improvement. METHODS Four experiments tested the effects of L-THE and PSE on sleep: a direct sleeping test, pentobarbital-induced sleeping test, sub-hypnotic pentobarbital-induced sleeping test, and sodium barbital-induced sleeping test. Presence of neurotransmitters in brain tissue was detected by liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (HP LC-MS) during these studies. RESULTS Pentobarbital-induced sleeping and sodium barbital-induced sleeping tests examined the potential effect of L-THE/PSE mixture on synergistic sleep, while neurotransmitter levels in the brain were determined by the high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (HPLC/MS) method. L-THE and L-THE/PSE mixture showed increased sleep duration and shortened sleep latency when co-administrated with pentobarbital or sodium barbital. The mixture also increased sleeping rate when co-administrated with the pentobarbital at sub-hypnotic dose. Additionally, the L-THE, PSE and L-THE/PSE mixture significantly increased the concentrations of acetylcholine (Ach), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and decreased the concentration of serotonin (5-HT) in the brain. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrated that L-THE/PSE mixture regulates sleep disorders via the GABA receptor and neurotransmitter systems.
Implementation of an Oral Care Protocol for Primary Diabetes Care: A Pilot Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE Although diabetes care guidelines recommend paying attention to oral health, the effect on daily practice has been limited, and patients with diabetes have yet to benefit. We investigated whether implementation of an oral care protocol for general practitioners (GPs [family physicians]) can improve patient-centered outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS Twenty-four GP offices were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group (12 offices each). In the experimental group, GPs and nurse practitioners implemented an oral care protocol. No extra attention was given to oral health in the control group. The primary outcome parameter was oral health–related quality of life (QoL) assessed with the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile at baseline and 1 year later. Other outcomes were self-reported oral health complaints and general health–related QoL (36-item Short Form Health Survey). RESULTS Of 764 patients with type 2 diabetes, 543 (71.1%) completed the 1-year follow-up. More patients reported improved oral health–related QoL in the experimental group (35.2%) compared to the control group (25.9%) (P = .046; Padj = .049). In a secondary post hoc analysis including GP offices with ≥60% patient follow-up (n = 18), improvement was 38.3% and 24.9%, respectively (P and Padj = .011). Improvement of self-reported oral health complaints did not differ between groups. The intervention had no effect on general health–related QoL, with the exception of the concept scale score for changes in health over time (Padj = .033). CONCLUSIONS Implementation of an oral care protocol in primary diabetes care improved oral health–related QoL in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Diurnal rhythms and obesity

Purpose of review This review will discuss the recent studies that implicate disturbed diurnal rhythms with the development of obesity. The second part of the review will discuss studies that use feeding time to restore diurnal rhythms and rescue obesity. Recent findings Studies in patients with obesity and diabetes reveal attenuated circadian and metabolic rhythms in adipose tissue. The use of animal models furthers our mechanistic insight on how environmental disturbances such as high-fat diet and shift work disturb circadian and metabolic rhythms. Studies in both animals and humans describe how disturbance of diurnal rhythms can lead to increased adiposity and obesity. The effects of time-restricted feeding in animals and the time of feeding in humans provide new evidence on how restoring diurnal rhythms can reverse adiposity and obesity. Summary Many more studies in humans were performed in recent years to confirm a number of findings from animal studies. It is becoming apparent that the time of feeding and maintaining a healthy daily schedule is important for metabolic health. Ongoing studies may soon improve current recommendations regarding the time of eating and time of day behavior.
Metagenomic analysis and antimicrobial activity of two fermented milk kefir samples

In recent years, the fermented milk product kefir has been intensively studied because of its health benefits. Here, we evaluated the microbial consortia of two kefir samples, from Escarcega, Campeche, and Campeche (México). We considered a functional comparison between both samples, including fungal and bacterial inhibition; second, we applied shotgun metagenomics to assess the structure and functional diversity of the communities of microorganisms. These two samples exhibited antagonisms against bacterial and fungal pathogens. Bioactive polyketides and nonribosomal peptides were identified by LC‐HRMS analysis. We also observed a high bacterial diversity and an abundance of Actinobacteria in both kefir samples, and a greater abundance of Saccharomyces species in kefir of Escarcega than in the Campeche kefir. When the prophage compositions were evaluated, the Campeche sample showed a higher diversity of prophage sequences. In Escarcega, we observed a prevalence of prophage families that infect Enterobacteria and Lactobacillus. The sequences associated with secondary metabolites, such as plipastatin, fengycin, and bacillaene, and also bacteriocins like helveticin and zoocin, were also found in different proportions, with greater diversity in the Escarcega sample. The analyses described in this work open the opportunity to understand the microbial diversity in kefir samples from two distant localities.