Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Privacy‐preserving quality control of neuroimaging datasets in federated environments

Privacy concerns for rare disease data, institutional or IRB policies, access to local computational or storage resources or download capabilities are among the reasons that may preclude analyses that pool data to a single site. A growing number of multisite projects and consortia were formed to function in the federated environment to conduct productive research under constraints of this kind. In this scenario, a quality control tool that visualizes decentralized data in its entirety via global aggregation of local computations is especially important, as it would allow the screening of samples that cannot be jointly evaluated otherwise. To solve this issue, we present two algorithms: decentralized data stochastic neighbor embedding, dSNE, and its differentially private counterpart, DP‐dSNE. We leverage publicly available datasets to simultaneously map data samples located at different sites according to their similarities. Even though the data never leaves the individual sites, dSNE does not provide any formal privacy guarantees. To overcome that, we rely on differential privacy: a formal mathematical guarantee that protects individuals from being identified as contributors to a dataset. We implement DP‐dSNE with AdaCliP, a method recently proposed to add less noise to the gradients per iteration. We introduce metrics for measuring the embedding quality and validate our algorithms on these metrics against their centralized counterpart on two toy datasets. Our validation on six multisite neuroimaging datasets shows promising results for the quality control tasks of visualization and outlier detection, highlighting the potential of our private, decentralized visualization approach.
Modeling and simulation of a horizontal pulsed sieve-plate extraction column using axial dispersion model

ABSTRACT In this research, the impact of pulsation intensity and phase flow rates on the volumetric overall mass transfer coefficients based on the continuous phase (Koca) and the axial dispersion coefficients of phases in a horizontal pulsed sieve-plate column has been investigated using axial dispersion model. The toluene-acetone-water and butyl acetate-acetone-water systems with acetone transfer in both directions were used. In this study, the flow regime transition from pseudo-dispersion regime to emulsion regime has been characterized. Two new correlations have been proposed for prediction of Koca and Ec.
Green Marketing as a strategy for sustainable purchasing behavior in Mexico

Nowadays, environmental deterioration is considered as a public problem. The need to stop the current trends that contribute to its destruction, like intense consumption and the effect of business activities, has led to the application of Green Marketing strategies. The aim of this article is to analyze, in a sample of 190 Marketing students, the influence these strategies have on young Mexican consumers when trying to change their consumption behavior and encourage them to purchase green products. Based on the Chi Square Test used to examine the questionnaire we applied; the results indicate that there was a significant difference between gender when considering an ecological production before buying a product. A lack of knowledge of Green Marketing strategies was also revealed, obtaining differences between salary, work and semester. According to our analysis, companies in Mexico should improve three key factors for their strategies to have a greater impact. More attention should be given to young male consumers, more innovative ways of promotion and an ecological production process must be developed.
Title : The relationship of body condition , superoxide dismutase and superoxide with sperm 1 performance 2 3

24 Sperm competition theory predicts a negative correlation between somatic investment in traits that 25 aid in preand postcopulatory sexual selection. Sperm performance is critical for postcopulatory 26 success but are susceptible to damage by free radicals such as superoxide radicals generated during 27 mitochondrial respiration (mtSOx). Males can ameliorate damage to spermatozoa by investing in the 28 production of antioxidants, like superoxide dismutase (SOD), which may act as a mechanistic link for 29 pre and postcopulatory trade-offs. Some male Australian, colour-polymorphic painted dragon lizards 30 not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was this version posted March 18, 2019. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/556548 doi: bioRxiv preprint
WHAT IS THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE , INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES ON ECONOMIC DE VELOPMENT ?

Mancur Olson wrote his influential study Big Bills Left on the Sidewalk: Why Some Countries are Rich, and Others Poor in 1996. In his paper, Olson claimed that the differences in economic development between countries are caused by only two factors: institutions and policies on the one hand and culture on the other. We attempt to test his conjecture using econometric modelling, combining and comparing it with a broadly defined orthodox production function in an indirect neoclassical notation (Solow-MinhasArrow-Chenery’s SMAC framework). The “pseudo-production function” obtained is econometrically sound and of explanatory power similar to models including economic variables, although we find strong evidence of interdependence between capital-labour share and institutions and policies and culture. We consider the test, performed on panel data from 154 countries over five-year averages from 1980–2014, to be robust and consistent with Olson’s ideas.
Performance evaluation of natural fiber reinforced high volume fly ash foam concrete cladding

The major shortcoming of concrete in most of the applications is its high self-weight and thermal conductivity. The emerging trend to overcome these shortcomings is the use of foam-concrete, which is a lightweight concrete consisting of cement, filler, water and a foaming agent. This study aims at the development of a cost-effective high-volume fly-ash foamconcrete insulation wall cladding for existing buildings using natural fiber like rice straw in different proportions. The paper reports the results of systematic studies on various mechanical, acoustic, thermal and durability properties of foam-concrete with and without replacement of cement by fly-ash. Fly-ash replaces 60 percent by weight of cement in foam-concrete. The watersolid ratio of 0.3, the filler ratio of 1:1 by weight, and the density of 1100 kg/m3 (approx.) are fixed for all the mixes. Rice straw at 1%, 3% and 5% by weight of cement was added to improve the thermal and acoustic efficiency. From the investigations, it was inferred that the strength properties were increased with fly-ash replacement up to 1% rice straw addition. In furtherance, addition of rice straw and fly-ash resulted in improved acoustic and thermal properties.
Paper : The effect of three different malocclusions on the quality of life of 12 to 14 years old students in Rasht in 2019

Introduction: Malocclusion is a common oral disease that, in addition to damaging the functioning of the oral system and hygiene, can harm a person’s social relationships and mood by negatively affecting their beauty and self-esteem and reduce the quality of life. Many malocclusions, if detected, can be corrected at the right time by spending less time and money, which plays a significant role in the quality of life. Materials and Methods:In this applied research, 76 students in the range of 12 to 14 years old (39 girls and 37 boys) were evaluated in four groups. The first group consisted of individuals with normal overjet and 3≤ mm anterior crowding. The second group consisted of less than 2 mm overjet and 3≤ mm anterior spacing. The third group has 6≤ mm overjet with crowding and1 ≥ mm spacing. The fourth group has a control group consisting of subjects with normal occlusion. To examine the effect of this malocclusions on quality of life, The Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OQLQ) questionnaire was used. For statically analyses Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Kruskal-Wallis test were used. The significance level in all tests was 0.05. Results: The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the four groups in each domain (oral functioning, social aspect, dentofacial beauty and dentofacial beauty awareness). (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Malocclusions such as anterior crowding, anterior spacing and increased overjet do not affect the quality of life of untreated 12-14 year old subjects. Article info: Received: 05 Sep 2020 Accepted: 25 Sep 2020 * Corresponding Author:
Confidence Interventions : Do They Work ?

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness in different confidence enhancing techniques (Positive Self-Talk, Imagery and Confidence Profiling) in amateur track and field athletes. Fifteen participants volunteered to take part in the study, five in each intervention group. A baseline measure using TSCI and SSCI were administrated prior the intervention. Each athlete then completed a four week intervention, completing the TSCI and SSCI again post intervention. Results from a mixed model ANOVA yielded a significant difference in pre scores to post in each intervention, p < 0.05. Although no significant difference was found between groups, p > 0.05, meaning all groups were of equal effect. Despite not being statistically different, imagery improved scores the most. These results provide a protocol structure for psychologists and coaches to follow.
Earnings quality before and after the implementation of PSAK 69

Article history: Received: November 28, 2020 Received in revised format: December 28 2020 Accepted: February 7, 2021 Available online: February 7, 2021 PSAK 69 Agriculture regulates the accounting treatment of agricultural activities in Indonesia. The measurement of biological assets is the most important part of the arrangement of PSAK 69. PSAK 69 deals with biological assets measured at fair value less costs to sell at the beginning and end of the reporting period. Characteristics of growing biological assets will have an impact on the growth in fair value of assets, so there will be differences in fair value at the beginning and end of the financial reporting period. The difference in fair value of biological assets, whether realized or not, is recognized as gain in the current period. This will have an impact on the quality of the company's earnings. This study aims to examine differences in earnings quality before and after the implementation of PSAK 69 in agricultural sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The research was conducted on 14 agricultural companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the 2016-2019 observation period. Earnings quality is measured by the earnings response coefficient. Earnings response coefficients are estimated using the firm specific coefficient model (FSCM) and pooled cross-sectional regression model (CSRM) methods. This study measures the quality of earnings before and after the application of PSAK 69. The quality of earnings before and after the application of PSAK 69 is tested by a paired two-sample t-test. The results of this study found no difference in earnings quality before and after the application of PSAK 69. © 2021 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada
Patient Activation and Glycemic Control Among Filipino Americans

Purpose: Increasing patient activation facilitates self-management of health, improves health outcomes, and lowers health care expenditures. Extant research notes mixed findings in patient activation by race/ethnicity. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships among patient activation, select patient characteristics, and glycemic control among Filipino Americans. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of Filipino Americans (n=191), with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 1 or type 2, recruited from a southern California adult primary care clinic between December 2017 and March 2018. Patient activation, select characteristics, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were assessed. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used to identify correlates of glycemic control. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist was used to develop the study. Results: Participants with HgbA1C≤7.0% reported statistically higher patient activation measure (13 items) (PAM-13) natural log score (mean [M]=60.32, standard deviation [SD]=13.50) compared to those with an HgbA1C>7.0%, M=52.58, SD=10.19, F(1)=11.05, p<0.001. Multivariate logistic regression using age, low-density lipoprotein, and PAM-13 natural log was statistically reliable distinguishing between A1C≤7.0 and A1C>7.0, −2 LogLikehood=1183.23, χ2(3)=15.44, p<0.001. Conclusions: Patient activation is an important factor in supporting glycemic control. Findings support interventions to target patient activation. Providers are encouraged to use racial/ethnic-centered engagement strategies in resolving health disparity with racial and ethnic minorities to facilitate patient activation and improve health outcomes in patients with diabetes.
Economic and Humanistic Burden Associated with Depression and Anxiety Among Adults with Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases (NCCDs) in the United States

Introduction Patients with both major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in addition to one or multiple comorbid non-communicable chronic diseases (NCCDs) face unique challenges. However, few studies have characterized how the burden of co-occurring MDD and GAD differs from that of only MDD or only GAD among patients with NCCDs. Methods In this study, we used Medical Expenditures Panel Survey data from 2010–2017 to understand how the economic and humanistic burden of co-occurring MDD and GAD differs from that of MDD or GAD alone among patients with NCCDs. We used generalized linear models to investigate this relationship and controlled for patient sociodemographics and clinical characteristics. Results Co-occurring MDD and GAD was associated with increases in mean annual per patient inpatient visits, office visits, emergency department visits, annual drug costs, and total medical costs. Among patients with 3+ NCCDs, MDD or GAD only was associated with lower odds ratios (ORs) of limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs; 0.532 and 0.508, respectively) and social (0.503, 0.526) and physical limitations (0.613, 0.613) compared to co-occurring MDD and GAD. Compared to patients with co-occurring MDD and GAD, having MDD only or GAD only was associated with significantly lower odds of cognitive limitations (0.659 and 0.461, respectively) in patients with 1–2 NCCDs and patients with 3+ NCCDs (0.511, 0.416). Discussion Comorbid MDD and GAD was associated with higher economic burden, lower quality of life, and greater limitations in daily living compared to MDD or GAD alone. Health-related economic and humanistic burden increased with number of NCCDs.
Rap1GAP Mediates Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy by Inhibiting Autophagy and Increasing Oxidative Stress

Abnormal autophagy and oxidative stress contribute to angiotensin II- (Ang II-) induced cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. We previously showed that Ang II increased Rap1GAP gene expression in cardiomyocytes associated with hypertrophy and autophagy disorders. Using real-time PCR and Western blot, we found that Rap1GAP expression was increased in the heart of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats infused by Ang II compared with saline infusion and in Ang II vs. vehicle-treated rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of Rap1GAP in cultured cardiomyocytes exacerbated Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and cell apoptosis and inhibited autophagy. The increased oxidative stress caused by Rap1GAP overexpression was inhibited by the treatment of autophagy agonists. Knockdown of Rap1GAP by siRNA markedly attenuated Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and oxidative stress and enhanced autophagy. The AMPK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was inhibited by overexpression of Rap1GAP and activated by the knockdown of Rap1GAP. These results show that Rap1GAP-mediated pathway might be a new mechanism of Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, which could be a potential target for the future treatment of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors Associated with Severity and Death in COVID-19 Patients

This meta-analysis aims to screen the risk factors for severe illness and death and provide help for early clinical treatment of the new coronavirus (COVID-19). Based on a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases, we included studies that explored the cause and risk factors for severe illness and death in COVID-19 patients. We evaluated the strength of this relationship using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 17 articles were included; 16 of the 17 articles were from China, and the risk factors associated with severe illness and death were age, sex, and multiple comorbidities. Advanced age (≥65 years, severe illness, OR = 2.62; death, OR = 6.00), male (severe illness, OR = 1.49; death, OR = 1.54), chronic respiratory diseases (severe illness, OR = 5.67; death, OR = 3.72), diabetes (severe illness, OR = 3.27; death, OR = 2.60), hypertension (severe illness, OR = 3.08; death, OR = 3.53), chronic kidney disease (severe illness, OR = 3.59; death, OR = 5.38), and cardiovascular diseases (severe illness, OR = 3.87; death, OR = 4.91) were all risk factors. For COVID-19 patients, advanced age, male, and patients with chronic disease are at higher risk of developing severe illness or even death.
Nursing and Midwifery Students' Satisfaction with Their Clinical Rotation Experience: The Role of the Clinical Learning Environment

Background The clinical learning environment and clinical rotation experience of students are integral to nursing curriculum and are a crucial component of nursing education which helps transform theoretical knowledge to clinical practical skills. Objective This study was aimed at assessing the role of the clinical learning environment on undergraduate nursing and midwifery students' satisfaction with their clinical rotation experience. Method The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. Data was collected from a sample of 240 undergraduate nursing and midwifery students of the University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana, using a structured questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Cape Coast Ethics Review Board. Descriptive analysis was displayed as frequencies and percentages. Inferentially, Fisher's exact test, linear regression, and Spearman's correlation tests were used to test for and quantify associations between independent and dependent variables at p ≤ 0.05. Results The level of students' satisfaction with both clinical rotation experience and the clinical learning environment was high (65.6% and 63.5%, respectively). A statistically significant association of the students' satisfaction with their clinical rotation experience was found. There was a statistically significant relationship between the clinical learning environment (χ2 (9, N = 224) = 80.665, p < 0.001), pedagogical atmosphere in the clinical area (rs = 0.379, p < 0.001), the leadership style of the ward manager (rs = 0.340, p < 0.001), the premises of nursing in the ward environment (rs = 0.501, p < 0.001), and the students' satisfaction with their clinical rotation experience. Conclusion These findings provide nurse educators and clinicians with meaningful understanding about areas to prioritise when planning clinical learning opportunities in such a way that skills learning and practice of nursing skills are successful and satisfactory for undergraduate student nurses and midwives.
Nasogastric Tube Feeding in Older Patients: A Review of Current Practice and Challenges Faced

Nasogastric tube feeding is an essential way of delivering enteral nutrition when the oral route is insufficient or unsafe. Malnutrition is recognised as a reversible factor for sarcopenia and frailty. It is therefore crucial that malnutrition is treated in older inpatients who have dysphagia and require enteral nutrition. Despite five National Patient Safety Alerts since 2005, “Never Events” related to nasogastric feeding persist. In addition to placement errors, current practice often leads to delays in feeding, which subsequently result in worse patient outcomes. It is crucial that tube placement is confirmed accurately and in a timely way. Medical advancements in this area have been slow to find a solution which meets this need. In this paper, we provide an updated review on the current use of feeding nasogastric tubes in the older population, the issues associated with confirming correct placement, and innovative solutions for improving safety and outcomes in older patients.
Time-dependent diffusion MRI probes cerebellar microstructural alterations in a mouse model of Down syndrome

Abstract The cerebellum is a complex system with distinct cortical laminar organization. Alterations in cerebellar microstructure are common and associated with many factors such as genetics, cancer and ageing. Diffusion MRI (dMRI) provides a non-invasive tool to map the brain structural organization, and the recently proposed diffusion-time (td)-dependent dMRI further improves its capability to probe the cellular and axonal/dendritic microstructures by measuring water diffusion at multiple spatial scales. The td-dependent diffusion profile in the cerebellum and its utility in detecting cerebellar disorders, however, are not yet elucidated. Here, we first deciphered the spatial correspondence between dMRI contrast and cerebellar layers, based on which the cerebellar layer-specific td-dependent dMRI patterns were characterized in both euploid and Ts65Dn mice, a mouse model of Down syndrome. Using oscillating gradient dMRI, which accesses diffusion at short td’s by modulating the oscillating frequency, we detected subtle changes in the apparent diffusivity coefficient of the cerebellar internal granular layer and Purkinje cell layer of Ts65Dn mice that were not detectable by conventional pulsed gradient dMRI. The detection sensitivity of oscillating gradient dMRI increased with the oscillating frequency at both the neonatal and adult stages. The td-dependence, quantified by ΔADC map, was reduced in Ts65Dn mice, likely associated with the reduced granule cell density and abnormal dendritic arborization of Purkinje cells as revealed from histological evidence. Our study demonstrates superior sensitivity of short-td diffusion using oscillating gradient dMRI to detect cerebellar microstructural changes in Down syndrome, suggesting the potential application of this technique in cerebellar disorders.