Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early Detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in Primary Care

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is significantly misdiagnosed in the primary care setting due to multi-dimensional frictions and barriers associated with evaluating individuals’ cognitive performance. To move toward large-scale cognitive screening, a global panel of clinicians and cognitive neuroscientists convened to elaborate on current challenges that hamper widespread cognitive performance assessment. This report summarizes a conceptual framework and provides guidance to clinical researchers and test developers and suppliers to inform ongoing refinement of cognitive evaluation. This perspective builds upon a previous article in this series, which outlined the rationale for and potentially against efforts to promote widespread detection of MCI. This working group acknowledges that cognitive screening by default is not recommended and proposes large-scale evaluation of individuals with a concern or interest in their cognitive performance. Such a strategy can increase the likelihood to timely and effective identification and management of MCI. The rising global incidence of AD demands innovation that will help alleviate the burden to healthcare systems when coupled with the potentially near-term approval of disease-modifying therapies. Additionally, we argue that adequate infrastructure, equipment, and resources urgently should be integrated in the primary care setting to optimize the patient journey and accommodate widespread cognitive evaluation.
Getting Closer to the Primordial Panji? Panji Stories Carved in Stone at Ancient Javanese Majapahit Temples – and Their Impact as Cultural Heritage Today

In search of the roots of Panji, the paper raises the question to what extent the spread of the Panji theme in Southeast Asia is a manifestation of the political and cultural influence of Majapahit within the region. The East Javanese Majapahit kingdom (circa 1300 to 1500 CE) extended its power to most parts of what today is Indonesia, and to Mainland Southeast Asia, implementing specific traits of its rich culture. Did the Panji stories, being a popular literary genre of the time, make part of cultural export? The paper then focuses on the Panji theme in Majapahit Java itself, particularly in the visual presentations in narrative temple reliefs. The significance of the depictions of Panji stories at Candi Panataran (14th to 15th centuries), the State Temple of Majapahit, allows an interesting understanding of the symbolic religious meaning of Panji. The essence of this symbolism is also manifest in the mountain sanctuary Candi Kendalisodo and in the Panji sculpture from Selokelir (mid-15th century). In its final part, the paper addresses the role of the Panji theme in present-day revitalization of Javanese culture. The so-called “Panji Culture” (“Budaya Panji”) has an enormous potential of strengthening the Javanese cultural identity. Possible ways of transfer and transformation of the Panji tradition within Java and within the larger Southeast Asian region are being discussed. This paper was presented at the Seminar and Performances of a Shared Heritage: The Panji/Inao Traditions in Southeast Asia, organized by SEAMEO SPAFA on 2-6 March 2013 at the Bangkok Cha-Da Hotel and the Thailand Cultural Centre, Bangkok, Thailand. It is part of an upcoming collected edition of papers presented at the seminar.
The Interrelationship between Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1, Apolipoprotein E ε4, Lifestyle Factors, and the Aging Body and Brain

Aging is associated with a decrease in body and brain function and with a decline in insulin-like growth factor 1 levels. The observed associations between alterations in insulin-like growth factor 1 levels and cognitive functioning and Mild Cognitive Impairment suggest that altered insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling may accompany Alzheimer’s disease or is involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Recent animal research has suggested a possible association between insulin-like growth factor 1 levels and the Apolipoprotein E ε4 allele, a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease. It is therefore hypothesized that a reduction in insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling may moderate the vulnerability to Alzheimer’s disease of human Apolipoprotein E ε4 carriers. We address the impact of age-related decline of insulin-like growth factor 1 levels on physical and brain function in healthy aging and Alzheimer’s disease and discuss the links between insulin-like growth factor 1 and the Apolipoprotein E ε4 polymorphism. Furthermore, we discuss lifestyle interventions that may increase insulin-like growth factor 1 serum levels, including physical activity and adherence to a protein rich diet and the possible benefits to the physical fitness and cognitive functioning of the aging population.
The Emerging Role of ncRNAs and RNA-Binding Proteins in Mitotic Apparatus Formation

Mounting experimental evidence shows that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) serve a wide variety of biological functions. Recent studies suggest that a part of ncRNAs are critically important for supporting the structure of subcellular architectures. Here, we summarize the current literature demonstrating the role of ncRNAs and RNA-binding proteins in regulating the assembly of mitotic apparatus, especially focusing on centrosomes, kinetochores, and mitotic spindles.
Role of Vitamin D in Preventing and Treating Selected Extraskeletal Diseases—An Umbrella Review

Evidence is accumulating that vitamin D may have beneficial effects on respiratory tract, autoimmune, neuro-degenerative, and mental diseases. The present umbrella review of systematic reviews (SRs) of cohort studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs), plus single Mendelian randomisation studies aims to update current knowledge on the potential role of vitamin D in preventing and treating these extraskeletal diseases. Altogether, 73 SRs were identified. Observational data on primary prevention suggest an inverse association between vitamin D status and the risk of acute respiratory tract infections (ARI), dementia and cognitive decline, and depression, whereas studies regarding asthma, multiple sclerosis (MS), and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are scarce. SRs of RCTs support observational data only for the risk of ARI. No respective RCTs are available for the prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), MS, and T1DM. SRs of RCTs indicate beneficial therapeutic effects in vitamin D-deficient patients with asthma and COPD, while effects on major depression and T1DM need to be further elucidated. Mendelian randomisation studies do not consistently support the results of SRs. Since several limitations of the included SRs and existing RCTs do not permit definitive conclusions regarding vitamin D and the selected diseases, further high-quality RCTs are warranted.
2019 ASCCP Risk-Based Management Consensus Guidelines for Abnormal Cervical Cancer Screening Tests and Cancer Precursors

Rebecca B. Perkins, MD, MSc, Richard S. Guido, MD, Philip E. Castle, PhD, David Chelmow, MD, Mark H. Einstein, MD, MS, Francisco Garcia, MD, MPH, Warner K. Huh, MD, Jane J. Kim, PhD, MSc, Anna-Barbara Moscicki, MD, Ritu Nayar, MD, Mona Saraiya, MD, MPH, George F. Sawaya, MD, Nicolas Wentzensen, MD, PhD, MS, and Mark Schiffman, MD, MPH for the 2019 ASCCP Risk-Based Management Consensus Guidelines Committee
Discussing sexual health with aging patients in primary care: Exploratory findings at a Canadian urban academic hospital

Abstract:Sexuality is an important component of overall health and quality of life, yet evidence suggests many aging adults are not discussing sexual health with their physician. The objective of this study was to understand practices of primary care physicians in discussing sexual health with aging patients. An electronic survey was distributed to primary care physicians and family medicine residents at an urban academic hospital in Ontario, Canada. The survey captured the self-reported prevalence of discussions of sexual health with patients aged 50 and above as well as patient, physician and contextual factors influencing the likelihood of discussion. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results. Among the 37 physicians who responded to the survey (response rate of 24%), physicians were more likely to discuss sexual health with patients aged 50–75 years than with patient s >75 years with both males (p < 0.0001) and females (p < 0.0001). Most frequently discussed issues with males were erectile dysfunction and sexually transmitted infection, while atrophic vaginitis, bleeding, and pain during intercourse were most often discussed with females. Factors limiting discussion include lack of time, multiple patient comorbidities and a perceived disinterest in sexual activity. 54% of respondents report having adequate knowledge to discuss and manage later life sexual health issues. Proactively discussing sexuality with aging adults may reveal underlying illness and facilitate future help-seeking behaviours. We suggest that primary care physicians have a responsibility to routinely initiate such discussions in clinical practice.
Safety of Aflibercept in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Literature Review and Expert Perspective on Clinical and Real-World Data

Background: Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) represents a substantial health burden globally and an increasing challenge in Asian countries. Treatment options include chemotherapy plus a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor (such as bevacizumab, aflibercept or ramucirumab), or anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies. Aflibercept, a recombinant fusion protein, has been approved for treatment of mCRC in combination with FOLFIRI for patients whose disease progresses during or after treatment with an oxaliplatin-containing regimen, based on its efficacy and tolerability profile in clinical trials. This report aims to provide an overview of both clinical and real-world evidence and experience on the use of aflibercept in routine clinical practice, with a focus on European, American and Asian populations. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed (on 28th February 2019) using the search terms ("aflibercept") and ("Colorectal"OR"CRC") to identify publications containing information on aflibercept-containing regimens. Results: The adverse events (AE) profile was similar between geographical locations. Across trials, real-world and retrospective studies, grade ≥ 3 hypertension and proteinuria were amongst the most frequently reported AEs. Conclusions: The safety profile of aflibercept is generally manageable and comparable across various geographic locations.
The Effects of Short-Term and Long-term Hearing Changes on Music Exposure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The present study explores the scientific evidence on whether music exposure temporarily or permanently affects hearing sensitivity in young adults. Six electronic databases were searched using related keywords for the four categories of personal listening devices, listening habits, hearing outcomes, and age. The Hedges’ g and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. A Higgins I2 was also used to check for heterogeneity. To test for publication bias, funnel plots were drawn using Egger’s regression. Based on the inclusion criteria, 16 studies were divided into two groups to identify short-term hearing changes (n = 7) and long-term hearing changes (n = 9). In the short term, there was no significant immediate change in the thresholds or amplitudes after the music exposure, although pure-tone thresholds (PTAs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) did show the highest effect size (−0.344, CI −0.727 to 0.038) and (0.124, CI −0.047 to 0.296) at 4 kHz. On the other hand, for long-term hearing changes, the PTA provided the highest effect size at 6 kHz (−0.525, CI −0.897 to −0.154) and 8 kHz (–0.486, CI −0.819 to −0.152), while also implying that habitual and repeated personal listening device (PLD) usage can act on some significant hearing changes in audiological tests. We conclude that the use of a PLD produces a few temporary hearing changes at 4 kHz after its use but that the changes are then reversed. However, it is important to note heavy PLD users’ experience regarding permanent changes in their hearing thresholds at high frequencies, and the public should be educated on this issue.
Predicting Crop Evapotranspiration by Integrating Ground and Remote Sensors with Air Temperature Forecasts †

Water use efficiency in agriculture can be improved by implementing advisory systems that support on-farm irrigation scheduling, with reliable forecasts of the actual crop water requirements, where crop evapotranspiration (ETc) is the main component. The development of such advisory systems is highly dependent upon the availability of timely updated crop canopy parameters and weather forecasts several days in advance, at low operational costs. This study presents a methodology for forecasting ETc, based on crop parameters retrieved from multispectral images, data from ground weather sensors, and air temperature forecasts. Crop multispectral images are freely provided by recent satellite missions, with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Meteorological services broadcast air temperature forecasts with lead times of several days, at no subscription costs, and with high accuracy. The performance of the proposed methodology was applied at 18 sites of the Campania region in Italy, by exploiting the data of intensive field campaigns in the years 2014–2015. ETc measurements were forecast with a median bias of 0.2 mm, and a median root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.75 mm at the first day of forecast. At the 5th day of accumulated forecast, the median bias and RMSE become 1 mm and 2.75 mm, respectively. The forecast performances were proved to be as accurate and as precise as those provided with a complete set of forecasted weather variables.
Role of noninvasive tools for prediction of clinically evident portal hypertension in children

Background Noninvasive tools (NITs) for predicting varices in children with portal hypertension (PHTN) are infrequently used. Methods Eighty-five consecutive, treatment-naïve children with PHTN and 97 controls were enrolled study from July 2017 to November 2018. Each case was evaluated by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and various NITs: platelet spleen size Z (PSZ), clinical prediction rule (CPR), King’s variceal prediction rule (KVaPS), Splenic stiffness (SSM) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by point shear wave elastrography (pSWE). Results Had PHTN due to extra hepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) and 70% due to cirrhosis [chronic liver disease (CLD)]. Sixty-five percent of PHTN cases had varices. Children with varices had lower platelet counts, lower albumin and larger spleens. SSM and LSM were significantly higher in cases as compared with controls. SSM was significantly higher in cases with varices than those without. SSM and LSM, at cutoffs of 3.8 and 3.2 kPa, respectively, discriminated PHTN cases from controls with an area under the curve (AUROC) of 0.67 (0.59–0.74). Both SSM and LSM predicted varices in CLD, but in EHPVO, only SSM predicted varices. SSM of 5.2 and 12.8 kPa, in CLD and EHPVO subgroups, respectively, had AUROC of 0.73 and 0.94 for variceal prediction. Blood-based NITs performed better in the CLD subgroup: aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index, CPR and KVPS predicted severity of PHTN with AUROC of 0.81, 0.92 and 0.93, respectively. Conclusions Blood-based NITs outperform elastography for prediction of PHTN/varices in children with CLD. SSM by pSWE is a better predictor of varices than LSM, especially in the EHPVO subgroup.
Placental Galectin-2 Expression in Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic, Histological Analysis

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common pregnancy-associated metabolic disorder that negatively impacts on the health of both mothers and their offspring in the long-term. The molecular mechanisms involved are not fully understood. As in other states of insulin resistance, a disproportionate immune response in GDM leads to a state of chronic low-grade inflammation. Galectin-2 exerts regulatory effects on different immune cells. This study investigated galectin-2 expression in the placenta of 40 GDM patients and 40 controls, in a sex-specific manner. Immunohistochemistry was used for semi-quantitative analysis of expression strength. The phenotypes of galectin-2 expressing cells were characterized through double immunofluorescence. We found a significant up-regulation of galectin-2 in the fetal syncytiotrophoblast, as well as in the maternal decidua of GDM placentas. Double staining showed a strong galectin-2 expression in extra villous trophoblast cells and fetal endothelial cells in GDM. These findings present the first systematic investigation of galectin-2 in GDM. The findings contribute to the emerging understanding of the role of immunomodulation and inflammation in GDM and of galectin-2 itself. This might also have implications for the long-term cardiovascular health of the offspring.
An Introduction to the 2019 ASCCP Risk-Based Management Consensus Guidelines

T he 2019 revision of the ASCCP Risk-Based Management Consensus Guidelines expands upon the “risk-based” approach introduced in 2012. It addresses the need for simplicity and stability in clinical guidelines while anticipating continued technologic advances in cervical screening methods. This introduction explains why the 2019 revision was needed, describes the general approach of the new guidelines, and outlines briefly how the new approach will work in practice.
Controlling Apomixis: Shared Features and Distinct Characteristics of Gene Regulation

In higher plants, sexual and asexual reproduction through seeds (apomixis) have evolved as alternative strategies. As apomixis leads to the formation of clonal offspring, its great potential for agricultural applications has long been recognized. However, the genetic basis and the molecular control underlying apomixis and its evolutionary origin are to date not fully understood. Both in sexual and apomictic plants, reproduction is tightly controlled by versatile mechanisms regulating gene expression, translation, and protein abundance and activity. Increasing evidence suggests that interrelated pathways including epigenetic regulation, cell-cycle control, hormonal pathways, and signal transduction processes are relevant for apomixis. Additional molecular mechanisms are being identified that involve the activity of DNA- and RNA-binding proteins, such as RNA helicases which are increasingly recognized as important regulators of reproduction. Together with other factors including non-coding RNAs, their association with ribosomes is likely to be relevant for the formation and specification of the apomictic reproductive lineage. Subsequent seed formation appears to involve an interplay of transcriptional activation and repression of developmental programs by epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. In this review, insights into the genetic basis and molecular control of apomixis are presented, also taking into account potential relations to environmental stress, and considering aspects of evolution.
Do Polish Consumers Take Proper Care of Hygiene while Shopping and Preparing Meals at Home in the Context of Wasting Food?

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the knowledge and practices of Polish consumers in terms of broadly defined hygiene on food preparation at home. The consequence of improper food handling may be a faster rate of food spoilage. A specially designed questionnaire was used. The study was conducted on a nationwide, random, and representative group of 1115 adult respondents. Segmentation (cluster analysis) of respondents differing in their practice and knowledge of meal preparation and personal hygiene was carried out. Several areas were diagnosed in which the respondents’ knowledge and practice were insufficient, such as storage of food products, inappropriate conduct of the thawing process, and heating of dishes. It was found that the best practice and knowledge of the issues discussed were characteristic of unemployed women over 35 years of age (cluster D). They offen gave answers that were significantly different (p < 0.05) from those given by the other clusters. The most limited knowledge and the worst practices were characteristic of mainly men with elementary and secondary education who are a part of the labor force (cluster E and A). The segmentation provided valuable information which indicates that educational programs on food safety need to be further strengthened.
Educational Predictors for Postsecondary Living Status

EDUCATIONAL PREDICTORS FOR POSTSECONDARY LIVING STATUS By Irina Cain, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2017 Director: Colleen Thoma, Ph.D. Professor and Chair Department of Counseling and Special Education This study was performed as the result of gaps in the literature in the area of transition to independent living (IL) using secondary data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLTS-2). Its findings identify individual, skills, family, and school factors that predict postsecondary living status and moderators of the relationships between predictors and the outcome. Specifically, results indicated the following factors as predicting postsecondary living status: individual factors (ethnicity and disability label), skills (self-care, functional mental, personal autonomy, self-realization, and social), family factors (parental expectations and parental involvement in school), and school factors (student’s role in transition planning and having IL as the primary IEP goal). The following factors also emerged as moderators: ethnicity, disability label, mental skills, social skills, personal autonomy, and having IL as the primary goal. Performing analyses on secondary data, although providing the advantage of large numbers of participants, also result in limitations that were considered when making recommendations. Future research should investigate the accuracy of findings regarding skills predictors, and probe for better understanding of decision making during transition planning and participants’ experiences. Policy should include transition planning specifically for IL and postsecondary follow-up for this outcome, while practice should focus on incorporating planning for IL during transition planning, addressing cultural diversity in transition, and helping parents develop high and realistic expectations for their children.