Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tries based RNA structure prediction

RNA (Ribo Nucleic Acid) is a single strand of nucleotides composed of Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine(C) and Uracil (U) and it can be fold back on itself to form its secondary structure with base pairs like A'U, G=C and Gi U. Information on the secondary structure of a RNA molecule can be used as a stepping stone to model the full structure of an RNA molecule which in turn can be related to the biological function. The RNA secondary structure is determined by X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Genetic algorithm combined with tries is proposed to effectively predict the secondary structure of RNA. This Soft Computing gained importance with the need to get approximate solutions for RNA sequence by considering the issues with kinetic effects, transcriptional folding and estimation of certain energy parameters. Genetic algorithm optimizes the problems according to the fitness function. The pair of chromosomes with good fitness values will produce new chromosomes for the next generation. Based on the selected values, the secondary structure of the RNA is successfully predicted and the experimental results show improved prediction for various RNA's.
Feasibility and Health Benefits of an Individualized Physical Activity Intervention in Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer: Intervention Study

Background There is limited knowledge regarding the potential benefits of physical activity in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Objective The Advanced stage Breast cancer and Lifestyle Exercise (ABLE) Trial aimed to assess the feasibility of a physical activity intervention in women with metastatic breast cancer and to explore the effects of physical activity on functional, psychological, and clinical parameters. Methods The ABLE Trial was a single-arm, 6-month intervention study with a home-based, unsupervised, and personalized walking program using an activity tracker. At baseline and 6 months, we assessed anthropometrics, functional fitness, physical activity level, sedentary behavior, quality of life, fatigue, and tumor progression. Paired proportions were compared using the McNemar test and changes of parameters during the intervention were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the Mann-Whitney test, and Spearman rank correlations. Results Overall, 49 participants (mean age 55 years; recruitment rate 94%) were enrolled and 96% adhered to the exercise prescription (attrition rate 2%). Statistically significant improvements in the 6-minute walking distance test (+7%, P<.001) and isometric quadriceps strength (+22%, P<.001), as well as decreases in body mass index (-2.5%, P=.03) and hip circumference (-4.0%, P<.001) were observed at 6 months. Quality of life remained stable and a nonstatistically significant decrease (-16%, P=.07) in fatigue was observed. Conclusions The high recruitment and adherence rates suggest the willingness of patients with metastatic breast cancer to participate in a physical activity program. The beneficial outcomes regarding physical fitness and anthropometry of this unsupervised physical activity program may encourage these patients to maintain a physically active lifestyle. Future randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are warranted. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03148886; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03148886
Establishment of a rat model for pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy

Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis is an unmet medical need. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy has limited drug distribution and poor peritoneal penetration. Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) has shown to improve drug uptake by utilizing the physical properties of gas and pressure. In this study, a rat model was developed to further enhance the pharmacologic properties of PIPAC. Methods: Preliminary pilot studies were performed to determine the most suitable parameters in our animal model. Optimal flow rate, injection volume, injection pressure and pressure of pneumoperitoneum were determined to obtain a homogeneous aerosol. Subsequently, a rat model for PIPAC was established with these parameters. To simulate a PIPAC procedure, we used 5 mm balloon trocars, a nebulizer, a high pressure injector, a laparoscope and a closed aerosol waste system. Results: It has been found from the preliminary pilot studies that the most suitable parameters are the following: nebulization of 8 ml 0.9% NaCl, a flow rate of 0.5 ml/s, an injection pressure of 20 bar and a pneumoperitoneum of 4 mm Hg. Subsequently, PIPAC was performed in the rat model (n = 3). All rats survived and there was no leakage observed over the entire setup. Conclusions: The PIPAC procedure was found to be feasible and safe in a rat model. In the future, we aim to study 1) the pharmacological and physical properties of the aerosol in the rat model and 2) the efficacy of several cytostatics into a SKOV3 xenograft rat model. This way, an attempt will be made to improve the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis.
STUDY OF OBESITY IN THE 11-16 YEARS AGE GROUP OF SCHOOL CHILDRENS- A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Obesity is evolving as a major nutritional problem in developing countries affecting a substantial number of adults and resulting in an increased burden of chronic disease. Objectives: To study the prevalence of obesity and to establish the correlation between BMI and Neck Circumference in childrens of Rural & Urban Raipur. Methods: Height measured using a stadiometer. Weight recorded to the nearest 0.1 kg using a weighing scale. BMI measured from the available WHO growth charts for children. Waist and neck circumference measured using a standard measuring tape to the nearest 0.1cm. Results: The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 9.8% and 7.8% respectively in our study. The prevalence of overweight was found to be 9.5% and 10.2% in males and females, respectively while obesity was more common in males (8.8%) compared to females (6.6%). Also there was direct correlation of prevalence of obesity with the choice of diet. 64.4% obese or overweight children belonged to the non vegetarian diet group as opposed to 35.6% in vegetarian group. Conclusion: There was positive correlation between the socio-economic status and prevalence of obesity, also with the choice of diet. Children studying in Private schools had a higher prevalence of obesity when compared to Government schools. Keywords: Height, Neck Circumference, Obesity, Overweight, Vegetarian Diet, Waist.
Relationship of Media Attention to Colorectal Cancer-Related Risk Appraisals in Older Japanese Americans: Using Structural Equation Modeling to Develop an Explanatory Model

Objectives: The goals of this study were: (1) to explore how personal attributes and media attention are related to colorectal cancer (CRC)-related risk appraisals (i.e., causal attribution, and fatalism/misconception) among Japanese Americans at risk; and (2) to identify segments of the population that should be targeted for education programs, topics of interest, and health communication channels. Methods: Structural equation modeling was used to cross-sectionally test a proposed model derived from the Heuristic-Systematic Model (HSM) and Attribution Theory for understanding the relationship between media attention and cognitive processes related to CRC in a population-based community sample of 341 asymptomatic Japanese Americans aged 50 and over residing in the Greater New York region. Results: Accounting for 30% of the variance in risk appraisals, the data fit a model (χ2(136)=231.41, p<. 001; GFI=0.936, CFI=0.911, RMSEA=0.045). Fatalism/misconception was directly associated with older age, more psychological distress, and lower acculturation level, but with no media attention. Attention to non-interactive multimedia increased diet-related and genetic casual attribution and mediated the effects of age and income. While younger age, higher income and greater acculturation increased attention to Internet, attention to Internet was not related to risk appraisals. Conclusions: Fatalism/misconception appears to be unrelated to attention to media, and rather attributed to certain personal factors. Findings indicate that beliefs about dietary and genetic influences on CRC are a function of levels of media attention for this population, underscoring the roles media can play in raising awareness of CRC risk factors. © 2006 Californian Journal of Health Promotion. All rights reserved.
Reconocimiento de la fragilidad en personas mayores que viven en la comunidad: Un desafío pendiente

espanolRESUMEN Introduccion: Las personas mayores representan uno de los segmentos poblacionales con mayor proyeccion de crecimiento a nivel mundial y nacional. El conocimiento del concepto de fragilidad permite que los trabajadores de la salud que estan en contacto con estas personas puedan identificarlas y establecer intervenciones para evitar el exceso de declive funcional de estas, evitando resultados adversos en salud. Objetivo: Caracterizar a la poblacion de mayores fragiles que viven en la comunidad y que son atendidos en la atencion primaria de salud (APS). Metodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal; muestra de 538 personas mayores que viven en la comunidad, usuarias de APS de las comunas de La Pintana y Puente Alto, Chile. Resultados: El perfil clinico de la poblacion de personas mayores fragiles que viven en la comunidad corresponde a mujeres de edad avanzada, baja escolaridad, con peores resultados en su evaluacion funcional, cognitiva y afectiva, que toman mas medicamentos, tienen mas enfermedades cronicas y han sido mas veces hospitalizadas en el ultimo ano respecto a las personas mayores clasificadas como no fragiles. Conclusiones: Las caracteristicas sociodemograficas, de salud y la valoracion geriatrica integral de las personas mayores fragiles son aspectos necesarios que se han de evaluar para poder detectar a aquellos mayores susceptibles de intervenir y evitar una posterior discapacidad. La fragilidad puede ser modificada, razon por la cual se sugiere considerar el perfil establecido con el fin de poner enfasis en dichas personas y evitar asi los resultados adversos asociados a la condicion de fragilidad. EnglishABSTRACT Introduction: Elderly represent one of the population segments with the greatest growth projection at the global and national levels. Knowledge of the concept of fragility allows health care workers who are in contact with the elderly to identify and establish interventions to avoid excessive functional decline and adverse health outcomes. Objective: To characterize the population of fragile elderly living in the community who are treated in primary health care. Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study of 538 elderly living in the community, users of primary health center of La Pintana and Puente Alto in Chile. Results: The clinical profile of the elderly population living in the community corresponds to older people, low schooling, women, with functional, cognitive and affective results, take more medication, have more chronic diseases, and have Been hospitalized in the past year with respect to elderly classified as non-fragile. Conclusions: The clinical profile reported in this study will be useful in the clinical setting in order to prevent discapacity. Fragility can be modified, avoiding functional decline, institutionalization and PM death. It is suggested to consider the established profile in order to emphasize people and thus avoid the adverse results associated with the fragility condition.
Strain elastography for noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis: A prospective study with histological comparison

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic performance of strain elastography for the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease using Ishak (0–6) histology stage as a reference standard. Ninety-eight consecutive patients with suspected chronic liver disease scheduled for liver biopsy (n = 78) or histologically confirmed cirrhosis (n = 20) were enrolled. Liver fibrosis Index (LF Index) calculated by strain elastography, liver stiffness by transient elastography and serum fibrosis markers (aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and King’s Score) were measured. Spearman’s correlation coefficient between the LF Index, liver stiffness, serum fibrosis markers and fibrosis stage were calculated and compared using areas under the receiver-operating characteristics (AUROCs) curves. Among 73 patients who underwent strain elastography, there was weak correlation between fibrosis stage and the LF Index (Spearman’s: ρ = 0.385 for Ishak score; P = 0.001). Among 52 patients who underwent strain elastography and transient elastography, the AUROC values using LF Index, transient elastography, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and King’s Score for diagnosing significant fibrosis (Ishak score ≥ 3) were 0.79, 0.87, 0.86 and 0.85, respectively (P < 0.0001) and for diagnosing severe fibrosis/cirrhosis (Ishak score ≥ 5) were 0.83, 0.94, 0.92 and 0.92, respectively (P < 0.0001). When comparing the diagnostic performance using LF Index, transient elastography, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and King’s Score, transient elastography shows a significantly higher AUROC value than LF Index in detecting severe fibrosis (P = 0.0149). The diagnostic performance of LF Index calculated by strain elastography was not statistically significantly different to the other noninvasive tests for the assessment of significant liver fibrosis but inferior to transient elastography for the assessment of severe fibrosis/cirrhosis.
Assessment of quality of life measured by rhinoconjuctivits quality of life questionnaire in patients of allergic rhinitis treated with commonly used oral antihistaminics

Background: Nasal and non-nasal symptoms in allergic rhinitis (AR) can be assessed by measuring health related quality of life (HRQOL). Present study was to assess the impact of use of antihistaminic in AR which will affect the work productivity, sleep, frequent visits to health care professional and expenditure on medicines. For this evaluation, Rhinoconjuctivits Quality Of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) has been used.Methods: In this study 52 patients with AR were randomized in an open-label, 4-arm, parallel group, single center study. Questionnaire information was obtained about allergy-related RQLQ. Subjects received either Tablet Cetirizine 5 mg, Levocetirizine 5 mg, Loratidine 5 mg or Fexofenadine 120 mg. Changes from baseline until the end of study visit (1 week following) were evaluated by RQLQ.Results: When compared between treatment groups using one-way ANOVA it was observed that there is no variation in RQLQ overall Score in all the four treatment groups and there is no difference from treatment to treatment. Overall RQLQ score was reduced maximum in Levocetirizine group. Individual symptoms of RQLQ that is sleep score, non-hay fever, practical problem, nasal symptom score, Eye symptom Score, activities Score, and emotion score were also improved in the Levocetirizine group.Conclusions: Patients of all four study groups showed an improved perception of their HRQL according to the RQLQ. Significant improvements are reported in nasal symptoms, daily activities, sleep and psychological impact. Our results provide support for an AR and its impact on quality of life. Our recommendation stipulating that levocetirizine is superior to rest drug group for the treatment of AR with safety and tolerability.
Selector devices/architectures for ReRAM crossbar arrays

Resistive Random Access Memories (ReRAMs) are amongst the most promising next generation memory technologies, due to their small feature size, low power consumption and capacity to be integrated in 3D when arranged in crossbar array. ReRAMs harvest the potential of the resistive switching phenomenon that allows to reversibly change their internal resistive state, from High to Low. This aspect, however, is also a problem when ReRAM cells are tesserated in crossbar array configuration: elements that are programmed in their low resistive state can create low resistance sneak paths in the array fabric making the readout operations strenuous. This challenge is usually mitigated by the use of selector devices. A selector must be able to suppress the currents owing in the sneak paths and, at the same time, allow for ReRAM reliable operations. In this work, the sneak current problem is introduced and defined. Several solutions that have been studied in literature are presented and discussed, creating a solid background for the development of this work. Upon this strong basis, different selector devices technologies were developed. Ni/TiO2/Ni selector devices were first designed, studied and benchmarked against other technologies showing improved performances in term of Voltage Margin without any adverse effect on the maximum current supplied. As this device stack has been designed to have a similar metal-insulator-metal architecture to ReRAM devices, the two were monolithically integrated and characterized. The possibility to exploit volatile resistive switching was also introduced and discussed thoroughly, starting from a TiO2/NiO stack exhibiting a promising threshold behaviour for selectors operations, fostering interests of the community on this approach. The limitations of this approach were studied via SPICE simulations, setting the framework and requirements for their implementation in crossbars: through this ongoing work, it was realised that the selector technologies should not be evaluated in isolation from ReRAM, which has led to contributions towards forming-free ReRAM devices. This research stream employed a TiO2/AlOy bi-layer stack devices able to perform resisting switching with a 2-orders of magnitude ON/OFF ratio and low cycle-to-cycle variability without requiring electroforming: this behaviour is presented and discussed. Herein, overall this work has offered contributions towards reliable ReRAM/selector technologies operations for crossbar arrays in terms of both selector technology, improving existing approach and exploring new ones, and ReRAMs, providing the community with a promising path towards forming free operations.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Comorbid Symptoms of Sleep: The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders

Background and Objective: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has high comorbidity with other psychological disorders and causes functional impairments. A unified protocol (UP) for transdiagnostic treatment is an emotion-based treatment and can be effective in improving comorbid symptoms. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of UP for transdiagnostic treatment and pharmacotherapy treatment-as-usual (UP + TAU) compared with pharmacotherapy treatment-as-usual (TAU) in reducing the symptoms of GAD and comorbid sleep problems. Materials and Methods: The present study was a clinical trial and the statistical population of this study consisted of all the people with GAD referred to mental health clinics in Kermanshah, Iran. The participants were 24 individuals with GADs and their comorbid symptoms (sleep problems) and were randomly assigned to control (TAU) and experimental groups (UP + TAU). The participants completed the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index‎ (PSQI), and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) in the three stages of assessment. One-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the data. Results: Among the participants in the TAU + UP group, the symptoms of GAD and sleep problems (only in follow-up) significantly decreased and overall performance improved in comparison to the TAU group (P > 0.001). However, this significant effect was shown only in some of the components of sleep quality. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, UP was effective in reducing the symptoms of GAD and its comorbid symptoms (sleep problems), and improving overall performance. However, the reduction in sleep problems (only in a few components) was statistically significant only at the follow-up stage. © 2018 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.
Factors associated with dental visit and barriers to the utilization of dental services among tribal pregnant women in Khurda district, Bhubaneswar: A cross-sectional study

Background: There is a lack of knowledge related to the utilization of dental services by tribal pregnant women who constitute over 35% of the Indian population. The aim of the present study was to identify barriers to the utilization of the dental services and also the factors that concern the tribal mothers' visit to the dental office. Materials and Methods: A total of 300 tribal mothers visiting a tertiary care unit participated in this cross-sectional, observational study. A pilot study with twenty participants was conducted before the commencement of the study. Data were collected using a modified questionnaire consisting of demographic data and questions relating to oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices, as well as barriers to the utilization of dental services and factors that concern dental visits during pregnancy. Data analysis was done using SPSS software package 21.0. Nonparametric statistical tests were done to analyze oral health knowledge and attitude of the participants. Various factors were identified using univariate and multivariate models using simple logistic regression analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Among the two different tribes considered in the present study, the Saora tribe seemed to be more conscious toward oral health, and 29.7% of participants visited the dentist during pregnancy. The age and experience of the participants along with the educational level, employment status, and knowledge about oral health-related pregnancy outcomes influenced their dental visits. The most reported barrier included the lack of awareness and knowledge of the availability of the dental services. Accessibility and distance to the dental clinic were not found to be negative confounding factors among the participants for the utilization of the services. Conclusion: This study concludes that previous experience and consciousness of the mother to utilize the dental services played a vital role in the utilization of dental services among tribal pregnant women. However, the findings of the present study clearly indicate the need for further research to understand barriers to the utilization of dental services among underprivileged tribal groups of population.
Deep CNN based MR image denoising for tumor segmentation using watershed transform

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is considered one of the most effective imaging techniques used in the medical field for both clinical investigation and diagnosis. This is due to the fact that MRI provides many critical features of the tissue including both physiological and chemical information. Rician noise affects MR images during acquisition thereby reducing the quality of the image and complicating the accurate diagnosis. In this paper, we propose a novel technique for MR image denoising using Deep Convolutional Neural Network (Deep CNN) and anisotropic diffusion (AD) which we will refer to as Deep CNN-AD. Watershed transform is then used to segment the tumorous portion of the denoised image. The proposed method is tested on the BraTS MRI datasets. The proposed denoising method produced better results compared to previous methods. As denoising process affect the segmentation process therefore better denoised images by proposed technique produced more accurate segmentation with an average Specificity of 99.85% and dice coefficient of 90.46% thus indicating better performance of proposed technique. © 2018 Authors.