Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electronic Versus Traditional Data Collection: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Perioperative Pain Trial

ABSTRACT Background: Electronic data collection is increasingly available as a means to collect pain-related clinical trial data; however, effectiveness and costs relative to traditional data collection are uncertain. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate data quality, protocol adherence, satisfaction, and resource requirements of electronic data collection (i.e., Internet-based electronic submission) compared to traditional data collection methods (i.e., paper-based diaries and telephone interviews) in a perioperative factorial randomized controlled trial. Methods: This study was an open-label two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. Women (18–75 years) undergoing breast cancer surgery were allocated to either electronic or traditional data collection and completed pain-related questionnaires at baseline, postoperative period, and 3-month follow-up (NCT02240199). Results: We acquired outcome data at all time points from 78 randomized patients, 38 in the electronic group and 40 in the traditional group. The number of data queries (e.g., erroneously entered data) per patient was higher in the electronic data group (4.92 [SD = 4.67] vs. 1.88 [SD = 1.51]; P < 0.001). No between-group differences were observed for compliance with medications, data completeness, loss to follow-up, or patient or research assistant satisfaction. More research assistant time per patient was spent collecting data in the traditional group (42.6 min [SD = 12.8] vs. 9.92 min [SD = 7.6]; P < 0.001); however, costs per patient were higher in the electronic group ($176.85 [SD = 2.90] vs. $16.33 [SD = 4.90]; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Electronic data collection is feasible for perioperative pain clinical trials. Additional trials, including different surgical populations, are needed to confirm our findings and optimize use of electronic data capture methods.
Parotid Gland Carcinoma Masquerading as an Aural Polyp

Introduction Parotid gland squamous cell carcinoma is an uncommon aggressive neoplasm with poor prognosis. Aural polyps are usually the presenting features of chronic suppurative otitis media, tuberculous otitis media, and adenoma or carcinoma. The malignant aural polyp is very rare. Parotid gland carcinoma masquerading as an aural polyp has rarely been described in the literature. Case Report: We report a case study of parotid squamous cell carcinoma in a 29-year-old male masquerading as an ear polyp. Conclusion: Parotid gland primary squamous cell carcinoma is a rapidly advancing neoplasm which carries poor prognosis despite multimodality treatment. Diligent clinical and histopathological evaluation is imperative to discriminate this rare aggressive disease from the metastatic and other primary cancers of the parotid. A high index of suspicion is crucial in refractory aural polyps to arrive at early diagnosis.
Los sistemas de interfaz cerebro-computadora basado en EEG: características y aplicaciones

Los sistemas de Interfaz Cerebro Computadora (BCI por su acrónimo en inglés) se basan en la característica del cerebro de emitir señales eléctricas, y cómo a través de la captación de estas señales, se pueden generar comandos de computador que controlen sistemas como sillas de ruedas con motores. Los sistemas BCI tienen diversas aplicaciones, pero su objetivo principal es brindar a personas con discapacidades motrices la posibilidad de transmisión de su intención a través de la modulación de las señales eléctricas en su actividad cerebral. En este artículo se presenta una breve descripción de lo que es una interfaz cerebro-computadora (BCI), sus características; y se describen sus orígenes y evolución, elementos constituyentes, tratamiento de señales cerebrales contemplando la función del cerebro, y las aplicaciones más relevantes.
Proteome expression profiling of red blood cells during the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma

The early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been clinically elucidated, leading to an increased mortality rate in patients with HCC. HCC is a systemic disease related to disorders of blood homeostasis, and the association between red blood cells (RBCs) and HCC tumorigenesis remains elusive. We performed data-independent acquisition proteomic analyses of 72 clinical RBC samples, including HCC (n = 30), liver cirrhosis (LC, n = 17), and healthy controls (n = 25), and characterized the clinical relevance of RBCs and tumorigenesis in HCC. We observed dynamic changes in RBCs during HCC tumorigenesis, and our findings indicate that, based on the protein expression profiles of RBCs, LC is a developmental stage closely approaching HCC. The expression of hemoglobin (HbA and HbF) in peripheral blood dynamically changed during HCC tumorigenesis, suggesting that immature erythroid cells exist in peripheral blood of HCC patients and that erythropoiesis is influenced by the onset of LC. We also identified the disrupted autophagy pathway in RBCs at the onset of LC, which persisted during HCC tumorigenesis. The oxytocin and GnRH pathways were disrupted and first identified during the development of LC into HCC. Significantly differentially expressed SMIM1, ANXA7, HBA1, and HBE1 during tumorigenesis were verified as promising biomarkers for the early diagnosis of HCC using parallel reaction monitoring technology. This study may enhance the understanding of HCC tumorigenesis from a different point of view and aid the early diagnosis of HCC.
PHAGOCYTOSIS ACTIVITY OF BINAHONG (Anredera cordifolia (Tenore.) Steenis) FROM SECANG, MAGELANG, CENTRAL JAVA, INDONESIA

The use of medicinal plants is increasing due to the search for alternative resources to treat diseases such as hypertensions and infection. Along with the development in science, preventive action should take place to prevent our body from suffering from these diseases. This can be done by increasing the human immune status with immunomodulatory agents. Binahong empirically have benefits for wound healing. The purpose of this research was to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of ethanolic extract of binahong leaves. The non-specific modulatory effects of the ethanolic extracts of binahong leaves on the immune systems were measured based on phagocytosis index and phagocytosis capacity. Tests were conducted on strain Balb/C male mice at the age of 6-8 weeks. Mice were administered orally with the extract of binahong leaves (doses of 25, 50, 75 mg/kgBW) for 14 days. The test results with the index parameters and macrophages phagocytosis capacity at doses of 50 and 75 mg/kgBW did not significantly increased when compared with the controls. From these results, we concluded that the ethanolic extract of binahong leaves with a dose of 25, 50 and 75 mg/kgBW cannot significantly the activity of macrophages by phagocytosis index parameters and phagocytosis capacity significantly.
[Needs for Care and Service Use in Dementia: Baseline Assessment of Portuguese Participants in the Actifcare Cohort Study].

INTRODUCTION People with dementia and their relatives should have timely access to formal care in the community. The EU-Actifcare project analysed access to and use of formal services, as related to unmet needs for care. We describe the cohort study implementation and baseline results in Portugal, with a focus on needs for care and service use assessments. MATERIAL AND METHODS Our convenience sample consisted of 66 dyads of community-dwelling people with mild to moderate dementia and no significant use of formal services, and their informal carers. Measures included the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly and Resources Utilization in Dementia. RESULTS People with dementia had unmet needs (mean 1.1; SD 1.7), mainly regarding company (23%), psychological distress (20%), and daily activities (14%). Family caregivers spent 150 minutes/day (median) providing support, and 44% had psychological distress unmet needs. Problems with access to or use of formal services, when present, were frequently due to attitudes or lack of knowledge of any or both members of the dyad. DISCUSSION The recruitment process was challenging, since the inclusion criteria were restrictive. Not claiming generalizability, we recruited a typical sample of Portuguese people with mild to moderate dementia and no significant formal community support. Levels and type of unmet needs found in some participants would call for formal support, were it not for problems regarding access or use. CONCLUSION There are difficulties regarding timely access and effective use of formal care in dementia, along with relevant unmet needs.
On the importance of multiple-component evaluation of spatialpatterns for optimization of earth system models – A case studyusing mHM v5.6 at catchment scale

The process of model evaluation is not only an integral part of model development and calibration but also of paramount importance when communicating modelling results to the scientific community and stakeholders. The modelling community has a large and well tested toolbox of metrics to evaluate temporal model performance. On the contrary, spatial performance evaluation is not corresponding to the grand availability of spatial observations readily available and to the sophisticate model codes simulating the spatial variability of complex earth system processes. This study makes a contribution towards advancing spatial pattern oriented model calibration by rigorously testing a multiple-component performance metric. The promoted SPAtial EFficiency (SPAEF) metric reflects three equally weighted components: correlation, coefficient of variation and histogram overlap. This multiple-component approach is found to be advantageous in order to achieve the complex task of comparing spatial patterns. SPAEF, its three components individually and two alternative spatial performance metrics, i.e. connectivity analysis and fractions skill score, are applied in a spatial pattern oriented model calibration of a catchment model in Denmark. Results suggest the importance of multiple-component metrics, because stand-alone metrics tend to fail to provide holistic pattern information to the optimizer. The three SPAEF components are found to be independent which allows them to complement each other in a meaningful way. In order to optimally exploit spatial observations made available by remote sensing platforms this study suggests applying bias insensitive metrics which further allow comparing variables which are related but may differ in unit. This study applies SPAEF in the hydrological context using the mesoscale Hydrologic Model (mHM; version 5.6), but we see great potential across disciplines related to spatial distributed earth system modelling.
Right Ventricular Mechanical Changes after Septal Myectomy for Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Vector Velocity Imaging Study

Objectives: The impairment of right ventricular (RV) myocardial mechanics is evident in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). It is independently influenced by LV mechanics and correlated to the severity of LV phenotype. We investigated the changes in RV global and regional deformation following surgical septal myectomy using vector velocity imaging (VVI). Methods: 25 HCM patients, 68% males with mean age (34.5 ± 12 years) were examined before and within two months after surgical myectomy using VVI. In addition to conventional echocardiographic parameters, peak systolic strain (esys), strain rate (SR) and time to peak esys (TTP) of regional RV free wall (RVFW) & septal walls were analyzed in longitudinal (long) directions from apical four-chamber view and their (Δ) changes were calculated. Similar parameters were quantified in LV from apical 2 & 4 CH views. Intra-V-delay was defined as SD of TTP and inter-V dyssynchrony was estimated from TTP difference between the most delayed LV segment & RVFW. Results: All study patients showed improvement of their functional class from NYHA class III to class I and reduction of LVOT gradient to below 20 mmHg except one patient who had 30 mmHg gradients at rest. There was significant reduction of septal thickness, left atrial diameter & volume, LVOT gradient, LVMI, severity of mitral regurgitation, tricuspid annular velocities (P < 0.0001), RV diameter (P < 0.02) and increase in LV internal dimensions(P < 0.001) post myectomy. However, there was significant reduction of RV and LV systolic mechanics; RV global esys % (from -16.1% ± 4.4% to -12.9% ± 2.9%, P < 0.0001) and LV global esys %: from -11.6% ± 2.8% to -9.4% ± 2.2%, P < 0.0001) respectively. The magnitude of reduction of RV strain (ΔRV esys %, ΔSRsys) was directly correlated LV maximal wall thickness (r = 0.46, P < 0.01) and ΔRV dyssynchrony (TTP-SD) (r = 0.4, P < 0.05) and negatively correlated to age (r = -0.46, P < 0.02), pre-op RV SRsys (r = -0.52, P < 0.01) and pre-op LV EF % (r = -0.43, P < 0.03). Meanwhile, the reduction in RV diastolic mechanics: ΔRV SRe & SRa were directly correlated to PAP and LVOT gradient before surgery (r = 0.62, P < 0.002). Conclusion: Despite the improvement of patient functional status and reduction LVOT gradient, RV mechanics shows further deterioration after surgical myectomy. The magnitude of reduction is modestly related to cardiac phenotype and pre-op mechanical function.
Falls When Standing, Falls When Walking: Different Mechanisms, Different Outcomes in Parkinson Disease

Our retrospective study of falls and resultant trauma in consecutive Parkinson disease (PD) patients seen in one year at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Clinic found that multiple-fallers could be divided into patients who fell mainly when walking or those who fell mainly when standing. Patients who fell when walking were more likely to visit an emergency room or be admitted to a hospital. Of 455 consecutive patients who were evaluated over a one-year period, 51 were excluded because they had atypical Parkinson disorders, had multiple risk factors for falling, or were demented. Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scales and Zeno Walkway results were compared among non-fallers, single-fallers, and multiple-fallers. Among multiple-fallers, comparisons were made between patients who fell mainly when standing and those who fell mainly when walking. Most patients (197, 49%) did not fall, 142 (35%) fell once, and 65 (16%) fell more than once. Multiple-fallers differed significantly from single-fallers and non-fallers: they had PD significantly longer (p<0.001), were more severely affected (p<0.001), and took shorter steps (p<0.001). Of 65 multiple-fallers, 26 (40%) fell mainly when standing, 28 (43%) fell mainly when walking, and 11 (17%) fell equally often when standing or walking. Falls when walking resulted in more severe injuries. Patients who fell mainly when standing did not realize they could fall when standing; engaged in inappropriate weight shifting, bending, reaching, and multitasking; and failed to use their assistive devices. Such patients would benefit from being counseled about falling when standing. Patients who fell mainly when walking were aware they could fall, despite using an assisted device, and were more likely to have freezing of gait (FOG). They were more likely to sustain a severe injury, and were more likely to be admitted to an emergency room or hospital. Such patients would benefit from reducing, if possible, FOG.
IMPROVEMENT OF DEEP LEARNING MODELS ON CLASSIFICATION TASKS USING HAAR TRANSFORM AND MODEL ENSEMBLE

Automation Engineering HAMK Valkeakoski Author Tung Son Nguyen Year 2017 Subject Improvement of deep learning models on classification task using Haar transform and model ensemble. Supervisors Raine Lehto (Raine.Lehto@hamk.fi – HAMK University of Applied Sciences) Joni Kämäräinen (joni.kamarainen@tut.fi – Tampere University of Technology) ABSTRACT Machine learning have an enormous impact on Computer Vision. This thesis investigates how to improve efficiency of a Machine learning technique called deep learning on classification tasks using Haar transform and model ensemble. Haar transform can be used to reduce the input size of image data to train more models and model ensemble is known to boost performance using multiple models instead of one.Machine learning have an enormous impact on Computer Vision. This thesis investigates how to improve efficiency of a Machine learning technique called deep learning on classification tasks using Haar transform and model ensemble. Haar transform can be used to reduce the input size of image data to train more models and model ensemble is known to boost performance using multiple models instead of one. Experimental results showed that Adaboost and stacking work as expected as they boosted the accuracies by 2-3% and approximately 1%. However, the other two methods, averaging and geometric mean, did not boost but scored between the best individual model and the worst. This thesis also suggests future work onto Adaboost and stacking.
Buprenorphine analgesia following major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Opioid analgesia is commonly employed in the postoperative period. Opioids have a well-documented side effect profile. Their administration is made difficult following major abdominal surgery in those patients intolerant of oral intake. Furthermore, efforts are required to reduce the contribution of prescription opioids to the global illicit drug epidemic. Buprenorphine is thought to have a lesser side effect profile than morphine, is available in sublingual form and has a reduced risk of addiction. This study aims to compare the effectiveness and side effect profile of buprenorphine against morphine in managing pain following major abdominal surgery. Methods: Five databases were searched up to May 2019. Randomized controlled trials comparing articles comparing buprenorphine with morphine post-major abdominal were included. Major abdominal surgery included operations on the abdominal wall, abdominal cavity or abdominal organs with an expected duration greater than 60 minutes. Postoperative pain and opioid-related adverse events, such as respiratory depression and sedation, were meta-analyzed. Results: Eleven studies with a combined pool of 764 patients were included. Buprenorphine provided improved analgesia from 6 to 12 hours postoperatively (P=0.0003). Pain and analgesia use were otherwise equivalent with buprenorphine and morphine use up to 48 hours postoperatively. There was no discrepancy in respiratory depression, sedation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness or hypotension. Conclusions: Buprenorphine is non-inferior to morphine in managing pain following major abdominal surgery. Opioid-related side effects were unaltered. Further study is required to analyse rates of addiction. The study was hindered by the number of relevant studies and the age of included data.
The importance of environmental attitudes in accounting for energy consumption

The take-up of solar photovoltaics (PV) in cities all over the developed world signals a new era of eco-efficiency in energy production, also expected to reduce the impact of energy pricing on supply and demand. Politicians must therefore look for alternative tools to pricing for restraining the demand for energy and generation of greenhouse gas emissions. This paper examines the demand for residential energy consumption focusing on environmental attitudes. The environmental predispositions of households are measured using a set of attitude and intention questions related to key factors in the theory of planned behaviour. This produces a typology consisting of 3 clusters of survey respondents – committed greens, material greens and enviro-sceptics. An analysis of covariance reveals significant differences for the energy consumption of these clusters after taking into account income, household size and dwelling size. These results confirm that energy policy addressing voluntary behavioural change remains an important priority at a time when technological change is allowing steady growth in the supply of renewable energy and sustainable urban design is gradually ensuring greater energy efficiency – but not at a rate likely to halt the increase in global demand for energy, and the associated growth in carbon emissions foreshadowed by the International Energy Agency and the IPCC.
Parity Forwarding for Relay Networks

Parity Forwarding for Relay Networks Peyman Razaghi Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Toronto 2009 In this dissertation, we introduce a relay protocol for multiple-relay networks called parity forwarding. The relay channel is a classic multiuser information theory problem introduced in 1971, modeling a network of three nodes: a source, a destination, and a relay node. The relay has no message of its own and assists the source to communicate to the destination. Of the two main coding techniques for the relay channel, decodeand-forward (DF) and compress-and-forward (CF), our focus is to understand the DF scheme for singleand multiple-relay channels. For the single-relay channel, we present an interpretation of the classic DF strategy from a linear-coding perspective. Identifying binning in the classic DF strategy as parity bit generation, we devise ensembles of lowdensity parity-check (LDPC) codes, called bilayer LDPC codes, to incorporate the parity bits generated by the relay in the decoding process at the destination. We develop code design techniques and optimize the parameters of the bilayer LDPC code structure to show that bilayer LDPC codes can approach the theoretical DF rate. Inspired by the relation between binning and parity bits, we introduce the parity forwarding protocol to improve on the achievable DF rate in a multiple-relay network. For a two-relay network, we show that the previous multihop DF protocol can be improved if the relays forward parity messages and receivers (relays or the destination) use a joint decoding scheme. Depending on the relation between relay messages and decoded messages at each relay,
Antibacterial activity of selected snake venoms on pathogenic bacterial strains

Snake venoms are aqueous solutions containing peptides and proteins with various biochemical, physiological, and pathophysiological effects. Several snake venom components are used as lead molecules in the development of new active substances for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, clotting disorders, cancer or pain. Antibacterial activity has also been attributed to snake venoms and proteins isolated from snake venoms. This study provides information regarding the antibacterial activity of venoms obtained from various snake species from the Elapidae and Viperidae families. Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of snake venoms were determined for three Gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300) and three Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853) pathogenic bacteria. The observed effects were correlated with the protein content of each venom, determined using SDS-PAGE analysis and comparison with data available in the literature. Our findings represent a starting point for the selection of snake venoms containing components with potential use as lead molecules in the development of new antibacterial agents, targeting multidrug resistant bacterial strains.