Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“I decide myself”- A qualitative exploration of end of life decision making processes of patients and caregivers through Advance Care Planning

Background The Singapore national Advance Care Planning (ACP) programme was launched in 2011 with the purpose of ensuring that healthcare professionals are fully aware of patients’ treatment preferences. There is little research assessing the performance of such programmes in ethnically diverse Asian countries; hence, the purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine patients and caregivers’ experiences with the ACP programme. Method We conducted interviews with 28 participants, thirteen of whom identified as proxy decision makers (PDMs) and the remainder as patients. Interviews focused on respondents’ experiences of chronic illness and of participating in the ACP programme. Textual data was analysed through a framework analysis approach. Results Participants’ narratives focused on four major themes with 12 subthemes: a) Engagement with Death, factors influencing respondents’ acceptance of ACP; b) Formation of Preferences, the set of concerns influencing respondents’ choice of care; c) Choice of PDM, considerations shaping respondents’ choice of nominated health spokesperson; and d) Legacy Solidification, how ACP is used to ensure the welfare of the family after the patient passes. These findings led to our development of the directive decision-making process framework, which delineates personal and sociocultural factors influencing participants’ decision-making processes. Respondents’ continual participation in the intervention were driven by their personal belief system that acted as a lens through which they interpreted religious doctrine and socio-cultural norms according to their particular needs. Conclusion The directive decision-making process framework indicated that ACP could be appropriate for the Asian context because participants displayed an awareness of the need for ACP and were able to develop a concrete treatment plan. Patients in this study made decisions based on their perceived long-term legacy for their family, who they hoped to provide with a solid financial and psychological foundation after their death.
Clinical intra-cardiac 4D flow CMR: acquisition, analysis, and clinical applications

Abstract Identification of flow patterns within the heart has long been recognized as a potential contribution to the understanding of physiological and pathophysiological processes of cardiovascular diseases. Although the pulsatile flow itself is multi-dimensional and multi-directional, current available non-invasive imaging modalities in clinical practice provide calculation of flow in only 1-direction and lack 3-dimensional volumetric velocity information. Four-dimensional flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow CMR) has emerged as a novel tool that enables comprehensive and critical assessment of flow through encoding velocity in all 3 directions in a volume of interest resolved over time. Following technical developments, 4D flow CMR is not only capable of visualization and quantification of conventional flow parameters such as mean/peak velocity and stroke volume but also provides new hemodynamic parameters such as kinetic energy. As a result, 4D flow CMR is being extensively exploited in clinical research aiming to improve understanding of the impact of cardiovascular disease on flow and vice versa. Of note, the analysis of 4D flow data is still complex and accurate analysis tools that deliver comparable quantification of 4D flow values are a necessity for a more widespread adoption in clinic. In this article, the acquisition and analysis processes are summarized and clinical applications of 4D flow CMR on the heart including conventional and novel hemodynamic parameters are discussed. Finally, clinical potential of other emerging intra-cardiac 4D flow imaging modalities is explored and a near-future perspective on 4D flow CMR is provided.
[Effects of the composite of buckwheat-oat-pea on blood glucose in diabetic rats].

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of buckwheat-oat-pea (BOP) composite flour [buckwheat ∶ oats ∶ peas=6 ∶ 1 ∶ 1 (quality ratio)] on blood glucose in diabetic rats. METHODS In this study, 64 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 8 groups by fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body weight: normal control group, model control group, metformin group, buckwheat group, oats group, BOP low-dose group (BOP-L), medium-dose group (BOP-M), and high-dose group (BOP-H). The rats in the normal control group were fed with normal diet, the rats in the model control group and metformin group were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD), and the rats in the buckwheat group, oats group, and BOP-L, BOP-M, BOP-H groups were fed with HFD containing 10% buckwheat flour, 10% oat flour, 3.3% BOP, 10% BOP, 30% BOP, respectively. The HFD in all the groups had the same percentage of energy from fat (45%). After 30 days, the rats fed with HFD received intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (30 mg/kg, once a week for two weeks) to establish diabetes mellitus. After the model was successful established, the rats were fed for another 28 days. During the study, the body weight, food intake/body weight (FI/BW) and water intake/body weight (WI/BW), food utilization rate, 24 h urine volume, FBG, glucose area under curve (GAUC) of oral glucose tolerance test were measured regularly. At the end of the study, the fasting serum glucose and insulin were measured, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. RESULTS With the inducing of HFD and streptozotocin, compared with the normal control group, the rats in the model control group had higher FI/BW, WI/BW, 24 h urine volume, FBG, GAUC, HOMA-IR (P < 0.05), and lower body weight, food utilization rate (P < 0.05). Compared with the model control group, the rats in the three BOP groups all had higher body weight, food utilization rate (P < 0.05), and lower WI/BW, HOMA-IR (P < 0.05); the rats in the BOP-L and BOP-M groups had lower FI/BW, 24 h urine volume, FBG (P < 0.05), and the rats in the BOP-M group also had lower GAUC (P < 0.05). After the establishment of diabetes, there was no significant difference in blood glucose and the other indicators between the rats in the three BOP groups and the buckwheat group or the oats group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The BOP had the effects of reducing blood glucose, insulin resistance and diabetic symptoms on diabetic rats, and had the value for further development and utilization.
Porous Bed Material-An Approach to Reduce Both Unburnt Gas Emission and NOx Emission from a Bubbling Fluidized Bed Waste Incinerator.

In order to reduce emission of unburnt gas (CO, hydrocarbon) from fluidized bed incinerators, porous alumina was used as a bed material instead of conventional bed material (sand). Polyethylene pellets were burnt in a bench-scale bubbling fluidized bed incinerator. Porous bed material was found to be effective not only for the reduction of unburnt gas emission but also thermal-NOx emission. The reduction of thermal-NOx was explained by the suppression of flame combustion in the freeboard due to increased combustion in the dense bed and enhanced horizontal mixing of carbonaceous material. The horizontal concentration profile in the freeboard became uniform when the porous particle was employed. The above results were explained by the capacitance effect (hydrocarbon capture by pore) of the porous material.
Experimental, and theoretical investigations on the structure and vibrational spectral analysis of oxalate complex of nicotinamide and computational scrutiny against prostate cancer

Abstract This investigation involved oxalate salt of B vitamin experimental and theoretical spectra analysis. Docking studies and molecular dynamic simulation analysis were also carried out against the target protein involved in prostate cancer. At room temperature, the infra-red and Raman spectra results were chronicled in at range 4000–400 cm–1. In the crystalline environment along with the shifting of some spectral bands, the effect of hydrogen bonding force is detected. HF and DFT/B3LYP were employed to estimate the optimized geometry with the basis set of 6-311++G (d,p). Hypothetical wavenumbers presented a respectable agreement with the investigational values. The various genuine modes are observed and some of them are perceived in the experimentally observed spectra. Hyperconjugative interaction and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) values were calculated with the help of the natural bond orbital (NBO) study. HOMO-LUMO plot technique was employed to examine the compound's hardness of chemical, chemical potential, and electro-negativity. The molecules' bioactivity and therapeutic efficacy were estimated through the lower band gap value of the frontier orbitals. In silico analysis was performed, to analyse the therapeutic efficacy of oxalate complex of Nicotinamide against Prostate cancer through Molecular docking and dynamics study. ADME/T analysis revealed the pharmaceutical efficacy of the oxalate complex of Nicotinamide by satisfying Lipinski’s Rule of Five, BBB, HOA, etc. Highlights of the work Comparative studies of theoretical and experimental vibrational spectra of the B vitamin Theoretical wavenumber numbers were showed good agreement with the experimental values Theoretical bond lengths and bond angles were slightly deviated from the experimental values Theoretical calculations shows that B vitamin exists in a Cocrystal Number of modes calculated from the factor group method is match with the theoretical method Graphical Abstract Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Respiratory virus surveillance in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: An epidemiological analysis of the effectiveness of pandemic-related public health measures in reducing seasonal respiratory viruses test positivity

Background Various public health measures have been implemented globally to counter the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate respiratory virus surveillance data to determine the effectiveness of such interventions in reducing transmission of seasonal respiratory viruses. Method We retrospectively analysed data from the Respiratory Virus Detection Surveillance System in Canada, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, by interrupted time series regression. Results The national level of infection with seasonal respiratory viruses, which generally does not necessitate quarantine or contact screening, was greatly reduced after Canada imposed physical distancing and other quarantine measures. The 2019–2020 influenza season ended earlier than it did in the previous year. The influenza virus was replaced by rhinovirus/enterovirus or parainfluenza virus in the previous year, with the overall test positivity remaining at approximately 35%. However, during the 2019–2020 post-influenza period, the overall test positivity of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 was still low (7.2%). Moreover, the 2020–2021 influenza season had not occurred by the end of February 2021. Conclusion Respiratory virus surveillance data may provide real-world evidence of the effectiveness of implemented public health interventions during the current and future pandemics.
Transcriptome genetic differences between responders and non-responders before bronchial thermoplasty

Abstract Background Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is an endoscopic therapy used for the treatment of refractory asthma. Some predictive factors, for example the number of activations and severity of disease at baseline, have been used to determine the effectiveness of BT in treating patients with asthma. The aim of the present study was to comprehensively analyze RNA samples from the airway bronchial tissues of patients with severe asthma treated by BT, and to characterize each patient as a BT responder or non-responder. Methods Eight patients with severe asthma scheduled to undergo BT and bronchus biopsies were recruited before the procedures were conducted. Extracted RNA samples from bronchial tissues were sequenced and differential gene expression analysis was carried out. Results/discussion: Subjects with Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score changes ≥0.5 for a period of 12 months were considered BT responders. Non-responders had score changes <0.5 for 12 months. Histopathology findings were similar to those reported previously, and no significant differences in the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and protein gene product 9.5 were observed between responders and non-responders. Transcriptome analysis at baseline identified 67 genes that were differentially expressed between responders and non-responders, including SLPI, MMP3, and MUC19, which were upregulated in responders. Although the differentially expressed gene products may have conflicting effects, genes in the airway epithelium and extracellular matrix of patients with severe asthma may determine the BT response. Our results identified possible transcriptomic changes that could be used to identify BT responders.
Quantifying frequency content in cross-sectional retinal scans of diabetics vs. controls

Purpose To examine subtle differences in the structure of diabetic vs. control retinas. Methods Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images were compared for the retinas of 33 diabetic subjects who did not have clinical evidence of diabetic macular edema and age-matched controls, with central macular thicknesses of 275 and 276 microns, respectively. Cross-sectional retinal images through the fovea, called B-scans, were analyzed for spatial frequency content. The B-scans were processed to remove and smooth the portions of the retinal image not within regions of interest in the retina. The remaining retinal images were then quantified using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) approach that provided amplitude as a function of spatial frequency. Results The FFT analysis showed that diabetic retinas had spatial frequency content with significantly higher power compared to control retinas particularly for a deeper fundus layer at mid-range spatial frequencies, ranging from p = 0.0030 to 0.0497 at 16.8 to 18.2 microns/cycle. There was lower power at higher spatial frequencies, ranging from p = 0.0296 and 0.0482 at 27.4 and 29.0 microns/cycle. The range of mid-range frequencies corresponds to the sizes of small blood vessel abnormalities and hard exudates. Retinal thickness did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions Diabetic retinas, although not thicker than controls, had subtle but quantifiable pattern changes in SD-OCT images particularly in deeper fundus layers. The size range and distribution of this pattern in diabetic eyes were consistent with small blood vessel abnormalities and leakage of lipid and fluid. Feature-based biomarkers may augment retinal thickness criteria for management of diabetic eye complications, and may detect early changes.
Isolation and Identification of Flavonoids from Buds of Panax notoginseng

Two flavonoids were isolated from buds of Panax notoginseng(Burk.) F.H. Chen by silica gel and preparative thin layer chromatography,and identified as kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside(1) and kaempferol-3-O-(2′′,3′′-di-E-p-coumaroyl)-α-L-rhamnoside(2) by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data.Both compounds were first reported from buds of Panax notoginseng.
Bioactive Constituents and Potency of Aqueous-Methanolic Extract of Asclepias syriaca on Plasmodium falciparum Infected Albino Rats

High mortality rate couple with the economic effect of deadly Plasmodium falciparum caused by malaria necessitated this study. Evaluation of bioactive constituents and antimalarial properties of the aqueous-methanolic extract of Asclepias syriaca (A. syriaca) was investigated. Bioactive constituents were determined by GC-MS analytical detector. Albino rats were five in each group of six groups (A-E) in which group A was non-infected with P. falciparum (negative control). Groups B, C, D, E were infected with 1×107/ml P. falciparum without treated, treated with standard drugs of 20mg of chloroquine/kg, 100, 200 and 400mg of extracted A. syriaca/kg, respectively. Hematological and biochemical parameters of Plasmodium falciparum infected albino rats were determined. Aqueous-methanolic extract of A. syriaca leaf made up of high content of pyrimidine, quinolone and silane derivatives with synergetic properties with potency for therapeutic of malarial and viral infectious diseases. MCV, PLA, RBC, total protein and albumin were significantly elevated upon infected P. falciparum and gradually increases with dosage and time when treated with chloroquine and A.syriaca leaf extract but vice visa for the case WBC and creatinine. Parasitemia level significantly declined when administered with chloroquine and A, syriaca leaf extract for 36 hours. Hence serves as an effective medication in place of chloroquine due to its availability, avoidable and as a source of relevant medications to Plasmodium spp and viral infectious diseases.
The Self-Adhesive Carbon Powder Based on Coconut Coir Fiber as Supercapacitor Application

Activated carbon powder is a popular material used as an electrode material for large scale applications, especially supercapacitors because of its excellent physical and electrochemical properties. Self-adhesive carbon powder based on coconut coir was prepared via single-step pyrolysis and chemical activation with NaOH solution. A single-step pyrolysis was performed, including carbonization and physical activation in the N2/CO2 atmosphere. The physical temperature of 750 °C, 800 °C, 850 °C and 900 °C is the major focus to evaluate the behavior of self-adhesive activated carbon. The density and the microcrystalline characteristics of the electrodes are inﬂuenced by the physical activation temperature. The density feature was evaluated based on the approach of self-adhesive carbon reduction dimensions such as mass, diameter, and thickness. Microcrystalline behavior was performed by using X-ray diffraction method, and it has shown the good amorphous properties of the activated carbon. The self-adhesive activated carbon electrodes were characterized and evaluated in symmetrical supercapacitor cells. The electrochemical characterization of the carbon electrodes using cyclic voltammetry method found that the high specific capacitance of 96 F.g-1 in 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte at a low scan rate of 1 mV.s-1 with energy specific and power specific of 13.33 Wh.kg-1 and 48.03 W.kg-1, respectively.
Relevant Biophysical Parameters Discrimination along Corticospinal Tract in Patients with Stroke Using Convolutional Neural Networks

Stroke remains the leading source of long-term disability. As the only direct descending motor pathway, the corticospinal tract (CST) is the primary pathway to innervate spinal motor neurons and one of the most well studied tracts in human neuroanatomy. Its clinical significance can be demonstrated in many distinguished traumatic situations and diseases such as stroke. Along‐tract statistics analysis enables the extraction of quantitative diffusion metrics along specific white matter fiber tracts. Besides quantitative metrics derived from classical diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), such as fractional anisotropy and diffusivities. In this study, we extracted DTI derived quantitative microstructural diffusion metrics along the CST tract in patients with moderate to severe subacute stroke. Respectively DTI metric of individual patient's fiber tract was then plotted. This approach may be useful for future studies that may compare in two different time (acute and chronic). The contribution of this work presents a totally computerized method of DTI image recognition based on conventional neural network (CNN) in order to supply quantitative appraisal of clinical characteristics. The obtained results have achieved an important classification (Accuracy=94.12%) when applying the CNN. The proposed methodology enables us to assess the classification of the used DTI images database within a reduced processing time. Experimental results prove the success of the proposed rating system for a suitable analysis of microstructural diffusion when compared to previous work.
European Stroke Organisation (ESO) guidelines on blood pressure management in acute ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage

The optimal blood pressure (BP) management in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and acute intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) remains controversial. These European Stroke Organisation (ESO) guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations to assist physicians in their clinical decisions regarding BP management in acute stroke. The guidelines were developed according to the ESO standard operating procedure and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. The working group identified relevant clinical questions, performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the literature, assessed the quality of the available evidence, and made specific recommendations. Expert consensus statements were provided where insufficient evidence was available to provide recommendations based on the GRADE approach. Despite several large randomised-controlled clinical trials, quality of evidence is generally low due to inconsistent results of the effect of blood pressure lowering in AIS. We recommend early and modest blood pressure control (avoiding blood pressure levels >180/105 mm Hg) in AIS patients undergoing reperfusion therapies. There is more high-quality randomised evidence for BP lowering in acute ICH, where intensive blood pressure lowering is recommended rapidly after hospital presentation with the intent to improve recovery by reducing haematoma expansion. These guidelines provide further recommendations on blood pressure thresholds and for specific patient subgroups. There is ongoing uncertainty regarding the most appropriate blood pressure management in AIS and ICH. Future randomised-controlled clinical trials are needed to inform decision making on thresholds, timing and strategy of blood pressure lowering in different acute stroke patient subgroups.
Personality states mediate the effect of a mindfulness intervention on employees’ work outcomes: A randomized controlled trial

In the last decade, organizational researchers have increasingly recognized the value of studying personality states at work. This line of research has to date mainly focused on outcomes of and situational antecedents of personality state change at work. In this study, we draw on social cognitive theory of self-regulation and the social investment principle to test if a structured intervention can bring about changes in employees’ personality states at work. Specifically, we investigate the effect of a four-week low-dose mindfulness intervention delivered via a mobile application on employees’ personality state change in a multi-group experiment with a passive and an active control group. Employees (N = 162), either practicing mindfulness, doing brain training exercises, or not receiving any treatment were tracked in a diary study across a period of four weeks. Results of growth curve analyses showed that compared to the control groups, the mindfulness intervention led to significantly more increases in employees’ daily mindfulness, emotional stability and agreeableness across the four-week period. Furthermore, daily agreeableness and emotional stability mediated the effect of the intervention on daily job satisfaction and performance. No intervention effects were found for daily openness, conscientiousness, and extraversion. Implications are discussed for research and practice.