Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Medical tourism: its research and implications for public health.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to describe current research trends in medical tourism and implications for public health, especially in destination countries. METHODS The methods used for this article include a literature review of available sources on the research topic in the world's acknowledged databases Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE, and ScienceDirect. RESULTS The findings indicate that there is no consensus on the definition of medical tourism. However, there are a few conceptual models which can be used in further medical tourism research and practice. The findings also reveal that there are still certain issues, which hinder the fast growth of medical tourism, such as unclear impact on healthcare systems, ethical concerns or a lack of effective tools for the measurement of quality assurance of the medical tourism services and their products. CONCLUSIONS There is a need for data collection on medical tourism, both at national and worldwide level to provide a realistic picture of this evolving field of tourism as well as implications for public health in destination countries.
Fecal Microbiota Transplant is Highly Effective in Real-World Practice: Initial Results from the FMT National Registry.

INTRODUCTION Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is commonly used for treatment of C. difficile infections (CDI), although prospective safety data are limited and real-world FMT practice and outcomes are not well described. The FMT National Registry was designed to assess FMT methods and both safety and effectiveness outcomes from North American FMT providers. METHODS Patients undergoing FMT in clinical practices across North America are eligible. Participating investigators enter de-identified data into an online platform including FMT protocol, baseline patient characteristics, CDI cure and recurrence, and short and long-term safety outcomes. RESULTS Of the first 259 participants enrolled at 20 sites, 222 have completed short-term follow-up at 1 month, and 123 have follow-up to 6 months; 171 (66%) are female. All FMTs were done for CDI, and 249 (96%) used an unknown donor (e.g., stool bank). One-month cure occurred in 200 (90%); of these, 197 (98%) received only a single FMT. Among 112 with initial cure who were followed to 6 months, 4 (4%) had CDI recurrence. Severe symptoms reported within 1-month of FMT included diarrhea (5 (2%)) and abdominal pain (4 (2%)); 3 (1%) had hospitalizations possibly related to FMT. At 6 months, new diagnoses of irritable bowel syndrome were made in 2 (1%) and inflammatory bowel disease in 2 (1%). CONCLUSIONS This prospective real-world study demonstrated high effectiveness of FMT for CDI with a good safety profile. Assessment of new conditions at long-term follow-up is planned as this registry grows and will be important for determining the full safety profile of FMT.
On the road again: Establishment and maintenance of stemness in the neural crest from embryo to adulthood

Unique to vertebrates, the neural crest (NC) is an embryonic stem cell population that contributes to a greatly expanding list of derivatives ranging from neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system, facial cartilage and bone, pigment cells of the skin to secretory cells of the endocrine system. Here, we focus on what is specifically known about establishment and maintenance of NC stemness and ultimate fate commitment mechanisms, which could help explain its exceptionally high stem cell potential that exceeds the “rules set during gastrulation. ” In fact, recent discoveries have shed light on the existence of NC cells that coexpress commonly accepted pluripotency factors like Nanog, Oct4/PouV, and Klf4. The coexpression of pluripotency factors together with the exceptional array of diverse NC derivatives encouraged us to propose a new term “pleistopotent” (Greek for abundant, a substantial amount) to be used to reflect the uniqueness of the NC as compared to other post‐gastrulation stem cell populations in the vertebrate body, and to differentiate them from multipotent lineage restricted stem cells. We also discuss studies related to the maintenance of NC stemness within the challenging context of being a transient and thus a constantly changing population of stem cells without a permanent niche. The discovery of the stem cell potential of Schwann cell precursors as well as multiple adult NC‐derived stem cell reservoirs during the past decade has greatly increased our understanding of how NC cells contribute to tissues formed after its initial migration stage in young embryos.
Gender variation in hermaphrodite plants: evidence from five species of alpine Ranunculus

Ovule and seed estimates of gender were calculated for a total of 230 plants in populations of the Australian alpine perennial herbs Ranunculus muelleri, R. dissectifolius, R. graniticola, R. millanii and R. niphophilus. The distribution of gender using the two estimates differed. The distribution of gender based on the seed estimates is likely to more accurately reflect the functional gender of the plants, as the amount of seed produced by a plant is the result of all the factors that affected ovule production, as well as any environmental effects that are particular to seed set. Based on the ovule estimates of gender, plants were phenotypically as well as morphologically hermaphrodite, with ovule estimates of gender centred around 0.5 for all five species. However, seed estimates of gender indicate that three species (Ranunculus muelleri, R. dissectifolius and the clonal R. millanii) do not consist of populations of entirely functional hermaphrodites. Rather the distribution of gender in populations of these three species was irregularly bimodal with plants exhibiting a range of genders from non-seeding to functionally hermaphrodite plants. Ranunculus niphophilus populations had an amodal distribution of gender using seed based estimates with plants exhibiting a range of genders from nearly non-seeding to very female. Only in R. graniticola did seed based estimates of gender indicate that plants were functionally as well as phenotypically hermaphrodite. Plant size was correlated with several aspects of gender. In the four non-clonal species (R. muelleri, R. dissectifolius, R. graniticola and R. niphophilus), vegetative plants were smaller than flowering plants. In R. muelleri and R. dissectifolius, smaller plants in the population were unisexual-male. In R. muelleri, size was correlated with gender in bisexual plants, with larger plants being more female. In the clonal R. millanii, non-flowering clumps were less dense than flowering clumps. In this species, the main factor affecting gender was not size/density, but rain, with flooding of the depressions in which it occurs in the second season resulting in large numbers of functionally unisexual-male clumps. Gender was not closely correlated between seasons, although in some populations individuals exhibited some consistency.
Recursive Threshold Logic—A Bioinspired Reconfigurable Dynamic Logic System With Crossbar Arrays

The neuron behavioral models are inspired by the principle of the firing of neurons, and weighted accumulation of charge for a given set of input stimuli. Biological neurons show dynamic behavior through its feedback and feedforward time-dependent responses. The principle of the firing of neurons inspires threshold logic design by applying threshold functions on the weight summation of inputs. In this article, we present a recursive threshold logic unit that uses the output feedback from standard threshold logic gates to emulate Boolean expressions in a time-sequenced manner. The Boolean expression is implemented with an analog resistive divider in memristive crossbars and a hard-threshold function designed with CMOS comparator for realizing the sums (OR) and products (AND) operators. The method benefits from reliable programming of the memristors in 1T1R crossbar configuration to suppress sneak path currents and thus enable larger crossbar sizes, which in turn allow a higher number of Boolean inputs. The reference threshold voltage for the decision comparators is tuned to implement AND and OR logic. The threshold value range is limited by the number of inputs to the crossbar. Simultaneously, the resistance of the memristors is kept constant at $R_{ON}$. The circuit's tolerance to the memristor variability and aging are analyzed, showing sufficient resilience. Also, the proposed recursive logic uses fewer cross-points, and has lower power dissipation than other memristive logic and CMOS implementation.
Response of glyphosate-resistant soybean to dicamba spray tank contamination during vegetative and reproductive growth stages.

The anticipated availability of dicamba-resistant crops will increase the potential for crop injury to non-dicamba-resistant soybean due to dicamba spray tank contamination. A total of eight field trials were conducted at various locations in Ontario, Canada during 2012-2014 to determine the response of non-dicamba-resistant soybean to dicamba spray tank contamination at 0, 0.75, 1.5, 3, 6, 15, 30, and 60 g a.e. ha-1 applied postemergence (POST) at the V2-3 (2-3 trifoliate) or R1 (1st flower) stage. At one week after treatment (WAT), dicamba applied at 0.75, 1.5, 3, 6, 15, 30, and 60 g a.e. ha-1 at V2-3 caused 12, 18, 25, 31, 43, 53, and 66% visible injury in soybean, respectively. Injury increased at 2 and 4 WAT and decreased by 8 WAT with 68% visible injury observed at the highest dose. Dicamba applied at R1 caused 23, 28, 36, 40, 48, 61, and 73% visible injury in soybean at 0.75, 1.5, 3, 6, 15, 30, and 60 g a.e. ha-1, respectively. The predicted dose of dicamba to reduce soybean seed yield 1, 5, 10, 20 or 50% was 1.1, 5.8, 11.8, 25.2, and >60 g a.e. ha-1 when applied at V2-3 and <0.75, 1.0, 2.0, 4.3, and 11.5 g a.e. ha-1 when applied at R1, respectively. Results show that dicamba spray tank contamination of as little as 0.75 g a.e. ha-1 can cause significant crop injury in non-dicamba-resistant soybean when applied during the vegetative or reproductive stages.
Properties and Characterization of New Approach Organic Nanoparticle-Based Biocomposite Board

Conventionally, panel boards are produced with material flex or microparticle with P.U. or U.F. as adhesives. However, in this study, nanoparticle with epoxy resin as an adhesive was used to produce nanoboard. Coconut shell nanoparticle composite with epoxy resin as an adhesive was prepared using a compression molding technique. The coconut shell particles were originally 200 mesh size and then milled mechanically with a ball mill for the duration of 10, 20, 30, and 40 h (milling times) to produce nanoparticles. The composition ratio of the composite is 85 vol.% of coconut shell and 15 vol.% of epoxy resin. The formation of nanoparticles was observed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mechanical, physical, and microstructure properties of the composite were examined with X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and universal testing machine. The results established that the properties of the composite (microstructures, mechanical, and physical) are influenced by the duration of milling of coconut shell particles. The modulus and flexural strength of the composite improved with an increase in the milling time. The density, thickness swelling, and porosity of the composite were also influenced by the milling times. The result suggested that the composite properties were influenced by the particle size of the coconut shell. The coconut shell nanoparticle composite can be used in the manufacturing of hybrid panels and board.
Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Disposition Index in Non-Diabetic Indians with Obesity: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract There has been conflicting evidence regarding the potential role of vitamin D in glucose homeostasis. This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial was designed to investigate the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on the disposition index in non-diabetic Indian subjects with obesity. Subjects with obesity [n = 120] were randomized to receive a monthly dose of 120,000 IU of vitamin D3 or matching placebo for 6 months. The primary outcome was a change in disposition index (DI) and secondary outcome measures were change in the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and change in body composition. A total of 101 subjects [50 in the vitamin D group (VITD) and 51 in the Placebo group (PL)] completed the study. The mean baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin [25(OH) D] concentration was 11.6 ng/ml. There was no significant difference observed between the two groups in any of the primary or secondary outcomes. However, there were a significant increase in median serum 25(OH) D levels in the VITD group than the PL at 6 months of intervention. The results of the present study suggest that supplementation of vitamin D3 has no additional benefit over placebo on pancreatic β-cell functions in non-diabetic Indian subjects with obesity. Further larger studies are required to confirm the results of the study. The trial is registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India, CTRI/2015/04/005727.
Effects of repeated intra-articular hyaluronic acid on cartilage degeneration evaluated by T1ρ mapping in knee osteoarthritis

Abstract Objectives Intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (IAHA) has been used for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA), but its effectiveness remains controversial. This study analyzed knee OA over time by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T1ρ mapping to objectively evaluate whether long-term repeated administration of IAHA influences cartilage degeneration. Methods Sixty knees of 60 patients [58.3 ± 12.5 years (mean ± standard deviation)] who had multiple T1ρ mapping images were retrospectively analyzed. We calculated the T1ρ values of the medial femorotibial cartilage and classified changes in degenerative areas over time into 3 groups: Improvement, No Change, and Deterioration. Results Average time between 2 MRI scans was 7.6 ± 1.2 months. The number of IAHA administrations was 15.5 ± 21.3, 8.39 ± 7.19, and 5.80 ± 7.49 in the Improvement, No Change, and Deterioration groups, respectively. Body mass index and number of IAHA administrations were significant factors causing change in the area of degeneration (p < .05) independent of age, sex, Kellgren–Lawrence grade, and posterior horn meniscus tears. Conclusion Cartilage degeneration may be improved with a higher number of administrations of IAHA, based on T1ρ mapping results. This highlights the possibility of increased treatment effectiveness of IAHA for knee OA with repeated administrations.
A Patient-Inspired Quality Improvement Initiative for Pituitary Adenoma Care

ABSTRACT: Background: Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are common and often require complex multidisciplinary care with multiple specialists. This may result in a healthcare system that is challenging for patients to navigate. Audits of care at our institution revealed opportunities for improvement to better align care with patients’ needs. Methods: A quality improvement initiative that incorporated a patient advisory committee of patients who had received treatment for PA at our center and their family members were used to help identify opportunities for improvement. The patient-identified gaps in care included the need to coordinate and minimize appointments and the desire for better communication and education. Based on this information, changes were implemented to the pituitary program, including increasing access to the Multidisciplinary Clinic and developing a standardized and centralized triage process. Results: A pre- and post-intervention analysis consisting of retrospective chart reviews revealed that these changes had an impact on wait times for first assessment, and a significant shift in the location of this first visit – with a larger proportion of patients being seen in the Multidisciplinary Clinic after an intervention. Conclusions: We demonstrate that patient involvement, beyond individual patient–physician interactions, can lead to meaningful and observable changes, and can improve the quality of care for PA.
Efficacy of BRAF-inhibitor therapy in BRAFV600E -mutated Adult Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.

Langerhans-cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease of unknown pathogenesis. To date, there is a lack of FDA-approved treatments in adult LCH to establish optimal first line therapy. We conducted a retrospective, single-center case series evaluating the use of BRAF-inhibitors in adult patients with biopsy proven BRAFV600E - LCH. Our case series is the first to report the use of BRAF-inhibitors as first-line therapy in adults with LCH. We also report the efficacy with single-agent dabrafenib in adult LCH. All but one of our patients had favorable response to targeted therapy.
Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Selected Marine Fish Species of Gadani Shipbreaking Area and Pakistan

Simple Summary Protection of the coastal ecosystem from hazardous heavy metals is vital as it provides valuable habitat for numerous fish species and is a key resource for the coastal communities. Gadani shipbreaking is the third largest shipbreaking in the world, located on the coastline of Balochistan, Pakistan. The impact of this dismantling on the quality of the local fish species is still unknown. This is the first study to determine heavy metals’ content in fish and seawater of Gadani shipbreaking area. Metal accumulations in fish species both in gills and muscles ranged from 1.33 to 5.26 μg/g. Among trace metals, the level of Pb in all fish species was highest, followed by Ni, Mn, and Cd. However, all the analyzed fish species from the Gadani coast were found safe for human consumption, but there is a need for continuous monitoring of the coastal environment. Abstract Gadani shipbreaking area, located on the coastline of Pakistan, is an important fish production area. In this study, levels of four metals (Ni, Pb, Cd, and Mn) in 148 muscle and gill samples of seven fish species (Small-scale terapon, Torpedo scade, Sicklefish, Saddle grunt, Gold silk seabream, Indian mackerel, Spotted sickle fish) and seawater samples, taken from 9 sampling sites in the shipbreaking area, were determined. In addition, multiple approaches were used to assess human health risks from fish consumption. Trace metal concentration in seawater ranged from 0.05 to 1.96 mg/L in shipbreaking vicinity and 0.03 to 0.97 mg/L in the reference site (Miani Hor). However, metal accumulations in fish species ranged from 1.33 to 5.26 μg/g. Among trace metals, the level of Pb in all fish species was highest, followed by Ni, Mn, and Cd. The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for both gills and muscles displayed the order: Mn > Cd > Ni > Pb. Estimated daily intake (EDI) values were below the tolerable daily intake (TDI). Based on target hazard quotient (THQ), the investigated fish species were safe regarding Pb and Mn (THQ < 1), while they may cause potential risk regarding Cd and Ni (THQ > 1). After comparison with maximum permissible limits, heavy metal concentration in the edible muscle tissues of all the analyzed fish species from the Gadani coast were found safe for human consumption.
brk1 and dcd1 Act Synergistically in Subsidiary Cell Formation in Zea mays

Subsidiary mother cell (SMC) divisions during stomatal complex formation in Zea mays are asymmetric generating a small subsidiary cell (SC) and a larger epidermal cell. Mutants with a high number of abnormally shaped subsidiary cells include the brick1 (brk1) and discordia1 (dcd1) mutants. BRK1 is homologous to HSPC300, an ARP2/3 complex activator, and is involved in actin nucleation while DCD1 is a regulatory subunit of the PP2A phosphatase needed for microtubule generation (Frank and Smith, 2002; Wright et al. 2009). Possible causes of the abnormal SCs in brk1 mutants include a failure of the SMC nucleus to polarize in advance of mitosis, no actin patch, and transverse and/or no PPBs (Gallagher and Smith, 2000; Panteris et al 2006). The abnormal subsidiary mother cell division in dcd1 is due to correctly localized, but disorganized preprophase bands (PPBs; Wright et al. 2009). The observation that brk1 has defects in PPB formation and that the dcd1 phenotype is enhanced by the application of actin inhibitors led us to examine the dcd1; brk1 double mutant (Gallagher and Smith, 1999). We found that dcd1; brk1 double mutants demonstrate a higher percentage of aberrant SCs than the single mutants combined suggesting that these two mutations have a synergistic and additive effect on SC formation. Our observations and results are intriguing and the future step will be to quantitate the abnormal PPBs and phragmoplasts in the double and single mutants using immunolocalization of tubulin and actin as well as observations of live cells expressing tubulin-YFP.
Citation Characteristics of H-Classics Articles in Implant Dentistry: A Citation Analysis Using H-Classics Method.

PURPOSE Citation-based metrics, such as the H-classics method, have been used as an indicator to assess academic performance in the scientific community. However, information addressing issues regarding self-citation, citation half-life, and subject area of origin in implant dentistry is lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the citation characteristics of H-classics articles in implant dentistry throughout different time periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS H-classics implant dentistry articles were searched and selected by applying the H-classics method from the Scopus database. Bibliometric analysis was conducted to evaluate the citation characteristics, including institutional and journal self-citation, citation half-life, and subject area of origin of identified H-classics articles. RESULTS The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants and Clinical Oral Implants Research are the leading journals contributing the majority of citations to the retrieved H-classics articles. Articles published in the United States cited the most H-classics articles. Journal self-citation was 12.41% on average, while institutional self-citation was approximately 7.81%. Citation half-life decreased significantly across time periods, with an average decreasing ratio of 43.95%. Research on Scope III, bioengineering interventions, had the most prominent distribution citation frequency in the subject area "Others. " CONCLUSION This study provides insightful views regarding citation characteristics of H-classics articles in implant dentistry (eg, interdisciplinary publications on bioengineering interventions) during the investigation periods, which may foster the translation of preclinical research into clinical applications in the future.