Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Medical students’ perceptions of their preparedness to care for LGBT patients in Taiwan: Is medical education keeping up with social progress?

Introduction Integrating training on health equity of sexual and gender minorities (SGM) in medical education has been challenging globally despite emphasis on the need for medical students to develop competence to provide adequate care for diverse patient groups. This study elicits Taiwanese medical students’ perceptions of their values and preparedness to care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender (LGBT) patients using a qualitative approach that considers broader societal changes, and more focused topics such as the provision of relevant training in medical education. Methods Eighty-nine medical students/trainees from two southern Taiwanese medical schools (one public and one private) participated in focus groups (n = 70) and individual interviews (n = 19). Qualitative analysis was conducted using inductive thematic analysis. Results Participants (i) expressed wide social acceptance and openness toward LGBT individuals, but were unsure of ways to communicate with LGBT patients; (ii) confirmed that stigmatization and biases might be developed during their training; (iii) recognized gender stereotypes could have negative impacts on clinical reasoning; (iv) considered themselves prepared to care for LGBT patients, yet equated non-discriminatory attitudes to preparedness; (v) acknowledged a lack of relevant professional skills; (vi) implicated curriculum did not address LGBT issues systematically and explicitly. Conclusion This study has identified the insufficiencies of current medical training and inadequate preparedness of medical students/trainees to provide better care for LGBT patients. It provides insights for medical educators to design and implement effective medical curriculum and training, and faculty development programs to equip medical students/trainees with self-awareness and competencies to more readily provide holistic care for SGM, in keeping up with social progress, and promote health equity for a more diverse patient population.
Platelet‐rich plasma in the treatment of scars, to suggest or not to suggest? A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Despite the rising trend for applying platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) in the management of various types of scars, there is no convincing evidence supporting its use. This motivated us to review the randomized clinical trials that examine the effectiveness and safety of PRP, alone or in combination with other methods, for the management of atrophic or hypertrophic/keloidal scars. The Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched until September 1st, 2020. Thirteen clinical trials were enrolled in the meta‐analysis, and 10 more were reviewed for their results. The random effect meta‐analysis method was used to assess the effect size of each outcome for each treatment type, and I2 was used to calculate the statistical heterogeneity between the studies. Patients treated with PRP experienced an overall response rate of 23%, comparable to the results seen with laser or micro‐needling (22% and 23%, respectively) When used alone, moderate improvement was the most frequently observed degree of response with PRP (36%) whereas, when added to laser or micro‐needling, most patients experienced marked (33%, 43%, respectively) or excellent (32% and 23%, respectively) results. Concerning the hypertrophic/keloid scars, the only study meeting the required criteria reported a better improvement and fewer adverse effects when PRP was added to the intralesional corticosteroids. Platelet‐rich plasma appears to be a safe and effective treatment for various types of atrophic scars. In addition, when added to ablative lasers or micro‐needling, it seems to considerably add to the efficacy of treatment and reduce the side effects.
Indoor air microbial load, antibiotic susceptibility profiles of bacteria, and associated factors in different wards of Arba Minch General Hospital, southern Ethiopia

The levels of indoor air microbial load in hospitals are very crucial to the health of patients and health care workers and are to be regularly monitored and maintained at an acceptable level. However, this problem remains overlooked, particularly in developing countries including Ethiopia. A hospital-based cross-sectional study is designed to determine the indoor air microbial load (settle plate technique), microbial isolates (standard microbiological techniques), bacterial susceptibility profiles (Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique), and associated factors, in different wards of the title Hospital, southern Ethiopia. An observational checklist was used to collect relevant information related to the associated factors; descriptive and inferential statistics were applied using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS); p-values ≤ 0.05 in the multivariable analysis were considered statistically significant. The total average bacterial and fungal load of the selected wards was 1914±1081.4 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/m3 (95% CI: 1718.5–2109.48 CFU/m3) and 1533.7±858.8 CFU/m3 (95% CI: 1378.5-1688CFU/m3) respectively. The highest mean bacterial (1914±1081.4 CFU/m3) and fungal (1533.7±858.8 CFU/m3) loads were found in the male surgical and female medical wards respectively. A total of 229 bacterial and 139 fungal isolates were obtained; Gram-positive bacteria were the predominant type, 130 (56.7%), particularly the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, 46 (20.1%). The predominant fungal isolates were Aspergillus sp. , 53(38%). Percentages of multidrug-resistant (MDR), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), and carbapenemase producers respectively were 48.5, 26.5, and 25%. High room crowd index [p = 0.003; Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 12.5 (Confidence Interval (CI) 95%: 2.42–65)], presence of damp/wet materials [p = 0.025; AOR 7 (CI 95%: 1.3–37.4)], intense room traffic [p = 0.004; AOR 9.6 (CI 95%: 1.2–79.3)], inappropriate storage of food and drugs [p = 0.008; AOR 7.5 (CI 95%: 1.7–32)], and unclean environment [p = 0.03; AOR 5.8 (CI 95%: 1.2–28)] showed statistical significance concerning the indoor air microbial loads; most of the wards in Arba Minch General Hospital (AMGH) stand high and not in an acceptable level as per the WHO and the European Commission standards on indoor air microbial load. Periodic air surveillance and infection prevention control programs are required to reduce the transmission of these microbes to inpatients, visitors, and health care workers.
Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant responses of Microcoleus vaginatus with the aid of attapulgite-based nanocomposite to wind stress

ABSTRACT Wind erosion is one of the reasons for the formation of desertification in arid and semiarid areas. Many measures are used to achieve sustainable land management. Microcoleus vaginatus can influence and offer limited protection to soils from wind erosion through its impact on controlling threshold friction velocity. Therefore, the study aims to explore the effectiveness and anti-wind erosion ability of Microcoleus vaginatus with the aid of attapulgite-based nanocomposite and to find a method that can act as bioindicators for investigating wind erosion in arid and semiarid areas in the future, for offering a method to prevent desertification and provide a valuable measure for the sustainable development of the environment. In this study, the effects of wind stress on reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), glutathione (GSH) and the surface character of the soil were analysed. The results showed that increased ROS and MDA, decreased GSH, changed SOD, POD and CAT, and enhanced soil structure in Microcoleus vaginatus with the aid of attapulgite-based nanocomposites were influenced by 3 and 5 m·s−1 wind erosion. Further analysis demonstrated that increased SOD, POD and CAT and decreased GSH eliminated ROS and MDA through the antioxidant defense response of Microcoleus vaginatus with the aid of attapulgite-based nanocomposites. The results revealed that Microcoleus vaginatus with the aid of attapulgite-based nanocomposite had an important physiological adaptation for the elimination of ROS and lipid peroxidation induced by wind stress and could play a role in alleviating wind erosion. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Potential for repurposing oral hypertension/diabetes drugs to decrease asthma risk in obesity

Abstract Objective Risk for asthma in the overweight/obese may be mediated by adiponectin and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor pathways and may be reduced by the use of oral drugs impacting these pathways, such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I), thiazolidinediones (TZD), and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB). Our study objective was to determine whether ACE-I, TZD, and/or ARB use in overweight/obese adults with diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension is associated with a lower risk for incident asthma. Methods Using an existing cohort of American veterans, we performed a longitudinal data analysis over 15 years. Exposure was defined by the prescription pickup of ACE-I, TZD, and/or ARB for at least 4 weeks. The outcome, time until new-onset of clinician-diagnosed asthma, was studied using survival analysis. The propensity scoring method controlled for treatment selection bias. Results 2.83 million eligible veterans, including 77,278 with incident asthma, were studied. As compared to those unexposed, the use of ACE-I alone, TZD alone, or their combinations were each associated with decreased risk for incident asthma (hazard ratios of 0.88, 0.74, and 0.20, respectively; p < 0.001 for all analyses in the fully adjusted statistical models). TZD lowered the risk among racial/ethnic minority subjects more than among White participants (p < 0.001). On the other hand, ARB use alone or in combination with TZD was associated with a higher risk for incident asthma. Conclusions Use of ACE-I and/or TZD was associated with a lower risk for incident asthma in overweight/obese patients with diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension.
Multiple modes of antigen exposure induce clonotypically diverse epitope-specific CD8+ T cells across multiple tissues in nonhuman primates

Antigen-specific CD8+ T cells play a key role in the host’s antiviral response. T cells recognize viral epitopes via the T cell receptor (TCR), which contains the complementarity-determining region-3 (CDR3), comprising the variable, diversity and joining regions of the TCRβ gene. During chronic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of Asian macaque nonhuman primates, tissue-specific clonotypes are identifiable among SIV-specific CD8+ T cells. Here, we sought to determine level of antigen exposure responsible for the tissue-specific clonotypic structure. We examined whether the priming event and/or chronic antigen exposure is response for tissue-specific TCR repertoires. We evaluated the TCR repertoire of SIV-specific CD8+ T cells after acute antigen exposure following inoculation with a SIV DNA vaccine, longitudinally during the acute and chronic phases of SIV, and after administration of antiretrovirals (ARVs). Finally, we assessed the TCR repertoire of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific CD8+ T cells to establish if TCR tissue-specificity is shared among viruses that chronically replicate. TCR sequences unique to anatomical sites were identified after acute antigen exposure via vaccination and upon acute SIV infection. Tissue-specific clones also persisted into chronic infection and the clonotypic structure continued to evolve after ARV administration. Finally, tissue-specific clones were also observed in CMV-specific CD8+ T cells. Together, these data suggest that acute antigen priming is sufficient to induce tissue-specific clones and that this clonal hierarchy can persist when antigen loads are naturally or therapeutically reduced, providing mechanistic insight into tissue-residency.
EVALUATION OF RESISTANCIES OF TEN ACCESSIONS OF CASHEW TO FUSARIUM ROOT ROT DISEASE.

Cashew is a commodity that has an important role in improving the welfare of farmers, especially in areas with dry climates and poor nutrient s . One obstacle in the development of cashew nut is the presence of Fusarium attacks that can shut down the plant in the nursery. Research evaluation of resistanc ies of ten accessions of cashew against Fusarium root rot disease, which aim ed to get the accessions that resistant to Fusarium root rotdisease has been conduct ed in the Laboratory and Greenhouse of Indonesian Spices and Industrial Crops Rresearch Institute (ISICRI) January to December 2009. Research using completely randomized design with 10 treatments and three replications. Treatment s were the type of accsession namely Arsyad Labone, Sri Lanka,JT-21, Laode Head, Laode Gani, Sleman Red, Nigeria, Laode Kase, JN 26, NDR-31. The result obtained one cashew accessions highly resistant namely JN-26, and two accessions that resistant that is Laode Gani, and Sleman Red with root rot disease incidence of each 0; 6.67, and 9.52% at the age of two months after inoculation .
Perceived barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services among educated young women in Egypt

Background: Youth have higher risk of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems, and consequently have a higherneed for SRH counselling. In Egypt, reproductive health (RH) awareness is generally poor especially among young womenattending high institutions that requires further attentions and research to explore the different barriers to access the RHservices.Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the barriers to access SRH services among young educated Egyptians.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, community-based survey was conducted in Minia Governorate, Egyptthrough a self-funded research project during the period from January 2019 till September 2019. The invited samplewere 750 female university students. Approval by ethical committee of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Minia University Hospital was obtained. Descriptive and a cross-tabular descriptive statistical analysis of frequenciesand percentages were performed. Comparing means with a significance level of 0.05 was performed to investigate theassociation between the different variables.Results: A total of 48.1% of participants reported an unmet need of sexual and reproductive health counselling. Tendifferent barriers were described by the participants. The first four barriers in the order of importance were health serviceprovider’s attitudes (88.5%), misinformation in the communities (86.5%), cultural norms (86.5%) and health systembarriers (73.1%) while the logistics and the distance was rated on the bottom.Conclusion: It is imperative to ensure efficient and adequate SRH counselling among the vulnerable groups. Improvingthe access to SRH can be achieved by correction of the community misconceptions with adequate training of the healthservice providers.
Development of a Method for Tool Wear Analysis Using 3D Scanning

The paper deals with evaluation of a 3D scanning method elaborated by the authors, by applying it to the analysis of the wear of forging tools. The 3D scanning method in the first place consists in the application of scanning to the analysis of changes in geometry of a forging tool by way of comparing the images of a worn tool with a CAD model or an image of a new tool. The method was evaluated in the context of the important measurement problems resulting from the extreme conditions present during the industrial hot forging processes. The method was used to evaluate wear of tools with an increasing wear degree, which made it possible to determine the wear characteristics in a function of the number of produced forgings. The following stage was the use it for a direct control of the quality and geometry changes of forging tools (without their disassembly) by way of a direct measurement of the geometry of periodically collected forgings (indirect method based on forgings). The final part of the study points to the advantages and disadvantages of the elaborated method as well as the potential directions of its further development.
Analysis of SNL/MSU/DOE Fatigue Database Trends for Wind Turbine Blade Materials 2010-2015.

Wind turbine blades are designed to several major structural conditions, including tip deflection, strength and buckling during severe loading, as well as very high numbers of fatigue cycles and various service environments. The MSU Database Program has, since 1989, addressed the broad range of properties needed for current and potential blade materials through static and fatigue testing and test development in cooperation with Sandia National Laboratories and wind industry and supplier partners. This report is the latest in a series, giving test results and analysis for the period 2010-2015. Program data are compiled in a public database [1] and other reports and publications given in the cited references. The report begins with an executive summary and introductory material including background discussion of previous related studies. Section 3 describes experimental methods including processing, test methods, instrumentation and test development. Section 4 provides static tension, compression and shear stress-strain properties in three directions using coupons sectioned from a thick infused unidirectional glass/epoxy laminate. The nonlinear, shear dominated static properties were characterized with loading-unloading-reloading (LUR) tests in tension and compression to increasing load levels, for ±45O laminates. Section 5 explores the origins of tensile fatigue sensitivity in glass fiber dominated laminates with variations in fabric architecture including specially prepared fabrics and aligned strand laminates. Several types of resins are considered, with variations in resin toughness and bonding to fibers, as well as cure cycle variations for an epoxy. Conclusions are drawn as to the limits of tensile fatigue resistance
Boards of Banks 1

We construct a comprehensive data set with detailed biographic data on 12,010 board directors working for 740 large banks from 41 countries over the period 2000-2008. The data allow us to create a novel and reliable measure of director independence. We report many new findings. Bank board independence increases rapidly and substantially in the pre-crisis period, peaking at about 67% in 2006. High independence levels are predominantly a US phenomenon, as US banks display board independence levels that are on average 19 percentage points higher than those of non-US banks with similar characteristics. We find that country characteristics explain most of the cross-sectional variation in bank board independence. This evidence suggests that country-specific laws and regulations affect the composition of boards of banks. Consistent with this interpretation, we find that bank board independence is lower in countries where courts can remove bank directors and where regulations allow for two-tiered boards. In contrast, there is no robust evidence that investor protection and financial development are related to bank board independence. We also find that bank characteristics play a more pronounced role in determining other board characteristics (such as board size and director busyness) than in determining board independence.
A method to improve phase noise of oscillator based on triangular SIW resonators

In this letter, a double cavity high‐mode substrate integrated resonator (DMSIR) is proposed to design a low phase noise X‐band oscillator. The proposed DMSIR is realized by 2 equilateral triangular substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavities, and each triangular SIW cavity operates in high‐order mode. The weak coupling in the high‐order mode of the 2 cavities is performed to improve load Q value and reduce phase noise. To validate this method, the oscillators based on the single cavity high‐mode substrate integrated resonator and fundamental mode substrate integrated resonator are designed and implemented, respectively. Measured results show that, the oscillator based on the DMSIR exhibits the lowest phase noise of −143.1 dBc/Hz @ 1 MHz from oscillation frequency of 10.059 GHz, and the figure of merit is −207.5 dBc/Hz.
Context-aware human-robot collaboration as a basis for future cognitive factories (Kontext-sensitive Zusammenarbeit von Mensch und Roboter als Grundlage für kognitive Fabriken der Zukunft)

Today, manufacturing industry is faced with increasing product variants while product cycles decrease. Since conventional optimization strategies are saturating, future competitiveness of manufacturers will be highly related to their ability and flexibility to adapt to these essential market requirements. The collaboration between human and robot has been announced as a promising approach to solve these challenges, because it teams the strength and the efficiency of robots with the high degree of dexterity and the cognitive capabilities of humans into a flexible overall system. This thesis identifies required functionality and mechanisms for both efficient and natural human-robot collaboration. To give the human an appropriate and efficient collaboration partner, the work of this thesis bases on recent psychological research about cognitive processes of joint-action among humans. These psychological studies interpret, that the success of efficient collaboration depends on the team-partners’ abilities to predict actions and to affect own actions using the prediction. Inspired by these findings, this thesis implements and evaluates the required collaboration mechanisms action observation and action coordination for an assistive robotic system. These two mechanisms imply, that the robotic system is capable of perceiving, gathering and representing contextual information such as the environment, recognizing current actions of the human, and by this producing context-aware dynamic and adaptive actions. These demanded capabilities are conceptually realized in a distributed software framework. Human robot collaboration experiments were performed using the integrated demonstration platform JAHIR, that was co-developed along with this work. The results validate the benefits regarding efficiency, adaptability, and flexibility.