Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Conners Continuous Performance Test CPT3™: Is it a reliable marker to predict neurocognitive dysfunction in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome?

Introduction The main objective is to delimit the cognitive dysfunction associated with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in adult patients by applying the Continuous Performance Test (CPT3™). Additionally, provide empirical evidence on the usefulness of this computerized neuropsychological test to assess ME/CFS. Method The final sample (n = 225; 158 Patients/67 Healthy controls) were recruited in a Central Sensitization Syndromes (CSS) specialized unit in a tertiary hospital. All participants were administered this neuropsychological test. Results There were significant differences between ME/CFS and healthy controls in all the main measures of CPT3™. Mainly, patients had a worse indicator of inattentiveness, sustained attention, vigilance, impulsivity, slow reaction time, and more atypical T-scores, which is associated with a likelihood of having a disorder characterized by attention deficits, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In addition, relevant correlations were obtained between the CPT3™ variables in the patient’s group. The most discriminative indicators of ME/CFS patients were Variability and Hit Reaction Time, both measures of response speed. Conclusion The CPT3™ is a helpful tool to discriminate neurocognitive impairments from attention and response speed in ME/CFS patients, and it could be used as a marker of ME/CFS severity for diagnosing or monitoring this disease.
Particleboard Production from Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. Grown in Portugal

Paulownia wood has raised high attention due to its rapid growth and fire resistance. The number of plantations in Portugal has been growing, and new exploitation methods are needed. This study intends to determine the properties of particleboards made with very young Paulownia trees from Portuguese plantations. Single layer particleboards were produced with 3-year-old Paulownia trees using different processing parameters and different board composition in order to determine the best properties for use in dry environments. The standard particleboard was produced at 180 °C and a 36.3 kg/cm2 pressure for 6 min using 40 g of raw material with 10% urea-formaldehyde resin. Higher particle size lead to lower-density particleboards, while higher resin contents lead to higher density of the boards. Density has a major effect on board properties with higher densities improving mechanical properties such as bending strength, modulus of elasticity (MOE) and internal bond, lower water absorption but higher thickness swelling and thermal conductivity. Particleboards meeting the requirements for dry environment according to NP EN 312 standard, could be produced with young Paulownia wood with acceptable mechanical and thermal conductivity properties with density around 0.65 g/cm3 and a thermal conductivity of 0.115 W/mK.
Second‐generation combined CARS‐LDV instrument for simultaneous temperature and velocity measurements in combusting flows

This article describes the design and operation of a second‐generation combined CARS‐LDV instrument capable of measuring temperature and two velocity components in a turbulent combusting flowfield. Improvements to the instrument over the first‐generation system include multiple acquisition modes ranging from independent to 4‐μs time coincidence, more extensive automation of the data acquisition and burner controls, and improved procedures for analysis and display of raw data. Measurements made on a propane–air diffusion flame are discussed.
Vitamin D, a Regulator of Androgen Levels, Is Not Correlated to PSA Serum Levels in a Cohort of the Middle Italy Region Participating to a Prostate Cancer Screening Campaign

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy in men worldwide, and it represents the fifth leading cause of death. It has long been recognized that dietary habits can impact prostate health and improve the benefits of traditional medical care. The activity of novel agents on prostate health is routinely assessed by measuring changes in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Recent studies hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation reduces circulating androgen levels and PSA secretion, inhibits cell growth of the hormone-sensitive PCa cell lines, counteracts neoangiogenesis and improves apoptosis. However, the results are conflicting and inconsistent. Furthermore, the use of vitamin D in PCa treatments has not achieved consistently positive results to date. In order to assess the existence of a correlation between the PSA and 25(OH)vitamin D levels as widely hypothesized in the literature, we analyzed the serum PSA and 25(OH)vitamin D concentration on a cohort of one hundred patients joining a PCa screening campaign. Additionally, we performed medical and pharmacological anamnesis and analyzed lifestyle, as sport practice and eating habits, by administering a questionnaire on family history. Although several studies suggested a protective role of vitamin D in PCa onset prevention and progression, our preliminary results revealed a clear absence of correlation between the serum vitamin D and PSA concentration levels, suggesting that vitamin D has no impact on PCa risk. Further investigations enrolling a huge number of patients are needed with particular attention to vitamin D supplementation, calcium intake, solar radiation that influences vitamin D metabolism and other potential indicators of health to confirm the absence of correlation observed in our study.
Story telling in bilingual Urdu−Cantonese ethnic minority children: Macrostructure and its relation to microstructural linguistic skills

Introduction The ability to produce a well-structured, coherent and informative narrative requires the integration of lexical and grammatical skills at different levels of complexity. Investigating how narrative macrostructure competence is predicted by microstructural linguistic skills is conceptually enlightening; yet there have been very few, if any, studies documenting the associations between macrostructure and microstructure in both languages of the same bilinguals. In this paper we attempt to address this research gap and report on the first empirical study of Urdu-Cantonese bilingual children’s narrative abilities, bringing in data from a new language pair that is currently understudied. Methods Twenty-four bilinguals (mean age = 9.17 years) acquiring Urdu as first, family and heritage minority language, and Cantonese as second, school and majority language were assessed via Multilingual Assessment Instrument for Narratives (MAIN). We examined these children’s macrostructural competence and its relations to microstructural skills in both languages (Urdu and Cantonese). Three macrostructure components were scored as response variables: Story Structure (SS), Story Complexity (SC), Internal State Terms (IST). Four microstructural measures were scored as predictor variables: number of different words (NDW), mean length of Communication Units (MLCU), proportion of grammatical Communication Units (Gproportion), proportion of correct connectives linking the major episodic elements (Cproportion). Results In regression analyses, NDW emerged consistently as a positive predictor of SS, SC and IST in both languages. MLCU and NDW were positive predictors of SS in the stronger L1, but NDW was the only positive predictor of SS in L2. By contrast, NDW and an index of syntactic competence (MLCU in L1, but Cproportion in L2) were significant or close-to-significant positive predictors of SC in both languages. NDW was the only positive predictor of IST in both languages. These findings suggested that the relationships between narrative macrostructure and specific microstructural abilities could manifest both similarly and differently between L1 and L2. Discussion We discuss the findings by considering the unique nature of each macrostructure component and how each component might be related to specific microstructural linguistic skills. We suggest directions for further research and discuss how the current findings bring deeper implications for educators and clinicians in assessment, pedagogy, and intervention.
Development of a wireless passive capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (WPC4D) for fluidic flow detection utilizing 3D printing and PCB technologies

Abstract A modified capacitive-coupled contactless conductivity sensor is proposed and developed for microfluidic flow detection based on the passive wireless inductor-capacitor (LC) technique. The device utilizes rapid prototyping including PolyJet 3D printing and PCB technologies to fabricate the microchannel and the readout inductor through which the conductivity of the fluidic flow is analyzed and foreign objects identified. The system employs an LC resonance circuit to monitor the shift in frequency and the change in the reflection coefficient, thereby estimating the conductivity of the fluidic flow and the appearance of objects. The operating principles were characterized by numerical calculations. The performance was validated by experimental measurements. The results show that the higher the electrical conductivity (i.e. the higher concentration) of the NaCl solution passing through the sensing area, the lower the resonance frequency. The resonance frequency due to the passage of NaCl solution with concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, and 1 M were 225.24, 218.93, and 215.67 MHz, respectively. The influence of the distance between the inductors on the resonance frequency of different solution conductivities has also been studied. The sensor system has high potential in various biomedical and chemical applications, particularly in point-of-care applications where sensor chips can be easily incorporated.
Acetabular load-transfer and mechanical stability: A finite element analysis comparing different cementless sockets

Acetabular stress shielding may be a failure mechanism of acetabular constructs promoting osteolysis, aseptic loosening and failure. We used three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate the effect of flexible sockets on acetabular stress shielding. The sockets were made of (1) full polyethylene (PE), (2) PE with a metal bearing and (3) a PE insert with a metal backing was used as a traditional stiff implant. We compared the strain energy density and interfacial micro-motions between bone and cementless sockets during walking. In our FEA model, the most elastic socket (case 1) showed the highest levels of micro-motion during walking (400 μm). The most rigid socket (case 3) showed smaller areas of high micro-motions. Assuming a threshold for ingrowth of 50 microns, the flexible cup showed an ingrowth area of almost 40%, whereas the other two cases showed stable areas covering 60% of the total bone–component interface. Furthermore, we found that the introduction of an implant generates a very different strain pattern directly around the implant as compared with the intact case, which has a horse-shoe shaped cartilage layer in the acetabulum. This difference was not affected much by the stiffness of the implant; a more flexible implant resulted in only slightly higher strain levels. Bone strains over 1.5 mm from the cup showed physiological values and were not affected by the stiffness of the implant. Hence, this study shows that the physiological strain patterns are not obtained in the direct periprosthetic bone, regardless of the stiffness of the material.
Effects of Climate, Sun Exposure, and Dietary Intake on Vitamin D Concentrations in Pregnant Women: A Population-Based Study

Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a global micronutrient issue that commonly occurs in pregnant women, leading to adverse health outcomes. We examined the role of sunlight-related factors and dietary vitamin D intake on vitamin D concentrations among pregnant women in different climate zones. Methods: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey in Taiwan between June 2017 and February 2019. The data of 1502 pregnant women were collected, including sociodemographic information and characteristics related to pregnancy, diet, and sun exposure. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were measured, and VDD was assessed as a concentration of less than 20 ng/mL. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore the factors associated with VDD. Furthermore, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was used to analyze the contribution of sunlight-related factors and dietary vitamin D intake to vitamin D status stratified by climate zones. Results: The prevalence of VDD was 30.1% and was the highest in the north. Sufficient intake of red meat (odds ratio (OR): 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.32–0.75; p = 0.002), vitamin D and/or calcium supplements (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.39–0.66; p < 0.001), sun exposure (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57–0.98; p = 0.034), and blood draw during sunny months (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.46–0.77; p < 0.001) were associated with a lower likelihood of VDD. Additionally, in northern Taiwan, which is characterized by a subtropical climate, dietary vitamin D intake (AUROC: 0.580, 95% CI: 0.528–0.633) had a greater influence on vitamin D status than did sunlight-related factors (AUROC: 0.536, 95% CI: 0.508–0.589) with a z value = 51.98, p < 0.001. By contrast, sunlight-related factors (AUROC: 0.659, 95% CI: 0.618–0.700) were more important than dietary vitamin D intake (AUROC: 0.617, 95% CI, 0.575–0.660) among women living in tropical areas of Taiwan (z value = 54.02, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Dietary vitamin D intake was essential to alleviate VDD in the tropical region, whereas sunlight-related factors played a greater role in subtropical areas. Safe sunlight exposure and adequate dietary vitamin D intake should be promoted appropriately as a strategic healthcare program.
TIR-1/SARM1 inhibits axon regeneration and promotes axon degeneration

Growth and destruction are central components of the neuronal injury response. Injured axons that are capable of repair, including axons in the mammalian peripheral nervous system and in many invertebrate animals, often regenerate and degenerate on either side of the injury. Here we show that TIR-1/dSarm/SARM1, a key regulator of axon degeneration, also inhibits regeneration of injured motor axons. The increased regeneration in tir-1 mutants is not a secondary consequence of its effects on degeneration, nor is it determined by the NADase activity of TIR-1. Rather, we found that TIR-1 functions cell-autonomously to regulate each of the seemingly opposite processes through distinct interactions with two MAP kinase pathways. On one side of the injury, TIR-1 inhibits axon regeneration by activating the NSY-1/ASK1 MAPK signaling cascade, while on the other side of the injury, TIR-1 simultaneously promotes axon degeneration by interacting with the DLK-1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade. In parallel, we found that the ability to cell-intrinsically inhibit axon regeneration is conserved in human SARM1. Our finding that TIR-1/SARM1 regulates axon regeneration provides critical insight into how axons coordinate a multidimensional response to injury, consequently informing approaches to manipulate the response toward repair.
A Closer Look at Opioid-Induced Adrenal Insufficiency: A Narrative Review

Among several opioid-associated endocrinopathies, opioid-associated adrenal insufficiency (OIAI) is both common and not well understood by most clinicians, particularly those outside of endocrine specialization. OIAI is secondary to long-term opioid use and differs from primary adrenal insufficiency. Beyond chronic opioid use, risk factors for OIAI are not well known. OIAI can be diagnosed by a variety of tests, such as the morning cortisol test, but cutoff values are not well established and it is estimated that only about 10% of patients with OIAI will ever be properly diagnosed. This may be dangerous, as OIAI can lead to a potentially life-threatening adrenal crisis. OIAI can be treated and for patients who must continue opioid therapy, it can be clinically managed. OIAI resolves with opioid cessation. Better guidance for diagnosis and treatment is urgently needed, particularly in light of the fact that 5% of the United States population has a prescription for chronic opioid therapy.
Overlooking of Individuals with Cardiometabolic Risk by Evaluation of Obesity Using Waist Circumference and Body Mass Index in Middle-Aged Japanese Women

Waist circumference is often used for the diagnosis of visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome. In Japan, obesity in women is defined by the government as a waist circumference of ≥90 cm and/or BMI of ≥25 kg/m2. However, there has been a controversy for almost two decades as to whether waist circumference and its above-optimal cutoff are appropriate for the diagnosis of obesity in health checkups. Instead of waist circumference, the waist-to-height ratio has been recommended for the diagnosis of visceral obesity. In this study, the relationships between the waist-to-height ratio and cardiometabolic risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia, were investigated in middle-aged Japanese women (35~60 years) who were diagnosed as not having obesity according to the above Japanese criteria of obesity. The percentage of subjects showing normal waist circumference and normal BMI was 78.2%, and about one-fifth of those subjects (16.6% of the overall subjects) showed a high waist-to-height ratio. In subjects with normal waist circumference and normal BMI, odds ratios of high vs. not high waist-to-height ratio for diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia were significantly higher than the reference level. A considerable proportion of women who have a high cardiometabolic risk might be overlooked at annual lifestyle health checkups in Japan.
Simple and Powerful PCG Classification Method Based on Selection and Transfer Learning for Precision Medicine Application

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of death globally, with an estimated rise to over 23.6 million deaths by 2030. This alarming trend can be attributed to our unhealthy lifestyles and lack of attention towards early CVD diagnosis. Traditional cardiac auscultation, where a highly qualified cardiologist listens to the heart sounds, is a crucial diagnostic method, but not always feasible or affordable. Therefore, developing accessible and user-friendly CVD recognition solutions can encourage individuals to integrate regular heart screenings into their routine. Although many automatic CVD screening methods have been proposed, most of them rely on complex prepocessing steps and heart cycle segmentation processes. In this work, we introduce a simple and efficient approach for recognizing normal and abnormal PCG signals using Physionet data. We employ data selection techniques such as kernel density estimation (KDE) for signal duration extraction, signal-to-noise Ratio (SNR), and GMM clustering to improve the performance of 17 pretrained Keras CNN models. Our results indicate that using KDE to select the appropriate signal duration and fine-tuning the VGG19 model results in excellent classification performance with an overall accuracy of 0.97, sensitivity of 0.946, precision of 0.944, and specificity of 0.946.
Four applications of conformal equivalence to geometry and dynamics

Abstract Conformal equivalence theorem from complex analysis says that every Riemannian metric on a compact surface with negative Euler characteristics can be obtained by multiplying a metric of constant negative curvature by a scalar function. This fact is used to produce information about the topological and metric entropies of the geodesic flow associated with a Riemannian metric, geodesic length spectrum, geodesic and harmonic measures of infinity and Cheeger asymptotic isoperimetric constant. The method is rather uniform and is based on a comparison of extremals for variational problems for conformally equivalent metrics.
Influence of Clinical and Surgical Factors on Uterine Carcinosarcoma Survival

Simple Summary Uterine carcinosarcoma is a rare disease that represents less than 5% of uterine malignancies, although approximately 16% of the uterine cancer-related deaths are caused by this disease. Nowadays, there seems to be a lack of prognostic stratifying studies that could lead to tailor the management of uterine carcinosarcoma. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of possible different prognostic factors on the survival of patients diagnosed with uterine carcinosarcoma. We observed that incomplete cytoreduction, presence of tumor residual after treatment, advanced FIGO stage, extrauterine disease, and tumor size were significant prognostic factors decreasing disease-free survival and overall survival. Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of prognostic factors on the survival of patients diagnosed with uterine carcinosarcoma. Methods: A sub-analysis of the SARCUT study, a multicentric retrospective European study, was carried out. We selected 283 cases of diagnosed uterine carcinosarcoma for the present study. Prognosis factors influencing survival were analyzed. Results: Significant prognostic factors for overall survival were: incomplete cytoreduction (HR = 4.02; 95%CI = 2.68–6.18), FIGO stages III and IV (HR = 3.21; 95%CI = 1.83–5.61), tumor persistence after any treatment (HR = 2.90; 95%CI = 1.97–4.27), presence of extrauterine disease (HR = 2.62; 95%CI = 1.75–3.92), a positive resection margin (HR = 1.56; 95%CI = 1.05–2.34), age (HR = 1.02; 95%CI = 1.00–1.05), and tumor size (HR = 1.01; 95%CI = 1.00–1.01). Significant prognostic factors for disease-free survival were: incomplete cytoreduction (HR = 3.00; 95%CI = 1.67–5.37), tumor persistence after any treatment (HR = 2.64; 95%CI = 1.81–3.86), FIGO stages III and IV (HR = 2.33; 95%CI = 1.59–3.41), presence of extrauterine disease (HR = 2.13; 95%CI = 1.44–3.17), administration of adjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 1.84; 95%CI = 1.27–2.67), a positive resection margin (HR = 1.65; 95%CI = 1.11–2.44), presence of LVSI (HR = 1.61; 95%CI = 1.02–2.55), and tumor size (HR = 1.00; 95%CI = 1.00–1.01). Conclusions: Incomplete cytoreduction, presence of tumor residual after treatment, advanced FIGO stage, extrauterine disease, and tumor size are significant prognostic factors decreasing disease-free survival and overall survival of patients with uterine carcinosarcoma.
Linearity and image uniformity of the VistaTM optical cone beam scanner

Several optical computed tomography (CT) scanner geometries have been demonstrated for application to 3D gel dosimetry. The scanners fall into two classes: single-ray detector and broad beam - array detector. Two broad beam geometries, divergent cone beam and collimated beam are posssible and each geometry has features worth evaluating. This report is an initial evaluation of the VistaTM optical cone beam scanner (Modus Medical Devices, London Canada). Results from this first research model will assist is identifying improvements required to make a system for accurate clinical 3D gel dosimetry.