Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of an App to Support Older Adults with Wounds

In this paper we present an evaluation study on project "Virtuous Cycles of Well-Being", aimed at exploring technology-based wound-care services, solutions and products to support older adults in managing wounds more independently. The aim was to evaluate opinion and use of the app by wound care service users. Nine participants were recruited with an average age of 65. A semi-structured interview methodology was employed following researcher demonstration and participant interaction with the app.
Efficacy and safety of human papillomavirus vaccine for primary prevention of cervical cancer: A review of evidence from phase III trials and national programs

Abstract The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines have been widely introduced in the national immunization programs in most of the medium and high income countries following endorsement from national and international advisory bodies. HPV vaccine is unique and its introduction is challenging in many ways – it is the first vaccine developed to prevent any cancer, the vaccine is gender specific, it targets adolescent females who are difficult to reach by any health intervention programs. It is not unusual for such a vaccine to face scepticism and reservations not only from lay public but also from professionals in spite of the clinical trial results convincingly and consistently proving their efficacy and safety. Over the last few years millions of doses of the HPV vaccine have been administered round the world and the efficacy and safety data have started coming from the real life programs. A comprehensive cervical cancer control program involving HPV vaccination of the adolescent girls and screening of the adult women has been proved to be the most cost‑effective approach to reduce the burden of cervical cancer. The present article discusses the justification of HPV vaccination in the backdrop of natural history of cervical cancer, the mechanism of action of the vaccines, efficacy and safety data from phase III randomized controlled trials as well as from the national immunization programs of various countries.
Gender Dysphoria – Prevalence and Co-Morbidities in an Irish Adult Population

Introduction: Gender dysphoria (GD) is a condition in which there is a marked incongruence between an individual’s psychological perception of his/her sex and their biological phenotype. Gender identity disorder was officially renamed “gender dysphoria” in the DSM-V in 2013. The prevalence and demographics of GD vary according to geographical location and has not been well-documented in Ireland. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 218 patients with suspected or confirmed GD referred to our endocrine service for consideration of hormonal therapy (HT) between 2005 and early 2014. We documented their demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment during the study period. Results: The prevalence of GD in the Irish population was 1:10,154 male-to-female (MTF) and 1:27,668 female-to-male (FTM), similar to reported figures in Western Europe. 159 of the patients were MTF and 59 were FTM, accounting for 72.9% and 27.1% of the cohort, respectively. The rate of referral has increased year-on-year, with 55 patients referred in 2013 versus 6 in 2005. Mean ages were 32.6 years (MTF) and 32.2 years (FTM). 22 of the patients were married and 41 had children, with 2 others having pregnant partners. 37.6% were referred by a psychologist, with the remainder evenly divided between GPs and psychiatric services. There were low rates of coexistent medical illness although psychiatric conditions were more prevalent, depression being a factor in 34.4% of patients. 5.9% of patients did not attend a mental health professional. 74.3% are currently on HT, and 9.17% have had gender reassignment surgery (GRS). Regret following hormonal or surgical treatment was in line with other Western European countries (1.83%). Conclusion: The incidence of diagnosis and referral of GD in Ireland is increasing. This brings with it multiple social, health, and financial implications. Clear and accessible treatment pathways supported by mental health professionals is essential.
High Efficiency 5W/10W 32 - 38GHz Power Amplifier MMICs Utilizing Advanced 0.15µm GaN HEMT Technology

This paper describes the design and measured performance of two high efficiency Ka-band 32 - 38 GHz power amplifier MMICs fabricated with an advanced 0. 15μm Gallium Nitride (GaN) HEMT technology process. The process features a 50μm thin Silicon Carbide (SiC) substrate and compact transistor layouts with individual source via (ISV) grounding. The designs utilize an optimum transistor arrangement with both single-ended and balanced approaches. The 2-stage single-ended power amplifier MMIC demonstrates 4.5 - 5.2 W of output power with 25 - 34% PAE over 32 - 38 GHz band. For the second MMIC, two 3-stage power amplifiers are combined to achieve 9.0 - 11.2 W output power with 30 - 35% PAE over the same frequency range. A benchmark of 1.45W/mm2 FOM (output power to die area ratio) with high efficiency is reported at this frequency band.
Prevalence of clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease and other dementing disorders

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dementia in an Italian population using a door-to-door 2-phase design. As part of a social and health survey, we administered the Hodkinson abbreviated mental test to all persons over age 59 residing in the Commune of Appignano on January 1, 1987 (N = 778). We then investigated all subjects scoring 7 or less on the cognitive test following a standardized diagnostic protocol. We found 48 patients affected by dementia, yielding a crude prevalence ratio (cases per 100 population over age 59) of 6.2; prevalence ratios were 2.6 for Alzheimer's disease, 2.2 for multi-infarct dementia, 0.8 for mixed dementia, 0.4 for secondary dementia, and 0.3 for unspecified dementia. Age- and sex-specific prevalence ratios increased steeply with age and were consistently higher in women for Alzheimer's disease and in men for dementia of all types and multi-infarct dementia. Alzheimer's disease was slightly more frequent than multi-infarct dementia; however, the most common type of dementia varied across age groups. Most cases of Alzheimer's disease were sporadic and had a late age of onset. Comparison with other populations suggests that dementia of all types is as frequent in Appignano as elsewhere, and that Alzheimer's disease might be more frequent in rural than in urban populations.
Effective techniques for blind phase offset estimation in LDPC coded systems

We consider the problem of carrier phase offset estimation and propose two blind estimation techniques for Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) coded systems. The first technique is applied to a Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) modulation while the second is applied to higher order modulations. These techniques are based on the calculation and minimization of functions of the Log-Likelihood Ratios (LLR) of the syndrome elements obtained according to the parity check matrix of the error correcting code. In the case of a BPSK modulation, the global minimum of the cost function is obtained using the Gradient descent method while for higher order modulations, we use the Simulated Annealing algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed techniques significantly outperform many phase estimation methods and are very powerful even at low signal-to-noise ratios.
A rat model of slow Wallerian degeneration (WldS) with improved preservation of neuromuscular synapses

The slow Wallerian degeneration phenotype, WldS, which delays Wallerian degeneration and axon pathology for several weeks, has so far been studied only in mice. A rat model would have several advantages. First, rats model some human disorders better than mice. Second, the larger body size of rats facilitates more complex surgical manipulations. Third, rats provide a greater yield of tissue for primary culture and biochemical investigations. We generated transgenic WldS rats expressing the Ube4b/Nmnat1 chimeric gene in the central and peripheral nervous system. As in WldS mice, their axons survive up to 3 weeks after transection and remain functional for at least 1 week. Protection of axotomized nerve terminals is stronger than in mice, particularly in one line, where 95–100% of neuromuscular junctions remained intact and functional after 5 days. Furthermore, the loss of synaptic phenotype with age was much less in rats than in mice. Thus, the slow Wallerian degeneration phenotype can be transferred to another mammalian species and synapses may be more effectively preserved after axotomy in species with longer axons.
Tailoring recommendations to groups of users: a graph walk-based approach

With the rapid popularity of smart devices, users are easily and conveniently accessing rich multimedia content. Consequentially, the increasing need for recommender services, from both individual users and groups of users, has arisen. In this paper, we present a graph-based approach to a recommender system that can make recommendations most notably to groups of users. From rating information, we first model a signed graph that contains both positive and negative links between users and items. On this graph we examine two distinct random walks to separately quantify the degree to which a group of users would like or dislike items. We then employ a differential ranking approach for tailoring recommendations to the group. Our empirical evaluations on the MovieLens dataset demonstrate that the proposed group recommendation method performs better than existing alternatives. We also demonstrate the feasibility of Folkommender for smartphones.
Discrete differential error metric for surface simplification

In this paper we propose a new discrete differential error metric for surface simplification. Many surface simplification algorithms have been developed in order to produce rapidly high quality approximations of polygonal models, and the quadric error metric based on the distance error is the most popular and successful error metric so far Even though such distance based error metrics give visually pleasing results with a reasonably fast speed, it is hard to measure an accurate geometric error on a highly curved and thin region since the error measured by the distance metric on such a region is usually small and causes a loss of visually important features. To overcome such a drawback, we define a new error metric based on the theory of local differential geometry in such a way that the first and the second order discrete differentials approximated locally on a discrete polygonal surface are integrated into the usual distance error metric. The benefits of our error metric are preservation of sharp feature regions after a drastic simplification, small geometric errors, and fast computation comparable to the existing methods.
Detection of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus in Seborrheic Keratosis

Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is the most common benign cutaneous neoplasm. A subset shows increased p16 expression. Since SK shares several features with verruca vulgaris, e.g., increased p16 expression, human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been suggested as possible causal agents. However, a relevant association could not be established between HPV and SK. In the present study we aimed to investigate the presence of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) in relation to p16 expression in SK. P16 expression was investigated using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Presence of MCPyV was assessed in 23 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples of SK by molecular techniques (i.e., PCR and FISH) and IHC. 16/23 SK showed strong to moderate p16 expression. 6/23 of SK were MCPyV positive by PCR which was confirmed by FISH. Of interest, two samples with strong FISH signals also showed MCPyV expression as tested by IHC. Samples with weaker signal intensity were negative in IHC. P16 expression was not associated with the presence of MCPyV. Concluding, the detection of MCPyV DNA by PCR and FISH in SK reflects the widespread prevalence of MCPyV in the skin. However, low detection rates exclude MCPyV as a major pathogenic factor in SK, most likely representing a coincidental infection. P16 IHC does not appear as useful adjunctive surrogate marker for the presence of MCPyV in SK.
Selective loss of glial glutamate transporter GLT‐1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The pathogenesis of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is unknown, but defects in synaptosomal high‐affinity glutamate transport have been observed. In experimental models, chronic loss of glutamate transport can produce a loss of motor neurons and, therefore, could contribute to the disease. With the recent cloning of three glutamate transporters, i.e., EAAC1, GLT‐1, and GLAST, it has become possible to determine if the loss of glutamate transport in ALS is subtype specific. We developed C‐terminal, antioligopeptide antibodies that were specific for each glutamate transporter. EAAC1 is selective for neurons, while GLT‐1 and GLAST are selective for astroglia. Tissue from various brain regions of ALS patients and controls were examined by immunoblot or immunocytochemical methods for each transporter subtype. All tissue was matched for age and postmortem delay. GLT‐1 immunoreactive protein was severely decreased in ALS, both in motor cortex (71% decrease compared with control) and in spinal cord. In approximately a quarter of the ALS motor cortex specimens, the loss of GLT‐1 protein (90% decrease from control) was dramatic. By contrast, there was only a modest loss (20% decrease from control) of immunoreactive protein EAAC1 in ALS motor cortex, and there was no appreciable change in GLAST. The minor loss of EAAC1 could be secondary to loss of cortical motor neurons. As a comparison, glial fibrillary acidic protein, which is selectively localized to astroglia, was not changed in ALS motor cortex. Because there is no loss of astroglia in ALS, the dramatic abnormalities in GLT‐1 could reflect a primary defect in GLT‐1 protein, a secondary loss due to down regulation, or other toxic processes.
Chimeric hepatitis B virus core particles with parts or copies of the hepatitis C virus core protein

Either parts or multiple copies of the core gene of hepatitis C virus (HCV) were fused to the 3' terminus of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core gene with 34 codons removed. As many as four copies of HCV core protein (720 amino acids) were fused to the carboxy terminus of truncated HBV core protein (149 amino acids) without preventing the assembly of HBV core particles. Chimeric core particles were sandwiched between monoclonal antibody to HBV core and that to HCV core, thereby indicating that antigenic determinants of both HBV and HCV cores were accessible on them. Proteolytic digestion deprived chimeric core particles of the antigenicity for the HCV core without affecting that of the HBV core, confirming the surface exposure of HCV core determinants. The density of HCV core determinants on chimeric core particles increased as copies of fused HCV core protein were increased. Hybrid core particles with multiple HCV core determinants would be instrumental as an antigen probe for detecting class-specific antibodies to the HCV core in patients with acute and chronic hepatitis C and for simultaneous detection of antibodies to HBV core and those to HCV core in donated blood.
Montmorency cherry juice reduces muscle damage caused by intensive strength exercise.

PURPOSE Montmorency cherries contain high levels of polyphenolic compounds including flavonoids and anthocyanins possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated whether the effects of intensive unilateral leg exercise on oxidative damage and muscle function were attenuated by consumption of a Montmorency cherry juice concentrate using a crossover experimental design. METHODS Ten well-trained male overnight-fasted athletes completed two trials of 10 sets of 10 single-leg knee extensions at 80% one-repetition maximum. Trials were separated by 2 wk, and alternate legs were used in each trial. Participants consumed each supplement (CherryActive® (CA) or isoenergetic fruit concentrate (FC)) for 7 d before and 48 h after exercise. Knee extension maximum voluntary contractions (MVC) were performed before, immediately after, and 24 and 48 h after the damaging exercise. Venous blood samples were collected at each time point, and serum was analyzed for creatine kinase (CK) activity, nitrotyrosine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, total antioxidant capacity, and protein carbonyls (PC). Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA were used for statistical analysis of the data. RESULTS MVC force recovery was significantly faster (24 h: CA 90.9% ± 4.2% of initial MVC vs FC 84.9% ± 3.4% of initial MVC; 48 h: CA 92.9% ± 3.3% of initial MVC vs FC 88.5% ± 2.9% of initial MVC (mean ± SEM); P < 0.05) after CA than FC consumption. Only serum CK and PC increased significantly from baseline, peaking 24 h after exercise (P < 0.001). The exercise-induced increase in CK activity was not different between trials. However, both the percentage (24 h after: CA 23.8% ± 2.9% vs FC 82.7% ± 11.7%; P = 0.013) and absolute (24 h after: CA 0.31 ± 0.03 nmol·mg(-1) protein vs FC 0.60 ± 0.08 nmol·mg(-1) protein; P = 0.079) increase in PC was lower in CA than FC trials. CONCLUSIONS Montmorency cherry juice consumption improved the recovery of isometric muscle strength after intensive exercise perhaps owing to the attenuation of the oxidative damage induced by the damaging exercise.
Towards true process descriptions interoperability

The article describes a part of our research in the area of (business) process modeling, analysis and execution. It describes the current state of process languages and standards. It concentrates on the process model interoperability and portability problems, which are caused because of huge number of process modeling standards, which often do not even target the same conceptual level of process modeling. It provides an idea how to bring together those standards, using process concepts mapping into Petri nets and incorporating the usage of process patterns. Transformation to strictly formal process languages has a potential to prove itself as a fair solution with the following advantages: the number of mappings among different process languages is reduced and the process model can be analyzed using proven Petri net or general graph algorithms. The development of the approach is still in early phase. Mapping rules to/from process patterns are not strictly defined, neither trivial, therefore, they will be the main focus of our future research
Risk factors for prolonged length of stay after major elective surgery.

OBJECTIVE Length of stay (LOS) is an important outcome as a marker of resource consumption. Determining which factors increase LOS may provide information on reducing costs and improving the delivery of care. The purpose of this study was to determine the independent association of intraoperative process of care and postoperative events with prolonged LOS after adjusting for preoperative severity of illness in patients undergoing major elective surgery. METHODS Cases representing 11 elective operations from the National VA Surgical Quality Improvement Program were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The outcome, prolonged LOS, was defined as an LOS greater than or equal to the 75th percentile (in days) for each operation. Hierarchical modeling was used to assess the independent association of groups of variables (preoperative patient characteristics, intraoperative process of care, and postoperative adverse events) with prolonged LOS. RESULTS For the 11 operations explored, there were 23,919 cases. Common preoperative variables associated with prolonged LOS were functional status, American Society of Anesthesiology class, and age. The most predictive intraoperative and postoperative variables included intraoperative blood transfusion, operative time, return to the operating room, and the number of complications after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Prolonged LOS is associated with preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors. Although preoperative factors were independently associated with a prolonged LOS, the factors generating the highest risks for a prolonged LOS were the intraoperative process of care and postoperative adverse events. To reduce costs, efforts should be made to improve the intraoperative process of care and to minimize postoperative complications.
Pneumoparotitis as a complication of long‐term oronasal positive airway pressure for sleep apnea

Parotid swelling is rarely caused by pneumoparotitis from retrograde insufflation of air into Stensen's duct. Previous reports have identified occupational exposures, self‐induced habits, exercise, spirometry, and short‐term positive pressure airway ventilation as causes of salivary duct insufflation.
Investigating Evaluation Measures in Ant Colony Algorithms for Learning Decision Tree Classifiers

Classification is a data mining task where the goal is to build, from labeled cases, a model that can be used to predict the class of unlabeled cases. Ant-Tree-Miner is a decision tree induction algorithm that is based on the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) meta-heuristic. Ant-Tree-Miner_M is a recently introduced adaptation of the ACO algorithm that learns multi-tree classification models. A multi-tree model consists of multiple decision trees, one for each class value, where each class-based decision tree is responsible for discriminating between its class value and all other values present in the class domain (one vs. All). In this paper, we investigate the use of 10 different classification quality evaluation measures in Ant-Tree-Miner_M, which are used for both candidate model evaluation and model pruning. Our experimental results, using 40 popular benchmark datasets, identify several quality functions that significantly improve on the simple Accuracy quality function that was previously used in Ant-Tree-MinerM.
A Peptidic Unconjugated GRP78/BiP Ligand Modulates the Unfolded Protein Response and Induces Prostate Cancer Cell Death

The molecular chaperone GRP78/BiP is a key regulator of protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum, and it plays a pivotal role in cancer cell survival and chemoresistance. Inhibition of its function has therefore been an important strategy for inhibiting tumor cell growth in cancer therapy. Previous efforts to achieve this goal have used peptides that bind to GRP78/BiP conjugated to pro-drugs or cell-death-inducing sequences. Here, we describe a peptide that induces prostate tumor cell death without the need of any conjugating sequences. This peptide is a sequence derived from the cochaperone Bag-1. We have shown that this sequence interacts with and inhibits the refolding activity of GRP78/BiP. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that it modulates the unfolded protein response in ER stress resulting in PARP and caspase-4 cleavage. Prostate cancer cells stably expressing this peptide showed reduced growth and increased apoptosis in in vivo xenograft tumor models. Amino acid substitutions that destroyed binding of the Bag-1 peptide to GRP78/BiP or downregulation of the expression of GRP78 compromised the inhibitory effect of this peptide. This sequence therefore represents a candidate lead peptide for anti-tumor therapy.