Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Matrix Size Reduction on Textural Information in Clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The selection of the matrix size is an important element of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) process, and has a significant impact on the acquired image quality. Signal to noise ratio, often used to assess MR image quality, has its limitations. Thus, for this purpose we propose a novel approach: the use of texture analysis as an index of the image quality that is sensitive for the change of matrix size. Image texture in biomedical images represents tissue and organ structures visualized via medical imaging modalities such as MRI. The correlation between texture parameters determined for the same tissues visualized in images acquired with different matrix sizes is analyzed to aid in the assessment of the selection of the optimal matrix size. T2-weighted coronal images of shoulders were acquired using five different matrix sizes while maintaining the same field of view; three regions of interest (bone, fat, and muscle) were considered. Lin’s correlation coefficients were calculated for all possible pairs of the 310-element texture feature vectors evaluated for each matrix. The obtained results are discussed considering the image noise and blurring effect visible in images acquired with smaller matrices. Taking these phenomena into account, recommendations for the selection of the matrix size used for the MRI imaging were proposed.
Salphage: Salvage Bacteriophage Therapy for Recalcitrant MRSA Prosthetic Joint Infection

Prosthetic joint infections are a devastating complication of joint replacement surgery. Consequently, novel therapeutics are needed to thwart the significant morbidity and enormous financial ramifications that are associated with conventional treatments. One such promising adjuvant therapeutic is bacteriophage therapy given its antibiofilm activity and its ability to self-replicate. Herein we discuss the case of a 70-year-old female who had a recalcitrant MRSA prosthetic knee and femoral lateral plate infection who was successfully treated with adjuvant bacteriophage therapy. Moreover, this case discusses the importance of propagating bacteriophage therapeutics on bacteria that are devoid of toxins and the need to ensure bacteriophage activity to all bacterial morphologies. Overall, this case reinforces the potential benefit of using personalized bacteriophage therapy for recalcitrant prosthetic joint infections, but more translational research is needed to thereby devise effective, reproducible clinical trials.
Sex Differences in Substance Use, Prevalence, Pharmacological Therapy, and Mental Health in Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Sex differences are poorly studied within the field of mental health, even though there is evidence of disparities (with respect to brain anatomy, activation patterns, and neurochemistry, etc.) that can significantly influence the etiology and course of mental disorders. The objective of this work was to review sex differences in adolescents (aged 13–18 years) diagnosed with ADHD (according to the DSM-IV, DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5 criteria) in terms of substance use disorder (SUD), prevalence, pharmacological therapy and mental health. We searched three academic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) and performed a narrative review of a total of 21 articles. The main conclusions of this research were (1) girls with ADHD are more at risk of substance use than boys, although there was no consensus on the prevalence of dual disorders; (2) girls are less frequently treated because of underdiagnosis and because they are more often inattentive and thereby show less disruptive behavior; (3) together with increased impairment in cognitive and executive functioning in girls, the aforementioned could be related to greater substance use and poorer functioning, especially in terms of more self-injurious behavior; and (4) early diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, especially in adolescent girls, is essential to prevent early substance use, the development of SUD, and suicidal behavior.
A Distributed Optimization Approach for Multi-Agent Systems over Delaying Networks

—This paper investigates a novel method to solve distributed optimization problems in the presence of communication delays between the networked agents that cooperate together to find an optimal solution of a global cost function composed of local ones. In the problem of distributed optimization in a network of multi-agent because of existing phenomena such as communication delay, deriving approaches having appropriate performance so that the states of all agents converge to the same value always has been a substantial challenge. Delay-dependent conditions in the form of linear matrix inequities are derived to analyze the convergence of the introduced scheme to the optimal solution. It is demonstrated that the maximum allowable time delay in the network and convergence rate of the optimization procedure are increased by the suggested strategy. Finally, comparative simulation results are considered to illustrate the superior performance of the introduced scheme compared to a rival one in the literature.
Biomass accumulation, plant biometrics and fruit production of watermelon according to changes in source/drain relations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accumulation of biomass, plant biometrics and production of watermelon fruit submitted to changes in source and drain relations. The experiment was conducted in the experimental area of the CCTA/UFCG, PB, Brazil, during the period from September to December, 2013. Seed of the cultivar “Crimson Sweet” were used and the treatments were allocated in 2x4 split plots, with four replications. Plots consisted of plants grown with different number of fruits (1 and 2) and the subplots with dominant stem pruning in different growing seasons (25, 30, 35 and 40 days after transplanting - DAT). Growth characteristics were evaluated. The modifications induced in watermelons by dominant stem pruning and fruit thinning provided changes in photoassimilate partitions and plant production. The modifications induced in watermelons by dominant stem pruning and fruit thinning provided changes in biomass accumulation , biometrics and the watermelon production of fruits. The thinning of plant’s drain (fruit) resulted in more dry mass accumulation of leaves when comparing to fruit, providing a higher total dry mass. Plants grown with two fruits presented the highest harvest index and the highest production, with reduced fruit size. The stem pruning of seedlings at 40 days after transplanting promoted a higher growth and production of watermelon fruits.
CEMDA

People use smartphones to do many tasks: view email attachments, read social media posts, create and edit photographs, and forward files. The user's perspective on actions performed when creating, viewing, and modifying files (her mental model) reflects the visible clicks and swipes performed. At the file system and OS, however, such actions are less clear. A single click can lead to a flurry of hundreds of file system reads and writes, system calls, and communication steps. While individual apps can use analytics to record in-app user actions, common patterns such as download-read-forward cross app boundaries and become difficult to discover. That lack leads to inefficiencies in on-device file management and backup. To better enable apps and devices to discover the user's mental model, we present CEMDA, an Android app that automatically detects the user's mental model by applying the theories of file lifecycle events and complex events. CEMDA detects over 10 high level user stories in 4 categories of user actions (create, access, share, modify) while operating completely in user space and without OS modification. CEMDA successfully detects user actions in cross-app actions across popular messaging and productivity apps (e.g., WhatsApp, Adobe Reader) with 75%-100% success while consuming minimal battery and memory.
Integrated scheduling of machines and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in flexible job shop environment using genetic algorithms

In this research integrated scheduling of machines and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in a flexible job shop environment is addressed. The scheduling literature generally ignores the transportation of jobs between the machines and when considered typically assumes an unlimited number of AGVs. In order to comply with Industry 4.0 requirements, today’s manufacturing systems make use of AGVs to transport jobs between the machines. The addressed problem involves simultaneous assignment of operations to one of the alternative machines, determining the sequence of operations on each machine and assignment of transportation operations between machines to an available AGV. We present a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet-based solution for the problem. Evolver®, a proprietary GA is used for the optimization. The GA routine works as an add-in to the spreadsheet environment. The flexible job shop model is developed in Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet. The assignment of AGV is independent of the GA routine and is done by the spreadsheet model while the GA finds the assignment of operations to the machines and then finds the best sequence of operations on each machine. Computational analysis demonstrates that the proposed method can effectively and efficiently solve a wide range of problems with reasonable accuracy. Benchmark problems from the literature are used to highlight the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed implementation. In most of the cases the proposed implementation can find the best-known solution found by previous studies.
Internationalisation and technological innovation: empirical evidence on their relation

Internationalisation and innovation of the firms have been considered two of the most important factors determining business success over the last decade (Buckler and Zien, 1996; Wind and Mahajan, 1997; Zahra and George, 2002; Vila and Kuster, 2007). The purpose of this dissertation is to understand better the relation which exists between these two factors. To do so, we undertake empirical investigation which consists of three studies (an initial qualitative and two consequent quantitative ones). We first part from a general idea of the relation extracted from a combination between earlier evidence and academic literature, trying to explore it more in-depth through the application of qualitative methodology. Next, parting from the results, a large sample of manufacturing firm is analysed (data provided by the Spanish Survey of Business Strategy), employing different variables related to both the international and innovative activities of the firm. Last, we address the direction of this relation also to a special type of firms, precisely we separate our sample in family and non-family firms, having the objective to observe how much different is their behaviour in terms of the two processes of the firm discussed in this dissertation. Results outlined the existence of a reciprocal relation between internationalisation and technological advances, as it follows: 1) firms acquired different types of international knowledge and therefore behaved differently in terms of innovation advances once they choose a certain entry mode in the foreign market; 2) product and process innovations are the result of and lead to exports; 4) innovation “Granger causes” internationalisation and internationalisation “Granger causes” innovation; 3) family firms do not have a conservative attitude and are not risk adverse, taking more advantage of their presence abroad in order to reach a higher level of technological advances than non-family ones. Moreover, the dissertation offers various contributions to the literature (theoretical, empirical and methodological) as well to the managers and public policies.
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibodies and Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 IgG Neutralizing Activity among Primary Health Care Workers 6 Months after Vaccination Rollout in France

We aimed to investigate the immunoglobulin G response and neutralizing activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) among primary health care workers (PHCW) in France and assess the association between the neutralizing activity and several factors, including the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination scheme. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between 10 May 2021 and 31 August 2021. Participants underwent capillary blood sampling and completed a questionnaire. Sera were tested for the presence of antibodies against the nucleocapsid (N) protein and the S-1 portion of the spike (S) protein and neutralizing antibodies. In total, 1612 PHCW were included. The overall seroprevalences were: 23.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 21.6–25.7%) for antibodies against the N protein, 94.7% (93.6–95.7%) for antibodies against the S protein, and 81.3% (79.4–83.2%) for neutralizing antibodies. Multivariate regression analyses showed that detection of neutralizing antibodies was significantly more likely in PHCW with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection than in those with no such history among the unvaccinated (odds ratio (OR) 16.57, 95% CI 5.96–59.36) and those vaccinated with one vaccine dose (OR 41.66, 95% CI 16.05–120.78). Among PHCW vaccinated with two vaccine doses, the detection of neutralizing antibodies was not significantly associated with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 1.31, 95% CI 0.86–2.07), but was more likely in those that received their second vaccine dose within the three months before study entry than in those vaccinated more than three months earlier (OR 5.28, 95% CI 3.51–8.23). This study highlights that previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and the time since vaccination should be considered when planning booster doses and the design of COVID-19 vaccine strategies.
Stress in Balancing Work and Family among Working Parents in Hong Kong

Work-life imbalance might lead to detrimental outcomes, including family dissatisfaction, poor performance in the workplace, and poor mental and physical health. This population-based study aims to explore the situation and trends in regard to work-life balance among working men and women in 2017, with a special focus on the stress experienced in work and personal lives. Descriptive analysis and multiphase regression are used to explore the associations of work-life imbalance with individual and family factors. Males’ satisfaction with the amount of time spent at work was most significantly related to the level of work-life stress. Both males’ and females’ satisfaction with work life, family life, and the amount of time spent at work and with family were all negatively related to the level of work-life stress. Participants who were not in marital or cohabiting status reported significantly higher levels of work-life stress. Participants who had childcare support reported higher levels of work-life stress than those who looked after their children by themselves or their partners. A similar pattern was found among participants involved in elderly care. This study provides insight into family policy that could promote balance in professional and personal life and relationships.
Effect of sp3–sp2 Transformation on the Wear Rate of the DLC Coating

Based on the methods of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, it was found that the implementation of spontaneous processes with positive entropy production during friction leads to an increase in the wear intensity. Non-spontaneous processes with negative entropy production lead to a decrease in wear intensity. The tribological characteristics of diamond-like carbon (DLC) with different silicon content were studied. The wear intensity practically does not correlate with the friction coefficient. It is shown that DLC with the highest content of diamond-like inclusions (sp3) in the coating has the highest wear rate. In the same DLC, the most intense sp3–sp2 transformation during friction was observed. The sp3–sp2 transformation is a spontaneous process.
Screening for Sarcopenia among Elderly Arab Females: Influence of Body Composition, Lifestyle, Irisin, and Vitamin D

Sarcopenia is the loss of skeletal muscle mass, and is most common in older people. The present multi-center cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and possible risk factors among Arab elderly females. A total of 131 ambulatory Saudi elderly females aged 60–85 years (mean age 65.9 ± 5.5 years) were recruited to participate. A general questionnaire with questions related to sociodemographic factors, medical history, diet, physical activity, and lifestyle was administered. Anthropometrics and muscle assessments were done. Fasting blood glucose and lipids were measured routinely. Circulating 25(OH)D and irisin levels were measured using commercially available assays. Sarcopenia was assessed using the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS). Over-all prevalence of sarcopenia was 19.8% (26 out of 131 participants). Novel measures such as abdominal volume index (AVI), dietary fiber, and irisin were found to be significantly lower in the sarcopenia group than those without sarcopenia, independent of age. No associations were found with physical activity or dietary and lifestyle habits. In conclusion, sarcopenia is relatively common among Arab elderly females. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether lifestyle modifications can decrease the incidence of sarcopenia in this population. Irisin maybe a promising biomarker for sarcopenia but needs to be confirmed using larger sample sizes.
Is the Pendulum of Antimicrobial Drug Resistance Swinging Back after COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic may have had an effect on antimicrobial resistance. We compared the prevalence of ESKAPE multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections in COVID-19 affected/unaffected patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) or infectious disease units at the “Mater Domini” University Hospital of Catanzaro between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2021. Moreover, an analysis of MDR rates in ICU comparing the pre-pandemic period with the pandemic period was performed, and the possible consequence on in-hospital mortality was explored. One hundred and eighty-four ESKAPE isolates were analyzed from 362 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 199 negative patients. In total, 116 out of 171 Gram-negative isolates were classified as MDR, and a higher frequency was observed in COVID-19 compared with non-COVID-19 patients (74.2% vs. 60.3%; p = 0.052). A higher rate of MDR ESKAPE bacteria was observed in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU compared with COVID-19 unaffected patients admitted to the same ward in 2019 (88% vs. 80.4%; p = 0.186). Acinetobacter baumannii was the main pathogen in COVID-19 patients (58.7%), where it was the most frequent cause of bloodstream infection with the highest mortality rate (68.7%). Increase in MDR appeared to be associated with COVID-19 but only in the ICU setting. Acinetobacter baumannii was associated with the risk of death, indicating the importance of implementing infection control measures urgently.
Space and Time Domain Finite Volume Method for Numerical Simulation of Negative Corona Discharge in Air

In this paper, a space and time domain finite volume method is proposed to study the characteristics of space charges on a bar-to-plate geometry. Three ionic species, namely, positive ions, negative ions, and electrons, are considered. A finite element method is used to solve Poisson’s equation, and a finite volume method is used to solve charge transport equation. Different time steps based on space domain and time domain are applied to improve computational efficiency when solving the charge transport equation. Four points are marked to indicate the characteristics of a Trichel pulse. Density distributions of three ionic species and electrical field strength along the axis are presented. Trichel pulses on a bar-to-plate geometry are simulated and compared with the experimental results. Good agreements are obtained, thereby confirming the validity of the proposed method.
CYTOKINE EXPRESSION IN RAT TENDINOPATHY MODEL AND TORN HUMAN SUPRASPINATUS TENDON

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytokine molecules present in a rat tendinopathy model and in the torn edge of human rotator cuff tendon in an attempt to understand their role in tendon degeneration. Methods: A rat tendon overuse model was used with custom microarrays consisting of 5760 rat oligonucleotide features in duplicate. Seventeen torn supraspinatus tendon and matched intact subscapularis tendon samples were collected from patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.Control samples of subscapularis tendon were collected from ten patients undergoing arthroscopic stabilisation surgery.Specimens were analysed for the presence of interleukins 18, 15, 12, 11, 6, 2, macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF), and tumour necrosis factor ƒN by semiquantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Tendinopathy was assessed on a basic histological scale. Results: Rat Microarray analysis: Upregulation of IL-6, IL-11 and IL18 receptor was noted in the degenerated rat supraspinatus tendon. Downregulation of IL-2 was noted. No other cytokine signal was expressed. Histological analysis: All torn human supraspinatus tendons changes consistent with marked tendinopathy. Matched subscapularis tendon showed appearances of moderate-advanced degenerative change. Cytokine mRNA expression: TNF-£\ mRNA expression was found to be significantly elevated (p Immunohistochemical analysis: Presence of IL-18, IL-15, Il-6, MIF and TNF-£\ was confirmed in all samples of torn supraspinatus tendon. Significantly increased levels of IL-18, IL-15, IL-6 and MIF were found in torn supraspinatus. (p Conclusions: Cytokines have been shown to promote the intensive production of reactive O2 metabolites 1 and are potent agonists of protein kinases 2 . Our finding of significantly increased cytokine levels may suggest that these molecules when expressed during the degenerate and healing phases of tendon injury result in the subsequent production of reactive O2 species and protein kinases 3 causing tendon damage or failure of the normal reparative process. Our finding of marked tendinopathy in matched subscapularis tendon may also provide a useful human tendinopathy model.