Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of X-ray scattering microstructure data for implementation in numerical simulations of ocular biomechanical behaviour

This study aimed to analyse microstructure data on the density and orientation of collagen fibrils in whole eye globes and to propose an effective method for the preparation of data for use in numerical simulations of the eye’s biomechanical performance. Wide-angle X-ray scattering was applied to seven healthy ex-vivo human eyes. Each eye was dissected into an anterior and a posterior cup, and radial incisions were used to flatten the tissue before microstructure characterisation. A method was developed to use the microstructure data obtained for the dissected tissue to build realistic 3D maps of fibril density and orientation covering the whole eye globe. At the central cornea, 61.5±2.3% of fibrils were aligned within 45° sectors surrounding the two orthogonal directions. In contrast, more than one-third of the total fibril content was concentrated along the circumferential direction at the limbus (37.0±2.4%) and around the optic nerve head (34.8±2.1%). The insertion locations of the four recti muscles exhibited a preference in the meridional direction near the equator (38.6±3.9%). There was also a significant difference in fibril density between the limbus and other regions (ratio = 1.91±0.45, p <0.01 at the central cornea and ratio = 0.80±0.21, p <0.01 at the posterior pole). Characterisation of collagen fibril density and orientation across the whole ocular surface has been possible but required the use of a technique that involved tissue dissection and hence caused tissue damage. The method presented in this paper aimed to minimise the effect of dissection on the quality of obtained data and was successful in identifying fibril distribution trends that were compatible with earlier studies, which concentrated on localised areas of the ocular globe.
Food and Western Disease Health and Nutrition from an Evolutionary Perspective

Foreword by Loren Cordain. Preface. 1 Introduction. 1.1 Why do we get sick? 1.2 We are changing at pace with the continental drift. 1.3 Are we adapted for milk and bread? 2 Expanding our perspective. 2.1 The perspective of academic medicine. 2.2 The concept of normality. 2.3 Genetics. 2.4 Dietary guidelines. 3 Ancestral human diets. 3.1 Available food. 3.2 Nutritional composition. 4 Modern diseases. 4.1 Ischaemic heart disease (coronary heart disease). 4.2 Stroke. 4.3 Atherosclerosis. 4.4 Type 2 diabetes. 4.5 Overweight and obesity. 4.6 Insulin resistance. 4.7 Hypertension (high blood pressure). 4.8 Dyslipidaemia (blood lipid disorders). 4.9 Heart failure. 4.10 Dementia. 4.11 Cancer. 4.12 Osteoporosis. 4.13 Rickets. 4.14 Iron deficiency. 4.15 Autoimmune diseases. 5 Risks with the Palaeolithic diet. 5.1 Haemochromatosis. 5.2 Iodine deficiency. 5.3 Exaggerated drug effects. 6 Viewpoint summary. 6.1 Evolutionary medicine instead of vegetarianism? 6.2 Traditional populations are spared from overweight and cardiovascular disease. 6.3 Insulin resistance is more than abdominal obesity and diabetes. 6.4 Non-Europeans are affected the hardest. 6.5 'Foreign' proteins in the food. 6.6 Effects of an ancestral diet. 6.7 The ancestral diet: a new concept. 7 Healthy eating. 7.1 Non-recommended foods? 7.2 Recommended foods. 7.3 Variation. 7.4 Compromises. Glossary. References. Index.
Does interacting with trustworthy people enhance mindfulness? An experience sampling study of mindfulness in everyday situations

Mindfulness is known to increase after meditation interventions. But might features of our everyday situations outside of meditation not also influence our mindfulness from moment-to-moment? Drawing from psychological research on interpersonal trust, we suggest that interacting with trustworthy people could influence the expression of mindfulness. And, extending this research on trust, we further suggest that the influence of trustworthy social interactions on mindfulness could proceed through two pathways: a particularized pathway (where specific interactions that are especially high (or low) in trustworthiness have an immediate influence on mindfulness) or a generalized pathway (where the typical level of trustworthiness a person perceives across all their interactions exerts a more stable influence on their mindfulness). To explore these two pathways, study participants (N = 201) repeatedly reported their current levels of mindfulness and their prior interactions with trustworthy leaders and teammates during their everyday situations using an experience sampling protocol (n¯ = 3,605 reports). Results from mixed-effects models provide little support for the particularized pathway: specific interactions with trustworthy leaders and teammates had little immediate association with mindfulness. The generalized pathway, however, was strongly associated with mindfulness—and remained incrementally predictive beyond relevant individual differences and features of situations. In sum, people who typically interact with more trustworthy partners may become more mindful.
Consumer Direction and Choice in Long-Term Care for Older Persons, Including Payments for Informal Care: How Can it Help Improve Care Outcomes, Employment and Fiscal Sustainability?

As the number of older persons in need of long-term care increases, efforts to support older persons remaining in their home are intensified in most OECD countries. In this context of ageing in place, there is a movement towards allowing more individual choice for older persons receiving publicly funded long-term care at home. Having more flexibility in terms of how to receive care can increase the older person’s self-determination and that of his/her informal care givers. Having a choice among alternative care providers can empower older persons as consumers and may help strengthen the role of households in the care-management process. Choice can also help address quality aspects that are difficult to quantify but easy to experience for users, such as the personal interaction between the older person and the care giver. Le nombre de personnes âgees en perte d’autonomie augmentant, les efforts a leur intention destines a leur permettre de continuer a vivre chez elles s’intensifient, dans la plupart des pays de l’OCDE. Dans cette logique du maintien a domicile, la tendance est a donner une liberte de choix de plus en plus grande aux personnes âgees qui beneficient, chez elles, d’une aide et de services finances sur fonds publics. En acceptant plus de flexibilite dans les modalites de deploiement de la prestation on peut renforcer la capacite de decision de la personne âgee et des aidants informels. Le fait de donner a la personne âgee la liberte de choix entre differents prestataires peut lui conferer un certain poids en tant que consommateur, et cela peut contribuer a renforcer le role des menages dans le processus de gestion de la prise en charge. La faculte de choisir peut aussi aider a prendre en compte les aspects qualitatifs, qui sont difficiles a mesurer mais tres importants pour l’utilisateur, comme la qualite des echanges entre la personne âgee et la personne qui s’occupe d’elle.
Comparison of autonomic stress reactivity in young healthy versus aging subjects with heart disease

Background The autonomic response to acute emotional stress can be highly variable, and pathological responses are associated with increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events. We evaluated the autonomic response to stress reactivity of young healthy subjects and aging subjects with coronary artery disease to understand how the autonomic stress response differs with aging. Methods Physiologic reactivity to arithmetic stress in a cohort of 25 young, healthy subjects (< 30 years) and another cohort of 25 older subjects (> 55 years) with CAD was evaluated using electrocardiography, impedance cardiography, and arterial pressure recordings. Stress-related changes in the pre-ejection period (PEP), which measures sympathetic activity, and high frequency heart rate variability (HF HRV), which measures parasympathetic activity, were analyzed as primary outcomes. Results Mental stress reduced PEP in both groups (p<0.01), although the decrease was 50% greater in the healthy group. Mean HF HRV decreased significantly in the aging group only (p = 0.01). Discussion PEP decreases with stress regardless of health and age status, implying increased sympathetic function. Its decline with stress may be attenuated in CAD. The HF HRV (parasympathetic) stress reactivity is more variable and attenuated in younger individuals; perhaps this is related to a protective parasympathetic reflex. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02657382.
Galeazzi fractures in adults

Galeazzi fractures are not uncommon. They frequently result from falls with forced hyperpronation of the forearm. They are potentially unstable because of certain destabilizing factors at the wrist. Early recognition is essential, as is early operative xation of the radius in adults. This paper reviews the English language literature and current knowledge of Galeazzi fractures in adults.
Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among health care workers in China

Objectives Nation-wide hepatitis B vaccination coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs) is not well researched in China. This study aims to investigate the self-reported hepatitis B vaccination status among HCWs in China. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of health_care workers’ vaccination statuses in 120 hospitals in China by collecting demographic and vaccination data. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to assess factors associated with hepatitis B vaccination coverage. Results Eighty-six percent (2,666/3,104) of respondents reported having received at least one dose of the hepatitis B vaccination and 60% (1,853/3,104) reported having completed ≥3 doses of the hepatitis B vaccination. Factors associated with completing ≥3 doses of the hepatitis B vaccination included workplaces offering free hepatitis B vaccination with vaccination management, age, medical occupation, hospital level, acceptable hepatitis B knowledge and having received training on hepatitis B. HCWs in workplaces offering a free hepatitis B vaccine with vaccination management were 1.4 times more likely (OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1–1.8) to complete their hepatitis B vaccination compared to HCWs in workplaces that did not offer a free hepatitis B vaccine. Either the possession of acceptable hepatitis B knowledge or an age of 30–39 years increased the odds of complete hepatitis B vaccination by 1.3-fold (95% CIs: 1.1–1.5 and 1.1–1.7, respectively) over their referent category. The receipt of training on hepatitis B was also associated with a higher percentage of completing the hepatitis B vaccination (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2–1.8). The main self-reported reason for incomplete hepatitis B vaccination was “forgot to complete follow-up doses” among 43% (234/547) of respondents. Among those who never received any hepatitis B vaccination, only 30% (131/438) intended to be vaccinated. Obtaining immunity from work (40%) and hospitals that did not provide hepatitis B vaccination activities (40%) were the top reasons mentioned for refusing hepatitis B vaccination. Conclusions The complete hepatitis B vaccination rate among HCWs in China is low, and the desire of HCWs for vaccination is indifferent; therefore, education campaigns are needed. In addition, a free national hepatitis B vaccination policy for HCWs that includes vaccination management should be prioritized to improve hepatitis B coverage among HCWs who are at-risk for HBV infection.
A comparison of termite assemblages from West African savannah and forest ecosystems using morphological and molecular markers

Termites (Isoptera) are important ecosystem engineers of tropical ecosystems. However, they are notoriously difficult to identify, which hinders ecological research. To overcome these problems, we comparatively studied termite assemblages in the two major West African ecosystems, savannah and forest, both under natural settings and along disturbance gradients. We identified all species using morphological as well as molecular markers. We hypothesized species richness to be higher in the forest than the savannah and that it declines with disturbance in both ecosystems. Overall we found more species in the forest than in the savannah. However, alpha diversity per site did not differ between both ecosystems with on average around ten species. For both ecosystems, species diversity did not decrease along the studied disturbance gradient but encounter rates did. For the forest, we did not detect a decline in soil feeding termites and an increase of fungus grower Macrotermitinae with disturbance as some other studies did. Yet, soil feeders were generally rare. Strikingly, the set of morphologically difficult-to-identify Macrotermitinae (Microtermes and Ancistrotermes) was as high in the forest as in the savannah with little species overlap between both ecosystems. Using phylogenetic community analyses, we found little evidence for strong structuring mechanisms such as environmental filtering or interspecific competition. Most local assemblages did not differ significantly from random assemblages of the regional species pool. Our study is the most comprehensive of its kind. It provides the most reliable termite species list for West Africa that builds the basis for further ecological studies.
TRANSOSSEOUS FIXATION OF INTERCONDYLAR FRACTURE OF LOWER END HUMERUS BY TENSION BAND WIRING TECHNIQUE

Background: Intercondylar fractures of lower end of humerus is a challenge for orthopedic surgeon to fix rigidly for early mobilization. We hereby have devised a novel technique of fixing an intercondylar fracture of lower end of humerus by transosseous route utilizing the Tension band wiring. We successfully obtained a rigid, stable reconstruct without affecting the anatomy of the region. Aims & Objective: To study the effect of transosseous fixation of intercondylar fracture of lower end humerus by tension band wiring technique. Materials and Methods: We have followed a novel technique for treating intercondylar fracture of lower end of humerus. Till date we have treated 10 patients of supracondylar fracture of humerus with intercondylar extension. All patients were selected randomly the only criteria was a supracondylar fracture of lower end of humerus with intercondylar extension. This method gave us four cortices fixation in the lower intercondylar region which was not possible till date by other methods of fixation. So now T-Y elbow type of fracture is converted into a supracondylar fracture. Rest fixation of supracondylar fracture was done with perpendicular plating and k wire TBW in case of osteoporotic bones. Results: Out of 10 treated cases with this method all get rigid fixation and radiological union at average of 8 weeks. Average ROM was 5-100. One case had postoperative stitch infection, one had k wire impinging on skin and two patients lost follow up after 3 months. Conclusion: Complicated fractures of intercondylar region of distal humerus can be successfully managed by interosseous TBW technique. We recommend such technique and further research regarding it.
Using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to assay mangrove estuaries on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

Mangrove forests, one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems, are also some of the most difficult to access. This is especially true along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, where 99% of the country’s mangroves occur. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), or drones, have become a convenient tool for natural area assessment, and offer a solution to the problems of remote mangrove monitoring. This study is the first to use UAS to analyze the structure of a mangrove forests within Central America. Our goals were to (1) determine the forest structure of two estuaries in northwestern Costa Rica through traditional ground measurements, (2) assess the accuracy of UAS measurements of canopy height and percent coverage and (3) determine whether the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) could discriminate between the most abundant mangrove species. We flew a UAS equipped with a single NDVI sensor during the peak wet (Sept–Nov) and dry (Jan–Feb) seasons. The structure and species composition of the estuaries showed a possible transition between the wet mangroves of southern Costa Rica and the drier northern mangroves. UAS-derived measurements at 100 cm/pixel resolution of percent canopy coverage and maximum and mean canopy height were not statistically different from ground measurements (p > 0.05). However, there were differences in mean canopy height at 10 cm/pixel resolution (p = 0.043), indicating diminished returns in accuracy as resolution becomes extremely fine. Mean NDVI values of Avicennia germinans (most abundant species) changed significantly between seasons (p < 0.001). Mean NDVI of Rhizophora racemosa (second most abundant species) was significantly different from A. germinans and dry forest dominant plots during the dry season (p < 0.001), demonstrating NDVI’s capability of discriminating mangrove species. This study provides the first structural assessment of the studied estuaries and a framework for future studies of mangroves using UAS.
A Newer Approach to Assessing a Researcher’s Scientific Impact: Ramana’s Researcher Index (r-Index)

Measuring the quality of scientist/researchers is necessary during university/research appointments and increments to evaluate their professional career. Such evaluation of the individuals scientific output was determined based on the Impact factor of journals in which one publishes his/her research work. With many journals not being indexed for Thompson Reuters, ISI index for impact factor (IF), and with the emergence of open access publications, it becomes imperative that there is a need for a method to assess an individual’s research contribution/impact to the scientific world. There are only few such evaluation methods available having some limitations.
Relative contribution of the karnofsky performance status scale in a multi‐measure assessment of quality of life in cancer patients

The Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scale is the most widely used measure of functional or performance status. While the KPS cannot be used as a sole measure of quality of life, some suggestions have been made that the KPS can be used as a measure of one component of the quality of life construct. However, few data are available supporting the use of the KPS in such a multi‐measure assessment. The current study investigated the relation between KPS ratings and a measure of quality of life as well as measures of domains closely associated with quality of life (e.g. depression, social support). The subjects were 86 male veteran cancer patients receiving treatment for a first‐time cancer. The results indicated that the KPS was not significantly correlated with quality of life, social support or depression. KPS ratings were significantly related to education, cancer stage and mortality. Although the results support the use of the KPS as a measure of functional status, they do not support the use of the KPS as a component of a multi‐measure assessment of quality of life. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
Quantifying murine placental extracellular vesicles across gestation and in preterm birth data with tidyNano: A computational framework for analyzing and visualizing nanoparticle data in R

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly recognized as important mediators of intercellular communication that carry protein, lipids, and nucleic acids via the circulation to target cells whereupon they mediate physiological changes. In pregnancy, EVs are released in high quantities from the placenta and have been postulated to target multiple cell types, including those of the vascular and immune systems. However, most studies of pregnancy-associated EVs have used clinical samples and in vitro models; to date, few studies have taken advantage of murine models in which pregnancy can be precisely timed and manipulated. In this study, we used a murine model to determine whether the quantity of EVs is altered during healthy pregnancy and during inflammation-associated preterm birth. To facilitate data analysis, we developed a novel software package, tidyNano, an R package that provides functions to import, clean, and quickly summarize raw data generated by the nanoparticle tracking device, NanoSight (Malvern Panalytical). We also developed shinySIGHT, a Shiny web application that allows for interactive exploration and visualization of EV data. In mice, EV concentration in blood increased linearly across pregnancy, with significant rises at GD14.5 and 17.5 relative to EV concentrations in nonpregnant females. Additionally, lipopolysaccharide treatment resulted in a significant reduction in circulating EV concentrations relative to vehicle-treated controls at GD16.5 within 4 hours. Use of tidyNano facilitated rapid analysis of EV data; importantly, this package provides a straightforward framework by which diverse types of large datasets can be simply and efficiently analyzed, is freely available under the MIT license, and is hosted on GitHub (https://nguyens7.github.io/tidyNano/). Our data highlight the utility of the mouse as a model of EV biology in pregnancy, and suggest that placental dysfunction is associated with reduced circulating EVs.
Validação do índice da função sexual feminina em grávidas brasileiras

PURPOSE: to translate and to validate the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for Brazilian pregnant women. METHODS: ninety-two pregnant women attended at a low risk prenatal clinic, with diagnosis of the pregnancy confirmed by precocious ultrasonography, participated in the research. Initially, we translated the FSFI questionnaire for Portuguese language (of Brazil) in agreement with the international criteria. Cultural, conceptual and semantics adaptations of FSFI were accomplished, because of the differences of the language, so that the pregnant women understood the subjects. All the patients answered FSFI twice, in the same day, with two different interviewers, with an hour interval from one to other interview. After 7 to 14 days, the questionnaire was applied again in a second interview. Reliability (internal intra and interobserver consistence) and the validity of the constructo (to demonstrate that questionnaire measures the sexual function) were appraised. RESULTS: Cultural adaptations were necessary for us to obtain the final version. The internal intra-observer (alpha of Chronbach) consistence of the several domains oscillated from moderate to strong (0,791 to 0,911) and the interobserver consistence varied from 0,791 to 0,914. In the validation of the constructo, were obtained moderate correlations to fort among the final scores (general) of FSFI and of Female Sexual Quotient (QS-F) that has the capacity to evaluate the feminine sexual function. CONCLUSIONS: FSFI was adapted to the Portuguese language and to the Brazilian culture, presenting significant reliability and validity; it could be included and used in future studies of the Brazilian pregnant sexual function.