Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Highly Sensitive and Wearable Liquid Metal‐Based Pressure Sensor for Health Monitoring Applications: Integration of a 3D‐Printed Microbump Array with the Microchannel

Wearable pressure sensors capable of sensitive, precise, and continuous measurement of physiological and physical signals have great potential for the monitoring of health status and the early diagnosis of diseases. This work introduces a 3D‐printed rigid microbump‐integrated liquid metal‐based soft pressure sensor (3D‐BLiPS) for wearable and health‐monitoring applications. Using a 3D‐printed master mold based on multimaterial fused deposition modeling, the fabrication of a liquid metal microchannel and the integration of a rigid microbump array above the microchannel are achieved in a one‐step, direct process. The microbump array enhances the sensitivity of the pressure sensor (0.158 kPa−1) by locally concentrating the deformation of the microchannel with negligible hysteresis and a stable signal response under cyclic loading. The 3D‐BLiPS also demonstrates excellent robustness to 10 000 cycles of multidirectional stretching/bending, changes in temperature, and immersion in water. Finally, these characteristics are suitable for a wide range of applications in health monitoring systems, including a wristband for the continuous monitoring of the epidermal pulse rate for cuffless blood pressure estimation and a wireless wearable device for the monitoring of body pressure using a multiple pressure sensor array for the prevention of pressure ulcers.
Postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization improves the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with microvascular invasion: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Microvascular invasion has been widely accepted as a major risk factor of hepatocellular carcinoma prognoses after surgery. It is still controversial whether postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization could improve the survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with microvascular invasion. Purpose To evaluate the effect of postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization for postoperative hepatocellular carcinoma patients with microvascular invasion. Material and Methods PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for eligible studies, and the one-, three-, and five-year recurrence rates and overall survival rates were extracted for meta-analysis. Results A total of eight studies were included in this study. The results showed that the one-, three-, and five-year recurrence rate of the postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization group were better than those of the hepatectomy alone group, with a pooled risk ratio (RR) of 0.66 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58–0.75, P < 0.00001), 0.82 (95% CI 0.76–0.88, P < 0.00001), and 0.89 (95% CI 0.82–0.97, P = 0.007), respectively. The overall survival rates with one-, three-, and five-year pooled RR were 0.34 (95% CI 0.25–0.47, P < 0.00001), 0.69 (95% CI 0.60–0.79, P < 0.00001), and 0.78 (95% CI 0.69–0.89, P = 0.0001), respectively. No serious side effects have been reported, indicating that postoperative intervention is safe. Conclusion For hepatocellular carcinoma patients with microvascular invasion confirmed by postoperative pathology, postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization is a safe treatment, which could reduce the tumor recurrence rate and improve the patient’s overall survival.
Reducing unnecessary vitamin testing in general practice: barriers and facilitators according to general practitioners and patients

Objective There has been an increase in testing of vitamins in patients in general practice, often based on irrational indications or for non-specific symptoms, causing increasing healthcare expenditures and medicalisation of patients. So far, there is little evidence of effective strategies to reduce this overtesting in general practice. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study was to explore the barriers and facilitators for reducing the number of (unnecessary) vitamin D and B12 laboratory tests ordered. Design and setting This qualitative study, based on a grounded theory design, used semistructured interviews among general practitioners (GPs) and patients from two primary care networks (147 GPs, 195 000 patients). These networks participated in the Reducing Vitamin Testing in Primary Care Practice (REVERT) study, a clustered randomized trial comparing two de-implementation strategies to reduce test ordering in primary care in the Netherlands. Participants Twenty-one GPs, with a maximum of 1 GP per practice who took part in the REVERT study, and 22 patients (who were invited by their GP during vitamin-related consultations) were recruited, from which 20 GPs and 19 patients agreed to participate in this study. Results The most important factor hampering vitamin-test reduction programmes is the mismatch between patients and medical professionals regarding the presumed appropriate indications for testing for vitamin D and B12. In contrast, the most important facilitator for vitamin-test reduction may be updating GPs’ knowledge about test indications and their awareness of their own testing behaviour. Conclusion To achieve a sustainable reduction in vitamin testing, guidelines with clear and uniform recommendations on evidence-based indications for vitamin testing, combined with regular (individual) feedback on test-ordering behaviour, are needed. Moreover, the general public needs access to clear and reliable information on vitamin testing. Further research is required to measure the effect of these strategies on the number of vitamin test requests. Trial registration number WAG/mb/16/039555.
Enhanced Ex Vivo Generation of Erythroid Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in a Simplified Cell Culture System with Low Cytokine Support

Red blood cell (RBC) differentiation from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offers great potential for developmental studies and innovative therapies. However, ex vivo erythropoiesis from hiPSCs is currently limited by low efficiency and unphysiological conditions of common culture systems. Especially, the absence of a physiological niche may impair cell growth and lineage-specific differentiation. We here describe a simplified, xeno- and feeder-free culture system for prolonged RBC generation that uses low numbers of supporting cytokines [stem cell factor (SCF), erythropoietin (EPO), and interleukin 3 (IL-3)] and is based on the intermediate development of a “hematopoietic cell forming complex (HCFC). ” From this HCFC, CD43+ hematopoietic cells (purity >95%) were continuously released into the supernatant and could be collected repeatedly over a period of 6 weeks for further erythroid differentiation. The released cells were mainly CD34+/CD45+ progenitors with high erythroid colony-forming potential and CD36+ erythroid precursors. A total of 1.5 × 107 cells could be harvested from the supernatant of one six-well plate, showing 100- to 1000-fold amplification during subsequent homogeneous differentiation into GPA+ erythroid cells. Mean enucleation rates near 40% (up to 60%) further confirmed the potency of the system. These benefits may be explained by the generation of a niche within the HCFC that mimics the spatiotemporal signaling of the physiological microenvironment in which erythropoiesis occurs. Compared to other protocols, this method provides lower complexity, less cytokine and medium consumption, higher cellular output, and better enucleation. In addition, slight modifications in cytokine addition shift the system toward continuous generation of granulocytes and macrophages.
'It's a tough decision': a qualitative study of proxy decision-making for research involving adults who lack capacity to consent in UK.

BACKGROUND Research into dementia and other conditions connected with cognitive impairments is essential but conducting research with populations who lack capacity to provide consent involves a number of ethical, legal and practical challenges. In England and Wales, family members can act as a consultee or legal representative on behalf of someone who lacks capacity. However, there is a paucity of research about how family members make decisions concerning research participation. OBJECTIVE To explore family members' experiences of proxy decision-making for research. Understanding how proxy decisions are made could lead to interventions to support greater inclusion of individuals in research who have impaired decision-making capacity. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 17 family members who had experience as a proxy for making decisions about participation in research, including those who had agreed to participation and those who declined. Thematic analysis was used to examine experiences and generate findings for research practice and to develop future supportive interventions. RESULTS Proxy decision-making is highly contextualised. Proxies balance a number of factors when deciding about research participation, including the person's values and preferences, within the specific context of the study, and the practicalities of being involved. Proxies use these factors to construct a decision that is authentic to the person they care for. CONCLUSIONS Proxy decision-making for research is a complex process with inter-woven layers of decision-making. Decisions can be problematic for some proxies who may benefit from decision support to make an informed decision about research participation on behalf of a family member.
The olfactomedin‐4 positive neutrophil has a role in murine intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury

Olfactomedin‐4 (OLFM4) identifies a subset of neutrophils conserved in both mouse and man, associated with worse outcomes in several inflammatory conditions. We investigated the role of OLFM4‐positive neutrophils in murine intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. Wild‐type (WT) C57Bl/6 and OLFM4 null mice were subjected to intestinal IR injury and then monitored for survival or tissues harvested for further analyses. In vivo intestinal barrier function was determined via functional assay of permeability to FITC‐dextran. OLFM4 null mice had a significant 7‐d survival benefit and less intestinal barrier dysfunction compared with WT. Early after IR, WT mice had worse mucosal damage on histologic examination. Experiments involving adoptive transfer of bone marrow demonstrated that the mortality phenotype associated with OLFM4‐positive neutrophils was transferrable to OLFM4 null mice. After IR injury, WT mice also had increased intestinal tissue activation of NFκB and expression of iNOS, 2 signaling pathways previously demonstrated to be involved in intestinal IR injury. In combination, these experiments show that OLFM4‐positive neutrophils are centrally involved in the pathologic pathway leading to intestinal damage and mortality after IR injury. This may provide a therapeutic target for mitigation of intestinal IR injury in a variety of common clinical situations. —Levinsky, N. C. , Mallela, J., Opoka, A. , Harmon, K. , Lewis, H. V. , Zingarelli, B. , Wong, H. R. , Alder, M. N. The olfactomedin‐4 positive neutrophil has a role in murine intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. FASEB J. 33, 13660‐13668 (2019). www.fasebj. org
Valorization of Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio) Cooking Effluents for Food Applications.

BACKGROUND Seafood processing generates significant amounts of solid and liquid waste in the environment. These represent a potential source of high-value biomolecules for food, pharmaceutic and cosmetic applications. There are very few studies on the valorization of wastewaters compared to solid by-products. However, cooking waters are characterized by a high organic polluting load, which could contain valuable molecules such as proteins, pigments and flavor compounds. Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) processing is among the most important processes in Canadian fisheries but its cooking effluent composition is not well characterized. RESULTS This investigation concentrated and valorized the biomass in snow crab cooking wastewaters for the development of products for food applications. A membrane process was designed and optimized to concentrate the effluents. The chemical composition of the concentrates was analyzed, including characterizing flavor profile compounds. The extracts were mainly composed of proteins (592 g kg-1 ) and minerals (386 g kg-1 ) and contained desirable flavor compounds. Their functional properties (solubility, water-holding capacity, oil-holding capacity) and antioxidant activities were also assessed, and their safety was verified. CONCLUSION The cooking effluents generated by snow crab processing facilities, usually considered as waste, can be concentrated and turned into a natural aroma for the food industry. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
An Achievement Prediction Method on the Video Learning Time Based on EKF

 Abstract —In China, the prediction of the examination achievement is important in the field of online learning, for both the learners and the service providers. On the other hand, the learners' online learning time, e.g. the time of watching the teaching video, can be acquired and recorded easily on most learning platforms. In this paper, we try to establish an EKF model on the exam/test achievement and the learning time, and use the model to predict the achievement in the next exam. The experiment on a two-semester network education course proves, the method can achieve the prediction precision, which is not inferior to the classic methods, and meanwhile own some advantages such as, the capability of noise resistance, uniform convergence, and controllable complexity etc.
Generation of an in vitro model of β‐thalassemia using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system

β‐Thalassemia is a common monogenic disease characterized by defective β‐globin chains synthesis. In vitro β‐thalassemia‐related research on increasing β‐like globin genes or identification of factors reducing the severity of the disease, has been performed on mouse erythroleukaemia or K562 cell lines. The aim of this study was the production of an in vitro model of β‐thalassemia using the highly efficient CRISPR‐Cas9 system. Embryonic stem (ES) cells were nucleofected with guide RNA (gRNA)‐Cas9 expression vectors. Molecular testing was done on extracted DNA to assess Hbb‐b1 mutation. Analysis of transcription factors and hemoglobin genes were evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction following erythroid differentiation of ES cells. Sequencing data confirmed Hbb‐b1 knockout alleles. Significant expression of erythroid transcription factors was observed in wild‐type, Hbb‐b1+/− and Hbb‐b1−/− groups (P < .001). Compared with the wild‐type group, the absolute number of Hbb‐b1 mRNA in Hbb‐b1+/− group significantly decreased from 6.44 × 106 to 3.23 × 106 copy number (P < .01), whereas in Hbb‐b1−/− group had zero expression. The CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated Hbb‐b1 knockout in ES cells provides accessibility to an in vitro thalassemia model following erythroid differentiation. Considering the need for in vitro and mouse models to investigate the molecular basis of β‐thalassemia which also enables testing of therapeutic approaches, this method can be utilized to produce a mouse model of β‐thalassemia intermedia (Hbbth1/th1).
Measuring the magnitude of morphological integration: The effect of differences in morphometric representations and the inclusion of size

The magnitude of morphological integration is a major aspect of multivariate evolution, providing a simple measure of the intensity of association between morphological traits. Studies concerned with morphological integration usually translate phenotypes into morphometric representations to quantify how different morphological elements covary. Geometric and classic morphometric representations translate biological form in different ways, raising the question if magnitudes of morphological integration estimates obtained from different morphometric representations are compatible. Here we sought to answer this question using the relative eigenvalue variance of the covariance matrix obtained for both geometric and classical representations of empirical and simulated datasets. We quantified the magnitude of morphological integration for both shape and form and compared results between representations. Furthermore, we compared integration values between shape and form to evaluate the effect of the inclusion or not of size on the quantification of the magnitude of morphological integration. Results show that the choice of morphological representation has significant impact on the integration magnitude estimate, either for shape or form. Despite this, ordination of the integration values within representations is relatively the same, allowing for similar conclusions to be reached using different methods. However, the inclusion of size in the dataset significantly changes the estimates of magnitude of morphological integration, hindering the comparison of this statistic obtained from different spaces. Morphometricians should be aware of these differences and must consider how biological hypothesis translate into predictions about integration in each particular choice of representation.
Evaluation of a Custom-Developed Computer Game to Improve Executive Functioning in 4- to 6-Year-Old Children Exposed to Alcohol in Utero: Protocol for a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is one of the most common causes of preventable intellectual disability, and the key associated deficits are in executive function (EF). Aspects of EF can be improved using cognitive training interventions. The highest prevalence of FASD globally (at a rate of 135.1 per 1000) has been found in a South African population in the Western Cape province. There is a shortage of specialized health service personnel, and there are limited remedial services. Computer-based cognitive training, if age and culturally appropriate, could be an effective way to provide the interventions with minimal need for skilled personnel and other resources. The Foundation for Alcohol Related Research has developed such a program for the South African context. Objective This protocol aimed to evaluate whether it is feasible to use computerized cognitive training in a resource-poor context to improve cognitive function in children exposed to alcohol in utero. Methods We are conducting a randomized controlled trial in the Saldanha Bay Municipal area, evaluating a custom-developed cognitive training program to improve the cognitive function of children aged between 4 and 6 years who were exposed to alcohol in the prenatal stage. Participants will be recruited from local Early Childhood Development centers. Community workers will interview biological mothers to identify alcohol-exposed pregnancies. Alcohol-exposed children will be randomized into an intervention or a control group of 40 participants each using block randomization. A group of 40 children not exposed to alcohol will be included in a normative group using individual randomization. The intervention group will play the game for 6 months (40 sessions). Normative and control groups will receive no intervention. Neurodevelopmental assessments will be done at baseline and upon completion of the study with all participants. Results The intervention has started, and all baseline assessments have been done at the time of submission. Conclusions This study will provide insight into whether computerized cognitive training is viable and effective in the South African context. It has the potential to provide a means of intervention globally and in other resource-poor context and expand the knowledge base regarding executive functioning and FASD. This paper presents the research protocol and intervention design of the study. Trial Registration ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN17244156; http://www.isrctn. com/ISRCTN17244156. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/14489
A Content Analysis of Patient Advocacy Organization Policies Addressing Institutional Conflicts of Interest

Abstract Introduction: Patient advocacy organizations (PAOs) provide patient education, raise public awareness, and influence health policy for a wide range of diseases. These organizations frequently receive financial support form from drug, device, and biotechnology companies. Though PAOs often develop policies to address institutional conflicts of interest arising from industry relations, little is known about the substance of these policies. Methods: We sampled all PAOs that are members of the National Health Council. Using a standardized search strategy, all policies were obtained from each organization if publicly available. We reviewed policies for content related to restrictions on corporate partnerships, disclosure of corporate funding, and governance and monitoring of corporate partnerships. Results: We found that 24 of 47 (51%) organizations had policies that addressed institutional conflict of interest. A total of 9 of those 24 (38%) policies placed any restriction on the types of corporations that the PAO would or would not partner with. While 16 of the 24 (67%) outlined some process for disclosure of the organization’s corporate donors, only 5 of 24 (21%) specified a manner for disclosing the financial value of those donations. Further, 15 of the 24 (63%) policies identified the person or persons responsible for approving corporate partnerships. However, 17 (71%) failed to address or specify the person(s) responsible for ongoing review of those partnerships. Conclusion: Nearly half of the organizations studied did not have publicly available conflict of interest policies. Among those that did, few policies had a substantial level of detail or limitations to guard against conflicts of interest.
Mechanistic insights into the effect of polymer regioregularity on thermal stability of polymer solar cells.

Thermal stability is a bottleneck toward commercialization of polymer solar cells (PSCs). The effect of PCBM aggregation in multi-length-scale on the bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) structure, performance, and thermal stability of PSCs is studied here by grazing-incidence small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering. The evolution of hierarchical BHJ structures of the blend film tuned by regioregularity of polymers from the as-cast state to the thermally unstable state was systematically investigated. The thermal stability of PSCs with high polymer regioregularity value can be improved because of the good mutual interaction between polymer crystallites and fullerene aggregation. The insights obtained from this study provide an approach to manipulate the film structure in a multi-length scale and to enhance the thermal stability of P3HT-based PSCs.