Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting 3D Body Shape and Body Composition from Conventional 2D Photography.

PURPOSE Total and regional body composition are important indicators of health and mortality risk, but their measurement is usually restricted to controlled environments in clinical settings with expensive and specialized equipment. A method that approaches the accuracy of the current gold standard method, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), while only requiring input from widely available consumer grade equipment, would enable the measurement of these important biometrics in the wild, enabling data collection at a scale that would have previously been prohibitive in time and expense. We describe an algorithm for predicting 3-dimensional body shape and composition from a single frontal 2-dimensional image acquired with a digital consumer camera. METHODS Duplicate 3D optical scans, 2D optical images, and DXA whole body scans were available for 183 men and 233 women from the Shape Up! Adults Study. A principal component analysis vector basis was fit to 3D point clouds of a training subset of 152 men and 194 women. The relationship between this vector space and DXA-derived body composition was modeled with linear regression. The principal component 3D shape was then fitted to match a silhouette extracted from a 2D photograph of a novel body. Body composition was predicted from the resulting 3D shape match using the linear mapping between the principal component parameters and the DXA metrics. Accuracy of body composition estimates from the silhouette method was evaluated against a simple model using height and weight as a baseline, and against DXA measurements as ground truth. Test-retest precision of the silhouette method was evaluated using the duplicate 2D optical images and compared against precision of the duplicate DXA scans. Paired t-tests were performed to detect significant differences between the sets. RESULTS Results were reported on a held-out set. Body composition prediction achieved R2s of 0.81 and 0.74 for percent fat prediction of males and females, respectively, on a held-out test set consisting of 31 males and 39 females. Precision estimates for fat mass were 2.31% and 2.06% for males and females, respectively, compared to 1.26% and 0.68% for DXA scans. The t-tests revealed no statistically significant differences between the silhouette method measurements and DXA measurements, or between retests. CONCLUSION Total and regional body composition measures can be estimated from a single frontal photograph of a human body. Body composition prediction using consumer level photography can enable early screening and monitoring of possible physiological indicators of metabolic disease in regions where medical imagery or clinical assessment is inaccessible.
Starch-Rich Diet Induced Rumen Acidosis and Hindgut Dysbiosis in Dairy Cows of Different Lactations

Simple Summary High-producing dairy cows receive high-energy diets for maintenance and production. This study showed that 60% concentrate in the diet, containing 27.7% starch, changed the fecal-microbial community and lowered its diversity, suggesting hindgut dysbiosis. Both ruminal and fecal pH decreased with high-starch feeding, which suggests further investigations in fecal pH as rumen- and hindgut-acidosis diagnostic tool. Cows in the third lactation spent more time below the threshold for subacute-ruminal acidosis (pH 6.0) than second or fourth-or-below lactation cows. Their higher susceptibility was caused by their high dry matter intake but missing counter-regulation by increased rumination activity. Further, we suggest that body weight and rumen size might play a role in the absorptive capacity of short-chain fatty acids. The study also identified indicator-bacterial phylotypes that changed with starch-rich diet and lactation number. In conclusion, we suggest including lactation number as a factor in practical feeding management for identification of high risk-cows for acidosis, and in dairy cow research. Abstract Starch-rich diets can cause subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in dairy cows with potentially different susceptibility according to lactation number. We wanted to evaluate the bacterial community and the fermentation end products in feces to study susceptibility to hindgut acidosis and dysbiosis. Sixteen dairy cows received a medium-concentrate diet (MC, 40% concentrate, 18.8% starch) for one week and a high-concentrate diet (HC, 60% concentrate, 27.7% starch, DM) for four weeks. Milk yield, dry-matter intake, chewing activity, ruminal pH, milk constituents, and fecal samples for short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), pH, and 16S rRNA-gene sequencing were investigated. The HC feeding caused a reduction in fecal pH, bacterial diversity and richness, an increase in total SCFA, and a separate phylogenetic clustering of MC and HC samples. Ruminal and fecal pH had fair correlation (r = 0.5). Cows in the second lactation (2ndL) had lower dry matter intake (DMI) than cows of third or fourth or more lactations (3rdL; ≥4 L), whereas DMI/kg body weight was lower for ≥4 L than for 2ndL and 3rdL cows. The mean ruminal pH was highest in ≥4 L, whereas the time spent below the SARA threshold was highest for 3rdL cows. The latter also had higher total SCFA in the feces. Our results suggest that hindgut dysbiosis is caused by increased substrate flow to the hindgut, but further investigations are needed to define hindgut acidosis. The 3rdL cows were most susceptible to rumen acidosis and hindgut dysbiosis due to high DMI level, but missing counter regulations, as suggested happening in 2ndL and ≥4 L cows.
Immunoinformatics approach for predicting epitopes in HN and F proteins of Porcine rubulavirus

Porcine rubulavirus (PRV), which belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae, causes blue eye disease in pigs, characterized by encephalitis and reproductive failure in newborn and adult pigs, respectively. There is no effective treatment against PRV and no information on the effectiveness of the available vaccines. Continuous outbreaks have occurred in Mexico since the early 1980s, which have caused serious economic losses to pig producers. Vaccination can be used to control this disease. Searching for effective antigen candidates against PRV, we first sequenced the PAC1 F protein, then we used various immunoinformatics tools to predict antigenic determinants of B-cells and T-cells against the two glycoproteins of the virus (HN and F proteins). Finally, we used AutoDock Vina to determine the binding energies. We obtained the F gene sequence of a PRV strain collected in the early 1990s in Mexico and compared its amino acid profile with previous and more recent strains, obtaining an identity similarity of 97.78 to 99.26%. For the F proteins, seven linear B-cell epitopes, six conformational B-cell epitopes and twenty-nine T-cell MHC class I epitopes were predicted. For the HN proteins, sixteen linear B-cell epitopes, seven conformational B-cell epitopes and thirty-four T-cell MHC class I epitopes were predicted. The ATRSETDYY and AAYTTTTCF epitopes of the HN protein might be important for neutralizing the viral infection. We determined the in silico binding energy between the predicted epitopes on the F and HN proteins and swine MHC-I molecules. The binding energy of these epitopes ranged from -5.8 to -7.8 kcal/mol. The present study aimed to assess the use of HN and F proteins as antigens, either as recombinant proteins or as a series of peptides that could activate different responses of the immune system. This may help identify relevant immunogens, saving time and costs in the development of new vaccines or diagnostic tools.
DCLK1, a Putative Stem Cell Marker in Human Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a very aggressive cancer showing the presence of high cancer stem cells (CSCs). Doublecortin‐like kinase1 (DCLK1) has been demonstrated as a CSC marker in different gastroenterological solid tumors. Our aim was to evaluate in vitro the expression and the biological function of DCLK1 in intrahepatic CCA (iCCA) and perihilar CCA (pCCA).
Use of an educational intervention to increase screening for antenatal depression in an obstetrics and gynecology practice

ABSTRACT Background: Depression affects approximately 12% of pregnant women and increases maternal and fetal risk during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The United States Preventative Services Task Force and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that all prenatal care include depression screening. This study assessed the effectiveness of an educational intervention to increase screening for depression during prenatal care. Local problem: The clinical site serves a socioeconomically and culturally high-risk population. Prior to the intervention, prenatal depression screening was not incorporated into prenatal care. Methods: Health records of patients presenting for prenatal care to an obstetrics and gynecology clinic were analyzed before an educational intervention on prenatal depression was delivered to providers at the practice site. Data for prenatal depression screening rates, treatment plans, and patient demographic information were extracted and compared to determine compliance with antenatal depression screening guidelines. Interventions: The primary intervention of this initiative is the provision of education on the importance of and techniques for prenatal depression screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Results: Prenatal depression screening increased from 0% to 27% of patients following the intervention. No significant correlation was found between factors of age, gestational age, gravidity, parity, or marital status. A total of 2.8% of screened patients scored positive for severe depression, 5.7% indicated moderate depression, and 51% indicated mild depression. Conclusions: Education and training improves provision of prenatal depression screening, but further work is needed to improve the accurate and timely identification of depression, as well as its appropriate treatment, referral, and follow-up.
Diabetes and acculturation in African immigrants to the United States: analysis of the 2010–2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

ABSTRACT Objective: This study sought to assess the association between unidimensional acculturation and diabetes, and analyze mediating pathways of the association in African immigrants to the United States (U.S.). Hypothesis: Acculturation would be positively associated with diabetes and that BMI (Body mass index), physical activity, and psychological distress would mediate this association. Methods: An analysis of cross-sectional data from the 2010–2017 National Health Interview Surveys was performed. Adults aged ≥ 18 years who were born in Africa (African immigrants) and residing in the U.S. were considered. The outcome was self-reported diabetes, and acculturation was defined by percent of life spent in the U.S. and citizenship. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between acculturation and diabetes, and mediation analysis was used to examine the mediating effects of BMI, physical activity, and psychological distress on this association. Results: The analytic sample included 1648 African immigrants with mean (SD) age of 41.3 ± 0.45 years; 56.4% male. Additionally, 46% had ≥ college education, and 21.4% lived below the poverty threshold. About two-thirds were overweight/obese. Less than 50% exercised at adequate levels of physical activity levels. A small percentage (1.8%) reported psychological distress. The prevalence of self-reported diabetes was 6.1%, and 76.5% reported being acculturated. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, higher levels of acculturation were associated with higher odds of diabetes diagnosis (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.1–4.4). Although BMI mediated the association between acculturation and diabetes ( = 2.11, p = 0.036), only 18.9% of the total effect of acculturation on diabetes was explained by BMI. Conclusions: Acculturation increased the odds of diabetes diagnosis, and BMI mediated the association. Thus, tailoring culturally-appropriate interventions to control BMI may contribute to preventing diabetes within African immigrant communities to the U.S.
Hybrid treatment of aortic aneurism, type‐A dissection, and aortic valve stenosis

Hybrid multidisciplinary interventions are attractive care options for heart valve and vascular diseases in high‐risk patients. We describe the feasibility of staged hybrid aortic arch repair to treat a type Ia endoleak and transcatheter aortic valve replacement to treat an aortic valve stenosis, achieving an escape strategy to treat an unexpected type‐A aortic dissection.
Magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities as a marker of multiple system atrophy in isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Patients with isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (IRBD) develop Parkinson disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), or multiple system atrophy (MSA). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is abnormal in MSA showing abnormalities in the putamen, cerebellum, and brainstem. Our objective was to evaluate the usefulness of MRI to detect MRI abnormalities in IRBD and predict development of MSA and not PD and DLB. METHODS In IRBD patients that eventually developed PD, DLB, and MSA, we looked for the specific structural MRI abnormalities described in manifest MSA (e.g. hot cross-bun sign, putaminal rim, and cerebellar atrophy). We compared the frequency of these MRI changes among groups of converters (PD, DLB, and MSA) and analyzed their ability to predict development of MSA. The clinical and radiological features of the IRBD patients that eventually converted to MSA are described in detail. RESULTS A total of 61 IRBD patients who underwent MRI phenoconverted to PD (n = 30), DLB (n = 26), and MSA (n = 5) after a median follow-up of 2.4 years from neuroimaging. MRI changes typical of MSA were found in four of the five (80%) patients who converted to MSA and in three of the 56 (5.4%) patients who developed PD or DLB. MRI changes of MSA had sensitivity of 80.0%, specificity of 94.6%, positive likelihood ratio of 14.9 (95% CI 4.6-48.8), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.2 (95% CI 0.04-1.2) to predict MSA. CONCLUSIONS In IRBD, conventional brain MRI is helpful to predict conversion to MSA. The specific MRI abnormalities of manifest MSA may be detected in its premotor stage.
In Vitro Digestion and Fermentation by Human Fecal Microbiota of Polysaccharides from Flaxseed

The digestion of flaxseed polysaccharides (FSP) in simulated saliva, gastric and small intestine conditions was assessed, as well as in vitro fermentation of FSP by human gut microbiota. FSP was not degraded in the simulated digestive systems (there was no change in molecular weight or content of reducing sugars), indicating that ingested FSP would reach the large intestine intact. Changes in carbohydrate content, reducing sugars and culture pH suggested that FSP could be broken down and used by gut microbiota. FSP modulated the composition and structure of the gut microbiota by altering the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and increasing the relative abundances of Prevotella, Phascolarctobacterium, Clostridium and Megamonas, which can degrade polysaccharides. Meanwhile, FSP fermentation increased the concentration of short-chain fatty acids, especially propionic and butyric acids. Our results indicate that FSP might be developed as a functional food that benefits gut health.
Population Dynamics of the Mango Mealybug Rastrococcus invadens Williams (Homoptera: Pseudococcidea) in Western Burkina Faso

Aims: The study aimed at determining the periods of high pest population of the mango tree mealybug Rastrococcus invadens Williams with respect to biotic and abiotic factors. Study Design: Semiweekly observations were performed on the mango trees with a view of assessing the density of alive, dead or parasitized R. invadens. Original Research Article Nebie et al.; AJEA, 11(6): 1-11, 2016; Article no.AJEA. 24819 2 Place and Duration of the Study: This study was conducted in Western Burkina Faso from May 2014 to April 2015. Methodology: A set of mango trees was selected in each of the following locations: Toussiana, Beregadougou and Orodara. The assessment was conducted on 20 leaves (five leaves per cardinal point) that were picked up from each mango tree at each observation date. The parasitized mealybugs were kept inside pill boxes for two weeks and the emerging parasitoids were collected and kept in alcohol 70°. Data were registered and processed with the Microsoft Excel 2010 and SPSS software. Results: Results showed that R. invadens’ populations were more abundant during the wet season (May-September 2014) than the dry season (November 2014-April 2015) in all study locations. In general, parasitism was low. Some peaks of abundance were recorded in both wet and dry seasons. The evolution of the mortality of the insect pest was the same in all locations and peaks were observed from December 2014 to April 2015. The density of living R. invadens was significantly correlated with temperature and relative humidity. Impact of the parasitism due to Anagyrus mangicola Noyes and Gyranusoidea tebygi Noyes were also assessed and discussed. Conclusion: Periods of R. invadens populations’ abundance are well known in Western Burkina Faso. The parasitoids A. mangicola and G. tebygi are well established. The level of parasitism could be improved by releasing of A. mangicola and G. tebygi to control R. invadens efficiently.
Modeling of Cutting Parameters and Tool Geometry for Multi-Criteria Optimization of Surface Roughness and Vibration via Response Surface Methodology in Turning of AISI 5140 Steel

AISI 5140 is a steel alloy used for manufacturing parts of medium speed and medium load such as gears and shafts mainly used in automotive applications. Parts made from AISI 5140 steel require machining processes such as turning and milling to achieve the final part shape. Limited research has been reported on the machining vibration and surface roughness during turning of AISI 5140 in the open literature. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to conduct a systematic study to determine the optimum cutting conditions, analysis of vibration and surface roughness under different cutting speeds, feed rates and cutting edge angles using response surface methodology (RSM). Prediction models were developed and optimum turning parameters were obtained for averaged surface roughness (Ra) and three components of vibration (axial, radial and tangential) using RSM. The results demonstrated that the feed rate was the most affecting parameter in increasing the surface roughness (69.4%) and axial vibration (65.8%) while cutting edge angle and cutting speed were dominant on radial vibration (75.5%) and tangential vibration (64.7%), respectively. In order to obtain minimum vibration for all components and surface roughness, the optimum parameters were determined as Vc = 190 m/min, f = 0.06 mm/rev, κ = 60° with high reliability (composite desirability = 90.5%). A good agreement between predicted and measured values was obtained with the developed model to predict surface roughness and vibration during turning of AISI 5140 within a 10% error range.
Tricuspid Valve Anterior Leaflet Strains in Ovine Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) is thought to arise due to annular dilation and alteration of right ventricular (RV) geometry in the presence of normal leaflets, yet mitral leaflets have been shown to remodel significantly in functional mitral regurgitation. We set out to evaluate tricuspid valve anterior leaflet deformations in ovine FTR. Eleven animals (FTR group) underwent implantation of a pacemaker with high rate pacing to induce biventricular dysfunction and at least moderate TR. Subsequently, both FTR (n=11) and Control (n=12) animals underwent implantation of 6 sonomicrometry crystals around the tricuspid annulus, 4 on the anterior leaflet, and 14 on RV epicardium. Tricuspid valve geometry and anterior leaflet strains were calculated from crystal coordinates. Left ventricular ejection fraction and RV fractional area change were significantly lower in FTR animals versus Control. Tricuspid annular area, septo-lateral diameter, RV pressures were all significantly greater in the FTR group. Mean TR grade (+0-3) was 0.7±0.5 in Control and 2.4±0.5 in FTR (p=<0.001). The anterior leaflet area and length increased significantly. Global radial leaflet strain was significantly lower in FTR mostly driven by decreased free edge leaflet strain. Global circumferential anterior leaflet strain was also significantly lower in FTR with more remarkable reduction in the belly region. Rapid ventricular pacing in sheep resulted in a clinically pertinent model of RV and annular dilation with FTR and leaflet enlargement. Both circumferential and radial anterior leaflet strains were significantly reduced with FTR. Functional TR may be associated with alteration of leaflet mechanical properties.
Psoriasis severity: commonly used clinical thresholds may not adequately convey patient impact

Psoriasis severity is usually evaluated using quantitative and qualitative measures, including per cent body surface area (BSA) involvement, the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), a patient‐reported questionnaire. However, standardized definitions for psoriasis severity categories have not been well established. A PASI of 10 or 12 has remained the minimal severity threshold defining eligibility for psoriasis treatments. In the present study, the validity of this cut‐off was re‐evaluated in the context of quality of life.
Seasonal abundance of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) butter fly (Pieris brassicae) and its management

A field experiment was carried out during 44th standard meteorological week (SMW) of 2006 to 15th SMW of 2007 at C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India to study seasonal abundance of cabbage butter fly (Pieris brassicae Linn.) on cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.). Results revealed that the fly appeared during 1st week of February and reached its peak (22.45 larvae plant-1 with 38.5% infestation) during 2nd week of March and continued till first week of April. Infestation of cabbage butter fly increases with atmospheric temperature and relative humidity. The fly was effectively managed with the use of methylchlorpyriphos (0.04%) spray. This treatment recorded higher head yield of cabbage by 65.16% over the control.