Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Audiologists’ preferences in programming cochlear implants: A preliminary report

Background: There is little data available addressing how clinical audiologists handle cochlear implant (CI) programming between device manufacturers and make decisions on related services, particularly in the United States. Objectives: This study sought to understand the techniques and settings professionals use with their patients, how they approach bimodal fitting, which tests they use to evaluate patient and device performance, and their overall preferences of (re)habilitative options. Methods: A questionnaire was developed and distributed to CI audiologists throughout the United States electronically. Results: All respondents reported either always or almost always using Cochlear’s default signal processing strategy in contrast to the 64% reported for Med-El and 40% for Advanced Bionics. A trend of less use of electrically evoked stapedial reflex threshold (eSRT) than electrically evoked compound action potentials (eCAP) for objective measures was revealed. Higher likelihood of performing speech recognition tests in quiet than in noise was revealed. Preferences for bimodal fitting trend toward using a partner company’s hearing aid, although preferences were comparable in adopting four types of hearing aid formulas surveyed in the questionnaire. Conclusions: These data confirm high variability among audiologists’ CI programming practices, and documenting these differences is an important step to understanding how to best treat patients.
Pegbelfermin (BMS-986036): an investigational PEGylated fibroblast growth factor 21 analogue for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide and is strongly associated with obesity and insulin resistance. NAFLD refers to a spectrum of disorders ranging from asymptomatic hepatic steatosis (nonalcoholic fatty liver, NAFL) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which increases the risk of developing more severe forms of liver disease such as progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Currently, there are no food and drug administration (FDA) approved drugs to treat NASH. Pegbelfermin (BMS-986036) is a PEGylated fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) analogue that is under investigation for the treatment of NASH. Areas covered: We reviewed the (pre)clinical pegbelfermin studies and compared these with other studies that assessed FGF21 and FGF21 analogues in the treatment of NASH. Expert opinion: With no FDA approved treatments available for NASH, there is an urgent need for novel therapies. Pegbelfermin is a systemic treatment with pleiotropic effects on various tissues. Short-term adverse effects are limited, but more research is required to study potential long-term safety issues. In a phase 2a trial, pegbelfermin has shown promising improvements in several NASH related outcomes. However, clinical trials demonstrating long-term benefits on hard outcomes such as liver histology, cirrhosis development, or survival are required for further validation.
Intrahepatic bacterial metataxonomic signature in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective We aimed to characterise the liver tissue bacterial metataxonomic signature in two independent cohorts of patients with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) diagnosis, as differences in the host phenotypic features—from moderate to severe obesity—may be associated with significant changes in the microbial DNA profile. Design and methods Liver tissue samples from 116 individuals, comprising of 47 NAFLD overweight or moderately obese patients, 50 NAFLD morbidly obese patients elected for bariatric surgery and 19 controls, were analysed using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results Liver bacterial DNA profile significantly differs between morbidly obese and non-morbidly obese patients with NAFLD. Bacteroidetes (p=1.8e-18) and Firmicutes (p=0.0044) were over-represented in morbidly obese patients and Proteobacteria (p=5.2e-10)—specifically Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria, and Deinococcus-Thermus (p=0.00012)—were over-represented in the non-morbidly obese cohort. Cohort-specific analysis of liver microbial DNA signatures shows patterns linked to obesity. The imbalance in Proteobacteria (Alpha or Gamma) among non-morbidly obese patients, and Peptostreptococcaceae, Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria and Gamma Proteobacteria DNA among morbidly obese patients was associated with histological severity. Decreased amounts of bacterial DNA from the Lachnospiraceae family were associated with more severe histological features. Proteobacteria DNA was consistently associated with lobular and portal inflammation scores. Microbial DNA composition corresponded to predicted functional differences. Conclusion This is the first comprehensive study showing that the liver tissue of NAFLD patients contains a diverse repertoire of bacterial DNA (up to 2.5×104 read counts). The liver metataxonomic signature may explain differences in the NAFLD pathogenic mechanisms as well as physiological functions of the host.
Determinants of parental report of dental pain and discomfort in preschool children - The dental discomfort questionnaire.

BACKGROUND Pain is a major consequence of caries, which negatively impacts the quality of life of children and their families. AIM To analyze the parental report of dental pain and discomfort in preschool children, and to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors associated. DESIGN This cross-sectional study involved 375 four- and five-year-old preschoolers enrolled in the city of Campo Magro public school system, along with their parents and caregivers. Parents/ caregivers answered the Brazilian version of the Dental Discomfort Questionnaire (DDQ-B) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Two examiners (kappa> 0.79) performed clinical examinations using dmf-t and pufa index. The associations were statistically analyzed by univariate and multiple Poisson regression with robust variance (α=0.05). RESULTS The prevalence of dental pain and discomfort was 70.3% (66% to 75% 95%CI). Children from non-nuclear families (PRa 1.33; 95%CI 1.01-1.76) and whose parents presented a lower level of education (PRa 2.43; 95%CI 1.66-3.55) presented a higher prevalence of dental pain or discomfort. Considering the clinical determinants, after adjusting, only the presence of clinical consequences of untreated dental caries (pufa≥1) (PRa 1.37; 95%CI 1.02-1.84) were significantly associated with higher dental pain or discomfort. CONCLUSIONS Dental pain and discomfort were associated with socioeconomic factors and with the presence of clinical consequences of untreated dental caries.
Situational systematicity: A role for schema in understanding the differences between abstract and concrete concepts

ABSTRACT Abstract concepts differ from concrete concepts in several ways. Here, we focus on what we refer to as situational systematicity: The objects and relations that constitute an abstract concept (e.g., justice) are more dispersed through space and time than are those that typically constitute a concrete concept (e.g., chair); a larger set of objects and relations constitute an abstract concept than a concrete one; and exactly which objects and relations constitute a concept is more context-dependent for abstract concepts. We thus refer to abstract concepts as having low situational systematicity. We contend that situational systematicity, rather than abstractness per se, is a critical determinant of the cognitive, behavioural, and neural phenomena associated with concepts. Further, viewing concepts as schema provides insight into (i) the situation-based dynamics of concept learning and representation and (ii) the functional significance of the brain regions and their interactions that comprise the schema control network.
Grasp force estimation from the transient EMG using high-density surface recordings

Objective. Understanding the neurophysiological signals underlying voluntary motor control and decoding them for prosthesis control are among the major challenges in applied neuroscience and bioengineering. Usually, information from the electrical activity of residual forearm muscles (i.e. the electromyogram, EMG) is used to control different functions of a prosthesis. Noteworthy, forearm EMG patterns at the onset of a contraction (transient phase) have shown to contain predictive information about upcoming grasps. However, decoding this information for the estimation of grasp force (GF) was so far overlooked. Approach. High density-EMG signals (192 channels) were recorded from twelve participants performing a pick-and-lift task. The final GF was estimated offline using linear regressors, with four subsets of channels and ten features obtained using three channels-features selection methods. Two different evaluation metrics (absolute error and R2), complemented with statistical analysis, were used to select the optimal configuration of the parameters. Different windows of data starting at the GF onset were compared to determine the time at which the GF can be ascertained from the EMG signals. Main results. The prediction accuracy improved by increasing the window length from the moment of the onset and kept improving until the steady state at which a plateau of performances was reached. With our methodology, estimations of the GF through 16 EMG channels reached an absolute error of 2.52% the maximum voluntary force using only transient information and 1.99% with the first 500 ms of data following the onset. Significance. The final GF estimation from transient EMG was comparable to the one obtained using steady state data, confirming our hypothesis that the transient phase contains information about the final GF. This result paves the way to fast online myoelectric controllers capable of decoding grasp strength from the very early portion of the EMG signal.
European Society of Gynaecological Oncology quality indicators for surgical treatment of cervical cancer

Background Optimizing and ensuring the quality of surgical care is essential to improve the management and outcome of patients with cervical cancer. To develop a list of quality indicators for surgical treatment of cervical cancer that can be used to audit and improve clinical practice. Methods Quality indicators were developed using a four-step evaluation process that included a systematic literature search to identify potential quality indicators, in-person meetings of an ad hoc group of international experts, an internal validation process, and external review by a large panel of European clinicians and patient representatives. Results Fifteen structural, process, and outcome indicators were selected. Using a structured format, each quality indicator has a description specifying what the indicator is measuring. Measurability specifications are also detailed to define how the indicator will be measured in practice. Each indicator has a target which gives practitioners and health administrators a quantitative basis for improving care and organizational processes. Discussion Implementation of institutional quality assurance programs can improve quality of care, even in high-volume centers. This set of quality indicators from the European Society of Gynaecological Cancer may be a major instrument to improve the quality of surgical treatment of cervical cancer.
Factors driving olfactory loss in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: a case control study

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is common. It is likely that numerous factors such as sex, race, age, allergies, asthma, smoking, and other comorbidities play a role in CRS‐related OD. In order to determine which aspects of OD are due solely to CRS and which are associated with other confounders, control populations are needed to allow appropriate risk assessments.
Valuation of health states associated with age-related macular degeneration

Economic evaluation of health technology using cost-utility analysis (CUA) normally applies an extra-welfarist framework in which health, the unit of effectiveness, is maximised. Typically, health status is measured by health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaires to define health states. Preferences for health states are valued on a utility scale and combined with the time spent in the state to calculate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). This thesis develops methods for measuring and valuing health using the case of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), where there are limitations with current methods for calculating QALYs.
Red Light/Green Light, a Dual Fluorescent Protein Reporter System To Study Enhancer-Promoter Specificity in Drosophila

Enhancers activate gene transcription in spatial and temporal patterns by interactions with gene promoters. These elements typically reside distal to their target promoter, with which they must interact selectively. Additional elements may contribute to enhancer-promoter specificity, including remote control element sequences within enhancers, tethering elements near promoters, and insulator/boundary elements that disrupt off-target interactions. However, few of these elements have been mapped, and as a result, the mechanisms by which these elements interact remain poorly understood. One impediment is their method of study, namely reporter transgenes in which enhancers are placed adjacent to a heterologous promoter, which may circumvent mechanisms controlling enhancer-promoter specificity and long-range interactions. Here, we report an optimized dual reporter transgene system in Drosophila melanogaster that allows the simultaneous comparison of an enhancer’s ability to activate proximal and distal fluorescent reporter genes. Testing a panel of fluorescent transgenes in vivo, we found a two-protein combination that allows simultaneous measurement with minimal detection interference. We note differences among four tested enhancers in their ability to regulate a distally placed reporter transgene. These results suggest that enhancers differ in their requirements for promoter interaction and raise important practical considerations when studying enhancer function.
Improvement project in higher education institutions: A BPEP-based model

Improvement projects (IPs) are a fundamental element in any quality management system from any organization. In Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), IPs are constantly implemented to maintain excellence in academic and administrative processes. In this study, we propose a model for IP implementation that is based on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP). As a part of the model, we propose a series of research hypotheses to be tested. The data used to test the hypotheses were gathered from a questionnaire that was developed after an extensive literature review. The survey was administered to Mexican public HEIs, and more than 700 responses were collected. The data were assessed in terms of convergent and discriminant validity, obtaining satisfactory results. To test the proposed relationships between the model constructs, we utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using the software IBM SPSS Amos. The analysis confirmed the statistical validity of both the model and the hypotheses. In conclusion, our model for IP implementation is a useful tool for HEIs that seek to attain excellence in their processes through IPs.
Seasonality of hypoosmolar hyponatremia in medical inpatients - data from a nationwide cohort study.

CONTEXT Hyponatremia is the most prevalent electrolyte disturbance in hospitalized patients. Previous studies have shown a seasonal variation of profound hyponatremia with higher prevalence during warmer months. OBJECTIVE This study aimed at analyzing the seasonal prevalence, sex and age-specific differences of hyponatremia in medical inpatients. DESIGN Nationwide cohort study from January 2009 and December 2015 using prospective administrative data. SETTING Medical inpatients. PATIENTS Diagnosis of hypoosmolar hyponatremia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the monthly alteration in hyponatremia prevalence. Secondary outcomes were the association of outdoor temperature with hyponatremia prevalence and differences among sex and age groups. RESULTS Of 2,426,722 medical inpatients, 84,210 were diagnosed with hypoosmolar hyponatremia, of whom 61% (n=51,262) were female. The highest overall prevalence of hyponatremia was observed in July (4.5%, n=8,976), it was lowest in December (2.7%, n=6,530). The overall prevalence of hyponatremia in women compared to men was higher by 58% (OR 1.58 [95% CI 1.56 to 1.60]). The sex-specific difference was most pronounced in the warmest month of July (mean temperature 20.1°C, OR 1.76 [95% CI 1.68 to 1.84]). We observed the strongest association between seasonality and hyponatremia in elderly (>80 years) female inpatients admitted during the month of July (OR 2.40 [95% CI 2.20 to 2.62]). CONCLUSION The prevalence of diagnosed hypoosmolar hyponatremia in medical inpatients increases during summer months with higher outdoor temperature. Elderly female inpatients were most susceptible to the seasonal rise in hyponatremia prevalence.
Reliability of Visual Analog Scale and Numeric Rating Scale for the Assessment of Disease Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE To determine the reliability of SLE patients' disease activity measurements. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study conducted (August 2016-December 2017) at 2 main public Peruvian hospitals, 1 with a comprehensive lupus care program. Patients assessed their disease activity with a visual analog scale (VAS) (0-100 mm) or a numerical rating scale (NRS) (0-4) before and after their physician's (MD's) assessment. Demographic and disease-related characteristics were recorded. Reliability of patients' disease activity before and after MD's assessment was determined using Spearman rank correlation. Factors possibly associated with this variability were examined with Spearman rank correlation and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS Two hundred forty, mostly Mestizo, SLE patients were included; mean (SD) age and disease duration (diagnosis) were 34.9 (12.9) years and 10.1 (7.0) years, respectively. The Mexican version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index was 1.9 (2.7), and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index was 1.2 (1.5). The correlations between NRS and VAS before and after the MD's assessment were ρ = 0.839; p < 0.001; and ρ = 0.872; p < 0.001, respectively. Visual analog scale and NRS were higher before than after the MD's assessment (VAS 29.3 [26.5] and 26.5 [24.9], p = 0.052; and NRS (1.5 [1.2] and 1.3 [1.1], p = 0.003); only the comprehensive program explained this variability (p = 0.043). The reliability of VAS and NRS was ρ = 0.917 and ρ = 0.861, p < 0.001, before and after for the comprehensive program and ρ = 0.710 and ρ = 0.785, p < 0.001, for before and after for the regular program. CONCLUSIONS Both VAS an NRS are highly reliable. Patients scored higher before than after their physicians' assessment but that these differences were smaller for the patients in the comprehensive care program than in the regular one.
Fast GLM and moment-preserving thresholding for retinal vascular segmentation and denoising

Precise retinal vessels localization is an important and challenging task. Segmentation of retinal blood vessels become more difficult in abnormal images with the presence of diseases like hypertension, diabetes, stroke and other vascular disorders. In this work, a new fast framework for automatic retinal blood vessels extraction and denoising has been proposed. Green channel due to its prominent vessel structure is used as an input to morphological filters to eradicate low frequency noise or geometrical entities, e.g., macula, optic disk and other abnormalities. The Generalized Linear Model (GLM) regression is used for non-uniform contrast enhancement followed by Frangi filter for vasculature based enhancement. Masking operation has performed to extract Region of Interest (ROI) for application of moment-preserving thresholding to separate vessel and background pixels. Finally, postprocessing steps are applied to eliminate unconnected pixels and to obtain final binary image. This technique is validated on the DRIVE and the STARE databases and contested with other competing techniques. Experimental results indicate that the proposed vessel extraction framework outperforms many recent existing methods published in literature.
Antecedents of Knowledge Sharing Behaviour

Purpose Knowledge Sharing Behaviour (KSB) is the most important part of knowledge management, which has an influence in an organisation. Knowledge is a critical organisational resource that will provide a sustainable competitive advantage in a dynamic and competitive economy so that knowledge sharing behaviour between individuals has become one of the most important elements of effective knowledge processes. The main focus in this study is to examine and analyse antecedents of knowledge sharing behaviour. Methods This study uses a cross-sectional design which is used to collect the data used which is then carried out by mediation analysis. Structural Equation Modelling is used to test the mediation effect based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Findings The results show a positive and significant relationship between attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and behavioural intentions. So, there is the impact of full mediation of behavioural intentions between attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and knowledge sharing behaviour. It can be concluded that this states that behavioural intentions can fully process planned behaviour predictions. Research limitations / implications The sample size is limited, in marine, shipping and other maritime industry companies in Java. This study limited supervisor behavioural preferences. This study is a one-time cross-section focusing on a one-off perception. Practical implications The supervisor at the Company in the field of sea transportation has a heavy duty responsibility in carrying the trust that has been given and synergises well between the employees below and the manager.
Updating goal-setting theory in physical activity promotion: a critical conceptual review

ABSTRACT Goal-setting is a widely used and accepted strategy for promoting physical activity. Locke and Latham’s goal-setting theory is the primary theoretical framework for setting goals in psychology and plays a prominent role in physical activity promotion. Recently, however, there have been calls to reconsider current goal-setting practice in this field. Therefore, we aimed to critically review and update the application of goal-setting theory in physical activity promotion, by examining core developments in this theory since 1990. Current practice relies on setting specific ‘performance’ goals as a means of increasing physical activity (e.g., 10,000 steps; national physical activity guidelines). This approach was initially consistent with key tenets of goal-setting theory. However, since 1990 this theory has evolved to differentiate between performance and learning goals. Both goal types are context-dependent and it is now recognised that, in some cases, performance goals can even be detrimental to the achievement of desired outcomes. Consequently, current practice may be theoretically appropriate for physically active individuals but a different approach (e.g., learning goals) may be preferable for inactive individuals who are new to physical activity (i.e., most of the population). We conclude by discussing implications for policy, research, and practice in goal-setting for physical activity promotion.