Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimizing the multidimensional aspects of the patient-physician relationship in the management of inflammatory bowel disease

The patient-physician relationship has a pivotal impact on the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) outcomes. However, there are many challenges in the patient-physician relationship; lag time in diagnosis which results in frustration and an anchoring bias against the treating gastroenterologist, the widespread availability of medical information on the internet has resulted in patients having their own ideas of treatment, which may be incongruent from the treating physicians’ goals resulting in patient physician discordance. Because IBD is an incurable disease, the goal of treatment is to sustain remission. To achieve this, patients may have to go through several lines of treatment. The period of receiving stepping up, top down or even accelerated stepping up medications may result in a lot of frustration and anxiety for the patient and may compromise the patient-physician relationship. IBD patients are also prone to psychological distress that further compromises the patient-physician relationship. Despite numerous published data regarding the medical and surgical treatment options available for IBD, there is a lack of data regarding methods to improve the therapeutic patient-physician relationship. In this review article, we aim to encapsulate the challenges faced in the patient-physician relationship and ways to overcome in for an improved outcome in IBD.
Monogenic Lupus: A Developing Paradigm of Disease

Monogenic lupus is a form of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that occurs in patients with a single gene defect. This rare variant of lupus generally presents with early onset severe disease, especially affecting the kidneys and central nervous system. To date, a significant number of genes have been implicated in monogenic lupus, providing valuable insights into a very complex disease process. Throughout this review, we will summarize the genes reported to be associated with monogenic lupus or lupus-like diseases, and the pathogenic mechanisms affected by the mutations involved upon inducing autoimmunity.
Prognostic Values of EPDR1 Hypermethylation and Its Inhibitory Function on Tumor Invasion in Colorectal Cancer

Aberrant DNA methylation is a potential mechanism underlying the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, identification of prognostic DNA methylation markers and understanding the related molecular functions may offer a new perspective on CRC pathogenesis. To that end, we explored DNA methylation profile changes in CRC subtypes based on the microsatellite instability (MSI) status through genome-wide DNA methylation profiling analysis. Of 34 altered genes, three hypermethylated (epidermal growth factor, EGF; carbohydrate sulfotransferase 10, CHST10; ependymin related 1, EPDR1) and two hypomethylated (bone marrow stromal antigen 2, BST2; Rac family small GTPase 3, RAC3) candidates were further validated in CRC patients. Based on quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (Q-MSP), EGF, CHST10 and EPDR1 showed higher hypermethylated levels in CRC tissues than those in adjacent normal tissues, whereas BST2 showed hypomethylation in CRC tissues relative to adjacent normal tissues. Additionally, among 75 CRC patients, hypermethylation of CHST10 and EPDR1 was significantly correlated with the MSI status and a better prognosis. Moreover, EPDR1 hypermethylation was significantly correlated with node negativity and a lower tumor stage as well as with mutations in B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) and human transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 (TGFβR2). Conversely, a negative correlation between the mRNA expression and methylation levels of EPDR1 in CRC tissues and cell lines was observed, revealing that DNA methylation has a crucial function in modulating EPDR1 expression in CRC cells. EPDR1 knockdown by a transient small interfering RNA significantly suppressed invasion by CRC cells, suggesting that decreased EPDR1 levels may attenuate CRC cell invasion. These results suggest that DNA methylation-mediated EPDR1 epigenetic silencing may play an important role in preventing CRC progression.
Perceived energy expenditure for physical activity in male and female adults

OF THE THESIS PERCEIVED ENERGY EXPENDITURE FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN MALE AND FEMALE ADULTS by Su-Nui Escobar Florida International University, 2005 Miami, Florida Professor Valerie George, Major Professor The purpose of this study was to gain further insight into the relationship between perceived energy expenditure (EE) for physical activity (PA) and age, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), education, and leisure time PA (LTPA) levels. A 19-item interviewer administered questionnaire was completed by 798 individuals to assess accuracy of perception of EE (in calories) for various types of PA (sedentary, moderate and vigorous). Participants, age 21 to 64 years, were recruited from ten sites of the Department of Motor Vehicles in Miami, Florida. Only 30% were able to accurately assess EE for PA. Higher education and age were associated with greater accuracy. The range for estimated EE for PA was from 0-60,000 calories. These results are of interest as they suggest efforts should be made to educate the public regarding EE for PA in reference to energy balance and weight management.
Automatic Vessel Detection Technique in Laparoscopic Surgical Imaging Including Surgical Instruments

In this paper, we propose a new technique to recognize vessels in robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery images by using surgical instruments. The proposed method does not require additional hardware or parameter adjustment because it detects blood vessels by using only the color information of the image. The concept of a hessian matrix is used in the HSV color space of the image to detect the edges of the blood vessels. In addition, the histogram equalization technique, clustering technique, and region growing are used to remove the surgical tools. Images of actual robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery videos were used. The processing speed was approximately 0.3 s per frame at 640p and approximately 0.8 s per frame at 1280p. The average recall was 92.67%.
Are Protective Behavioral Strategies Associated With Fewer Negative Consequences on High-Intensity Drinking Days? Results From a Measurement-Burst Design

Heavy episodic drinking (HED) is prevalent among college students and associated with harms. However, many students engage in “high-intensity drinking” (HID) by drinking at thresholds beyond HED. HID relative to HED-only is associated with elevated risk for acute and severe negative consequences. When used, protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are shown to help drinkers limit their drinking and lower their odds of experiencing consequences. This study assessed whether PBS use was associated with reduced consequences on occasions college students engaged in HID relative to HED-only. Data were from a longitudinal measurement-burst design (14-day bursts across 4 semesters) from 256 college students who engaged in HID on at least 1 reported day, yielding 2,352 daily drinking reports. Participants reported the number of standard drinks consumed on each day and, on days with 1+ drinks, whether they used PBS and experienced a variety of negative drinking-related consequences. Three-level multilevel models revealed that on days when students used manner of drinking PBS there was a weaker association between HID and passing out from drinking. On days students used serious harm reduction PBS there was a weaker association of HID with having no one sober enough to drive and experiencing regretted sexual behaviors. Use of some PBS may help college students reduce harms on HID occasions relative to HED-only occasions. Interventions should promote use of planning strategies to minimize harm, especially on HID occasions.
An In-Vivo Study on Intra-Day Variations in Vascular Stiffness using ARTSENS Pen

This work presents investigations on intraday variations in arterial stiffness. For this purpose, an in-vivo study was conducted on five subjects over a duration of five consecutive days. Five stiffness index ($\beta $) measurements were obtained per day for each individual. Our clinically validated ARTSENS device was used to perform fully automated reliable stiffness measurements on the carotid artery. For each measurement, two trials were performed and averaged. These trials were observed to be repeatable with the coefficient of variation $< 0.72$%. For each day, one measurement that was performed immediately after the lunch was subject to intervention due to the consumed food, which significantly $( \mathrm {p}< 0.001)$ deviated from the mean baseline $\beta $ of the day. Such significant deviations were not observed for the rest measurements that were performed in the absence of an intervention. Two subjects who consumed caffeinated beverages during the lunch exhibited an increment in $\beta $ measurement (taken immediately after lunch) as compared to mean baseline $\beta $ of the day. Further, there was no significant (p $=$ 0.97) difference between the mean baseline $\beta $ measured over a day and the mean baseline $\beta $ measured over the entire course of the study. Results obtained from the present study demonstrated that the arterial stiffness does not vary significantly over a short period but varies progressively. However, significant temporary variations in stiffness could be observed due to dietary interventions.
The Controller Placement of Software-Defined Networks Based on Minimum Delay and Load Balancing

Software Defined Network (SDN) separates control plane from data plane, and uses multiple controllers to resolve the extensibility and security of SDN. However, most research concentrates on the control layer architecture, ignoring the controllers placement problem. In this paper, we first define the total flow request cost that considers switch weights, switch-to-controller routing costs, and inter-controller routing costs. Next, we propose controller-based load balance factor, with a known number of controllers, the position of the specific controllers is derived by minimizing the linear function of the load balance factor and the total flow request cost. Finally, through simulation, the controller layout scheme reduces the flow request cost of the SDN and achieves load balancing among the controllers.
Modelling and Synthesizing Motion Artifacts in Unobtrusive Multimodal Sensing using Copulas

The use of non-contact sensing modalities to estimate apatient’s vital signs is a promising approach to improve remote monitoring. One of the main challenges in non-contact sensing are motion artifacts, which can cause severe problems and must not be disregarded when designing non-contact systems. Combining multiple sensors and using intelligent sensor-fusion algorithms can reduce the influence of motion artifacts and improve the robustness of the vital sign estimation. Training and validating algorithms are important parts of the development process, but acquiring real data is usually a time-consuming task. Therefore a method to generate a large number of multi-sensor motion artifacts is needed. In this paper we investigate motion artifacts and their inter-dependence in a multi-sensor system. From these analyses, a multivariate mathematical artifact model is derived. Further-more, we propose a general synthesizing algorithm for artificial motion artifacts that allows creating an arbitrary number of multi-sensor motion artifacts. Finally, we compare the artificially created artifacts with real artifacts and evaluate our algorithm. Both qualitative indicators, e.g. signal morphology, and quantitative analyses, e.g. statistical distance measures, show a good accuracy of our model.
Self‐Assembly of Large‐Area 2D Polycrystalline Transition Metal Carbides for Hydrogen Electrocatalysis

Low‐dimensional (0/1/2 dimension) transition metal carbides (TMCs) possess intriguing electrical, mechanical, and electrochemical properties, and they serve as convenient supports for transition metal catalysts. Large‐area single‐crystalline 2D TMC sheets are generally prepared by exfoliating MXene sheets from MAX phases. Here, a versatile bottom‐up method is reported for preparing ultrathin TMC sheets (≈10 nm in thickness and >100 μm in lateral size) with metal nanoparticle decoration. A gelatin hydrogel is employed as a scaffold to coordinate metal ions (Mo5+, W6+, Co2+), resulting in ultrathin‐film morphologies of diverse TMC sheets. Carbonization of the scaffold at 600 °C presents a facile route to the corresponding MoCx, WCx, CoCx, and to metal‐rich hybrids (Mo2−xWxC and W/Mo2C–Co). Among these materials, the Mo2C–Co hybrid provides excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) efficiency (Tafel slope of 39 mV dec−1 and 48 mVj = 10 mA cm‐2 in overpotential in 0.5 m H2SO4). Such performance makes Mo2C–Co a viable noble‐metal‐free catalyst for the HER, and is competitive with the standard platinum on carbon support. This template‐assisted, self‐assembling, scalable, and low‐cost manufacturing process presents a new tactic to construct low‐dimensional TMCs with applications in various clean‐energy‐related fields.
A 3D Reactive Collision Avoidance Algorithm for Nonholonomic Vehicles

This paper presents a 3D reactive collision avoidance algorithm for vehicles with nonholonomic constraints. The algorithm steers the heading and pitch angle of the vehicle in order to maintain a constant avoidance angle to the obstacle, thus ensuring a safe collision avoidance maneuver. The flexibility provided by moving in three dimensions is utilized by choosing an optimal pair of safe pitch and heading angles for avoidance. Furthermore, the algorithm incorporates limits on the allowed pitch angle, which are often present in practical scenarios. The collision avoidance property is mathematically proved, and the analysis is validated by several numerical simulations.
The Semantic Student: Using Knowledge Modeling Activities to Enhance Enquiry-Based Group Learning in Engineering Education

This paper argues that training engineering students in basic knowledge modeling techniques, using linked data principles, and semantic Web tools - within an enquiry-based group learning environment - enables them to enhance their domain knowledge, and their meta-cognitive skills. Knowledge modeling skills are in keeping with the principles of Universal Design for instruction. Learners are empowered with the regulation of cognition as they become more aware of their own development. This semantic student approach was trialed with a group of 3rd year Computer Engineering Students taking a module on computer architecture. An enquiry-based group learning activity was developed to help learners meet selected module learning outcomes. Learners were required to use semantic feature analysis and linked data principles to create a visual model of their knowledge structure. Results show that overall student attainment was increased when knowledge modeling activities were included as part of the learning process. A recommendation for practice to incorporate knowledge modeling as a learning strategy within an overall engineering curriculum framework is described. This can be achieved using semantic Web technologies such as semantic wikis and linked data tools.
Floral Scent Emission from Nectaries in the Adaxial Side of the Innermost and Middle Petals in Chimonanthus praecox

Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) is a well-known traditional fragrant plant and a winter-flowering deciduous shrub that originated in China. The five different developmental stages of wintersweet, namely, flower-bud period (FB), displayed petal stage (DP), open flower stage (OF), later blooming period (LB), and wilting period (WP) were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine the distribution characteristics of aroma-emitting nectaries. Results showed that the floral scent was probably emitted from nectaries distributed on the adaxial side of the innermost and middle petals, but almost none on the abaxial side. The nectaries in different developmental periods on the petals differ in numbers, sizes, and characteristics. Although the distribution of nectaries on different rounds of petals showed a diverse pattern at the same developmental periods, that of the nectaries on the same round of petals showed some of regularity. The nectary is concentrated on the adaxial side of the petals, especially in the region near the axis of the lower part of the petals. Based on transcriptional sequence and phylogenetic analysis, we report one nectary development related gene CpCRC (CRABS CLAW), and the other four YABBY family genes, CpFIL (FILAMENTOUS FLOWER), CpYABBY2, CpYABBY5-1, and CpYABBY5-2 in C. praecox (accession no. MH718960-MH718964). Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) results showed that the expression characteristics of these YABBY family genes were similar to those of 11 floral scent genes, namely, CpSAMT, CpDMAPP, CpIPP, CpGPPS1, CpGPPS2, CpGPP, CpLIS, CpMYR1, CpFPPS, CpTER3, and CpTER5. The expression levels of these genes were generally higher in the lower part of the petals than in the upper halves in different rounds of petals, the highest being in the innermost petals, but the lowest in the outer petals. Relative expression level of CpFIL, CpCRC, CpYABBY5-1, and CpLIS in the innermost and middle petals in OF stages is significant higher than that of in outer petals, respectively. SEM and qRT-PCR results in C. praecox showed that floral scent emission is related to the distribution of nectaries.
Scaling of major organs in hatchling female American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis).

Allometric equations represent relationships between morphological/physiological traits and body mass Y = aMb , where Y is the trait, a is elevation, b is the exponent describing the shape of the line, and M is body mass. We measured visceral organ masses in hatchling alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) from five clutches from approximately 45 to 500 g wet body mass. The interaction between initial egg mass and clutch identity was significant for initial hatchling mass, but only egg mass, not clutch, had a significant effect on initial snout-vent and head length. Kidney and liver mass showed biphasic scaling with body mass, as determined by "breakpoint" analyses, with the breakpoint at 120 g wet body mass. Kidney and liver wet mass showed slopes b > 1.0 as animals increased approximately 45-120 g, with significantly lower b approximately 0.8-0.9 for alligators 120-500 g. Within kidney and liver mass, below and above the breakpoint, organ mass slopes tended to be similar across clutches. Lung and heart wet mass did not show biphasic scaling, with b approximately 0.8-0.9. Within lung and heart mass, clutches had statistically identical slopes. Combined clutch data for wet mass showed distinct regressions with b > 1.4 for approximately 45-120 g alligators' kidney and liver mass, compared with approximately 120-500 g alligators' kidney, liver, lung, and heart mass b < 1.0. Alligators show rapid kidney and liver growth following hatching, with higher rates than lung or heart tissue. Clutch, egg mass, and hatchling size influence organ size, and each factor should be accounted for in future studies exploring reptile morphology and physiology to assess environmental versus clutch contributions.
Identification of recurrent and novel mutations by whole-genome sequencing of colorectal tumors from the Han population in Shanghai, eastern China

Previous studies have identified recurrent oncogenic mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC), but there is limited CRC genomic data from the Chinese Han population. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on 10 primary CRC tumors and matched adjacent normal tissues from patients from the Han population in Shanghai, at an average of 27.8× and 27.9× coverage, respectively. In the 10 tumor samples, 32 significant somatic mutated genes were identified, 13 of which were also reported as CRC mutations in The Cancer Genome Atlas Network. All the mutated genes were enriched in functions associated with channel activity, which has rarely been reported in previous studies investigating CRC. Furthermore, 21 chromosomal rearrangements were detected and 4 rearrangements encoded predicted in-frame fusion proteins, including a fusion of phosphorylase kinase regulatory subunit b and NOTCH2 demonstrated in 2 out of 10 tumors. Chromosome 8 was amplified in 1 tumor and chromosome 20 was amplified in 2 out of 10 CRC patients. The present study produced a genomic mutation profile of CRC, which provides a valuable resource for further insight into the mutations that characterize CRC in patients from the Han population in Shanghai, eastern China.
Bioformation of Volatile and Nonvolatile Metabolites by Saccharomycopsis fibuligera KJJ81 Cultivated under Different Conditions—Carbon Sources and Cultivation Times

Saccharomycopsis fibuligera KJJ81 isolated from nuruk is an amylolytic yeast that is widely used as a microbial starter in various fermented foods. Volatile and nonvolatile metabolites of S. fibuligera KJJ81 were investigated according to different carbon sources and cultivation times using a nontargeted metabolomic approach. Partial-least-squares discriminant analysis was applied to determine the major metabolites, which were found to be closely related to the clustering and discrimination of S. fibuligera KJJ81 samples. Some volatile metabolites derived from phenylalanine, such as 2-phenylethanol, 2-phenylethyl acetate, and ethyl phenylacetate, were predominantly found in cultivation medium containing glucose (YPD medium). In addition, the level of 2-phenylethanol increased continuously with the cultivation time. In terms of nonvolatile metabolites, carbohydrates (mannose, arabitol, and mannitol), fatty acids (palmitic acid and stearic acid), organic acids (oxalic acid and succinic acid), and amino acids (isoleucine, serine, alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, phenylalanine, and threonine) were the main contributors to S. fibuligera KJJ81 samples cultivated in YPD medium according to cultivation time. These results show that the formation of volatile and nonvolatile metabolites of S. fibuligera KJJ81 can be significantly affected by both the carbon sources and the cultivation time.
Youla-Kucera Control Structures for Switching

This paper explores the different controller structures in connection with Youla-Kucera (YK) parameterization to provide stable controller reconfiguration. Mathematical stability proof is given for each of the structures. Even if stability is guaranteed, transient effects of switching between controllers can become important for the system performance. Thus, transient behavior depending on the control structure is also analysed. A comparative study is carried out among all the structures, so guidelines are given on how to choose the appropriate YK control structure.
Study of the Interface in a GaP/Si Heterojunction Solar Cell

We have investigated the GaP/Si heterojunction interface for application in silicon heterojunction solar cells. We performed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) on thin layers of GaP grown on Si by metal organic chemical vapor deposition and molecular beam epitaxy. The conduction band offset was determined to be 0.9 ± 0.2 eV, which is significantly higher than predicted by Anderson's rule (0.3 eV). XPS also revealed the presence of Ga–Si bonds at the interface that are likely to be the cause of the observed interface dipole. Via cross-sectional Kelvin probe force microscopy (x-KPFM), we observed a charge transport barrier at the Si/GaP interface which is consistent with the high-conduction band offset determined by XPS and explains the low open-circuit voltage and low fill factor observed in GaP/Si heterojunction solar cells.