Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of virtual reality distraction on pain among patients with hand injury undergoing dressing change.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of virtual reality distraction on pain among patients with a hand injury undergoing a dressing change. BACKGROUND Virtual reality distraction can effectively alleviate pain among patients undergoing a dressing change. Clinical research has not addressed pain control during a dressing change. DESIGN A randomised controlled trial was performed. METHODS In the first dressing change sequence, 98 patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 49 cases in each group. Pain levels were compared between the two groups before and after the dressing change using a visual analog scale. The sense of involvement in virtual environments was measured using the Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, which determined the relationship between the sense of involvement and pain level. RESULTS The difference in visual analog scale scores between the two groups before the dressing change was not statistically significant (t = 0·196, p > 0·05), but the scores became statistically significant after the dressing change (t = -30·792, p < 0·01). The correlation between the sense of involvement in a virtual environment and pain level during the dressing was statistically significant (R(2) = 0·5538, p < 0·05). CONCLUSION Virtual reality distraction can effectively alleviate pain among patients with a hand injury undergoing a dressing change. Better results can be obtained by increasing the sense of involvement in a virtual environment. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Virtual reality distraction can effectively relieve pain without side effects and is not reliant on a doctor's prescription. This tool is convenient for nurses to use, especially when analgesics are unavailable.
Genome-scale analysis to identify prognostic markers in patients with early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Background Molecular analysis is a promising source of clinically useful prognostic biomarkers. The aim of this investigation was to identify prognostic biomarkers for patients with early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods An RNA sequencing dataset of PDAC was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Survival analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis were used to investigate the prognostic markers of early-stage PDAC after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Results Using whole genome expression level screening, we identified 1,238 markers that were related to the prognosis of PDAC after pancreaticoduodenectomy, and identified 9 hub genes (ARHGAP30, HCLS1, CD96, FAM78A, ARHGAP15, SLA2, CD247, GVINP1, and IL16) using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis approach. We also constructed a signature comprising the 9 hub genes and weighted by the regression coefficient derived from a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model to divide patients into a high-risk group, with increased risk of death, and a low-risk group, with significantly improved overall survival (adjusted P=0.026, adjusted HR =0.513, 95% CI =0.285–0.924). The prognostic signature of the 9 genes demonstrated good performance for predicting 1-year overall survival (area under the respective receiver operating characteristic curves =0.641). Conclusion Our results have provided a new prospect for prognostic biomarkers of PDAC after pancreaticoduodenectomy, and may have a value in clinical application.
Experiencia del seguro social colombiano en teleradiología

La utilizacion de la red de teleradiologia es: Una tecnologia complementaria a la instalada. No hay inversion en equipos. Se logra reorientar el escaso recurso de radiologos a procesos mas complejos, como ecografias con ahorros hasta del 57/100 al reubicarlos y bajar la contratacion en la misma proporcion. Con el mismo presupuesto se aumenta el numero de pacientes atendidos en 130/100. Los estudios salen con lectura. Reduce riesgos por demandas. El paciente no tiene que desplazarse. Mejora calidad del servicio a los usuarios. Es un proyecto bandera a nivel de Sur America.
Prevalence of Behavior Changing Strategies in Fitness Video Games: Theory-Based Content Analysis

Background Fitness video games are popular, but little is known about their content. Because many contain interactive tools that mimic behavioral strategies from weight loss intervention programs, it is possible that differences in content could affect player physical activity and/or weight outcomes. There is a need for a better understanding of what behavioral strategies are currently available in fitness games and how they are implemented. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of evidence-based behavioral strategies across fitness video games available for home use. Games available for consoles that used camera-based controllers were also contrasted with games available for a console that used handheld motion controllers. Methods Fitness games (N=18) available for three home consoles were systematically identified and play-tested by 2 trained coders for at least 3 hours each. In cases of multiple games from one series, only the most recently released game was included. The Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox360 were the two camera-based consoles, and the Nintendo Wii was the handheld motion controller console. A coding list based on a taxonomy of behavioral strategies was used to begin coding. Codes were refined in an iterative process based on data found during play-testing. Results The most prevalent behavioral strategies were modeling (17/18), specific performance feedback (17/18), reinforcement (16/18), caloric expenditure feedback (15/18), and guided practice (15/18). All games included some kind of feedback on performance accuracy, exercise frequency, and/or fitness progress. Action planning (scheduling future workouts) was the least prevalent of the included strategies (4/18). Twelve games included some kind of social integration, with nine of them providing options for real-time multiplayer sessions. Only two games did not feature any kind of reward. Games for the camera-based consoles (mean 12.89, SD 2.71) included a greater number of strategies than those for the handheld motion controller console (mean 10.00, SD 2.74, P=.04). Conclusions Behavioral strategies for increasing self-efficacy and self-regulation are common in home console fitness video games. Social support and reinforcement occurred in approximately half of the studied games. Strategy prevalence varies by console type, partially due to greater feedback afforded by camera-based controllers. Experimental studies are required to test the effects of these strategies when delivered as interactive tools, as this medium may represent an innovative platform for disseminating evidence-based behavioral weight loss intervention components.
A new hand shape positioning algorithm based on Voronoi diagram

For the problem of inaccurate accuracy caused by deformation region of hand shape contour in traditional hand shape recognition algorithms, this paper proposes a new hand shape positioning algorithm based on Voronoi diagram. The algorithm first extracts the hand shape contour. And using the geometric information of the finger, this algorithm accurately extract the central axis of the fingers based on Voronoi diagram. This paper also identifies the optimal value of the threshold of normalized feature deviation and overall feature deviation, etc. Finally, the extracted finger width feature is used to recognize and match. Under the constraint of the false rejection rate and the error acceptance rate, recognition rate as high as 98. 952%. And the algorithm has low complexity and high accuracy and stability.
ACC-1 β-Lactamase–producing Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi, India

To the Editor: Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, is a serious form of enteric fever. In 2000, the worldwide number of typhoid cases was estimated to be >21,000,000, and there were >200,000 deaths from this disease (1).
CD4+ T-Cell Count Increase in HIV-1-Infected Patients with Suppressed Viral Load Within 1 year after start of antiretroviral therapy

Background CD4+ T-cell recovery in patients with continuous suppression of plasma HIV-1 viral load (VL) is highly variable. This study aimed to identify predictive factors for long-term CD4+ T-cell increase in treatment-naive patients starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Methods Treatment-naive patients in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study reaching two VL measurements <50 copies/ml >3 months apart during the 1st year of cART were included (n=1,816 patients). We studied CD4+ T-cell dynamics until the end of suppression or up to 5 years, subdivided into three periods: 1st year, years 2–3 and years 4–5 of suppression. Multiple median regression adjusted for repeated CD4+T-cell measurements was used to study the dependence of CD4+ T-cell slopes on clinical covariates and drug classes. Results Median CD4+ T-cell increases following VL suppression were 87, 52 and 19 cells/μl per year in the three periods. In the multiple regression model, median CD4+ T-cell increases over all three periods were significantly higher for female gender, lower age, higher VL at cART start, CD4+ T-cell <650 cells/μ l at start of the period and low CD4+ T-cell increase in the previous period. Patients on tenofovir showed significantly lower CD4+T-cell increases compared with stavudine. Conclusions In our observational study, long-term CD4+ T-cell increase in drug-naive patients with suppressed VL was higher in regimens without tenofovir. The clinical relevance of these findings must be confirmed in, ideally, clinical trials or large, collaborative cohort projects but could influence treatment of older patients and those starting cART at low CD4+ T-cell levels.
Risk, Need, and Responsivity (RNR): It All Depends

Target populations have always been a thorny issue for correctional programs. In this experiment of seamless treatment for probationers in two sites, offenders were randomly assigned to the seamless model (drug treatment incorporated into probation supervision) or traditional referral model to services in the community. The experiment blocked on risk level to measure the differential effects on rearrest and substance abuse. The seamless system model improved treatment participation with greater gains for the offenders who were high risk in both sites. Yet no main effects were observed on drug use or rearrest, although effect sizes illustrate that small effects can be observed for the offenders who are high risk. Part of the failure to observe main effects is because of instrumentation problems, namely, that most substance abusers in the experiment had low-severity substance abuse problems and were marijuana users. The focus on sound dynamic factors may assist with identifying the appropriate target populations for correctional interventions.
Potential Roles of Mhealth for Community Health Workers: Formative Research With End Users in Uganda and Mozambique

Background Community health workers are reemerging as an essential component of health systems in low-income countries. However, there are concerns that unless they are adequately supported, their motivation and performance will be suboptimal. mHealth presents an opportunity to improve support for community health workers; however, most interventions to date have been designed through a top-down approach, rarely involve the end user, and have not focused on motivation. Objective To use formative research to explore the views of community health workers in Uganda and Mozambique on the potential role of mHealth in their work delivering integrated community case management of children. Methods We conducted 24 in-depth interviews and 5 focus group discussions with community health workers in Uganda and Mozambique. Data were collected on: current phone use, preferred phone and charger characteristics, and perceptions of a range of potential mHealth interventions. Interviews were conducted in the local language, were audio recorded and converted into expanded notes. Interviews were coded for key thematic areas using both deductive and inductive codes. Deductive codes included mHealth’s potential impact on motivation and performance. Results The most salient roles of mHealth in improving performance and motivation were reducing the need for travel, improving efficiency and planning, receiving feedback and information, and improving communication with supervisors and other community health workers. This was mostly through improved voice and short message service (SMS) text communication. Specific components of mHealth interventions that participants felt could improve motivation included increasing their visibility and credibility through branding of phones; providing an SMS response to data submission; and sending SMS messages about the importance of their work and achievements, rather than just reminders or technical messages. Participants identified feasibility issues related to the language of SMS messages, network coverage, and the need for a balance between phone function and battery life. Phones with a dual SIM cards would ameliorate network problems but would reduce battery life. The provision of a solar charger was viewed as beneficial. Conclusions Conducting formative research with end users is likely to improve mHealth interventions by: (1) identifying interventions that are likely to have the greatest impact and be the most acceptable, (2) developing salient SMS messages, and (3) identifying feasibility issues. mHealth interventions also could have an important impact on health worker motivation, which should be considered by intervention developers and in evaluations, especially as small modifications could have a significant impact. Our study suggests that using phones to improve direct communication should be considered, even when planners aim to focus on the provision of a specific application.
Unobstrusive human activity recognition using smartphones and Hidden Markov Models

Accelerometer data is sufficient to compute human activity recognition, even with only a single accelerometer in use. Such data can be used for many pervasive computing applications, user activity being interpreted as real-time contextual information. This paper investigates activity recognition on smartphones, as they are a suitable platform for the implementation of context-aware pervasive systems. Many machine learning algorithms are suitable for this purpose, but Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are particularly appropriate for their ability to exploit the sequential and temporal nature of data. This paper evaluates HMMs in unobstrusive activity recognition with the added restrictions resulting from the use of the smartphone platform.
Improved sensitivity of biological sequence database searches

We have increased the sensitivity of DNA and protein sequence database searches by allowing similar but non-identical amino acids or nucleotides to match. In addition, one can match k-tuples or words instead of matching individual residues in order to speed the search. A matching matrix species which k-tuples match each other. The matching matrix can be calculated from a similarity matrix of amino acids and a threshold of similarity required for matching. This permits amino acid similarity matrices or replacement matrices (PAM matrices) to be used in the first step of a sequence comparison rather than in a secondary scoring phase. The concept of matching non-identical k-tuples also increases the power of DNA database searches. For example, a matrix that specifies that any 3-tuple in a DNA sequence can match any other 3-tuple encoding the same amino acid permits a DNA database search using a DNA query sequence for regions that would encode a similar amino acid sequence.
Improvements to SEAWAT and Applications of the Variable-Density Modeling Program in Southern Florida

By coupling two commonly used computer programs, MODFLOW (McDonald and Harbaugh, 1988) and MT3Dms (Zheng and Wang, 1998), the SEAWAT program was developed to simulate variable-density, transient ground-water flow in three dimensions. Freshwater head and salt concentration are used as the two principal dependent variables. Major improvements from the previous version of SEAWAT include (1) reformulation of the flow equation based on the conservation of mass, (2) modification of stress packages to allow variable-density sources and sinks, and (3) incorporation of an implicit coupling procedure between the flow and solutetransport equations. These improvements produce more accurate simulation results and extend the applicability of the code to a wider range of hydrogeologic problems. The SEAWAT program has been widely used in southern Florida by the U.S. Geological Survey and CDM-Missimer International to investigate coastal ground-water flow processes. Seven applications have been completed or are in progress and pertain to the following types of hydrogeologic problems: availability of brackish ground water, saltwater intrusion, surface water and ground-water interactions, submarine ground-water discharge, and effectiveness of salinity barriers. For each application, the SEAWAT program was successfully used to investigate the effects of fluid density variations on ground-water flow rates and patterns.
Element specific spin and orbital moments of nanoscale CoFeB amorphous thin films on GaAs(100)

CoFeB amorphous films have been synthesized on GaAs(100) and studied with X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We have found that the ratios of the orbital to spin magnetic moments of both the Co and Fe in the ultrathin amorphous film have been enhanced by more than 300% compared with those of the bulk crystalline Co and Fe, and specifically a large orbital moment of 0.56 μB from the Co atoms has been observed and at the same time the spin moment of the Co atoms remains comparable to that of the bulk hcp Co. The results indicate that the large uniaxial magnetic anisotropy (UMA) observed in the ultrathin CoFeB film on GaAs(100) is related to the enhanced spin-orbital coupling of the Co atoms in the CoFeB. This work offers experimental evidences of the correlation between the UMA and the element specific spin and orbital moments in the CoFeB amorphous film on the GaAs(100) substrate, which is of significance for spintronics applications.
Male circumcision is not the HIV ‘vaccine’ we have been waiting for!

Over the past several months some researchers and health organizations have proclaimed circumcision to be a compelling and important new HIV tool. A recent commentary claims that circumcision is “at least as good as the HIV vaccine we have been waiting for praying for and hoping to see in our lifetimes”. Thousands of African men now line up to get circumcised in the mistaken belief that it will save them from HIV as some developing nations -lacking even rudimentary medical care and clean drinking water -rush to implement mass circumcision programs with encouragement and millions of pledged dollars from the US government. In addition there are calls for implementing mass neonatal circumcision. The push to institute mass circumcision in Africa following the three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) conducted in Africa is based on an incomplete evaluation of real-world preventive effects over the long-term -effects that may be quite different outside the research setting and circumstances with their access to resources sanitary standards and intensive counseling. Moreover proposals for mass circumcision lack a thorough and objective consideration of costs in relation to hoped-for benefits. No field-test has been performed to evaluate the effectiveness complications personnel requirements costs and practicality of proposed approaches in real-life conditions. These are the classic distinctions between efficacy and effectiveness trials and between internal validity and external validity. Campaigns to promote safe-sex behaviors have been shown to accomplish a high rate of infection reduction without the surgical risks and complications of circumcision and at a much lower cost. For the health community to rush to recommend a program based on incomplete evidence is both premature and ill-advised. It misleads the public by promoting false hope from uncertain conclusions and might ultimately aggravate the problem by altering people’s behavioral patterns and exposing them and their partners to new or expanded risks. Given these problems circumcision of adults and especially of children by coercion or by false hope raises human rights concerns.
The Last Research Mile: Achieving Both Rigor and Relevance in Information Systems Research

Abstract From our desk chairs it may be tempting to work up an idea, build a quick prototype, test it in a lab, and say, “Our work here is done; the rest is merely details. ” More scholarly knowledge awaits discovery, however, by researchers who shepherd an information systems (IS) solution through the last research mile, that is, through successful transition to the workplace. Going the last research mile means using scientific knowledge and methods to address important unsolved classes of problems for real people with real stakes in the outcomes. The last research mile proceeds in three stages: proof-of-concept research to demonstrate the functional feasibility of a solution; proof-of-value research to investigate whether a solution can create value across a variety of conditions; and proof-of-use research to address complex issues of operational feasibility. The last research mile ends only when practitioners routinely use a solution in the field. We argue that going the last research mile negates the assumption that one must trade off rigor and relevance, showing it to be it a false dilemma. Systems researchers who take their solutions through the last research mile may ultimately have the greatest impact on science and society. We demonstrate the last research mile with cases from our own work and the work of others spanning more than forty years.
Neurofibromin Loss of Function Drives Excessive Grooming in Drosophila

Neurofibromatosis I is a common genetic disorder that results in tumor formation, and predisposes individuals to a range of cognitive/behavioral symptoms, including deficits in attention, visuospatial skills, learning, language development, and sleep, and autism spectrum disorder-like traits. The nf1-encoded neurofibromin protein (Nf1) exhibits high conservation, from the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to humans. Drosophila provides a powerful platform to investigate the signaling cascades upstream and downstream of Nf1, and the fly model exhibits similar behavioral phenotypes to mammalian models. In order to understand how loss of Nf1 affects motor behavior in flies, we combined traditional activity monitoring with video analysis of grooming behavior. In nf1 mutants, spontaneous grooming was increased up to 7x. This increase in activity was distinct from previously described dopamine-dependent hyperactivity, as dopamine transporter mutants exhibited slightly decreased grooming. Finally, we found that relative grooming frequencies can be compared in standard activity monitors that measure infrared beam breaks, enabling the use of activity monitors as an automated method to screen for grooming phenotypes. Overall, these data suggest that loss of nf1 produces excessive activity that is manifested as increased grooming, providing a platform to dissect the molecular genetics of neurofibromin signaling across neuronal circuits.