Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incorporating early and late-arriving photons to improve the reconstruction of cerebral hemodynamic responses acquired by time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy

Abstract. Significance: Despite its advantages in terms of safety, low cost, and portability, functional near-infrared spectroscopy applications can be challenging due to substantial signal contamination from hemodynamics in the extracerebral layer (ECL). Time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy (tr NIRS) can improve sensitivity to brain activity but contamination from the ECL remains an issue. This study demonstrates how brain signal isolation can be further improved by applying regression analysis to tr data acquired at a single source–detector distance. Aim: To investigate if regression analysis can be applied to single-channel trNIRS data to further isolate the brain and reduce signal contamination from the ECL. Approach: Appropriate regressors for trNIRS were selected based on simulations, and performance was evaluated by applying the regression technique to oxygenation responses recording during hypercapnia and functional activation. Results: Compared to current methods of enhancing depth sensitivity for trNIRS (i.e., higher statistical moments and late gates), incorporating regression analysis using a signal sensitive to the ECL significantly improved the extraction of cerebral oxygenation signals. In addition, this study demonstrated that regression could be applied to trNIRS data from a single detector using the early arriving photons to capture hemodynamic changes in the ECL. Conclusion: Applying regression analysis to trNIRS metrics with different depth sensitivities improves the characterization of cerebral oxygenation signals.
The Phenotypic Spectrum of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: A Canadian Cohort

Objective: We aimed to further elucidate the phenotypic spectrum of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) depending on genotype. Methods: A retrospective review of patients seen in the TSC clinic at the Hospital for Sick Children was conducted and the frequency of TSC manifestations was compared based on genotype. Results: Nineteen-patients had TSC1 mutations, 36 had TSC2 mutations and 11 had no mutation identified (NMI). Patients with TSC2 mutations had a higher frequency of early-onset epilepsy and more frequent systemic manifestations. The NMI group had milder neurologic and systemic manifestations. Our data did not demonstrate that intellectual disability and infantile spasms were more common in TSC2 mutations. Conclusions: This is the first Canadian pediatric cohort exploring the genotype-phenotype relationship in TSC. We report that some manifestations are more frequent and severe in TSC2 mutations and that NMI may have a milder phenotype. Disease surveillance and counseling should continue regardless of genotype until this is better elucidated.
High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and the Risk of First Ischemic Stroke in a Chinese Hypertensive Population

Background and Purpose Elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels have displayed protection against cardiovascular disease. However, the association between specific lipoprotein classes and first ischemic stroke (IS) has not been well defined, particularly in higher-risk hypertensive populations. Our study evaluated the associations of HDL-C with first IS in a Chinese hypertensive population. Methods The study population was obtained from a community-based cohort study of hypertension in Lianyungang and Rongcheng, China. A nested case-control design was used that included 2463 identified first IS cases and 2463 controls matched by age ± 1 year, sex, and region. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, HDL-C was inversely associated with first IS (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85–0.98). HDL-C levels of at least 65.4 mg/dL displayed a significant protective effect for first IS (aOR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69–0.98). Conversely, adverse effects of first IS were observed for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels ≥138.1 mg/dL (aOR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.02–1.42) and triglyceride (TG) levels ≥140.8 mg/dL (aOR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.09–1.49). The risk associations of LDL-C and TG with first IS were attenuated in the presence of high HDL-C (≥53.0 mg/dL); an increased risk of first IS was only found in the presence of low HDL-C (<53.0 mg/dL) when LDL-C (aOR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.19–2.31) and TG (aOR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.17–1.84) were combined with HDL-C for analysis. Conclusion In this community-based Chinese hypertensive population, higher HDL-C was a significant protective factor of first IS. These data add to the evidence describing the relationship between lipids and IS and suggest that HDL-C maybe is a marker of IS risk in Chinses hypertensive population.
Return to Play After Patellar Tendon Autograft for Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Rugby Players

Background: There is scant literature on outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in rugby players, and no prior study has evaluated the outcomes of bone–patellar tendon–bone (BTB) autograft ACL reconstruction. Purpose: To assess the rate of return to play, the timing of that return, and the subsequent graft reinjury rate among rugby players after ACL reconstruction with BTB autograft. Methods: The ACL registry at a single hospital was screened for professional and amateur rugby players who had undergone a primary ACL reconstruction with BTB autograft. Professional rugby players were those playing for one of the professional provincial teams in Ireland. Outcomes were analyzed for the rate and timing of return to play, functional outcomes, and subsequent graft ruptures. Additionally, outcomes were compared between professional and amateur athletes. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Results: A total of 126 patients with 24 months of follow-up were enrolled. The overall rate of return to play was 84.9%, with 75.4% returning to the same level of play; 8.7% of patients did not return to play secondary to non–knee-related issues. The mean time to return was 10.9 ± 4.9 months. Among professional rugby players, 93.3% were able to return at a mean time of 9.7 ± 4.4 months; 80% returned to the same level. The mean Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Return to Sport after Injury score was 78.4 ± 20.2, the Cincinnati knee score was 92.5 ± 8.0, the International Knee Documentation Committee score was 88.2 ± 8.1, and the Marx score was 9.7 ± 5.3. Two patients sustained a subsequent rerupture of the reconstructed ACL, and 4 players sustained a contralateral ACL injury within the follow-up interval of 2 years. Conclusion: Rugby players receiving BTB ACL reconstruction demonstrated good clinical outcomes with a high rate of return to sport, with the majority returning before 12 months. The rate of a subsequent ACL injury was low among the authors’ cohort at short-term follow-up.
Revision Arthroscopic Bankart Repair Versus Arthroscopic Latarjet for Failed Primary Arthroscopic Stabilization With Subcritical Bone Loss

Background: Limited evidence is available regarding the recommended technique of revision surgery for recurrent shoulder instability. Only 1 previous study has compared the results of soft tissue repair and the Latarjet technique in patients with persistent shoulder instability after primary surgical stabilization. Purpose/Hypothesis: To evaluate the results of revision surgery in patients with previous surgical stabilization failure and subcritical glenoid bone defects, comparing repeated Bankart repair versus arthroscopic Latarjet technique. The hypothesis was that Latarjet would be superior to soft tissue procedures in terms of objective and subjective functional scores, recurrence rates, and range of movement. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Included were 45 patients (mean age, 29.1 ± 8.9 years) with subcritical bone loss (<15% of articular surface) who had undergone revision anterior shoulder instability repair after failed Bankart repair. Of these, 17 patients had arthroscopic Bankart repair and 28 had arthroscopic Latarjet surgery. Patients were evaluated at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively with the Rowe score, Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index, and Subjective Shoulder Value. Subluxation or dislocation episodes were considered failures. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between groups in age, sex, sporting activity, preoperative Rowe score, or the presence of hyperlaxity or bony lesions. At revision arthroscopy, 20 shoulders showed a persistent Bankart lesion, 13 a medially healed labrum, and 6 a bony Bankart. In 6 patients, no abnormalities were present that could explain postoperative recurrence. In the Bankart repair group, 7 patients underwent isolated Bankart procedures; in the remaining 10 cases, a capsular shift was added. No significant differences were found between the Bankart and Latarjet groups in outcome scores, recurrence rate (11.8% vs 17.9%, respectively), or postoperative athletic activity level. The mean loss of passive external rotation at 0° and 90° of abduction was similar between groups. Conclusion: Arthroscopic Latarjet did not lead to superior results compared with repeated Bankart repair in patients with subcritical glenoid bone loss and recurrent anterior shoulder instability after Bankart repair.
Factors Associated With Clinical Recovery After Concussion in Youth Ice Hockey Players

Background: The identification of factors associated with clinical recovery in youth after sports-related concussion could improve prognostication regarding return to play (RTP). Purpose: To assess factors associated with clinical recovery after concussion in youth ice hockey players. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Participants were part of a larger longitudinal cohort study (the Safe to Play study; N = 3353). Included were 376 ice hockey players (age range, 11-17 years) from teams in Calgary and Edmonton, Canada, with 425 physician-diagnosed ice hockey–related concussions over 5 seasons (2013-2018). Any player with a suspected concussion was referred to a sports medicine physician for diagnosis, and a Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) form was completed. Time to clinical recovery was based on time between concussion and physician clearance to RTP. Two accelerated failure time models were used to estimate days to RTP clearance: model 1 considered symptom severity according to the SCAT3/SCAT5 symptom evaluation score (range, 0-132 points), and model 2 considered responses to individual symptom evaluation items (eg, headache, neck pain, dizziness) of none/mild (0-2 points) versus moderate/severe (3-6 points). Other covariates were time to physician first visit (≤7 and >7 days), age group (11-12, 13-14, and 15-17 years), sex, league type (body checking and no body checking), tandem stance (modified Balance Error Scoring System result ≥4 errors out of 10), and number of previous concussions (0, 1, 2, and ≥3). Results: The complete case analysis (including players without missing covariates) included 329 players (366 diagnosed concussions). The median time to clinical recovery was 18 days. In model 1, longer time to first physician visit (>7 days) (time ratio [TR], 1.637 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.331-1.996]) and greater symptom severity (TR, 1.016 [95% CI, 1.012-1.020]) were significant predictors of longer clinical recovery. In model 2, longer time to first physician visit (TR, 1.698 [95% CI, 1.399-2.062]), headache (moderate/severe) (TR, 1.319 [95% CI, 1.110-1.568]), and poorer tandem stance (TR, 1.249 [95% CI, 1.052-1.484]) were significant predictors of longer clinical recovery. Conclusion: Medical clearance to RTP was longer for players with >7 days to physician assessment, poorer tandem stance, greater symptom severity, and moderate/severe headache at first visit.
Mobile health apps: An exploration of user-generated reviews in Google Play Store on a physical activity application

Objective This study aimed to evaluate reviews that have been posted publicly on the app ‘MapMyRun’ to investigate which features were associated with usage of the app. A secondary aim was to determine whether MapMyRun consisted of specific behaviour change techniques that would have increased the likelihood of users being engaged with the app. Methods Reviews posted on MapMyRun by users between 1st May 2017- 30th April 2018 were extracted, coded and analysed using content analysis. Results Eleven behaviour change techniques were identified among the features of MapMyRun. A total of 3,253 reviews met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 12 codes were developed. The codes were grouped into 8 subthemes within 2 main themes: ‘Effort’ and ‘Self-monitoring’. Consistent with previous literature, ‘Goal-Setting’ and ‘Self-Monitoring of Behaviour’ were two techniques included in MapMyRun. Social features of MapMyRun facilitated competition among users, their family, and friends. Conclusions This was the first qualitative review to assess a single mobile health physical activity app and analyse it from the perspectives of the users. Creators of future mobile health apps should focus on user friendliness and the use of social features, as both may increase the chances of users’ continued use with the app.
“It was an unexpected bond”: How an emerging participant-driven online social network may be enhancing an eLearning nutrition education & supplemental produce intervention

Objective The purpose of this paper is to describe a participant-driven, online text message-based social support network that emerged from an eLearning nutrition education and supplemental produce intervention. Methods Adults (n = 20) who utilized a safety-net clinic for their healthcare participated in a 12-week smartphone-based nutrition education eLearning program using loaned smartphones. Participants also received a box of fresh produce weekly. Participants received weekly text message reminders to collect their produce, and from this researcher-initiated reminder text, a supportive, participant-led, all-group text message thread commenced. Researchers collected all 471 text messages in this all-group thread and included them in the qualitative content analysis of pre and post intervention focus groups. Results The original design of the eLearning nutrition education program was to asynchronously engage learners with nutrition education resources. However, participants themselves initiated a robust group text message support system through which they shared encouragement, recipes, grocery shopping tips, and images of food they prepared with the produce box amongst themselves for the duration of the 12-week intervention. Conclusion The novel nature by which these participants voluntarily engaged in this peer-to-peer nutrition education-focused text message conversation exemplifies participants becoming agents in their own learning experience and will be used to enhance future eLearning nutrition education experiences developed by our team.
Sequestration of carbon dioxide by red mud through direct mineral carbonation at room temperature

In the developing countries, power generation is likely to be primarily dependent on coal reserves in the coming years, thereby they face the scenario of upsurge in CO2 emissions. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are considered as a promising tool to mitigate CO2 emissions. In this work, direct mineral carbonation capacity of red mud (RM) has been studied which is one of the major solid waste produced from the non-ferrous industries in the country and that is largely land filled. Carbonation (dry and wet) studies were performed at low pressure (1-10 bar) conditions and at room temperature using a simple methodology in a batch reactor with pure CO2 gas. The dry route resulted in a maximum sequestration capacity of 5.16 g of CO2/kg of RM (10 bar and 3 h), whereas wet phase aqueous carbonation route yielded 20.09 g of CO2/kg of RM (liquid to solid (L/S) ratio - 0.6, 6 bar and 1 h). The carbonated samples were characterised using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis which evidenced the carbonation process. Thus, it can be concluded that the solid waste that generated in ample quantities pose to be a promising option towards climate change mitigation.
A COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index to drive precision policy in the US

Background: In April 2020 we released the US COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index (CCVI) to bring to life vulnerability to health, economic, and social impact of COVID-19 at the state, county, and census tract level. Here we describe the methodology, how vulnerability is distributed across the U.S., and assess the impact on vulnerable communities over the first year of the pandemic. Methods: The index combines 40 indicators into seven themes, drawing on both public and proprietary data. We associate timeseries of COVID-19 cases, deaths, test site access, and rental arrears with vulnerability. Results: Although overall COVID-19 vulnerability is concentrated in the South, the seven underlying themes show substantial spatial variability. As of May 13, 2021, the top-third of vulnerable counties have seen 21% more cases and 47% more deaths than the bottom-third of vulnerable counties, despite receiving 27% fewer tests (adjusted for population). Individual vulnerability themes vary over time in their relationship with mortality as the virus swept across the country. Over 20% of households in the top vulnerability tercile have fallen behind on rent. Poorer test site access for rural vulnerable populations early in the pandemic has since been alleviated. Conclusion: The CCVI captures greater risk of health and economic impact. It has enjoyed widespread use in response planning, and we share lessons learned about developing a data-driven tool in the midst of a fast-moving pandemic. The CCVI and an interactive data explorer are available at precisionforcovid.org/ccvi.
Public and patient involvement (PPI) in health policy decisionmaking on the health system-level: protocol for a systematic scoping review

Introduction Public and patient involvement (PPI) in healthcare decisions at the health system-level (macro-level) has become increasingly important during recent years. Existing evidence indicates that PPI increase patient centredness and the democracy of healthcare decisions as well as patients’ trust and acceptance of these decisions. However, different methods for PPI exist, and an overview of the outcomes and influential contextual factors has not yet been conducted. Therefore, this scoping review aims to provide an overview of the different methods used for PPI in health system decisionmaking and the reported outcomes and contextual factors for these methods. Methods and analysis The structure of this protocol is guided by the advanced scoping studies framework of Arksey and O’ Malley, developed by Levac, Colquhoun and O’Brien, and the PRISMA-ScR Statement. We will systematically search electronic databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL, PDQ-Evidence, Web of Science and PsycINFO) for peer-reviewed literature and screen the reference lists of included studies. Additionally, we will search for relevant grey literature and consult experts from the field to identify further information. Studies focusing on PPI in the context of health policy decision-making at the macro-level will be eligible for full-text screening. Studies focusing on decisions at the individual treatment-level (micro-level) and the organisational-level (mesolevel) as well as those dealing with PPI in health research will be excluded. A qualitative analysis will dissect how the included studies define PPI and its desirable outcomes, the achieved outcomes and reported contextual factors. Ethics and dissemination We will present the results at relevant conferences and in an open-access journal. Additionally, we will share them with the experts involved in the research process and consider ways in which to transfer the findings into practice. As only secondary and previously published information will be used, ethical approval is not necessary.
Mean platelet volume is a predictive and prognostic marker for patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a two-center retrospective analysis

Abstract There are only a few predictive markers that can truly aid therapy decisions in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The current study aimed to examine the impact of easily available common laboratory parameters on the course and prognosis of patients with AML. Gender, initial bone marrow blast percentage, mean platelet volume (MPV), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, treatment regimen, and complete remission (CR1) were found to have a statistically significant effect on both OS and PFS (p < 0.05). Only MPV, LDH, and initial treatment regimen were found to have a significant effect on CR1 achievement (p < 0.05). According to the current study, besides the induction regimen, only MPV was seen to affect short and long-term outcomes including both CR achievement, OS and PFS. MPV can be considered as a predictive or prognostic marker in patients with AML. Patients with higher MPV at the time of diagnosis should be evaluated carefully.
Identifying and prioritizing benefits and risks of using privacy-enhancing software through participatory design: a nominal group technique study with patients living with chronic conditions

OBJECTIVE While patients often contribute data for research, they want researchers to protect their data. As part of a participatory design of privacy-enhancing software, this study explored patients' perceptions of privacy protection in research using their healthcare data. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted 4 focus groups with 27 patients on privacy-enhancing software using the nominal group technique. We provided participants with an open source software prototype to demonstrate privacy-enhancing features and elicit privacy concerns. Participants generated ideas on benefits, risks, and needed additional information. Following a thematic analysis of the results, we deployed an online questionnaire to identify consensus across all 4 groups. Participants were asked to rank-order benefits and risks. Themes around "needed additional information" were rated by perceived importance on a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS Participants considered "allowance for minimum disclosure" and "comprehensive privacy protection that is not currently available" as the most important benefits when using the privacy-enhancing prototype software. The most concerning perceived risks were "additional checks needed beyond the software to ensure privacy protection" and the "potential of misuse by authorized users. " Participants indicated a desire for additional information with 6 of the 11 themes receiving a median participant rating of "very necessary" and rated "information on the data custodian" as "essential. " CONCLUSIONS Patients recognize not only the benefits of privacy-enhancing software, but also inherent risks. Patients desire information about how their data are used and protected. Effective patient engagement, communication, and transparency in research may improve patients' comfort levels, alleviate patients' concerns, and thus promote ethical research.