Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-management of Type 2 Diabetes among Mainland Chinese Immigrants in Canada- A Qualitative Study

Self-management of Type 2 Diabetes among Mainland Chinese Immigrants in Canada: A Qualitative Study Youyou (Esther) Huang Advisor: Dr. Judy Sheeshka University of Guelph The current study used phenomenology to explore how Mainland Chinese immigrants with type 2 diabetes engage in the self-management of diabetes in Canada. A total of 18 participants were interviewed (8 were male and 10 were female). The average age of the participants was 50.7 years old. Overall, participants were highly motivated in their diabetes management. They were seeking information on how to manage their diabetes from both formal and informal channels. The majority of them didn’t include traditional Chinese medication in their treatment due to the negative views they had towards it. They had a fear of western medication because of the possible side effects associated with it; however, many of them had to take medication when their condition was not managed with lifestyle intervention alone. Participants were in favour of lifestyle intervention, including diet management and physical activity. They changed from mindless eating to mindful eating, specifically, reducing their overall food intake with reduced carbohydrate, protein and increased vegetable intake. They acknowledged the importance of physical activity in diabetes management, but encountered more barriers in achieving the desired level of physical activity. Glucose level was used as a biofeedback to the changes they made in western medication, nutrition therapy, and physical activity. Balance and control were achieved as they have learned to manage their condition while living a “normal” life.
Perceptions of Extended Time Accommodations Among Postsecondary Students With Disabilities

ABSTRACT Students with disabilities often take tests using extended time accommodations, which provide students with additional time to complete tests in order to reduce the impact of their disability on their scores. At the postsecondary level, students with disabilities must take the initiative to seek and request accommodations, and their perceptions of them likely influence which, if any, accommodations they use when taking a test. Through semi-structured interviews with postsecondary students with disabilities, the current study identified students’ perceptions about extended time accommodations, including the frequency with which they use their extended time, factors that impact their usage (e.g., test format, disability symptoms), and obstacles they face in obtaining and utilizing their accommodations (e.g., instructor-related concerns, social ramifications). It is hoped that these findings assist disability service providers (DSPs), psychologists, and students with disabilities in making more informed decisions regarding the use and provision of extended time accommodations.
Ultrastructural and molecular characteristics of Setaria species based on sequence analysis of genomic and mitochondrial gene markers in cattle (Bos taurus) and buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Iran

The aim of the present study was to investigate the ultrastructural characteristics and genetic diversity of Setaria parasites from cattle (n=696) and buffalo (n= 522) from Khuzestan province of Iran and to compare them with available data from other countries/regions by sequences analysis of the 12S Rdna and the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (cox1) genes. Based on SEM (Scanning Electron Micrographs) and light microscopy, all the isolated worms were identified as Setaria labiatopapillosa. Our results showed that 12.3% of cattle were infected with Setaria spp. , while no infection was found in buffaloes. The maximal prevalence was observed in cattle younger than one year old. The prevalence rate was not influenced by the season of the year or gender. Comparison of the obtained sequences from Setaria with sequences of Setaria spp. from GenBank confirmed that all samples belong to the species S. labiatopapillosa. The phylogenetic tree constructed using cox1 and 12S rDNA genes of several other filarial nematodes showed that the Khuzestan isolates share a common branch with S. labiatopapillosa from other regions. Intra-specific variation was observed in 12S rDNA but not in cox1. In conclusion, our results indicating that S. labiatopapillosa is the main species involved in the spread of setarial infection in south-west of Iran and the identified worms corresponded mostly to worms that reported previously throughout other continents.
Immediate benefits of Om chanting on blood pressure and pulse rate in uncomplicated moderate hypertensive subjects

Background: Chronic stress plays major role in the development of hypertension (HTN) in young-aged and middle-aged adults in the present scenario of fast lifestyle. Such patients can be treated better by stress reduction techniques such as yoga and meditation with or without medication as per individual case. People are aware of many pranayama and meditation techniques, but there is no standard and scientifically proven advice to the patients for reduction of blood pressure (B.P). Aims and Objectives: In our study, we have tried to study the immediate effect of 5 min Om chanting on heart rate and B.P in uncomplicated moderate hypertensives. Materials and Methods: The study group comprises 50 hypertensive subjects (male and female) between the age group of 4060 years who were already on drugs but demonstrated poor control of B.P. Results: The significant reduction of 14/05 mmHg in B.P and 6 beats of pulse rate was observed immediately after 5 min of Om chanting. Conclusions: Hence, Om chanting can also be added as supportive therapy with drugs in mild or moderate cases of HTN. Om chanting can be suggested as daily practice at least for 5 min for the better control of B.P along with regular medication.
Feature Selection Methods in Image-Based Screening for the Detection of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in First-Contact Hospitals

In this paper, results of dimension reduction in feature space for thyroid ultrasound images using the heuristic identification of noisy variables, testing the significance of correlation coefficients and the method of Hellwig index of information capacity, have been compared. The best results were achieved using the Hellwig method. It enabled us to choose only 3 features from a large set of 283 discriminant ones. Classifiers built on the basis of this reduced set of features have the highest classification sensitivity (0,82 ) and the highest classification specificity (0,83 ) in comparison to other reduced datasets that we used in our research. Results showed that the Hellwig method can be used as an effective process for dimension reduction in feature space in classification of thyroid ultrasound images.
Incidence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in a large prospective cohort of U.S. nurses

ABSTRACT Background: The incidence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), the rates of both under-diagnosis and over-diagnosis, and the nature of the onset of the condition have not been assessed in large studies of health professionals. Purpose: To determine the cumulative incidence of ME/CFS in a large population of health professionals, to examine the nature of the onset of the illness, and to estimate the frequency of both over-diagnosis and under-diagnosis of ME/CFS. Methods: We sent an email questionnaire to participants in the Nurses’ Health Study II (NHS II), a large prospective cohort of female nurses. Forty-two thousand three hundred and ninety-four women completed the questionnaire, which included the 1994 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for ME/CFS. Results: One-hundred and two women (240 per 100,000 surveyed) developed an illness that met criteria for ME/CFS between 1989 and 2009. The onset of ME/CFS was gradual in 40.6%, sudden (following flu-like illness or other precipitating events) in 18.8%, followed emotional or physical trauma in 32.3%, and was uncertain in the rest. Under-diagnosis was common: only 15 (15%) of the women who met criteria for ME/CFS reported having been diagnosed. Over-diagnosis also was common: four times as many subjects had been diagnosed with ME/CFS by community doctors as actually met criteria. The distribution of symptoms was not different in comparing cases with a sudden onset to those with a gradual onset. Conclusions: In this large cohort of female nurses, we found a low cumulative incidence of ME/CFS. Over-diagnosis and under-diagnosis were high, even in this medically sophisticated population.
Analiza emocija u iskazima preživjelih iz sustava logora Gospić-Jadovno-Pag u ljeto 1941. godine

U ovom radu autori istražuju emocije preživjelih logoraša iz sustava logora Gospić-Jadovno-Pag u kojem su u ljeto 1941. ubijani ljudi srpskog i židovskog etniciteta te komunisti i ostali politički protivnici ustaškog režima. Pristup proučavanja emocija bazira se na svjedočanstvima koja je objavio povjesničar Đuro Zatezalo. U radu se prvo govori o analizi emocija u historiji s naročitim osvrtom na svjedočanstva preživjelih kao poseban i izuzetno važan izvor u studijama Holokausta i genocida. Autori također problematiziraju intenciju zapisivača, sjećanje i emocije kao aspekte koje povjesničar koji analizira svjedočanstva mora imati na umu. Daje se i opis djelovanja rasnih zakona Nezavisne Države Hrvatske i logora smrti Gospić-Jadovno-Pag, nakon čega se sustavno analiziraju emotivi izneseni u svjedočanstvima. Pritom se fokus istraživanja usmjerava na emocije straha, strepnje, nade i radosti. Također se problematizira odnos sjećanja i emocija te način na koji protok vremena može izmijeniti intenzitet i sadržaj emocije, što može biti vrijedan metodološki prilog proučavateljima povijesti genocida i oralne povijesti uopće.
Eletromiografia de superfície em músculos inspiratórios de indivíduos adultos e idosos: revisão sistemática

Introduction: Electromyography (EMG) contributes to the evaluation of disorders and pulmonary changes, since impairments in the respiratory muscles function are associated to the development of diseases. There are wide variety of methods and protocols applied to collect and analyze EMG obtained from respiratory muscles, demonstrating the absence of padronization. Objective: To identify the most commonly procedures applied to record surface EMG (sEMG) of inspiratory muscles in adults and elderly individuals, through a systematic review. Method: Studies published from January 1995 until March 2014 were searched through the keywords (breathing OR respiratory OR inspiratory) AND (electromyography OR EMG) AND (muscle activity OR muscular activity OR muscle activation OR muscular activation OR evaluation OR assessment OR effect) in the following electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, LILACS, EBSCO and Embase. Only studies evaluating sEMG in inspiratory muscles were included. Results: We identified 5410 titles and 64 studies, published in English, were included. A great variability of methods applied both record and process/analyze data were found. In general, the description presented by the studies is poor. Conclusion: The most commonly procedures applied were identified and the results obtained did not allow the synthesis of practical/clinical evidences which allow provide immediate recommendations for standardization of the methods to apply sEMG in inspiratory muscles. Thus, methodological studies with objective comparisons are fundamental to the advancement toward standardization.
Wealth, Savings, and Returns Over the Life Cycle: The Role of Education

This paper studies the effect of education on wealth and wealth accumulation over the life cycle. The analysis relies on an administrative panel that reports educational attainment and detailed information on assets and liabilities of Swedish residents. To identify the causal effect of education, I employ three alternative identification strategies which rely on controlling for predetermined family background and ability, within-siblings variation in educational attainment, and a compulsory schooling reform. I find that education has a positive, large, and long-lasting effect on net worth. I further show that it affects all balance sheet components and that these effects vary over the life cycle. Finally, I document that the differences in wealth are driven by both higher savings and higher portfolio returns among the more educated, although their relative importance varies over time. My results have implications for theoretical work on optimal consumption-saving behavior and portfolio choice, as well as for fiscal and social security policy. Overall, the findings suggest that considering only wage returns to education greatly understates its economic implications.
SOP Spontan bakterielle Peritonitis bei Leberzirrhose

Wege H Bakterielle Infektionen, insbesondere eine spontan bakterielle Peritonitis (SBP), sind der häufigste Auslöser für eine Dekompensation bei Leberzirrhose oder ein akut-auf-chronisches Leberversagen. Eine sofortige diagnostische Parazentese mit Zählung der neutrophilen Granulozyten, eine angepasste antibiotische Therapie und ggf. die prophylaktische Humanalbumin-Gabe sind entscheidend, um weitere mortalitätssteigernde Komplikationen zu verhindern.
A case of primary biliary cirrhosis and rheumatoid arthritis in a woman with a partial Di-George syndrome

Abstract Di-George syndrome (DGS) is amongst the commonest genetic disorders caused by microdeletions in the long arm of chromosome 22, resulting in a phenotypically similar syndrome. It ultimately affects many organs and systems leading mainly to cardiac malformations, hypocalcaemia and thymic impairment. Dysfunction of the thymus was associated with immune dysfunction. The association between DGS and autoimmune diseases like primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is under investigation. PBC is an autoimmune disease affecting the intrahepatic ducts leading to progressive cholestasis and end-stage liver disease. RA is an autoimmune chronic inflammatory disease of multiple joints. PBC and RA rarely co-exist (frequency 1.8–5.6%). Genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors play a role. In this case report, we describe the unique case of a 22-year female with a partial DGS who was initially diagnosed with PBC and a year after with RA. It is early to answer the possible reasons of the co-occurrence of the three diseases in the same patient; nevertheless, we suggest infections as a trigger.
Feasibility Demonstration of Spatial Channel Networking Using SDM/WDM Hierarchical Approach for Peta-b/s Optical Transport

This article reports on a proof of concept demonstration of a recently proposed spatial channel network (SCN) that was conducted over an SCN testbed that comprises low-loss hierarchical optical cross-connect (HOXC) prototypes and four-core multicore fiber links. The HOXC prototypes used in the testbed are based on sub-matrix-switches and core selective switches both implemented with commercially available discrete optical switches. Using these two types of HOXC prototypes, the spatial channel networking including spatial bypassing, spatial add/drop and spectral grooming, spatial-lane change, and spatial-channel (SCh) protection is successfully demonstrated for SChs carrying 100-Gb/s–900-Gb/s optical channels.
Quality of investigation and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia - a comparative study between departments of internal medicine in NU-sjukvården and swedish departments of infectious diseases

Community-acquired pneumonia is a common disease which yearly affects 1 of 100 persons and it is the most common infection diagnosis in all in-patient hospital care. The swedish society of infectious diseases has set up a number of targets regarding the quality of pneumonia care in departments of infectious diseases. The targets means that CRB65-score (=a prognostic tool that takes into account the presence of confusion, the respiratory rate, blood pressure and age) should be calculated and noted for at least 50 % of patiens with suspected pneumonia, blood cultures and airway cultures should be taken from all these patients and at least 75 % of the patients should have PcV or PcG as initial treatment. The result of target accomplishment is documented in a national quality register (NQPR). The majority of patients who is treated for community-acquired pneumonia in inpatient hospital care is however treated in departments of internal medicine. Therefore, it is interesting to investigate the target accomplishment in these departments and compare the results with the results from departments of infectious diseases. The aim with this master thesis in medicine is to compare patients who have been treated for community-acquired pneumonia in departments of internal medicine with patientes who have been treated in departments of infectious diseases, with respect to antibiotic treatment, the use of CRB65score for therapy choise and the use of cultures. 100 medical records from patients treated for community-acquired pneumonia in departments of internal medicine in NU-sjukvården during 2012 were examined and the results were compared with data from the national pneumonia register. The result shows that CRB65-score was not mentioned in any enrollment record, and enough information to calculate the CRB65-score was missing in 51 % of the records. Blood cultures were taken in 83 % (91.3 % in the NQPR) and airway cultures were taken in 21 % of the patients (76.3 % in the NQPR). 74 % received PcV or PcG as initial antibiotic, which is a higher number than in the NQPR. Conclusion: The target to treat at least 75 % with PcV or PcG was almost achieved in the departments of internal medicine, as 74 % got these antibiotics. The other targets were not achieved neither in departments of internal medicine, nor in departments of infectious diseases.
Spinal Navigation for Cervical Pedicle Screws: Surgical Pearls and Pitfalls

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Objective: We intend to evaluate the accuracy and safety of cervical pedicle screw (CPS) insertion under O-arm-based 3-dimensional (3D) navigation guidance. Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent CPS insertion under intraoperative O-arm-based 3D navigation during the years 2009 to 2018. The radiological accuracy of CPS placement was evaluated using their intraoperative scans. Results: A total of 297 CPSs were inserted under navigation. According to Gertzbein classification, 229 screws (77.1%) were placed without any pedicle breach (grade 0). Of the screws that did breach the pedicle, 51 screws (17.2%) had a minor breach of less than 2 mm (grade 1), 13 screws (4.4%) had a breach of between 2 and 4 mm (grade 2), and 4 screws (1.3%) had a complete breach of 4 mm or more (grade 3). Six screws were revised intraoperatively. There was no incidence of neurovascular injury in this series of patients. 59 of the 68 breaches (86.8%) were found to perforate laterally, and the remaining 9 (13.2%) medially. It was noted that the C5 cervical level had the highest breach rate of 33.3%. Conclusions: O-arm-based 3D navigation can improve the accuracy and safety of CPS insertion. The overall breach rate in this study was 22.9%. Despite these breaches, there was no incidence of neurovascular injury or need for revision surgery for screw malposition.
User-friendly R functions for the application of the permutation-based d-sep test, clustering-based path analysis, permutation-based path analysis and a parametric bootstrap procedure dedicated to the handling of pairwise matrices in path analysis.

User-friendly R functions for the application of the permutation-based d-sep test, clustering-based path analysis, permutation-based path analysis and a parametric bootstrap procedure dedicated to the handling of pairwise matrices in path analysis. The permutation-based d-sep test and clustering-based path analysis assess the relative and absolute fit of causal models, clustering-based path analysis and permutation-based path analysis provide corrected p-values for path coefficients and the parametric bootstrap procedure computes confidence intervals for the path coefficients.
Assessment of the knowledge and Practice of Blood Sugar Measurement Technique among Staff Nurses of a Selected Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal

The investigators conducted an explorative survey to assess the knowledge and practice of blood sugar measurement technique among staff nurses of Intensive Therapy Units (ITU s) of Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences in Kolkata. 80 staff nurses were selected by convenient sampling technique from six ITUs. A structured knowledge questionnaire and observation checklist were used to collect data. Study findings showed that 45% participants had satisfactory knowledge and 97.5% participants had satisfactory practice level. There was significant relationship between knowledge and practice on blood sugar measurement technique among staff nurses (p= 0.05) except period of working experience(p= 0.05).
Macrophages in leukemia microenvironment

Abstract Macrophages, the important component of tissue microenvironment, play important roles in both physiological and pathological processes, including tumor and leukemia. Tumor-associated macrophages are involved in tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance. In leukemia, macrophages are educated by leukemia microenvironment to obtain specific activated phenotype and participate in leukemia progression. Recent studies have shown that accumulation of macrophages in leukemia patients or mouse model is correlated with poor prognosis. Hence, increasing attentions have been paid to study the characteristics of them and to develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting macrophages against leukemia. In this article, we summarize recent development of macrophages in leukemia microenvironment.
Stress-Aware Personalized Road Navigation System

Driving can be a stressful task, especially under congestion conditions. Several studies have shown a positive correlation between stress and aggressive behaviour behind the wheel, leading to accidents. One common way to minimize stress while driving is to avoid highly congested roads. However, not all drivers show the same response towards high traffic situations or other road conditions. For instance, some drivers may prefer congested routes to longer ones to minimize travel time. Increasingly, drivers are employing Advanced Traveller Information Systems while commuting to both familiar and unfamiliar destinations, not just to obtain information on how to reach a certain endpoint, but to acquire real-time data on the state of the roads and avoid undesired traffic conditions. In this thesis, we propose an Advanced Traveller Information System that personalizes the driver’s route using their road preferences and measures their physiological signals during the trip to assess mental stress. The system then links road attributes, such as number of lanes, speed limit, and traffic severity, with the driver’s stress levels. Then, it uses machine learning to predict their stress levels on similar roads. Hence, routes that contribute to high-levels of stress can therefore be avoided in future trips. The average accuracy of the proposed stress level prediction model is 76.11%.