Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PhantomTouch: Creating an Extended Reality by the Illusion of Touch using a Shape-Memory Alloy Matrix

With the rise of VR applications, the ability to experience physical touches becomes progressively important to increase immersion. In this paper, we propose PhantomTouch, a wearable forearm augmentation, that enables recreation of natural touch sensation by applying shear forces onto the skin. In contrast to commonly used vibration-based haptics, our approach consists of arranging light-weight and stretchable 3 × 3cm plasters in a matrix onto the skin. Individual plasters were embedded with lines of shape-memory alloy (SMA) wires to control shear forces. The matrix arrangement of the plasters enables the illusion of a phantom touch, for instance, feeling a wrist grab or an arm stroke.
Match and Training Load Exposure and Time-Loss Incidence in Elite Rugby Union Players

Objective To investigate the impact of match and training load on time-loss incidence in elite, professional Rugby Union players. Materials and Methods Eighty-nine Rugby Union players were monitored over two seasons of training and competition. Load was measured for all training sessions and matches using subjective [session ratings of perceived exertion (sRPE) load; RPE × session duration] and objective [global positioning systems (GPS); distance and high-speed running distance] methods and quantified using multiple approaches; absolute match and training load, acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR), exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) and cumulative 7, 14, 21, and 28 d sums. Mixed effect models were used to assess the effect of each variable on time-loss incidence. Results Of the 474 time-loss incidences that occurred across the two seasons, 50.0% were contact injuries (86.5% occurred during matches and 13.5% during training), 34.8% were non-contact injuries (31.5% occurred during matches and 68.5% during training) and 15.2% were cases of illness. The absolute match and training load variables provided the best explanation of the variance in time-loss incidence occurrence [sRPE load: p < 0.001, Akaike information criterion (AIC) = 2936; distance: p < 0.001, AIC = 3004; high-speed running distance: p < 0.001, AIC = 3025]. The EWMA approach (EWMA sRPE load: p < 0.001, AIC = 2980; EWMA distance: p < 0.001, AIC = 2980; EWMA high-speed running distance: p = 0.002, AIC = 2987) also explained more of the variance in time-loss incidence occurrence than the ACWR approach (ACWR sRPE load: p = 0.091, AIC = 2993; ACWR distance: p = 0.008, AIC = 2990; ACWR high-speed running distance: p = 0.153, AIC = 2994). Conclusion Overall, the absolute sRPE load variable best explained the variance in time-loss incidence, followed by absolute distance and absolute high-speed running distance. Whilst the model fit using the EWMA approach was not as good as the absolute load variables, it was better than when the same variables were calculated using the ACWR method. Overall, these findings suggest that the absolute match and training load variables provide the best predictors of time-loss incidence rates, with sRPE load likely to be the optimal variant of those examined here.
Comparative study of six-month and eight-month treatment of new smear positive tuberculosis cases at a tertiary health facility in Enugu, South-Eastern Nigeria

Introduction: Factors that affect tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes are important and should be investigated to achieve the targets of TB control program. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare treatment outcomes of new smear positive TB patients treated for six months with those treated for eight months. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 600 new smear-positive TB patients was carried out. The data were analyzed using Stata version 22 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA), and the values of P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors that influenced treatment outcomes. Results: Overall, a higher proportion of patients (78.6%) who were treated for six months had successful treatment outcomes as compared with those treated for eight months 64.4% (P = < 0.001, OR = 2.03, CI = 1.41–2.91). After adjusting for confounders, sex (P = 0.040, AOR = 0.65, CI = 0.44–0.98), treatment duration (P < 0.001, AOR = 2.27, CI = 1.53–3.39), and pretreatment weight (P = 0.007, AOR = 1.28, CI = 1.07–1.52) independently predicted treatment outcome. Conclusion: The treatment success rate was better among the patients treated for six-month duration than those treated for eight-month duration. The current six-month regimen recommended by WHO should be maintained. Loss to follow-up and TB/HIV coinfection management should be improved.
Review of large-pore mesostructured cellular foam (MCF) silica and its applications

Abstract The unique properties of mesostructured cellular foam (MCF) silica such as, large pore size, continuous three-dimensional (3D) pore system and hydrothermal robust materialallow favorable conditions for incorporating active sites to produce modified MCF silica as catalysts, biocatalysts and adsorbents. Recently, the modified MCF silicas were reported to be efficient catalysts for the hydrogenation of phenylacetylene, heck coupling reaction of arylboronic acid, etc. Biocatalysts derived from modified MCF silicas were found to be a potential to convert glucose to gluconic acid, hydrolysis of N-benzoyl-DLarginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) and casein, transesterification of racemic 1 phenyl- ethanol and hydrolytic, etc. Several separation processes such as CO2 capture and adsorption of L-tryptophan, lysozyme and bovine serum were sucessfully conducted using adsorbents derived from modified MCF silicas. This paper reviews the synthesis of the MCF silica material and the incorporation of active sites or immobilization of enzymes in the MCF silica material. Additionally, a detailed understanding of the characterization of the modified MCF silicas, which includes pore size, active sites/enzymes sizes, amount of active sites/enzymes bound with the MCF silica, was also discussed to obtain their potentialities as catalysts, biocatalysts and adsorbents. The review also describes recent progress on the applications of the MCF silica.
Impact of the 2014 International Society of Urological Pathology Grading System on Concept of High-Risk Prostate Cancer: Comparison of Long-Term Oncological Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the new International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grading system, biochemical recurrence (BCR), clinical progression (CP) and cancer related death (CRD) after open radical prostatectomy (RP) and determine whether the 2014 ISUP grading system influences the concept of high-risk prostate cancer (HRPCa). Patients and Methods: A total of 1,754 men who underwent RP from 2005 to 2017 were identified from a database at a single tertiary institution. Histopathology reports were reassessed according to the 2014 ISUP grading system. All preoperative, pathological, and clinical follow-up data were obtained. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier and log-rank analyses were performed. Results: At a median (quartiles) follow-up of 83 (48–123) months, 446 men (25.4%) had BCR, 77 (4.4%) had CP and 39 (2.2%) died from cancer. Grade groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were detected in 404 (23%), 931 (53.1%), 200 (11.4%), 93 (5.3%), and 126 (7.2%), respectively. 10-year biochemical progression free survival difference between Grade group 3 and 4 was minor but significant (log-rank p = 0.045). There was no difference between Grade groups 3 and 4 comparing 10-year clinical progression free and 10-year cancer specific survival: p = 0.82 and p = 0.39, respectively. Group 5 had the worst survival rates in comparison with other groups (from p < 0.005 to p < 0.0001) in all survival analyses. Pathological stage (hazard ratio (HR) 2.6, p < 0.001), positive surgical margins (HR 2.2, p < 0.0001) and Grade group (HR 10.4, p < 0.0001) were independent predictors for BCR. Stage and Grade group were detected as independent predictors for CP–HR 6.0, p < 0.0001 and HR 35.6, p < 0.0001, respectively. Only Grade group 5 (HR 12.9, p = 0.001) and pT3b (HR 5.9, p = 0.001) independently predicted CRD. Conclusions: The new ISUP 2014 grading system is the most significant independent predictor for BCR, CP, and CRD. Grade group 3 and 4 had similar long-term disease progression survival rates and could potentially be stratified in the same risk group. High-risk cancer associated only with group 5.
Inhibition of AMD-Like Pathology With a Neurotrophic Compound in Aged Rats and 3xTg-AD Mice

Age-associated macular degeneration (AMD), which leads to loss of vision at its end stage, is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases among the elderly. However, to date, no effective drug therapy is available for the prevention of AMD. Here, we report the occurrence of AMD pathology and its prevention by chronic treatment with the neurotrophic peptidergic compound P021, in aged rats and 3xTg-AD mice. We found photoreceptor degeneration, lipofuscin granules, vacuoles, and atrophy in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) as well as Bruch’s membrane (BM) thickening; in aged rats, we even found rosette-like structure formation. Microgliosis and astrogliosis were observed in different retinal layers. In addition, we also found that total tau, phosphorylated tau, Aβ/APP, and VEGF were widely distributed in the sub-retina of aged rats and 3xTg mice. Importantly, chronic treatment with P021 for 3 months in rats and for 18 months in 3xTg mice ameliorated the pathological changes above. These findings indicate the therapeutic potential of P021 for prevention and treatment of AMD and retinal changes associated with aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
EFFICACY OF CITALOPRAM IN TREATMENT OF PATHOLOGICAL SKIN PICKING, A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE BLIND PLACEBO CONTROLLED TRIAL

Various studies suggest that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be useful in treating pathological skin picking (PSP). This study sought to assess effectiveness of citalopram in comparison with placebo in treating PSP. Forty five individuals with PSP were recruited in a four-week, randomized clinical trial of citalopram (20 mg/day) in comparison with placebo. Study measures assessing skin picking severity, mental health status, obsessive compulsive disorder and quality of life were given at baseline, weeks 2 and 4. PSP severity, general health status, obsession-compulsion severity and quality of life level were similar between two groups at baseline ( P > 0.05). Treatment analyses revealed significant improvements in quality of life, general health status and obsession-compulsion severity in citalopram group compared to placebo group ( P
The Performance Gap in Sport Can Help Determine Which Movements Were Most Essential to Human Evolution

Men outperform women in sports that require muscular strength and endurance, but the magnitude of this performance gap (PG) does not appear to be constant; that is, the PG between men and women is greater in some sports than it is in others. Here, we examine the size of this gap within the realm of track and field by comparing the top 50 world-record performances of men to the top 50 records set by women in a number of long-distance running, medium-distance running, short-distance running, and jumping events. While women do not perform at the level of men in any track and field event, the magnitude of the PG trends up or down depending on the type of event. Jumping events exhibit a larger gap between the sexes than do running events, and short-distance running events show a smaller disparity between the sexes than do medium- or long-distance running events. This difference suggests that general sexual dimorphism does not explain why female performance is relatively closer to male performance at some track and field events than others. We hypothesize that this trend can be explained by the presence of sex-blind musculoskeletal adaptations (SBMA’s), which accumulate over generations to reduce the size of the PG in certain movements. We conclude that the selection trend favoring in humans should be explored further to determine whether the PG in sport can indeed be used to determine movements to which the human body is adapted.
Linguistic Typology

The present paper discusses the benefits and challenges of token-based typology, which takes into account the frequencies of words and constructions in language use. This approach makes it possible to introduce new criteria for language classification, which would be difficult or impossible to achieve with the traditional, type-based approach. This point is illustrated by several quantitative studies of word order variation, which can be measured as entropy at different levels of granularity. I argue that this variation can be explained by general functional mechanisms and pressures, which manifest themselves in language use, such as optimization of processing (including avoidance of ambiguity) and grammaticalization of predictable units occurring in chunks. The case studies are based on multilingual corpora, which have been parsed using the Universal Dependencies annotation scheme.
The Potential of Light Fields in Media Productions

One aspect of the EU funded project SAUCE is to explore the possibilities and challenges of integrating light field capturing and processing into media productions. A special light field camera was build by Saarland University [Herfet et al. 2018] and is first tested under production conditions in the test production “Unfolding” as part of the SAUCE project. Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg developed the contentual frame, executed the post-production and prepared a complete previsualization. Calibration and post-processing algorithms are developed by the Trinity College Dublin and the Brno University of Technology. This document describes challenges during building and shooting with the light field camera array, as well as its potential and challenges for the post-production.
Atomic-scale clustering inhibits the bioactivity of fluoridated phosphate glasses

Abstract Here, molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out on phosphate glasses to clarify the previously debated influence of fluoride on the bioactivity of these glasses. We developed a computationally advanced inter-atomic force field including polarisation effects of the fluorine and oxygen atoms. Structural characterisations of the simulated systems showed that fluoride ions exclusively bond to the calcium modifier cations creating clusters within the glass structure and therefore decreasing the bioactivity of fluoridated phosphate glasses, making them less suitable for biomedical applications.
Nursing Studies about Central Venous Catheter Care : A Literature Review and Recommendations for Clinical Practice

Introduction: E vidence - based studies performed by nurses on central venous catheter care are limited in number. Aim : The aim of this study wa s to systematically evaluate the literature data about nurses’ responsibilities on each step of the care of central venous catheter and determining the gaps in the relevant data or issues to be re - evaluated, which could be helpful in future studies. Me thodology: A literature review was assessed. Different themes were extracted and recommended for clinical practice. A search strategy was carried out for the period 2007 – 2012 utilising three computerised databases: MEDLINE, PubMed and SCIENCE DIRECT. Resul ts: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria for review. Three prominent themes were identified in the literature related to: (1) Measures to Prevent Infection (2) Infection Control of central venous catheter , Results, and Other Findings (3) Applications to Sustain Catheter Flow . Conclusion s : According to the results of this study, nursing studies on the some subjects are either absent or inadequate In view of these facts, nurses are required to carry out high - quality evidence - based Randomised Controlled Tr ials .
Prevalencia de Leptospirosis en población general de Riohacha y Maicao. Departamento de La Guajira

Lina María Arteaga Flórez1. Marcos Restrepo Isaza2, Berta Nelly Restrepo Jaramillo2, Mónica Marcela Jiménez Serna2, Leslie Bruzon3, Ethel Mendoza Daza3, Yancy Barliza Maestre3, Rebeca Beatriz Pimienta3, Delcit Gutiérrez3, María del Socorro Núñez3, Dulaily Aguilar3, Karen Riquett3, Sixta Tulia Pimienta3, Luis Bermúdez3 1Icosan Internacional. 2Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical – Universidad CES. 3Secretaria de Salud Departamental de La Guajira
Faster RPNN: Rendering Clouds with Latent Space Light Probes

We introduce latent space light probes for fast rendering of high albedo anisotropic materials with multiple scattering. Our Faster RPNN model improves the performance of cloud rendering by precomputing some parts of the neural architecture, separating the parts that should be inferred at runtime. The model provides 2-3x speedup over state of the art Radiance-Predicting Neural Networks (RPNN), has negligible precomputation cost and low memory footprint, while providing results with low bias that are visually indistinguishable from computationally intensive path tracing.
Occlusion Management Techniques for the Visualization of Transportation Networks in Virtual 3D City Models

Transportation networks are important components of digital maps. The display of streets and railroad lines are a key for orientation and navigation using traditional and digital maps. While 2D digital maps enable effective communication, their visualization within 3D digital maps, based on virtual 3D city models, is often subject to occlusion that hinders the effective perception. There are a number of approaches to partially resolve occlusion effects within 3D geovirtual environments such as ghosted and cut-away views as well as interactive multi-perspective views are often applied. This paper proposes occlusion hints to emphasize occluded parts of transportation networks. In contrast to existing occlusion management techniques, these present only hints towards occluded parts to the viewer.
Assessment of Long Term Metabolic Effects of Atypical Antipsychotics in Schizophrenia Patients

Abstract Background and aims. Patients with schizophrenia have a shorter life expectancy than normal population partially due to the metabolic side effects of antipsychotic treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term evolution of the metabolic syndrome in chronic schizophrenia patients on fixed second generation antipsychotics (SGA). Material and method. The components of metabolic syndrome were evaluated repeatedly in a minimum 6 months and maximum 2 years follow-up period. The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and metabolic risk scores (cMetS) according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III were calculated and compared in time. In the prevalence, incidence and normalization logistic regression studies included all the known risk factors together with the follow-up period. Finally, all these rates were compared depending on the type of SGA. Results. Only cMetS, waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure presented significant increase in the follow-up period which was in average 385.5 days. The prevalence of MetS at base-line was 39.4%, which increased to 48.5% after the follow-up period. The calculated incidence of 30% was associated with a 23.1% rate of normalization. Logistic regression studies revealed as independent risk factors the age and base-line cMetS/weight for incidence and for normalization. In the aripiprazole group the normalization rate exceeded the incidence rate (33.3% vs 20%). Conclusions. The results emphasize the highly dynamic character of the metabolic syndrome even in chronic schizophrenia patients with fixed SGA regimen. The normalization of MetS is a possibility that should not ignored. The age and weight continue to remain independent risk factors, thus close monitoring in elderly and strict weight control plan are necessary. Aripiprazole showed better safety profile, but more extensive studies are required for definitive conclusions.
A Spatiotemporal Approach to Predicting Glaucoma Progression Using a CT-HMM

Glaucoma is the second leading global cause of blindness and its effects are irreversible, making early intervention crucial. The identification of glaucoma progression is therefore a challenging and important task. In this work, we model and predict longitudinal glaucoma measurements using an interpretable, discrete state space model. Two common glaucoma biomarkers are the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and the visual field index (VFI). Prior works have frequently used a scalar representation for RNFL, such as the average RNFL thickness, thereby discarding potentially-useful spatial information. We present a technique for incorporating spatiotemporal RNFL thickness measurements obtained from a sequence of OCT images into a longitudinal progression model. While these images capture the details of RNFL thickness, representing them for use in a longitudinal model poses two challenges: First, spatial changes in RNFL thickness must be encoded and organized into a temporal sequence in order to enable state space modeling. Second, a predictive model for forecasting the pattern of changes over time must be developed. We address these challenges through a novel approach to spatiotemporal progression analysis. c © 2019 S. Nagesh, A. Moreno, H. Ishikawa, G. Wollstein, J.S. Schuman & J.M. Rehg. A Spatiotemporal Approach to Predicting Glaucoma Progression Using a CT-HMM We jointly model the change in RNFL with VFI using a CT-HMM and predict future measurements. We achieve a decrease in mean absolute error of 74% for spatial RNFL thickness encoding in comparison to prior work using the average RNFL thickness. This work will be useful for accurately predicting the spatial location and intensity of tissue degeneration. Appropriate intervention based on more accurate prediction can potentially help to improve the clinical care of glaucoma.
The pathophysiology of pneumococcal pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia remains the leading cause of hospitalisation for infectious disease in Europe, and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. This issue of the European Respiratory Monograph brings together leading experts in pulmonology, infectious diseases and critical care from around the world to present the most recent advances in the management of community-acquired pneumonia. It provides a comprehensive overview of the disease, including chapters on microbiology, pathophysiology, antibiotic therapy and prevention, along with hot topics such as viral pneumonias and pneumonia associated with inhaled corticosteroids.