Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 20-sec Stepping Test and KINECTTM Sensor Provides Objective Quantification of Movement/Balance Dysfunction in Older Individuals

ABSTRACT Background: Tests such as the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) are widely used measures of infirmity and burden of care. However, these scales are largely qualitative and especially problematic when assessing movement-based tasks. Effective, reliable analysis of human movement is technically complicated and expensive, but an infrared depth sensor is potentially a low-cost, portable devise which may provide a quantitative aspect to clinical testing. Our purpose was to assess the utility of a 20-sec stepping test (ST) and KinectTM infrared-depth sensor in providing objective evaluation of balance toward identifying disability in older adults. Methods: Men and women between 64 and 90 years of age, consisting of independent (IG; n = 37) and dependent (DG; n = 38) living at community, geriatric day-care center in Japan. Total movement distance (TMD) and greatest displacement (MMD) were calculated from KinectTM recording of the ST. Results: DG had lower FIM scores than IG. TMD and MMD were significantly greater in DG than IG, while step number and rate were lower in DG. Receiver-operator characteristic analysis showed TMD, TMD/step, MMDstep, and MMD corrected for time and height strongly discriminated between assignment to DG or IG with moderate sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions: Greater TMD and MMD observed during a 20-sec ST appear to indicate disability with moderate sensitivity and specificity in older adults. Measures of movement distance (e.g. TMD, MMD) appear indicative of changes in dynamic balance due to a circuitous movement pattern generated by aberrant step replacement with repeated stepping-in-place.
The effect of false mount on quality of frozen-thawed semen in Bos indicus beef bulls

This study evaluated the effect of false mounts (FM) on quality of frozen-thawed semen in beef bulls. Five mature Brahman bulls at the Standard Semen Production Center in Thailand were subjected to semen collection. Overall, 60 ejaculates were collected over a 12-week period of which 30 were collected without, and another 30 were collected using FM. A range of quality parameters of fresh, pre-frozen, and frozen-thawed semen were evaluated. Use of FM resulted in significant improvement of most parameters of fresh semen except progressive motility and sperm viability. The quality parameters of pre-frozen and frozen-thawed semen also significantly improved with FM. Use of FM significantly improved the viability of frozen-thawed semen, possibly indicating the protective effect of seminal plasma proteins.
Anti-Obesity Drugs: Long-Term Efficacy and Safety: An Updated Review

As a chronic and relapsing disease, obesity negatively impacts the health of men to a greater extent than that of women, with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Since lifestyle modifications alone are often challenging and limited for the maintenance of weight reduction, pharmacotherapy should be considered in a timely manner for obese men or overweight patients with weight-related comorbidities. Recent advances in anti-obesity drugs have enabled the potential of achieving clinically significant weight loss. Increasing evidence has shown that behavior-based interventions with one of these medications can result in greater weight loss than that elicited by usual care conditions. Data from most recent meta-analyses showed that the overall placebo-subtracted weight reduction (%) with the use of anti-obesity drugs for at least 12 months ranges from 2.9% to 6.8%; phentermine/topiramate (−6.8%) liraglutide (−5.4%), naltrexone/bupropion (−4.0%), lorcaserin (−3.1%), and orlistat (−2.9%). However, they have a high cost and may cause adverse outcomes depending on the individual. Very recently, on February 13, 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration requested withdrawal of lorcaserin from the market because a safety clinical trial showed an increased occurrence of cancer. Therefore the decision to initiate drug therapy in obese individuals should be made after the benefits and risks are considered. Thereafter, treatment should be tailored to specific patient subpopulations depending on their chronic conditions, comorbidities, and preferences. Herein, we provide an overview of the latest developments in weight loss medications, which may serve as one of the strategies for long-term obesity control.
Barriers to mental health services utilisation in Portugal – results from the National Mental Health Survey

Abstract Background The treatment gap for mental disorders remains a challenge worldwide. Identifying reasons for nontreatment may contribute to reducing this gap. Aims To evaluate sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with use and barriers to treatment in Portugal. Method Data from the 2009 National Mental Health Survey were used. Participants reported 12-month treatment and reasons for nontreatment. Logistic regression models analysed the association between sociodemographic (education; employment; income; marital status) and clinical variables (mental disorder diagnosis; disability) with treatment and type of barriers (low perceived need; structural; attitudinal). Results The majority of participants with a mental disorder was not treated. Treatment was more common among participants with mood disorders (OR = 4.19; 95% CI: 2.72–6.46), and disability (OR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.33–4.46), and less common among single participants (OR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.20–0.70) and those with basic/secondary education (OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.24–0.73). Attitudinal barriers were more likely among participants with none/primary (OR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.42–5.90) and basic/secondary education (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.01–2.85), and less likely among those with substance use disorders (OR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.10–0.70). Low perceived need was higher among single people (OR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.01–3.08), and lower among those with anxiety (OR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.28–0.90) and mood disorders (OR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.09–0.30). Unemployed participants had higher odds of reporting structural barriers (OR = 3.76; 95% CI: 1.29–10.92). Conclusions This study identifies factors associated with nontreatment, providing useful evidence to develop policies and effective interventions.
Population genomics of the widespread African savannah trees Afzelia africana and Afzelia quanzensis reveals no significant past fragmentation of their distribution ranges.

PREMISE Few studies have addressed the evolutionary history of tree species from African savannahs. Afzelia contains economically important timber species, including two species widely distributed in African savannahs: A. africana in the Sudanian region and A. quanzensis in the Zambezian region. We aimed to infer whether these species underwent range fragmentation and/or demographic changes, possibly reflecting how savannahs responded to Quaternary climate changes. METHODS We characterized the genetic diversity and structure of these species across their distribution ranges using nuclear microsatellites (SSRs) and genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) markers. Six SSR loci were genotyped in 241 A. africana and 113 A. quanzensis individuals, while 2800 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in 30 A. africana individuals. RESULTS Both species appeared to be mainly outcrossing. The kinship between individuals decayed with the logarithm of the distance at similar rates across species and markers, leading to relatively small Sp statistics (0.0056 for SSR and 0.0054 for SNP in A. africana, 0.0075 for SSR in A. quanzensis). The patterns were consistent with isolation by distance expectations in the absence of large-scale geographic gradients. Bayesian clustering of SSR genotypes did not detect genetic clusters within species. In contrast, SNP data resolved intraspecific genetic clusters in A. africana, illustrating the higher resolving power of GBS. However, these clusters revealed low levels of differentiation and no clear geographical entities, so that they were interpreted as resulting from the isolation by distance pattern rather than from past population fragmentation. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that populations have remained connected throughout the large, continuous savannah landscapes. The absence of clear phylogeographic discontinuities, also found in a few other African savannah trees, indicates that their distribution ranges have not been significantly fragmented during the climatic oscillations of the Pleistocene, in contrast to patterns commonly found in African rainforest trees.
Body Image Quality of Life in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa Compared with Other Dermatological Disorders

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic skin disease characterized by inflammation and disfiguring scarring in the intertriginous body areas. Hidradenitis suppurativa is associated with overweight and impaired quality of life. This study sought to describe Body Image Quality of Life (BI-QoL) in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and to compare it with patients with other skin diseases (controls). A total of 285 participants were recruited, 141 with hidradenitis suppurativa and 144 controls, at the Department of Dermatology at Zealand University Hospital, Denmark (during 2017–18). The Danish “Body Image Quality of Life Inventory” questionnaire measured BI-QoL. Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa had significantly lower mean BI-QoL than controls: Hidradenitis suppurativa BI-QoL (standard deviation; SD) −0.87 (0.98) vs. control BI-QoL (SD) 0.01 (1.11), p < 0.001. Predictors of negative BI-QoL were hidradenitis suppurativa, increased body mass index, female sex, symptoms of depression, and body mass index moderated by hidradenitis suppurativa. These data suggest that BI-QoL is impaired in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa compared with patients with other skin diseases after adjusting for confounders.
Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Spatial Memory, and Neurotransmitter Receptor Expression Are Profoundly Altered by Gradual Loss of Hearing Ability

Abstract Sensory information comprises the substrate from which memories are created. Memories of spatial sensory experience are encoded by means of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Hippocampal dependency on sensory information is highlighted by the fact that sudden and complete loss of a sensory modality results in an impairment of hippocampal function that persists for months. Effects are accompanied by extensive changes in the expression of neurotransmitter receptors in cortex and hippocampus, consistent with a substantial adaptive reorganization of cortical function. Whether gradual sensory loss affects hippocampal function is unclear. Progressive age-dependent hearing loss (presbycusis) is a risk factor for cognitive decline. Here, we scrutinized C57BL/6 mice that experience hereditary and cumulative deafness starting in young adulthood. We observed that 2–4 months postnatally, increases in the cortical and hippocampal expression of GluN2A and GluN2B subunits of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor occurred compared to control mice that lack sensory deficits. Furthermore, GABA and metabotropic glutamate receptor expression were significantly altered. Hippocampal synaptic plasticity was profoundly impaired and mice exhibited significant deficits in spatial memory. These data show that during cortical adaptation to cumulative loss of hearing, plasticity-related neurotransmitter expression is extensively altered in the cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, cumulative sensory loss compromises hippocampal function.
Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Asthma-Related Emergency Department Visits Among World Trade Center Rescue and Recovery Workers and Survivors

Key Points Question How much of the association between socioeconomic status and asthma-related emergency department visits is mediated by barriers to care? Findings In this cohort study of 30 452 enrollees in the World Trade Center Health Registry, lower socioeconomic status was associated with a greater number of asthma-related emergency department visits, and barriers to care mediated a small percentage of this association. Meaning These findings suggest that individuals of lower socioeconomic status in the World Trade Center Health Registry experience worse asthma outcomes despite being potentially eligible for no-cost treatment and medications.
Earnings Management and Accounting Conservatism: Evidence from Indian Banking Industry

The study analyses whether the earnings are managed in the banking industry in India through loan loss provisions, particularly provision for non-performing assets. The study explores the presence of conditional accounting conservatism in the Indian banking industry. Further, the study evaluates the relationship between earnings management and conditional accounting conservatism. The findings of this study indicate income-smoothing practices by Indian Banks. However, the results do not prove the presence of capital management or signalling practices by Indian Banks through the usage of PNPA. Further, the results reflect the presence of conditional conservatism. Indian banks, following higher level of unconditional conservatism in their accounting practices, are found to be less conditionally conservative. Conditional accounting conservatism reflected in PNPA is mainly through non-discretionary component of PNPA. The study espouses the relationship between earnings management and accounting conservatism. The material significance of these findings is to advice the banking regulator of India by providing insights about causes of rising NPA ratio, which the regulator strives to restrict.
Traditional Rearing Practices Of Indigenous Pigs In Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu covers an area of 130,058 km2 (50,216 sq mi), and is the eleventh largest state in India. Indigenous pigs got domesticated and well adapted to its ecosystem. A study was conducted on pig rearing system among the people who rear pigs as their main source of income for their livelihood. The study revealed that the indigenous pigs were reared under traditional system by the particular community people and the pigs were evenly distributed among all parts of Tamil Nadu and is the main source of income. The phenotypic characters showed that these pigs were indigenous to this state and their existence was noted since many centuries. People use various indigenously made materials/utensils for housing and feeding. Pigs were fed mainly with locally available feed resources and in addition, pigs feed through scavenging and rooting. Commercial sale of animal and meat was also practiced. The meat of indigenous pigs is highly delicious than the exotic pigs. Certain tribe/community practices century old established indigenous technical knowledge in pig rearing and they are passed through many generations. Indigenous traditional knowledge would significantly contribute to the generation and pave the way for exploitation of technology to benefit tribal/rural populations.
A Need For In Situ Observations to Inform Nearfield Plume Transport and Aerosol Dynamics as well as Chemistry of Alternate Geoengineering Materials in the Stratosphere

Studies of the impacts of stratospheric geoengineering depend, perhaps implicitly, on processes that would take place in the near field of an aircraft injection plume. All models ultimately depend on observations, yet we lack experimental data to assess some of the critical transport, microphysical, and chemical processes that directly control aerosol dynamics in the nearfield. Models can utilize existing measurements of solid rocket motor plumes, wake sampling of high altitude aircraft, convective overshooting events, and volcanic eruptions as observational analogs to compare some important stratospheric impacts with these model results. Although these bodies of literature are quite robust, they are inadequate for geoengineering because they exclude (a) relevant scales of atmospheric transport, (b) particle microphysics, and (c) chemistry of alternate geoengineering materials specific to stratospheric solar radiation management (SRM). In this document we review existing in situ data sets and describe their utility for SRM as well as areas where they are unable to shed light on the issues described above. We then suggest how new measurements could reduce uncertainty by injecting these materials into the stratosphere and comparing the results of in-situ observations with results obtained by models based on laboratory studies of both their chemical and optical properties.
Management and outcome in patients with below knee soft tissue injuries

Clinical treatment of lower limb injuries poses a great challenge because the surgeons need to face serious complications such as shock, wound coverage and infection, and has to choose a right time to deal with the combined fractures and injuries of the blood vessels, nerves and tendons. Large area skin avulsion injuries, especially those caused by traffic accidents or machine injuries, often couple with secondary skin necrosis (8095%). Uncovered wound, fracture malunion or nonunion, scar contracture deformity and dysfunction, can lead to amputation and even death if handled inappropriately. ABSTRACT
Update on the Utility and Safety of Flexible Bronchoscopy in the Intensive Care Unit

Flexible bronchoscopy is a procedure that is utilized in many settings including the intensive care unit. In this patient population, it can be challenging given that most may have a significant illness or require certain therapies such as mechanical ventilation with high airway pressure or require anticoagulation that increases the risk of a complication with the procedure. This review focuses on the utility and safety of bronchoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in critically ill patients.
Personality, Risk Taking and Road Safety Knowledge as Predictors of Road Safety Behaviour

DOI: 10.21276/sjahss.2018. 6.3. 34 Abstract: The study was intended to examine the role of personality, risk taking behaviour, road safety knowledge and in determining the road safety behaviour. A sample of 200 participants (equal number of rural and urban) who drives 2/4wheelers was selected on basis of non-random incidental sampling from Rohtak district of Haryana. There were 120 males and 80 females. All the participants were uniformly administered NEO FFI, risk taking behaviour scale, self-constructed road safety knowledge scale and road safety behaviour scale. The data were analysed using Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression. Results revealed that conscientiousness, neuroticism; dimensions of personality, risk taking behaviour and road safety knowledge were the significant predictors of road safety behaviour. Conscientiousness and road safety knowledge were the positive predictors whereas risk taking behaviour and neuroticism were negative predictors, All the four taken together accounted for 39% (R 2 =.39) of the variance in road safety behaviour. The implications of the study are discussed for the road users and road safety organizations.
Assessment of Non-Sterile Pharmaceutical Compounding Practices in Selected Community and Hospital Pharmacies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the practices of non-sterile pharmaceutical compounding in selected 42 community and 3 hospital pharmacies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 01 April, 2016 to 15 May, 2016. The study revealed that the most commonly prescribed and compounded non-sterile pharmaceutical formulations in both the community and hospital pharmacies were dermatological creams and ointments. The compounding personnel in 41 (97.6%) of the community and 2 of the hospital pharmacies were not familiar with the non-sterile pharmaceutical compounding laboratory standards developed by the Drug Administration and Control Authority (DACA) of Ethiopia in 2002. Standard operating procedures were not prepared in 41 (97.6%) of the community pharmacies and 1 of the hospital pharmacies. Sixteen (38.0%) of the community pharmacies had no compounding record at all and 26 (62.0%) of the community pharmacies had compounding records which only contained the names and the strengths of the compounded preparations. From the current study, it can be concluded that both the community and hospital pharmacies do not fulfill most of the standard requirements set by the regulatory authority. Hence, it is recommended that the standards for good compounding laboratories developed by the regulatory authority should be cascaded and popularized to professionals working in the community and hospital pharmacies and the non-sterile pharmaceutical compounding service have to be regulated and inspected strictly. Keywords : community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, extemporaneous preparation, non-sterile pharmaceutical compounding, compounding standard
Effect of aging and lumbar spondylosis on lumbar lordosis

Background: Lumbar lordosis (LL), the anterior convexity of the lumbar spine in the mid-sagittal plane, gives the spine some resilience and helps in protecting it from compressive forces because some of the force is taken by the anterior longitudinal ligaments. In aging and lumbar spondylosis, the intervertebral discs undergo the same degenerative changes though at different rates, and in both, while some authors reported a straightening of LL, others reported no significant change. This morphologic information would hopefully influence therapeutic decision-making, particularly in lumbar spondylosis, which though usually asymptomatic, is a common cause of low back pain. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of aging and lumbar spondylosis on LL. Subjects and Methods: Lumbosacral joint angle (LSJA), an angular measure of LL, was retrospectively measured in 252 normal and 329 spondylotic adolescent and adult supine lateral lumbosacral spine archival radiographs, and data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0 (New York, USA). Results: Normal LSJA range was 5°–39°; the mean was 18.7° and showed insignificant variation with gender and aging. Spondylotic range was 5°–40° and the mean (20.8°) differed from the normal mean by about 2°, which probably have inconsequential effect on the lumbar curvature, suggesting that the normal and spondylotic mean values are essentially equal. The spondylotic mean also showed insignificant variation with aging and inconsequential 1° gender difference in favor of females. Conclusion: LL is substantially maintained in aging and lumbar spondylosis.