Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alignment of Physical Activity in Older Couples Affected by Osteoarthritis: Investigation by Accelerometry and Questionnaire

This study examined whether an alignment of physical activity (PA) between osteoarthritis patients and their spouses, which was previously proven by accelerometry, might also be revealed by self-report. The PA of 28 cohabitating couples (58–83 years) was assessed by means of synchronous accelerometry (ActiGraph wGTX3-BT) and compared to their according self-reports in the German Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport Questionnaire (BSA-F). Both methods were used to quantify the average weekly light PA, moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and total PA. Accelerometry revealed no differences in weekly light PA and total PA (p ≥ 0.187) between patients and spouses, whereas the patients’ spouses accumulated significantly more MVPA (p = 0.015). In contrast, the self-report did not reveal any differences between the two groups in terms of PA (p ≥ 0.572). Subsequent correlation analyses indicated that accelerometry data for mild PA and total PA were significantly correlated in couples (r ≥ 0.385, p ≤ 0.024), but MVPA was not (r = 0.257, p = 0.097). The self-reported PA data, on the other hand, did not indicate any significant correlation (r ≤ 0.046, p ≥ 0.409). The presented results give a first indication that an alignment of PA between osteoarthritis patients and their spouses is most likely to be detected by accelerometry, but not by self-report.
Estimation of Tissue Attenuation from Ultrasonic B-Mode Images—Spectral-Log-Difference and Method-of-Moments Algorithms Compared †

We report on results from the comparison of two algorithms designed to estimate the attenuation coefficient from ultrasonic B-mode scans obtained from a numerical phantom simulating an ultrasound breast scan. It is well documented that this parameter significantly diverges between normal tissue and malignant lesions. To improve the diagnostic accuracy it is of great importance to devise and test algorithms that facilitate the accurate, low variance and spatially resolved estimation of the tissue’s attenuation properties. A numerical phantom is realized using k-Wave, which is an open source Matlab toolbox for the time-domain simulation of acoustic wave fields that facilitates both linear and nonlinear wave propagation in homogeneous and heterogeneous tissue, as compared to strictly linear ultrasound simulation tools like Field II. k-Wave allows to simulate arbitrary distributions, resolved down to single voxel sizes, of parameters including the speed of sound, mass density, scattering strength and to include power law acoustic absorption necessary for simulation tasks in medical diagnostic ultrasound. We analyze the properties and the attainable accuracy of both the spectral-log-difference technique, and a statistical moments based approach and compare the results to known reference values from the sound field simulation.
The Hallmarks of Flavonoids in Cancer

Flavonoids represent an important group of bioactive compounds derived from plant-based foods and beverages with known biological activity in cells. From the modulation of inflammation to the inhibition of cell proliferation, flavonoids have been described as important therapeutic adjuvants against several diseases, including diabetes, arteriosclerosis, neurological disorders, and cancer. Cancer is a complex and multifactor disease that has been studied for years however, its prevention is still one of the best known and efficient factors impacting the epidemiology of the disease. In the molecular and cellular context, some of the mechanisms underlying the oncogenesis and the progression of the disease are understood, known as the hallmarks of cancer. In this text, we review important molecular signaling pathways, including inflammation, immunity, redox metabolism, cell growth, autophagy, apoptosis, and cell cycle, and analyze the known mechanisms of action of flavonoids in cancer. The current literature provides enough evidence supporting that flavonoids may be important adjuvants in cancer therapy, highlighting the importance of healthy and balanced diets to prevent the onset and progression of the disease.
Does the Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy Promote Green Technology Innovation? Based on Green Patent Data of Chinese A-Share Listed Companies

To cope with climate change and achieve sustainable development, low-carbon city pilot policies have been implemented. An objective assessment of the performance of these policies facilitates not only the implementation of relevant work in pilot areas, but also the further promotion of these policies. This study uses A-share listed enterprises from 2005 to 2019 and creates a multi-period difference-in-differences model to explore the impact of low-carbon city pilot policies on corporate green technology innovation from multiple dimensions. Results show that (1) low-carbon city pilot policies stimulates the green technological innovation of enterprises as manifested in their application of green invention patents; (2) the introduction of pilot policies is highly conducive to green technological innovation in eastern cities and enterprises in high-carbon emission industries; and (3) tax incentives and government subsidies are important fiscal and taxation tools that play the role of pilot policies in low-carbon cities. By alleviating corporate financing constraints, these policies effectively promote the green technological innovation of enterprises. This study expands the research on the performance of low-carbon city pilot policies and provides data support for a follow-up implementation and promotion of policies from the micro perspective at the enterprise level.
Current Development and Applications of Super-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging

Abnormal changes of the microvasculature are reported to be key evidence of the development of several critical diseases, including cancer, progressive kidney disease, and atherosclerotic plaque. Super-resolution ultrasound imaging is an emerging technology that can identify the microvasculature noninvasively, with unprecedented spatial resolution beyond the acoustic diffraction limit. Therefore, it is a promising approach for diagnosing and monitoring the development of diseases. In this review, we introduce current super-resolution ultrasound imaging approaches and their preclinical applications on different animals and disease models. Future directions and challenges to overcome for clinical translations are also discussed.
Effects of Movement for High Time-Bandwidths in Batched Pulse Compression Range-Doppler Radar

Radar detection and track building performance is an essential part of a radar system. A high realized coherent integration gain often contributes to an improved performance. This is essential to the successful detection and tracking of weak moving targets. However, the actual movement within the coherent processing interval can introduce range walk effects. The processing will then result in range and Doppler frequency resolutions that become finer than a single moving point scatterer’s spread over range and—often not considered—over Doppler frequency. In particular for a wide instantaneous bandwidth, the impact on the achievable integration gain can become severe already for a constant effective velocity. Therefore, high desired integration gains as required in passive radar are not easily achieved against relatively fast moving targets. The main intent of this article is to present the movement effects on a classical range-Doppler analysis to give an insight on the achievable performance and to quantify otherwise appearing degradations. Interestingly, a classical analysis of experimental datasets evaluated from a DVB-T based passive radar measurement campaign even resolved the fluctuation of a target response within the instantaneously processed bandwidth. The findings strengthen the need for advanced processing methods that can at least partly address individual implications of fast moving targets in real-time applications properly.
Recent Developments on Five-Component Reactions

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) have inherent advantages in pot, atom, and step economy (PASE). This important green synthetic approach has gained increasing attention due to high efficiency, minimal waste, saving resources, and straightforward procedures. Presented in this review article are the recent development on 5-compoment reactions (5CRs) of the following six types: (I) five different molecules A + B + C + D + E; pseudo-5CRs including (II) 2A + B + C + D, (III) 2A + 2B + C, (IV) 3A + B + C, (V) 3A + 2B, and (VI) 4A + B. 5CRs with more than five-reaction centers are also included.
The Influence of Internal Marketing and Job Satisfaction on Task Performance and Counterproductive Work Behavior in an Emerging Market during the COVID-19 Pandemic

To reduce the spread of the virus, authorities have imposed restrictive measures, such as limiting movement of individuals, shutting down non-essential stores, imposing a general or local quarantine, along with physical distancing and isolation of vulnerable people. Remote working has become the ‘new normal’ for many organizations, engendering further challenges for employees, who have started experiencing anxiety, technostress caused by digitalization and lack of social interaction, frustration, occupational burden, counterproductive work behavior, exhaustion, burnout, depersonalization, and increased turnover intention. All these factors, corroborated by prolonged restrictions, have contributed to a decrease in employee satisfaction, diminishing performance and generating a counterproductive behavior. Based on Social Exchange Theory, this research plans to investigate the influence of internal marketing on job satisfaction, task performance, and counterproductive work behavior in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in an emerging market, namely Romania. Based on a quantitative research study among 850 employees, we show that internal marketing strongly and significantly impacts job satisfaction, while insignificantly impacting task performance and counterproductive work behavior. Job satisfaction actuates task performance in a significant and positive manner, contributing to a reduction in counterproductive work behaviors. This paper highlights the effects of internal marketing orientation on job satisfaction, and the effects of job satisfaction on job performance and counterproductive work behaviors.
Treatment Patterns and Outcomes in a Nationwide Cohort of Older and Younger Veterans with Waldenström Macroglobulinemia, 2006–2019

Simple Summary Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a rare cancer about which little is known. Evidence from real-world settings provides invaluable information to patients and clinicians, especially for older and/or frailer patients, a demographic often excluded from clinical trials. This study provides information about treatment patterns and outcomes from real-world cohorts of older (>70 years) and younger (≤70 years) patients. We report findings across early (2006–2012) and modern (2013–2019) eras, reflecting a transition during which the number of treatments available for Waldenström macroglobulinemia rapidly increased. We found marked improvements in treatment outcomes among older patients in the modern vs early era, with little or no improvement in outcomes among younger patients. Our findings emphasize the importance of real-world evidence in guiding patient-specific treatment decisions. Abstract Little is known about real-world treatment patterns and outcomes in Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) following the recent introduction of newer treatments, especially among older adults. We describe patterns of first-line (1 L) WM treatment in early (2006–2012) and modern (2013–2019) eras and report outcomes (overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse event (AE)-related discontinuation) in younger (≤70 years) and older (>70 years) populations. We followed 166 younger and 152 older WM patients who received 1 L treatment between January 2006 and April 2019 in the Veterans Health Administration. Median follow-up was 43.5 months (range: 0.6–147.2 months). Compared to the early era, older patients in the modern era achieved improved ORRs (early: 63.8%, modern: 72.3%) and 41% lower risk of death/progression (hazard ratio (HR) for PFS: 0.59, 95% CI (confidence interval): 0.36–0.95), with little change in AE-related discontinuation between eras (HR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.4–1.7). In younger patients, the AE-related discontinuation risk increased almost fourfold (HR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.1–14), whereas treatment effects did not change between eras (HR for OS: 1.4, 95% CI: 0.66–2.8; HR for PFS: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.67–1.7). Marked improvements in survival among older adults accompanied a profound shift in 1 L treatment patterns for WM.
Alternative Procedure to Individual Nasal Pressure Titration for Sleep Apnea

In the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the current standard of “CPAP titration” in the laboratory or at home is a resource demanding and costly approach that, in developed economies, markedly augments healthcare costs and in low resource economies precludes access to care altogether. Here, we discuss that current guidelines for titration of CPAP could be obviated by taking a different route that in many ways is similar to the institution of treatment in many other medical conditions. To this effect, we present novel population based data from 16,780 patients, showing that after individualized and labor-intensive and expensive CPAP titration, 86.4% of OSA patients are treated with nasal pressure settings within the range of 9 ± 2 cmH2O, and review the literature to justify the potential adoption of a standard therapeutic CPAP setting as the initial intervention which would be subsequently followed by any necessary adjustments in only a minority of patients who would not derive the necessary benefit from such standardized intervention. Assuming an 80–85% success rate as derived from our analyses, our personal view if extensively adopted could radically reduce healthcare costs and enable markedly improve access to diagnostics.
Relationship between Dietary Patterns and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Korean Older Adults

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between dietary patterns and the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the elderly population in Korea. Methods: Cluster analysis was conducted on the data of 1687 elderly participants (797 men and 890 women) aged ≥65 years from the 2014–2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), using a 24-h dietary recall survey to assess dietary patterns. Dietary patterns were classified into clusters 1 (typical Korean diet), 2 (high carbohydrate diet), and 3 (healthy diet). The 10-year risk of CVD was calculated based on age, total and HDL-cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure level, antihypertensive medication use, smoking status, and presence of diabetes. A complex sample general linear model was applied to determine the association between dietary patterns and the 10-year risk of CVD. Results: In total, 275 (33.7%), 141 (17.9%), and 381 (48.3%) men, and 207 (22.6%), 276 (30.9%), and 407(46.6%) women were included in clusters 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The 10-year risk of CVD was lower in men in cluster 3 (healthy diet) than in those in cluster 1 (typical Korean diet) (t = 2.092, p = 0.037). Additionally, the 10-year risk of CVD was lower in men who performed strength training than in those who did not (t = 3.575, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in women. Conclusions: After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, men who consumed a healthy diet had a lower 10-year risk of CVD than those who consumed a typical Korean diet. When organizing nutrition education programs to improve dietary habits in the elderly, content on diets that consist of various food groups to prevent CVD is required. In particular, it is necessary to develop content that emphasizes the importance of healthy eating habits in men.
Recent Development of Active Ingredients in Mouthwashes and Toothpastes for Periodontal Diseases

Periodontal diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis are primarily caused by dental plaque. Several antiplaque and anti-microbial agents have been successfully incorporated into toothpastes and mouthwashes to control plaque biofilms and to prevent and treat gingivitis and periodontitis. The aim of this article was to review recent developments in the antiplaque, anti-gingivitis, and anti-periodontitis properties of some common compounds in toothpastes and mouthwashes by evaluating basic and clinical studies, especially the ones published in the past five years. The common active ingredients in toothpastes and mouthwashes included in this review are chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, stannous chloride, zinc oxide, zinc chloride, and two herbs—licorice and curcumin. We believe this comprehensive review will provide useful up-to-date information for dental care professionals and the general public regarding the major oral care products on the market that are in daily use.
Highlights on Steroidal Arylidene Derivatives as a Source of Pharmacologically Active Compounds: A Review

Steroids constitute a unique class of chemical compounds, playing an important role in physiopathological processes, and have high pharmacological interest. Additionally, steroids have been associated with a relatively low toxicity and high bioavailability. Nowadays, multiple steroidal derivatives are clinically available for the treatment of numerous diseases. Moreover, different structural modifications on their skeleton have been explored, aiming to develop compounds with new and improved pharmacological properties. Thus, steroidal arylidene derivatives emerged as a relevant example of these modifications. This family of compounds has been mainly described as 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and aromatase inhibitors, as well as neuroprotective and anticancer agents. Besides, due to their straightforward preparation and intrinsic chemical reactivity, steroidal arylidene derivatives are important synthetic intermediates for the preparation of other compounds, particularly bearing heterocyclic systems. In fact, starting from arylidenesteroids, it was possible to develop bioactive steroidal pyrazolines, pyrazoles, pyrimidines, pyridines, spiro-pyrrolidines, amongst others. Most of these products have also been studied as anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents, as well as 5α-reductase and aromatase inhibitors. This work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of steroidal arylidene derivatives described in the literature, highlighting their bioactivities and importance as synthetic intermediates for other pharmacologically active compounds.
Vaginal Probiotics for Reproductive Health and Related Dysbiosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The use of probiotics in reproductive-related dysbiosis is an area of continuous progress due to the growing interest from clinicians and patients suffering from recurrent reproductive microbiota disorders. An imbalance in the natural colonization sites related to reproductive health—vaginal, cervicovaginal, endometrial, and pregnancy-related altered microbiota—could play a decisive role in reproductive outcomes. Oral and vaginal administrations are in continuous discussion regarding the clinical effects pursued, but the oral route is used and studied more often despite the need for further transference to the colonization site. The aim of the present review was to retrieve the standardized protocols of vaginal probiotics commonly used for investigating their microbiota modulation capacities. Most of the studies selected focused on treating bacterial vaginosis (BV) as the most common dysbiosis; a few studies focused on vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and on pretreatment during in vitro fertilization (IVF). Vaginal probiotic doses administered were similar to oral probiotics protocols, ranging from ≥107 CFU/day to 2.5 × 1010 CFU/day, but were highly variable regarding the treatment duration timing. Moderate vaginal microbiota modulation was achieved; the relative abundance of abnormal microbiota decreased and Lactobacillus species increased.
Pensions and Depressive Symptoms of Older Adults in China: The Mediating Role of Intergenerational Support

This study aimed to investigate the relations between pensions and depressive symptoms of Chinese older people, and whether intergenerational support mediated such association. Secondary data was drawn from Chinese Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) 2014 (N = 6687). Depressive symptoms were measured by 12-item version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D). Intergenerational support was measured by financial, instrumental, and emotional support. About 80.1% of the participants had pension and the mean score of depressive symptoms of the participants was 17.10 (SD = 4.35) with a range from 12 to 36. The results from hierarchical linear regression revealed that there was significantly association between pensions and lower levels of depressive symptoms (B = −0.645, p < 0.000). Findings of mediation analyses also indicated that financial support from adult children played a mediating role between pensions and depressive symptoms (B = −0.039, 95% CI [−0.064, −0.018], z = −3.082, p = 0.002). Findings from this study enrich our theoretical and practical understanding of the roles of intergenerational support, and offer implications for social insurance policy, social work, and family support interventions for Chinese older adults.
Antibacterial Titanium Implants Biofunctionalized by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation with Silver, Zinc, and Copper: A Systematic Review

Patients receiving orthopedic implants are at risk of implant-associated infections (IAI). A growing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria threaten to hamper the treatment of IAI. The focus has, therefore, shifted towards the development of implants with intrinsic antibacterial activity to prevent the occurrence of infection. The use of Ag, Cu, and Zn has gained momentum as these elements display strong antibacterial behavior and target a wide spectrum of bacteria. In order to incorporate these elements into the surface of titanium-based bone implants, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) has been widely investigated as a single-step process that can biofunctionalize these (highly porous) implant surfaces. Here, we present a systematic review of the studies published between 2009 until 2020 on the biomaterial properties, antibacterial behavior, and biocompatibility of titanium implants biofunctionalized by PEO using Ag, Cu, and Zn. We observed that 100% of surfaces bearing Ag (Ag-surfaces), 93% of surfaces bearing Cu (Cu-surfaces), 73% of surfaces bearing Zn (Zn-surfaces), and 100% of surfaces combining Ag, Cu, and Zn resulted in a significant (i.e., >50%) reduction of bacterial load, while 13% of Ag-surfaces, 10% of Cu-surfaces, and none of Zn or combined Ag, Cu, and Zn surfaces reported cytotoxicity against osteoblasts, stem cells, and immune cells. A majority of the studies investigated the antibacterial activity against S. aureus. Important areas for future research include the biofunctionalization of additively manufactured porous implants and surfaces combining Ag, Cu, and Zn. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of such implants should be determined in assays focused on prevention, rather than the treatment of IAIs. These implants should be tested using appropriate in vivo bone infection models capable of assessing whether titanium implants biofunctionalized by PEO with Ag, Cu, and Zn can contribute to protect patients against IAI.