Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eliminating Trachoma in Africa: The Importance of Environmental Interventions

Subsequent to the failure of the World Health Organisation (WHO) of achieving their target to eliminate trachoma by the year 2020, the most effective strategy in eliminating trachoma must be re-examined to accomplish the new target of eradication by the year 2030. Whilst antibiotic therapy is a core foundation of this elimination strategy, another important factor is the state of the environmental conditions in trachoma endemic countries. This manuscript aimed to identify the impact of environmental improvement strategies on the prevalence of trachoma and the significance of environmental improvement alongside the use of antibiotic treatment to achieve trachoma elimination. Two independent literature searches were conducted up until the 5th of July 2021. Two main databases were used to carry out these literature searches, namely, Ovid EMBASE and Ovid MEDLINE. All of the relevant references were found using MeSH and free text terms. Key terms used were 'trachoma', 'water', 'sanitation', 'hygiene' and 'environmental Improvement'. The exclusion criteria included non-African-based studies, review papers, protocols and case reports. A total of 17 studies were included for this review. Living within a close range of a water source was significantly associated with reduced risk of trachoma infection. Water obtained from piped water sources was associated with the lowest rates of active trachoma. Studies on facial cleanliness evidenced a strong association with reduced prevalence of trachoma. Whilst the provision of latrine facilities found was significantly associated with reduced prevalence of trachoma, there was no significant difference between the use of private latrine facilities over communal latrine facilities. The use of repeated scheduled antibiotic treatments over single-use antibiotic distribution had a greater impact both short term and long term on the prevalence rates of trachoma. Nonetheless, prevalence rates increased again following the commencement of treatment. Mass antibiotic treatment has been proven to have a greater impact on lowering the prevalence of trachoma initially, but this impact is not sustainable due to the rise in prevalence rates following the completion of treatment. A holistic approach, therefore, must be implemented with evidence showing that an emphasis on longer-term environmental methods should be implemented to compliment antibiotic distribution. Prioritisation of specific interventional measures should be tailored according to local epidemiology; nonetheless, these measures form the backbone of a trachoma elimination strategy to eliminate trachoma by the year 2030.
Comparative analysis of RADAR vs. conventional techniques for AVF maturation in patients with blood viscosity and vessel elasticity-related diseases through fluid-structure interaction modeling: Anemia, hypertension, and diabetes

Purpose This study aims to compare two surgical techniques, the standard Vein-to-Artery and the newer Artery-to-Vein (Radial Artery Deviation And Reimplantation; RADAR), for enhancing the success of Arterio-Venous Fistula maturation in end-stage renal disease patients. The impact of diseases like anemia, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease were considered. The goals are to advance Arterio-Venous Fistula (AVF) surgery, improve patient outcomes, and contribute to evidence-based surgical guidelines. Methods Fluid-structure interaction modeling was employed to investigate how hemodynamic and mechanical stresses impact arteriovenous fistula maturation, with a particular focus on the role of wall shear stress in determining maturation outcomes. The critical threshold for vessel injury was identified as wall shear stress values exceeding 35 N/m2, while stenosis formation was projected to occur at levels below 1 N/m2. This work introduced a novel approach by considering disease-related factors, including blood viscosity (anemia), and vessel elasticity (diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney diseases), which directly influence hemodynamics and the generation of wall shear stress. Furthermore, the model was designed to incorporate varying thicknesses and elasticities for both the vein and artery, accurately representing authentic vascular anatomy. Results The RADAR technique has demonstrated superior performance compared to the standard technique by providing appropriate wall shear stress in critical regions and minimizing the risk of wall damage. Its use of a thicker vessel also reduces the risk of vessel injury, making it particularly effective for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), hypertension, anemia, and diabetes, ensuring optimal blood flow and fewer complications. However, there are minor concerns about stenosis formation in hypertension and anemia cases, which could be mitigated by adjusting the anastomosis angle to be lower than 30°. Conclusion Diabetes and hypertension have significant physiological effects that increase the risks associated with arteriovenous fistula maturation. The anemic condition resulting from CKD may help reduce vessel injury but raises concerns about potential stenosis formation. Despite these co-morbidities, the RADAR technique has demonstrated its ability to induce more favorable hemodynamic changes, promoting arteriovenous fistula maturation.
Rhesus monkeys learn to control a directional-key inspired brain machine interface via bio-feedback

Brain machine interfaces (BMI) connect brains directly to the outside world, bypassing natural neural systems and actuators. Neuronal-activity-to-motion transformation algorithms allow applications such as control of prosthetics or computer cursors. These algorithms lie within a spectrum between bio-mimetic control and bio-feedback control. The bio-mimetic approach relies on increasingly complex algorithms to decode neural activity by mimicking the natural neural system and actuator relationship while focusing on machine learning: the supervised fitting of decoder parameters. On the other hand, the bio-feedback approach uses simple algorithms and relies primarily on user learning, which may take some time, but can facilitate control of novel, non-biological appendages. An increasing amount of work has focused on the arguably more successful bio-mimetic approach. However, as chronic recordings have become more accessible and utilization of novel appendages such as computer cursors have become more universal, users can more easily spend time learning in a bio-feedback control paradigm. We believe a simple approach which leverages user learning and few assumptions will provide users with good control ability. To test the feasibility of this idea, we implemented a simple firing-rate-to-motion correspondence rule, assigned groups of neurons to virtual “directional keys” for control of a 2D cursor. Though not strictly required, to facilitate initial control, we selected neurons with similar preferred directions for each group. The groups of neurons were kept the same across multiple recording sessions to allow learning. Two Rhesus monkeys used this BMI to perform a center-out cursor movement task. After about a week of training, monkeys performed the task better and neuronal signal patterns changed on a group basis, indicating learning. While our experiments did not compare this bio-feedback BMI to bio-mimetic BMIs, the results demonstrate the feasibility of our control paradigm and paves the way for further research in multi-dimensional bio-feedback BMIs.
Usability study of SOSteniamoci: An internet-based intervention platform to support informal caregivers in Italy

Background Providing informal care can be experienced as stressful and lead to caregiver burden. Internet-based interventions, a specific form of eHealth, have proven to be a good option to support informal caregivers. SOSteniamoci, an internet-based intervention already tested in Lithuania, was translated and adapted for Italian caregivers. Objective As many novel eHealth solutions have been rejected by end-users due to usability problems, we aimed to evaluate the usability of the adapted platform, using a computer-based prototype. Methods The following methods and metrics were applied: 1. task analysis, using audio and video recordings that included three usability metrics: task completion rate, frequency of errors, and frequency of help requests; 2. the system usability scale (SUS); and 3. a semi-structured interview to collect additional data about the system's design and overall satisfaction. Results Ten informal caregivers (60% female; age M = 47.8, SD = 15.21) provided insights and suggestions for increasing the usability of the platform. The platform was considered satisfactory, with a mean score on the SUS of 75 (SD = 13.07) out of 100. The task analysis measurements highlighted difficulties in how to log in to the platform, understanding what the intervention is about, and texting the therapist. The same difficulties were also mentioned during the post-experience interview. Thus, improvements were subsequently made to enhance users’ experience when navigating the platform. Finally, the platform overall was found to be intuitive and friendly, and the contents were appreciated. Conclusion To maintain participants’ engagement and prevent drop-out, it is crucial to test the usability of internet-based interventions. Even though the platform proved to be user-friendly, intuitive and easy to use, several enhancements were implemented based on participants’ feedback. Thus, the usability of internet-based interventions should be tested, and end-users must be involved in the development process of such solutions.
Student intentions to continue with distance learning post-COVID: An empirical analysis

The aftermath of COVID changed how students learn, mainly moving to a distance learning model. The research reported in this paper investigated the organizational and individual factors that influence the preference for continuing with distance / online learning post-COVID. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied to a model developed for this research, based on data from 452 students from residential universities in South Africa. The key results reveal an overall reluctance to continue with distance learning. This is despite the technological and faculty support offered to university students and how distance learning fits their learning styles. This is likely due to student living conditions and their perception of low institutional concern. On the other hand, faculty support has a more substantial impact on continuance, compared with a generally negative perception of support from the universities. The research underscores the importance of addressing student reluctance to continue with distance learning by improving institutional support and tailoring learning styles. The research enhances our understanding of crucial factors influencing students’ preference for distance/online learning post-COVID. It also underscores the pedagogical shifts brought about by the pandemic, particularly highlighting the changing roles of faculty support and the impact on students’ living conditions.
Urinary Androgens Provide Additional Evidence Related to Metabolism and Are Correlated With Serum Androgens in Girls

Abstract Context Androgen levels are generally measured in serum samples, but urine may be a more feasible option, especially in children, as it is a noninvasive alternative. Objective To assess the correlations of 10 urinary androgen metabolites with 4 serum androgens [dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), androstenedione, and total and free testosterone] and assess if their correlations differ by participant characteristics. Methods Our study consisted of 44 girls, ages 6-13, who participated in the New York site of the LEGACY Girls Study and had both serum and urine samples collected at the same visit. We performed Pearson's correlation coefficient tests between 4 serum and 10 individual urinary metabolite measures and their sum. We examined the influence of participant characteristics on the magnitude and direction of the correlations. Results The summed urinary metabolite measures had the highest correlation with free testosterone in serum (global sum, r = 0.83) and correlated least with DHEA-S in serum (global sum, r = 0.64). The correlation between individual urinary metabolites and serum androgens ranged from 0.08 to 0.84. Two 11-oxygenated urinary metabolites (5α-androstane-3α-ol-11,17-dione5β-androstane-3α,11β-diol-17-one) were weakly correlated with all serum androgens. Participant age, weight, height, waist:hip ratio, and pubic hair growth stage changed the correlations between urinary and serum androgens measures between 10% and 213%. Conclusion The sum of urinary androgen metabolites was a good marker of circulating androstenedione, testosterone, and free testosterone. Individual urinary metabolites provide additional information about the metabolic processes of disease development compared to the antecedent serum androgens.
Augmented Reality based Surgical Navigation for Percutaneous Endoscopic Transforaminal Discectomy

Fluoroscopic guidance is a critical step for the puncture procedure in percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (PETD). In this paper, we propose an AR surgical navigation system for PETD based on multi-modality imaging information, which contain fluoroscopy, optical tracking and depth camera. We also present a self-adaptive calibration and transformation method between 6-DOF optical tracking device and depth camera, which are in different coordinate systems. With substantially reduced frequency of fluoroscopy imaging, the system can accurately track and superimpose the virtual puncture needle on fluoroscopy images in real-time.
A dynamic subset of network interactions underlies tuning to natural movements in marmoset sensorimotor cortex

Mechanisms of computation in sensorimotor cortex must be flexible and robust to support skilled motor behavior. Patterns of neuronal coactivity emerge as a result of computational processes. Pairwise spike-time statistical relationships, across the population, can be summarized as a functional network (FN) which retains single-unit properties. We record populations of single-unit neural activity in forelimb sensorimotor cortex during prey-capture and spontaneous behavior and use an encoding model incorporating kinematic trajectories and network features to predict single-unit activity during forelimb movements. The contribution of network features depends on structured connectivity within strongly connected functional groups. We identify a context-specific functional group that is highly tuned to kinematics and reorganizes its connectivity between spontaneous and prey-capture movements. In the remaining context-invariant group, interactions are comparatively stable across behaviors and units are less tuned to kinematics. This suggests different roles in producing natural forelimb movements and contextualizes single-unit tuning properties within population dynamics.
Post-acute COVID-19 neuropsychiatric symptoms are not associated with ongoing nervous system injury

Abstract A proportion of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 experience a range of neuropsychiatric symptoms months after infection, including cognitive deficits, depression and anxiety. The mechanisms underpinning such symptoms remain elusive. Recent research has demonstrated that nervous system injury can occur during COVID-19. Whether ongoing neural injury in the months after COVID-19 accounts for the ongoing or emergent neuropsychiatric symptoms is unclear. Within a large prospective cohort study of adult survivors who were hospitalized for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, we analysed plasma markers of nervous system injury and astrocytic activation, measured 6 months post-infection: neurofilament light, glial fibrillary acidic protein and total tau protein. We assessed whether these markers were associated with the severity of the acute COVID-19 illness and with post-acute neuropsychiatric symptoms (as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire for depression, the General Anxiety Disorder assessment for anxiety, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for objective cognitive deficit and the cognitive items of the Patient Symptom Questionnaire for subjective cognitive deficit) at 6 months and 1 year post-hospital discharge from COVID-19. No robust associations were found between markers of nervous system injury and severity of acute COVID-19 (except for an association of small effect size between duration of admission and neurofilament light) nor with post-acute neuropsychiatric symptoms. These results suggest that ongoing neuropsychiatric symptoms are not due to ongoing neural injury.
Importance of Mangrove Conservation and Valuation to Women and Men – A Case Study of Pichavaram Mangroves in India

The study was carried out in MGR Thittu village in the vicinity of the Pichavaram mangroves in the Cuddalore district of the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The objective of the study was the economic valuation of the Pichavaram mangroves for the villagers of MGR Thittu, using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) for estimating the indirect use values of the mangroves. In estimating the Willingness To Pay (WTP) for conservation and management of the mangroves within the CVM framework, about 73% of the respondents from MGR Thittu were willing to pay for the conservation and management of the Pichavaram mangroves. Seventy five per cent of the female respondents interviewed were willing to pay, in comparison to 71% of the male respondents who were willing to pay. This brings into focus the fact that women along with men can be very dynamic conservationists and managers of natural resources in the community-based management process.
Relationship between vitreous interleukin-6 levels and vitreous particles findings on widefield optical coherence tomography in posterior uveitis

Purpose To investigate relationship between vitreous interleukin-6 levels and vitreous particles findings on widefield optical coherence tomography in posterior uveitis. Methods This retrospective study examined vitreous inflammatory cells (hyperreflective particles) of posterior uveitis on widefield optical coherence tomography (WOCT). We examined the number of hyperreflective particles (possibility of vitreous inflammatory cells) observed on WOCT and the correlations with interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. The relationship between vitreous IL-6 levels and image findings from WOCT from 37 eyes (34 patients) with posterior uveitis were analyzed. Mean patient age was 63.4±15.7 years. (Mean± standard deviation) IL-6 concentration in vitreous humor was 79.9±7380.9 pg/mL Uveitis was infectious in 9 cases and non-infectious in 28 cases with multiplex polymerase chain reaction system. We measured the number and size of vitreous cells in the posterior vitreous, defined as the space between the upper vitreous and the internal limiting membrane on WOCT at the macular, upper, and lower regions. Image analysis software was also used for cell counting. Results A strong correlation was seen between human and software counts. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (PCC) was performed to compare categorial variables (on macular +0.866; upper cavity +0.713; lower cavity +0.568; total vitreous cavity +0.834; P<0.001 each). IL-6 levels correlated with both vitreous cell counts and cell counts observed on macular WOCT (human-counted group +0.339, P = 0.04; software-counted group +0.349, P = 0.03). Infectious uveitis showed higher IL-6 levels (P = 0.016) and high cell counts compared with non-infectious uveitis (P = 0.04). Conclusions Vitreous number of hyperreflective particles (cells) findings on WOCTcorrelated well with human and software cell counts. Vitreous cells findings on WOCT also correlated with IL-6 concentrations on macular.
Public support for smoke-free private indoor and public outdoor areas in the Netherlands: A trend analysis from 2018–2022

INTRODUCTION In addition to smoke-free policies in indoor public and workplaces, governments increasingly implement smoke-free policies at beaches, in parks, playgrounds and private cars (‘novel smoke-free policies’). An important element in the implementation of such policies is public support. In the context of the ambition of the Netherlands to reach a smoke-free generation by 2040, we investigated temporal changes in public support for novel smoke-free policies. METHODS We analyzed annual cross-sectional questionnaires in a representative sample of the Dutch population from 2018 to 2022. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to model public support for each smoke-free policy area as a function of time (calendar year), smoking status, gender, and socioeconomic status. Interaction terms were added for time with smoking status and with socioeconomic status. RESULTS A total of 5582 participant responses were included. Between 2018 and 2022, support increased most for smoke-free policies regarding train platforms (+16%), theme parks (+12%), beaches (+10%), and terraces (+10%). In 2022, average support was higher than 65% for all categories of smoke-free places and highest for private cars with children (91%). Regression analyses indicated significant increases in support over time within each category of smoke-free places (adjusted odds ratio, AOR between 1.09 and 1.17 per year), except smoke-free private cars with children (AOR=0.97; 95% CI: 0.89–1.05). Regardless of smoking status, support was high for places where children often go. CONCLUSIONS Support for novel smoke-free places in the Netherlands is high and increasing, in particular for places frequented by children. This indicates the potential to implement such measures in the Netherlands.
Commentary on ‘Liver resection versus transarterial chemoembolisation for the treatment of intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis’

We read with great interest the article entitled ‘ Liver resection versus transarterial chemoembolisation for the treatment of intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis ’ published in the recent issue of the International Journal of Surgery [1] . The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare overall survival after hepatectomy with transarterial chemoembolization in patients with intermediate-stage hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC). The authors concluded that in patients with intermediate-stage HCC, hepatectomy is superior to trans-arterial chemoembolization in terms of overall survival. We
Research Inter-Relationship Between a Transcriptional Regulator of Flagella Genes cj0440c and Thiamine Metabolic Pathway in Campylobacter jejuni

di ﬀ erentially under the in ﬂ uence of various antibiotics including erythromycin, tylosin, azithromycin, gentamicin, etimicin, enro ﬂ oxacin, gati ﬂ oxacin, tetracycline, and tigecycline. The analysis showed that the cj0440c protein did not catalyze the degradation of thiamine. In conclusion, the study aids in the understanding of the inter-relationship between the regulatory mechanism of ﬂ agella genes and the thiamine metabolic pathway.