Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasma volume, cell volume, total blood volume and F factor in the tree shrew

In this study, the physiological values of volumes of plasma, cells, total blood and the F blood factors were identified in 24 adult tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri; 12 male and 12 female; average BW of 123.9±19.19 g). The two-compartment model method of Evans Blue dye was used to obtain the plasma volume and the venous hematocrit was measured by microhematocrit method. To establish the relationship between body weight (BW) and blood volume of tree shrews, We performed linear fitting for these two datasets. Results were analyzed according to gender and weight (<120g vs.>120g). Statistical significance was assessed using the unpaired student t test and one-way ANOVA. The average volumes per 100g body weight of plasma, red blood cell (RBC) and total blood were 5.42±0.543, 3.24±0.445, and 8.66±0.680ml respectively. The mean body hematocrit, cardiac hematocrit, jugular vein hematocrit, femoral vein hematocrit, and tail vein hematocrit was 37.43±4.096, 39.72±3.219, 43.04±4.717, 40.84±3.041, and 38.71±3.442% respectively. The F cardiac was 0.94±0.072, F jugular vein 0.88±0.118, F femoral vein 0.92±0.111, and the F tail vein 0.97±0.117. Blood volume (ml) was 85.89103×BW (kg). This is the first study to provide the parameters of plasma volume, cell volume, total blood volume and F factor and a baseline for future research on blood physiology of tree shrews.
Wearable sensing devices for upper limbs: A systematic review

Wearable sensing devices, which are smart electronic devices that can be worn on the body as implants or accessories, have attracted much research interest in recent years. They are rapidly advancing in terms of technology, functionality, size, and real-time applications along with the fast development of manufacturing technologies and sensor technologies. By covering some of the most important technologies and algorithms of wearable devices, this paper is intended to provide an overview of upper-limb wearable device research and to explore future research trends. The review of the state-of-the-art of upper-limb wearable technologies involving wearable design, sensor technologies, wearable computing algorithms and wearable applications is presented along with a summary of their advantages and disadvantages. Toward the end of this paper, we highlight areas of future research potential. It is our goal that this review will guide future researchers to develop better wearable sensing devices for upper limbs.
A smoker’s choice? Identifying the most autonomy-supportive message frame in an online computer-tailored smoking cessation intervention

Abstract Objective To test the effect of autonomy-supportive message framing on people’s perceived autonomy-support while considering the individual need for autonomy as a moderator. Also, to test whether autonomy-supportive message frames – through increased perceived autonomy-support - lead to more self-determined motivation, and increased intention to quit smoking. Design An online 2(autonomy-supportive; controlling language) × 2(choice; no choice) between-subjects design with control condition (generic advice) with adult smokers intending to quit (N = 626). Main outcome Intention to quit smoking (Theory of Planned Behaviour). Measures Perceived autonomy-support (Virtual Climate Care Questionnaire), need for autonomy (Health Causality Orientations Scale), self-determined motivation (Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire), attitudes, social influence, self-efficacy (I-Change Model). Results Structural equation modelling revealed no significant effect of autonomy-supportive-message frames on perceived autonomy-support or self-determined motivation, neither did the need for autonomy moderate these effects. Self-determined motivation had a positive, significant effect on intention to quit, mediated by attitudes, social influence, and self-efficacy. Conclusion Although message frames did not affect perceived autonomy-support or self-determined motivation, higher self-determined motivation increased intention to quit via attitudes, social influence, and self-efficacy. Before drawing the conclusion that message framing has no effect, we recommend to replicate this study in a real-life setting with smokers more likely to read and process the message frames more attentively.
Dietary inequity? A systematic scoping review of dietary intake in low socio-economic groups compared with high socio-economic groups in Australia

Abstract Objective: Low socio-economic groups (SEG) in Australia suffer poorer diet-related health than the rest of the population. Therefore, it is expected that low SEG are less likely to consume diets conforming to Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG) than higher SEG. However, dietary intake of low SEG in Australia has not been synthesised methodically. This systematic scoping review aims to explore detailed dietary intake of low SEG in Australia in comparison to higher SEG. Design: A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature and websites, since 1999. Data were extracted, synthesised and analysed in relation to study populations, dietary assessment methods, food groups studied, socio-economic measures and dietary intake. Setting: Australia. Participants: Persons of any age and gender, differentiated by a socio-economic measure. Results: Results from thirty-three included studies confirmed that overall dietary nutritional value/quality tended to be lower in low SEG than higher SEG in Australia. However, findings were inconsistent across studies for all food groups or all socio-economic measures. Large variations were found between study metrics, definitions, dietary assessment methods, granularity of results and conclusions. Quantitative intakes of all ADG food groups by SEG were not reported in most studies and, where reported, were not comparable. Conclusion: The review showed detailed dietary data are lacking to inform policy and practice and help develop targeted interventions to improve diet-related health of Australian low SEG. There is urgent need for regular, granular assessment of population dietary data to enable comparison of intake between SEG in the context of national food-based dietary guidelines in Australia.
Delineating the Nature and Correlates of Social Dysfunction after Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury using Common Data Elements: Evidence from an International Multi-Cohort Study.

Although childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been linked to heightened risk of impaired social skills and behavior, current evidence is weakened by small studies of variable methodological quality. To address these weaknesses, this international multi-cohort study involved synthesis of data from two large observational cohort studies of complicated mild-severe child TBI in Australia and North America. Both studies adopted a unified approach to data collection and coding procedures, providing the opportunity to merge datasets from multiple, well characterized cohorts for which gold standard measures of social outcomes were collected during the chronic recovery phase. The study involved 218 children, including 33 children with severe TBI, 83 children with complicated mild-moderate TBI, 59 children with orthopedic injury, and 43 age- and sex- matched typically developing control children (TDC). All injured children were recruited from academic children's hospitals and underwent direct cognitive assessments including measures of theory of mind (ToM) at least 1-year post injury. Parents rated their child's social adjustment using standardized measures of social skills, communication and behavior. Results showed a brain-injury specific effect on ToM abilities, such that children with both complicated mild-moderate and severe TBI displayed significantly poorer ToM than children without TBI. In mediator models, poorer ToM predicted poorer parent-rated self-direction and social skills, as well as more frequent behavioral symptoms. ToM mediated the effect of severe TBI on parent ratings of communication and social skills, as well as on overall behavior symptoms. The findings suggest that deficits in ToM are evident across the spectrum of TBI severity and represent one mechanism linking severe child TBI to long-term social adjustment difficulties. The findings underscore the value of large-scale data harmonization projects to increase the quality of evidence regarding the outcomes of TBI. Clinical and scientific implications are discussed.
Oligopeptide Transporter-1 is Associated with Fluorescence Intensity of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid-Based Photodynamic Diagnosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

Background The 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-based photodynamic diagnosis is based on the accumulation of photosensitizing protoporphyrin IX in the tumor after ALA administration. However, the mechanisms connecting exogenous ALA and tumor fluorescence in pancreatic cancer remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the ALA-induced fluorescent. Methods Human pancreatic duct epithelial cells (hPDECs) and pancreatic cancer cell lines were used. The expressions of ALA-associated enzymes and membrane transporters in these cell lines were investigated. ALA-induced fluorescence was also investigated. Results The expression of oligopeptide transporter-1 (PEPT-1), through which ALA is absorbed, was significantly higher in AsPC-1 cells and lower in MIA PaCa-2 cells than in hPDECs. AsPC-1 cells showed rapid and intense fluorescence after ALA administration, and that was attenuated by PEPT-1 inhibition. ALA-induced fluorescence was not sufficiently strong in MIA PaCa-2 cells to distinguish the cells from hPDECs. Conclusion We revealed the association of PEPT-1 with ALA-induced fluorescence. Cancers expressing PEPT-1 could be easily distinguished by this technique from normal cells. These findings help develop novel diagnostic modalities for pancreatic cancer.
High Versus Low Volume Fluid Resuscitation Strategies in a Porcine Model (Sus Scrofa) of Combined Thermal and Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND Combined burn and traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment priorities may not align due to opposing fluid resuscitation paradigms used in treating burns and TBI. We developed a porcine model of combined thermal injury/TBI and compared an "aggressive" fluid resuscitation strategy using the Parkland formula and a "restrictive" resuscitation strategy using the modified Brooke formula. METHODS Twenty eight swine were deeply anesthetized and received a 40% total body surface area full thickness burn injury and TBI. Swine were then randomized to receive restrictive or aggressive resuscitation for eight hours after which time animals were euthanized and necropsy was performed. Volume of brain injury was assessed after analyzing segmental slices of brain tissue. RESULTS There were no differences between the restrictive and aggressive resuscitation groups in blood pressure, heart rate, central venous pressure, intra-cranial pressure (ICP), or serum lactate levels after 8 hours of resuscitation. Urine output was higher in the aggressive resuscitation group. The restrictive group had a significantly higher serum BUN compared to baseline and compared to the aggressive group. There was no significant difference in size of brain injury between groups. CONCLUSIONS Both restrictive and aggressive resuscitation demonstrated adequate resuscitation at eight hours post-injury. Increased serum BUN in the restrictive group may be an indicator of early acute kidney injury, despite adequate urine output. Resuscitation strategy did not appear to affect ICP or the size of brain injury.
Volume Infusion Markedly Increases Femoral dP/dtmax in Fluid-Responsive Patients Only*

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objectives: To evaluate the preload dependence of femoral maximal change in pressure over time (dP/dtmax) during volume expansion in preload dependent and independent critically ill patients. Design: Retrospective database analysis. Setting: Two adult polyvalent ICUs. Patients: Twenty-five critically ill patients with acute circulatory failure. Interventions: Thirty-five fluid infusions of 500 mL normal saline. Measurements and Main Results: Changes in femoral dP/dtmax, systolic, diastolic, and pulse femoral arterial pressure were obtained from the pressure waveform analysis using the PiCCO2 system (Pulsion Medical Systems, Feldkirchen, Germany). Stroke volume index was obtained by transpulmonary thermodilution. Statistical analysis was performed comparing results before and after volume expansion and according to the presence or absence of preload dependence (increases in stroke volume index ≥ 15%). Femoral dP/dtmax increased by 46% after fluid infusion in preload-dependent cases (mean change = 510.6 mm Hg·s–1; p = 0.005) and remained stable in preload-independent ones (mean change = 49.2 mm Hg·s–1; p = 0.114). Fluid-induced changes in femoral dP/dtmax correlated with fluid-induced changes in stroke volume index in preload-dependent cases (r = 0.618; p = 0.032), but not in preload-independent ones. Femoral dP/dtmax strongly correlated with pulse and systolic arterial pressures and with total arterial stiffness, regardless of the preload dependence status (r > 0.9 and p < 0.001 in all cases). Conclusions: Femoral dP/dtmax increased with volume expansion in case of preload dependence but not in case of preload independence and was strongly related to pulse pressure and total arterial stiffness regardless of preload dependence status. Therefore, femoral dP/dtmax is not a load-independent marker of left ventricular contractility and should be not used to track contractility in critically ill patients.
Combination of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p is suitable normalizer for studying microRNA expression in skin tissue of Liaoning cashmere goat during hair follicle cycle.

The microRNAs are non-coding RNA molecules of approximately 20–22 nucleotides that are found to be implicated in a wide range of physiological processes. In this study, the suitability of 10 candidate reference RNAs was evaluated for microRNA expression data in the skin tissue of Liaoning cashmere goat including 1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA; RNU6B), 1 small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA; Z30), 1 rRNA (5S), 1 transfer RNA (tRNA; MettRNA), and 6 microRNAs (miR; let-7d-5p, miR-15a-5p, miR-26a-5p, miR-125a-5p, miR-214-3p, and miR-221-3p). Based on geNorm and NormFinder algorithms, we identified let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p as the most stable reference RNAs. Also, three reference RNAs (let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p) were sufficient for the normalization of microRNA expression data in the skin of this breed. We further assessed the suitability of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p in a combination as reference RNAs through detecting the relative expression of miR-24-3p, miR-29a-3p, miR-145a-5p, and miR-205-5p as putative genes of interest. Significant differences were revealed in the relative expression of miR-24-3p, miR-29a-3p, miR-145a-5p, and miR-205-5p at telogen stage of hair follicle cycle when a combination of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p vs a single let-7d-5p were used as reference RNA. Based on the results from this study, we suggested that the combination of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p as normalizers for microRNA expression data would be more reliable than that of single let-7d-5p, and the geometric mean of these three microRNAs (let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR15a-5p) can be used for the normalization of microRNAs expression data in the skin of Liaoning cashmere goat.
Development of a 51-hospital Chicagoland regional antibiogram and comparison to local hospital and national surveillance data

Abstract Objective: To develop a regional antibiogram within the Chicagoland metropolitan area and to compare regional susceptibilities against individual hospitals within the area and national surveillance data. Design: Multicenter retrospective analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility data from 2017 and comparison to local institutions and national surveillance data. Setting and participants: The analysis included 51 hospitals from the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin Metropolitan Statistical Area within the state of Illinois. Overall, 18 individual collaborator hospitals provided antibiograms for analysis, and data from 33 hospitals were provided in aggregate by the Becton Dickinson Insights Research Database. Methods: All available antibiogram data from calendar year 2017 were combined to generate the regional antibiogram. The final Chicagoland antibiogram was then compared internally to collaborators and externally to national surveillance data to assess its applicability and utility. Results: In total, 167,394 gram-positive, gram-negative, fungal, and mycobacterial isolates were collated to create a composite regional antibiogram. The regional data represented the local institutions well, with 96% of the collaborating institutions falling within ±2 standard deviations of the regional mean. The regional antibiogram was able to include 4–5-fold more gram-positive and -negative species with ≥30 isolates than the median reported by local institutions. Against national surveillance data, 18.6% of assessed pathogen–antibiotic combinations crossed prespecified clinical thresholds for disparity in susceptibility rates, with notable trends for resistant gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Conclusions: Developing an accurate, reliable regional antibiogram is feasible, even in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The biogram is useful in assessing susceptibilities to less commonly encountered organisms and providing clinicians a more accurate representation of local antimicrobial resistance rates compared to national surveillance databases.
Eliciting Egg Consumer Preferences for Organic Labels and Omega 3 Claims in Italy and Hungary

This paper investigates consumers’ preferences for egg purchase in two European countries, Hungary and Italy. We utilize random parameter logit models to interpret the results of discrete choice experiments (DCE) for the elicitation of preference of the egg consumers. A sample of 403 in the Hungarian survey and 404 in the Italian survey were recruited in summer 2018. The DCE questionnaire includes the following product and process characteristics: organic labels, nutrition and health claims, and price. Our results show that for Hungarian and Italian consumers, the price is the most important attribute, followed by the nutrition and health claim and the organic production labelling. Three egg consumer segments can be identified via latent class models for each country. In both countries, we found similar consumer groups, the Price Sensitive and Quality Optimizing Opportunist Consumers and Health Conscious Buyers, respectively. Particularly, compared to the other segments the Health Conscious Buyers (46% in Hungary and 49% in Italy) exhibited stronger preference for and are willing to pay a higher price premium for eggs with organic label and nutrition claims. In Italy, we identified a third segment with consumers preferring simpler labelling approach, whilst in Hungary we found a consumer segment distrusting the EU organic logo.
Does ‘Dry Hit’ vaping of vitamin E acetate contribute to EVALI? Simulating toxic ketene formation during e-cigarette use

Vitamin E acetate (VEA) is strongly linked to the outbreak of electronic-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). It has been proposed that VEA decomposition to ketene–a respiratory poison that damages lungs at low ppm levels–may play a role in EVALI. However, there is no information available on the temperature at which VEA decomposes and how this correlates with the vaping process. We have studied the temperature-dependent kinetics of VEA decomposition using quantum chemical and statistical mechanical modelling techniques, developing a chemical kinetic model of the vaping process. This model predicts that, under typical vaping conditions, the use of VEA contaminated e-cigarette products is unlikely to produce ketene at harmful levels. However, at the high temperatures encountered at low e-cigarette product levels, which produce ‘dry hits’, ketene concentrations are predicted to reach acutely toxic levels in the lungs (as high as 30 ppm). We therefore hypothesize that dry hit vaping of e-cigarette products containing VEA contributes to EVALI.
In vitro mass clonal propagation of Dittrichia viscosa subsp. revoluta and analysis of its secondary metabolites

Summary In vitro clonal propagation of native Portuguese Dittrichia viscosa subsp. revoluta was obtained from mature field-grown plants. High numbers of shoots (8–12 shoots per culture) were obtained for all clones and benzyladenine (BA) concentrations (0.44, 0.89 and 1.33 ゼM) tested. All clones developed numerous roots after auxin treatment, with the root length strongly dependent on auxin type (IAA, IBA, NAA). All plantlets were successfully acclimatized to ex vitro conditions, exhibiting normal development. The essential oils of D. viscosa were analysed by capillary GC and GC-MS using three types of plant material from the same clone: field-grown plant (FP), in vitro shoot-cultures (InV) and micropropagated plants (MP). The 24 identified components represented 39.9, 42.0 and 49.5% of the total oils in FP, InV and MP samples, respectively. The major constituents of the essential oils were 1,8-cineole (11.0, 5.1 and 5.1%), δ-cadinene (5.0, 7.0 and 6.6%); E-nerolidol (4.4, 9.7 and 11.9%); T-cadinol (7.1, 14.4 and 17.4%) and α-cadinol (6.7, 8.4 and 9.4%), for FP, InV and MP, respectively. Efficient separation of the flavonoids was achieved by RP-HPLC. Quercetin was the major component whose concentrations ranged from 0.3 mg per 100 mg FW, in FP, to 48.5 mg per 100 mg FW, in InV samples.
Bacterial and Fungal Microbiota Associated with the Ensiling of Wet Soybean Curd Residue under Prompt and Delayed Sealing Conditions

Wet soybean curd residue (SCR) obtained from two tofu factories (F1 and F2) was anaerobically stored with or without added beet pulp (BP). Sealing was performed on the day of tofu production (prompt sealing (PS)) or 2 days after SCR was piled and unprocessed (delayed sealing (DS)). Predominant lactic acid fermentation was observed regardless of the sealing time and BP addition. Acinetobacter spp. were the most abundant (>67%) bacteria in pre-ensiled SCR, regardless of the factory and sealing time. In PS silage, the abundances of typical lactic acid-producing bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Streptococcus spp. reached >50%. In DS silage, Acinetobacter spp. were the most abundant in F1 products, whereas Bacillus spp. were the most abundant in long-stored F2 products. The fungal microbiota were highly diverse. Although Candida, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Hannaella, and Wallemia spp. were found to be the most abundant fungal microbiota, no specific genera were associated with factory, sealing time, or fermentation products. These results indicated that owing to preceding processing, including heating, distinctive microbiota may have participated in the ensiling of wet by-products. Lactic acid fermentation was observed even in DS silage, and an association of Bacillus spp. was suggested.