Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Through the Eyes of Patients: Understanding Treatment Burden of Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Injections for nAMD Patients in Norway

Purpose Patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) are treated with frequent intravitreal injections to maintain vision. The treatment frequency impacts the life of patients and caregivers and poses a major capacity challenge for Norwegian ophthalmic clinics. The purpose of this survey was to document patient-reported outcomes on how the disease and the treatment impact nAMD patients in Norway. Methods Norwegian nAMD patients voluntarily completed the survey. The patients reported the time spent on each treatment appointment, the need for caregiver support, treatment intervals, and the emotional impact of the treatment. There was no active selection of patients to the survey. Respondents had to confirm the nAMD diagnosis prior to submitting the response. All data was included in the analysis as submitted by the respondents. This survey was market research involving anonymous patient data, and no participants were identifiable. Results In total, 130 patients responded to the survey. The majority of patients reported to receive nine or more injections per year (48.8%), and many patients needed caregiver support for every treatment appointment (37.7%). Patients reported to be anxious one day (25.4%), two days (8.5%), one week (10.8%) or more than one week (3.1%) prior to treatment. The week before the treatment, 33.1% of patients reported to be stressed and 15.4% struggled to sleep. The majority of patients reported the treatment as uncomfortable (54.6%) or as somewhat painful (26.2%). The results on yearly number of injections, time used each treatment day and need for caregiver support suggested a variation between Norwegian hospital regions. Conclusions This survey uncovers how treatment with intravitreal injections represents a substantial burden for Norwegian patients with nAMD. Future research on how the treatment burden impacts nAMD patients may lead to more patient-centered care and help guide treatment decisions. New treatments with longer intervals between injections are likely to both reduce the treatment burden and improve capacity in ophthalmology clinics.
The role of accelerator programmes in supporting the adoption of digital health technologies: A qualitative study of the perspectives of small- and medium-sized enterprises

Objective Evidence-based digital health technologies are increasingly important in delivering care to an ageing population with constrained resources. In the United Kingdom, accelerator programmes (APs) have been developed to support the adoption of digital health technologies within the National Health Service. This study aims to explore the perspectives of stakeholders using APs. Methods Stakeholders representing nine small -and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that were engaged with three different APs (n = 9). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants between April and September 2018. Framework analysis of the data was performed to explore their perspectives on APs. Results Four key themes were generated. Informants reported the need to generate evidence before and during the programme, appreciating different types of evidence and their importance. Informants identified several key factors that were a catalyst for success, including involvement in the programme and access to individuals and organisations that were crucial for support. However, several barriers were identified at the programme and system levels. Finally, informants identified key supporting processes that enhanced the adoption of their innovations. Conclusion SMEs that develop digital health technologies report that, while APs are useful in supporting the adoption of these technologies, some issues remain. These relate to the emphasis on traditional research evidence that remains a challenge for SMEs to generate. Also, several system-level barriers to innovation in healthcare persist. As APs and SMEs continue to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem, there is increased potential for the development of supporting processes and infrastructure to accelerate the efficient and timely adoption of new digital health technologies.
Blockchain adoption in logistics companies in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract Over the recent years, blockchain, a digitalization phenomenon, has leveraged its superior features to remodel the relationships of logistics partners. This cutting-edge technology has brought a faster, more transparent, and cost-effective logistics industry. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the behavioral intention to use the blockchain of individuals who work in logistics companies in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Viet Nam, through the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and its extended factors. Accordingly, non-probability sampling with convenience sampling has been chosen. A questionnaire was used to collect data from logistics workers before exploring and clarifying factors affecting the users’ intention, namely performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), and facilitating conditions (FC). In addition, experience (EXP) was also expected to influence the relationships. Therefore, a multi-analytical hybrid structural equation modeling-artificial neural network (SEM-ANN) approach was used to evaluate the gathered data empirically. The expert panel examined the established questionnaire through face validity and content validity to ensure the validity and reliability of the survey instrument. The findings revealed the different positive impacts of factors on the intention to use blockchain. While the result of the PLS-SEM technique is a descending order impact of PE, FC, EE, SI, and EXP was found that have no meaningful effect on the relationships, the ANN approach produces a surprising conclusion when SI ranks first in the magnitude of influence.
Phenolic Content, Amino Acids, Volatile Compounds, Antioxidant Capacity, and Their Relationship in Wild Garlic (A. ursinum L.)

Allium ursinum L. is a wild relative of garlic, and it is abundant in many antioxidant compounds. Sulfur compounds, primarily cysteine sulfoxides (CSOs), are converted through several reactions into various volatile molecules, which are considered the principal flavor compounds of Alliums. In addition to secondary metabolites, wild garlic is abundant in primary compounds, such as amino acids, which serve not only as building blocks for the health-promoting sulfur compounds but also as antioxidants. The aim of this study was to investigate the link between individual amino acid contents, the total phenolic content, and the profile of volatile compounds as well as their influence on the antioxidant capacity of both the leaves and bulbs of wild garlic populations in Croatia. Both univariate and multivariate methods were used to study the differences in the phytochemical compositions among the wild garlic plant organs and the link between individual compounds and antioxidant capacity. Both the plant organ and location, as well as their interaction, have a significant impact on the content of total phenolic content, amino acids, volatile organic compounds, and the antioxidant capacity of wild garlic.
Cohomology of commutative Banach algebras and ` 1 -semigroup algebras

In this thesis we investigate the higher cohomology groups of various classes of Banach algebras, focusing on the `1-convolution algebras of commutative semigroups. The properties of amenability and weak amenability have been studied by many authors. A theme of the work presented here is that for commutative Banach algebras, vanishing conditions on simplicial cohomology – which provide a spectrum of intermediate notions between weak and full amenability – yield partial results on cohomology with symmetric coefficients. The strongest such vanishing condition is simplicial trivality. We show that the augmentation ideals of `1-group algebras are simplicially trivial for a wide class of groups: this class includes all torsion-free, finitely-generated word-hyperbolic groups, but not the direct product F2×F2. Using very different arguments we show that the ` 1convolution algebras of commutative Clifford semigroups are simplicially trivial. The proof requires an inductive normalisation argument not covered by existing results in the literature. Recent results on the simplicial cohomology of `(Z+) are used to obtain vanishing results for the cohomology of `(Z+) in degrees 3 and above for a restricted class of symmetric coefficient modules. In doing so we briefly investigate topological and algebraic properties of the first simplicial homology group of `(Z+). In contrast, examples are given of weighted convolution algebras on Z whose third simplicial cohomology groups are non-Hausdorff (and in particular are non-zero). We also investigate a natural extension of the cohomological notion of a smooth commutative ring to the setting of commutative Banach algebras, giving examples to show that the notion is perhaps too restrictive in a functional-analytic setting.
Modeling of Physical Activity Behavioral Interventions Relying on MPC Strategy

Physical inactivity is becoming an important threat to public health in today’s society. The COVID-19 pandemic has also reduced physical activity (PA) levels given all the restrictions imposed worldwide. In this work, physical activity interventions supported by mobile devices and relying on control engineering principles were proposed. The model was constructed relying on previous studies that consider a fluid analogy of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), which is a psychological theory that describes how people acquire and maintain certain behaviors, including health-promoting behaviors, through the interplay of personal, environmental, and behavioral factors. The obtained model was validated using secondary data (collected earlier) from a real intervention with a group of male subjects in Great Britain. The present model was extended with new technology for a better understanding of behavior change interventions. This involved the use of applications, such as phone-based ecological momentary assessments, to collect behavioral data and the inclusion of simulations with logical reward conditions for reaching the behavioral threshold. A goal of 10,000 steps per day is recommended due to the significant link observed between higher daily step counts and lower mortality risk. The intervention was designed using a Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithm configured to obtain a desired performance. The system was tested and validated using simulation scenarios that resemble different situations that may occur in a real setting.
Micro Injection Molding of Drug-Loaded Round Window Niche Implants for an Animal Model Using 3D-Printed Molds

A novel approach for the long-term medical treatment of the inner ear is the diffusion of drugs through the round window membrane from a patient-individualized, drug-eluting implant, which is inserted in the middle ear. In this study, drug-loaded (10 wt% Dexamethasone) guinea pig round window niche implants (GP-RNIs, ~1.30 mm × 0.95 mm × 0.60 mm) were manufactured with high precision via micro injection molding (µIM, Tmold = 160 °C, crosslinking time of 120 s). Each implant has a handle (~3.00 mm × 1.00 mm × 0.30 mm) that can be used to hold the implant. A medical-grade silicone elastomer was used as implant material. Molds for µIM were 3D printed from a commercially available resin (TG = 84 °C) via a high-resolution DLP process (xy resolution of 32 µm, z resolution of 10 µm, 3D printing time of about 6 h). Drug release, biocompatibility, and bioefficacy of the GP-RNIs were investigated in vitro. GP-RNIs could be successfully produced. The wear of the molds due to thermal stress was observed. However, the molds are suitable for single use in the µIM process. About 10% of the drug load (8.2 ± 0.6 µg) was released after 6 weeks (medium: isotonic saline). The implants showed high biocompatibility over 28 days (lowest cell viability ~80%). Moreover, we found anti-inflammatory effects over 28 days in a TNF-α-reduction test. These results are promising for the development of long-term drug-releasing implants for human inner ear therapy.
Ready for Prime Time? Dendritic Cells in High-Grade Gliomas

Simple Summary Although the immune system can mount effective responses against antigens within the CNS, this does not occur in the context of high-grade gliomas. Considered to be the primary antigen presenters, dendritic cells (DC) are essential for initiating antitumor immune responses through tumor antigen and presentation to T cells and through the secretion of chemokines for T cell migration. Many immunotherapies depend on antigen presentation by dendritic cells, yet dendritic cells are understudied in the specific context of brain tumors such as high-grade gliomas. Accordingly, this review summarizes the presence and function of dendritic cells within the tumor microenvironment of high-grade gliomas with special consideration of therapeutic opportunities. Abstract High-grade gliomas are malignant brain tumors, and patient outcomes remain dismal despite the emergence of immunotherapies aimed at promoting tumor elimination by the immune system. A robust antitumor immune response requires the presentation of tumor antigens by dendritic cells (DC) to prime cytolytic T cells. However, there is a paucity of research on dendritic cell activity in the context of high-grade gliomas. As such, this review covers what is known about the role of DC in the CNS, DC infiltration of high-grade gliomas, tumor antigen drainage, the immunogenicity of DC activity, and DC subsets involved in the antitumor immune response. Finally, we consider the implications of suboptimal DC function in the context of immunotherapies and identify opportunities to optimize immunotherapies to treat high-grade gliomas.
Impact of Short-Term (+)-JQ1 Exposure on Mouse Aorta: Unanticipated Inhibition of Smooth Muscle Contractility

(+)-JQ1, a specific chemical inhibitor of bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family protein 4 (BRD4), has been reported to inhibit smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and mouse neointima formation via BRD4 regulation and modulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of (+)-JQ1 on smooth muscle contractility and the underlying mechanisms. Using wire myography, we discovered that (+)-JQ1 inhibited contractile responses in mouse aortas with or without functional endothelium, reducing myosin light chain 20 (LC20) phosphorylation and relying on extracellular Ca2+. In mouse aortas lacking functional endothelium, BRD4 knockout did not alter the inhibition of contractile responses by (+)-JQ1. In primary cultured SMCs, (+)-JQ1 inhibited Ca2+ influx. In aortas with intact endothelium, (+)-JQ1 inhibition of contractile responses was reversed by NOS inhibition (L-NAME) or guanylyl cyclase inhibition (ODQ) and by blocking the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway. In cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), (+)-JQ1 rapidly activated AKT and eNOS, which was reversed by PI3K or ATK inhibition. Intraperitoneal injection of (+)-JQ1 reduced mouse systolic blood pressure, an effect blocked by co-treatment with L-NAME. Interestingly, (+)-JQ1 inhibition of aortic contractility and its activation of eNOS and AKT were mimicked by the (−)-JQ1 enantiomer, which is structurally incapable of inhibiting BET bromodomains. In summary, our data suggest that (+)-JQ1 directly inhibits smooth muscle contractility and indirectly activates the PI3K/AKT/eNOS cascade in endothelial cells; however, these effects appear unrelated to BET inhibition. We conclude that (+)-JQ1 exhibits an off-target effect on vascular contractility.
Development of nanostructured lipid carrier containing tea tree oil: Physicochemical properties and stability

Context: Tea tree oil (TTO) is an essential oil derived from Melaleuca alternifolia, with high antimicrobial and antifungal potential. Unfortunately, its topical antifungal efficacy is limited because it is volatile, thermolabile and easily oxidized. A formulation has been developed to overcome this problem by encapsulating TTO in a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC). Aims: To determine the effect of the liquid to solid lipid ratio on the physicochemical properties and the stability of TTO-loaded NLC. Methods: Five formula of TTO-loaded NLCs were produced by high shear homogenization method and characterized according to their particle size, size distribution, polydispersity, zeta potential, thermal characteristics, X-ray diffraction, and terpinen-4-ol concentration. In addition, a stability study was conducted by observing its physical and chemical characteristics during storage in the refrigerator (4 ± 2°C) and at room temperature (27 ± 2°C) for six months. Results: The resulting TTO-loaded NLC had an average droplet size under 400 nm. The particle size increases with increasing amount of liquid lipid in the formula. There were insignificant changes in organoleptic properties, polydispersity index, zeta potential and terpinene-4-ol concentration during stability study for six months. However, the particle size slightly increased during the six months of storage. Furthermore, the NLC 3, which formulated with a 25:95 ratio liquid to solid lipid, was be chosen as the best formula, since it demonstrated the best physicochemical characteristic and stability. Conclusions: TTO-loaded NLC with good physicochemical characteristics and stability has been successfully developed. In addition, NLC 3 is considered as the best NLC formula, which exhibits characteristics and stability that meet the requirements.
Investigating the Impact of User Trust on the Adoption and Use of ChatGPT: Survey Analysis

Background ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) has gained popularity for its ability to generate human-like responses. It is essential to note that overreliance or blind trust in ChatGPT, especially in high-stakes decision-making contexts, can have severe consequences. Similarly, lacking trust in the technology can lead to underuse, resulting in missed opportunities. Objective This study investigated the impact of users’ trust in ChatGPT on their intent and actual use of the technology. Four hypotheses were tested: (1) users’ intent to use ChatGPT increases with their trust in the technology; (2) the actual use of ChatGPT increases with users’ intent to use the technology; (3) the actual use of ChatGPT increases with users’ trust in the technology; and (4) users’ intent to use ChatGPT can partially mediate the effect of trust in the technology on its actual use. Methods This study distributed a web-based survey to adults in the United States who actively use ChatGPT (version 3.5) at least once a month between February 2023 through March 2023. The survey responses were used to develop 2 latent constructs: Trust and Intent to Use, with Actual Use being the outcome variable. The study used partial least squares structural equation modeling to evaluate and test the structural model and hypotheses. Results In the study, 607 respondents completed the survey. The primary uses of ChatGPT were for information gathering (n=219, 36.1%), entertainment (n=203, 33.4%), and problem-solving (n=135, 22.2%), with a smaller number using it for health-related queries (n=44, 7.2%) and other activities (n=6, 1%). Our model explained 50.5% and 9.8% of the variance in Intent to Use and Actual Use, respectively, with path coefficients of 0.711 and 0.221 for Trust on Intent to Use and Actual Use, respectively. The bootstrapped results failed to reject all 4 null hypotheses, with Trust having a significant direct effect on both Intent to Use (β=0.711, 95% CI 0.656-0.764) and Actual Use (β=0.302, 95% CI 0.229-0.374). The indirect effect of Trust on Actual Use, partially mediated by Intent to Use, was also significant (β=0.113, 95% CI 0.001-0.227). Conclusions Our results suggest that trust is critical to users’ adoption of ChatGPT. It remains crucial to highlight that ChatGPT was not initially designed for health care applications. Therefore, an overreliance on it for health-related advice could potentially lead to misinformation and subsequent health risks. Efforts must be focused on improving the ChatGPT’s ability to distinguish between queries that it can safely handle and those that should be redirected to human experts (health care professionals). Although risks are associated with excessive trust in artificial intelligence–driven chatbots such as ChatGPT, the potential risks can be reduced by advocating for shared accountability and fostering collaboration between developers, subject matter experts, and human factors researchers.
FINITE ELEMENT SOLUTION TO MIXED CONVECTION IN MHD FLOW OF MICROPOLAR FLUID ALONG A MOVING VERTICAL CYLINDER WITH VARIABLE CONDUCTIVITY

This paper presents the numerical solution to mixed convective flow of a micropolar fluid along a moving vertical slender hollow circular cylinder with suction and variable electric conductivity. The boundary layer in a micropolar fluid flowing in the presence of variable magnetic field is investigated, assuming that the electric conductivity of the fluid is dependent on its velocity. The non-linear governing equations and their associated boundary conditions are solved using two-dimensional finite element techniques with a local non- similar transformation. This study investigates the effects of important parameters namely micropolar parameter (
Modified Gaussian distributions for slightly nonlinear variables

Many random variables are almost linear, in the sense that they can be represented approximately as the sun'l of independ ent components in random phase. Sueh variables (for example, the surface elevation in a r andom sea) may have a gaussian distribution in thl' first approximation . Howev er in higher approximations the phases of the different components become correlated, due to nonlinear inte ractions. The purpose of this paper is to show theoretically what is the effect of such nonlinearities on the basic gaus ian diRtribution. The modifi ed distribution is derived both for a single variable an d for two or more related variables (such as the components of slope of a rand om surfaee) . The results are applied in the first place to sca waves, and are compared with ob ervations. However the analysis is applicable quite generally to any such non li near variables . Two further problems are solved for weakly non linear vari ables: the mean num ber of zeros per uni t time of a stationary random function nl) and the distribution of the maximum values of nl) . These solutions are essentially generali zat ions of the well-known results of Rice for gaus ian variables.