Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shear wave elastography: the relationship of the cervical stiffness with gestational age and cervical length- a feasibility study

Abstract Objectives To standardize the measurement of shear wave elastography for assessment of cervical stiffness and its relationship with gestational age and cervical length. Methods A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2017 to March 2019. Data from 125 unselected women (at 11–13 + 6, 18–22 and 24–28 weeks’ gestation) and 55 high-risk women were analyzed for the study. Six regions of interest were evaluated for cervical elastography in the mid-sagittal position by transvaginal ultrasound. Statistical analyses were performed using R statistical language in R-studio. Delivery outcomes were recorded for each patient. Results The shear wave elastography was feasible with good intraoperator and interoperator reproducibility. The endocervical canal and anterior lip internal position had the highest reproducibility (ICC-0.82, 0.75). Shear wave speed was significantly higher in all internal os regions than the external os. There was a statistically significant negative linear relationship of shear wave speed with the gestational age. There was a weak positive relationship between shear wave speed and cervical length. There was no difference between pregnancies with and without spontaneous preterm delivery in shear wave speed measurements and cervical length, although numbers were small for statistical analysis. The internal os of the large loop excision of the transformation zone group was stiffer than the normal population. Conclusion Cervical elastography is feasible and effectively evaluates the tensile properties of the cervix during pregnancy. The most reproducible measurements were obtained at the anterior lip of the internal cervical os. Combining evaluation of cervical elasticity and length might further improve the identification of women at risk of preterm delivery. Currently, technical issues hinder the practical application of shear wave elastography in the clinical setting and require further research and development of the imaging modality.
Design, Implementation, and Medical Applications of 2-D Ultrasound Sparse Arrays

An ultrasound sparse array consists of a sparse distribution of elements over a 2-D aperture. Such an array is typically characterized by a limited number of elements, which in most cases is compatible with the channel number of the available scanners. Sparse arrays represent an attractive alternative to full 2-D arrays that may require the control of thousands of elements through expensive application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). However, their massive use is hindered by two main drawbacks: the possible beam profile deterioration, which may worsen the image contrast, and the limited signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which may result too low for some applications. This article reviews the work done for three decades on 2-D ultrasound sparse arrays for medical applications. First, random, optimized, and deterministic design methods are reviewed together with their main influencing factors. Then, experimental 2-D sparse array implementations based on piezoelectric and capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) technologies are presented. Sample applications to 3-D (Doppler) imaging, super-resolution imaging, photo-acoustic imaging, and therapy are reported. The final sections discuss the main shortcomings associated with the use of sparse arrays, the related countermeasures, and the next steps envisaged in the development of innovative arrays.
Impact of fiber-fortified food consumption on anthropometric measurements and cardiometabolic outcomes: A systematic review, meta-analyses, and meta-regressions of randomized controlled trials

Abstract The consumption of processed and refined food lacking in fiber has led to global prevalence of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. Fiber-fortification into these foods can yield potential health improvements to reduce disease risk. This meta-analyses aimed to evaluate how fiber-fortified food consumption changes body composition, blood pressure, blood lipid-lipoprotein panel, and glycemic-related markers. Searches were performed from 5 databases, with 31 randomized controlled trial eventually analyzed. Hedges’ g values (95% confidence interval [CI]) attained from outcome change values were calculated using random-effects model. Fiber-fortified food significantly reduced body weight (−0.31 [−0.59, −0.03]), fat mass (−0.49 [−0.72, −0.26]), total cholesterol (−0.54 [−0.71, −0.36]), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−0.49 [−0.65, −0.33]), triglycerides (−0.24 [−0.36, −0.12]), fasting glucose (−0.30 [−0.49, −0.12]), and HbA1c (−0.44 [−0.74, −0.13]). Subgroup analysis differentiated soluble fiber as significantly reducing triglycerides and insulin while insoluble fiber significantly reduced body weight, BMI, and HbA1c. Greater outcome improvements were observed with solid/semi-solid food state than liquid state. Additionally, fiber fortification of <15 g/day induced more health outcome benefits compared to ≥15 g/day, although meta-regression found a dose-dependent improvement to waist circumference (p-value = 0.036). Findings from this study suggest that consuming food fortified with dietary fiber can improve anthropometric and cardiometabolic outcomes. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2022. 2053658
Haciendo Frente a la Naturaleza Clandestina de los Estudios de Mercado del Comercio de Vida Silvestre

Illegal international trade in wildlife (excluding fisheries and timber) has been valued at more than US$20 billion. A more precise figure has not been determined in part because of the clandestine nature of the trade, and for this same reason even regional and local levels of wildlife trade are difficult to assess. The application of recent developments in wildlife field-survey methods (e.g., occupancy) now allows for a moreaccurate estimation of wildlife trade occurrence, including its hidden components at a variety of scales (e.g., regional, local) and periods (e.g., single season, 1 year, multiple years). Occupancy models have been applied in wildlife field studies to address the problem of false absences when conducting presence–absence surveys. Occupancy surveys differ from traditional presence–absence surveys because they incorporate repeat surveys, allowing for the likelihood of detecting a species (the probability of detection) to be estimated explicitly (in contrast to traditional surveys that often incorrectly treat this probability as close to one to allow for estimation of presence). Occupancy methods can be applied to a variety of wildlife-trade surveys, including, for example, single-species availability, links between two illegally traded species (i.e., co-occurrence), and disease occurrence in live trade. In addition, free user-friendly software (i.e., PRESENCE) allows even nonstatisticians to adequately address this issue. I simulated a hypothetical wildlife-trade market survey that resulted in an apparent 20% decline in naı̈ve occupancy (proportion of surveyed towns engaged in the trade) over 2 years, but when I accounted for change in probability of detection over the years the difference in occupancy was not statistically significant. As more sophisticated methods, such as occupancy, are applied to wildlife-trade market surveys, results will be more robust and defensible and therefore, theoretically, more powerful when presented to conservation policy and decision makers.
Diagnostic accuracy of clinical indicators of Imbalanced nutrition in pediatric patients submitted to chemotherapy

To analyze the accuracy of clinical indicators of nursing diagnosis, Imbalanced nutrition: less than the body requirements in pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a pediatric oncohematology unit. A total of 123 children aged 5–18 years were evaluated. The Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (STARD) protocol was used. Latent class analysis was performed to obtain sensitivity and specificity of clinical indicators. The diagnosis was identified in six children (5.23%). The most frequent clinical indicator in the study was report of food intake less than recommended daily allowance (n = 61; 49.6%), followed by excessive hair loss (n = 49; 39.8%), misperception (n = 42; 34.1%), satiety immediately upon ingesting food (n = 32; 26%), lack of information (n = 30; 24.4%), and pale mucous membranes (n = 22; 17.9%). The 10 indicators that sensitivity and specificity were statistically superior to 50% were food intake less than recommended daily allowance, misperception, insufficient interest in food, lack of food, hyperactive bowel sounds, body weight 20% or more below ideal weight range, insufficient muscle tone, food aversion, abdominal cramping, and misinformation. The clinical indicators Food intake less than recommended daily allowance and Misperception can be considered the most important indicators for the initial inference of the diagnosis due to their high values of specificity and sensitivity. It is essential that nurses provide targeted and qualified assistance based on the signs and symptoms presented by patients, as they will be able to design appropriate interventions to obtain the desired results.
Challenges and Learning Needs of Nurse-Patients’ Family Communication: Focus Group Interviews With Intensive Care Unit Nurses in South Korea

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses are expected to facilitate effective day-to-day communication with patients and family members at the bedside. To date, communication training for ICU health care professionals has targeted mainly intensivists-in-training, but there is limited data on communication experience and needs to be evaluated among ICU nurses. This qualitative study used focus group interviews to explore daily communication experiences with patients’ families and communication training needs and preferences among ICU nurses in South Korea. Five focus group interviews were conducted with 27 ICU nurses (4–6 nurses per group). The results of inductive qualitative content analysis highlighted four main categories: “Perceived difficulties during communication,” “burden from working conditions,” “endeavors to promote communication skills,” and “strategies for cultivating effective communication. ” Regarding suggestions for future communication training, nurses preferred interactive learning with peer-support over traditional methods (e.g., lectures). Nurses also suggested that communication training for ICU nurses should include learning skills appropriate for difficult situations (e.g., angry family members). Findings from this study can serve as a framework for stakeholders in ICU care and healthcare education (e.g., hospital and nursing administrators, nurse educators) when designing communication training to support ICU nurses with their practical knowledge and communication skills.
The effect of acute intermittent hypoxia on human limb motoneurone output

What is the central question of this study? Does a single session of repeated bouts of acute intermittent hypoxic breathing enhance the motoneuronal output of the limb muscles of healthy able‐bodied participants? What is the main finding and its importance? Compared to breathing room air, there were some increases in motoneuronal output following acute intermittent hypoxia, but the increases were variable across participants and in time after the intervention and depended on which neurophysiological measure was checked.
Association between resident status and patients’ experiences of primary care: a cross-sectional study in the Greater Bay Area, China

Objectives Patients’ experiences are important part of health services quality research, but it’s still unclear whether patients’ experiences are influenced by resident status. This study aimed to evaluate the association between resident status and patients’ primary care experiences with the focus on migrants vs local residents. Design A cross-sectional study using multistage cluster random sampling was conducted from September to November 2019. The data were analysed using general linear models. Setting Six community health centres in Guangzhou, China. Participants 1568 patients aged 20 years or older. Main outcome measures Patients’ primary care experiences were assessed using the Primary Care Assessment Tool. The 10 domains included in Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT) refers to first contact-utilisation, first contact-access, ongoing care, coordination (referral), coordination (information), comprehensiveness (services available), comprehensiveness (services provided), family-centredness, community orientation and cultural competence from patient’s perspective. Results 1568 questionnaires were analysed. After adjusting for age, sex, education, annual family income, self-perceived health status, chronic condition, annual medical expenditure and medical insurance, the PCAT total scores of the migrants were significantly lower than those of local residents (β=−0.128; 95% CI −0.218 to −0.037). Migrants had significantly lower scores than local residents in first contact utilisation (β=−0.245; 95% CI −0.341 to −0.148), ongoing care (β=−0.175; 95% CI −0.292 to −0.059), family-centredness (β=−0.112; 95% CI −0.225 to 0.001), community orientation (β=−0.176; 95% CI −0.286 to −0.066) and cultural competence (β=−0.270; 95% CI −0.383 to −0.156), respectively. Conclusion Primary care experiences of migrants were significantly worse off than those of local residents, especially in terms of primary care utilisation, continuity and cultural competence. Given the wide disparity in primary care experiences between migrants and local residents, Chinese healthcare system reform should focus on improving quality of primary care services for migrants, overcoming language barriers and creating patient-centred primary care services.
The Roles of MicroRNA in Pancreatic Cancer Progression

Abstract Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a poor patient survival rate in comparison with other cancer types, even after targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Therefore, a great deal needs to be done to gain a better understanding of the biology and identification of prognostic and predictive markers for the development of superior therapies. The microRNAs (miRNAs) belong to small non-coding RNAs that regulate post-transcriptional gene expression. Several shreds of evidence indicate that miRNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Here we review the recent developments in miRNAs and their target role in the development, metastasis, migration, and invasion.
A Model for Predicting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to Exposure to Chronic Political Violence: Big Five Personality Traits, Ego-Resiliency, and Coping

Research on psychological effects of exposure to political violence has focused mainly on the effect of environmental factors whereas the effect of individual differences is understudied. The present study offers an integrative model of the contribution of personality traits, ego-resiliency, and coping styles to post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptomatology of civilians exposed to chronic political violence. Three-hundred and thirty-two Israeli citizens living in the south region of Israel were asked to report their experience with different types of political violence incidents, their coping strategies, and PTS symptoms. The participants were also asked to complete the Big Five personality Inventory and Ego-Resiliency Scale. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis indicated that ego-resiliency and emotion-focused coping mediate the relationship between big five personality traits and levels of stress symptoms. It is suggested that neurotic people are more vulnerable to PTS due to low levels of ego-resiliency and a preference to use emotion-focused coping strategies.
Competing effects of rotational diffusivity and activity on finite-sized clusters

Colloidal particles interacting via short-range attraction and long-range repulsion are known to stabilize finite-sized clusters under equilibrium conditions. In this work, the effect of self-propulsion speed (activity) and rotational diffusivity (D r) on the phase behavior of such particles is investigated using Brownian dynamics simulations. The system exhibits rich phase behavior consisting of clusters of different kinds. The cluster size varies non-monotonically with activity: increasing first and decreasing at higher activity, thus driving cluster-to-fluid phase transition. Rotational diffusivity also facilitates the formation of clusters. Larger clusters could be stabilized at low D r values while at high D r values, clusters are stable even at higher activities. The analysis of the static structure factor of the system confirms that rotational diffusivity delays the cluster-to-fluid transition driven by activity.
Experimental Vision Studies of Flow and Structural Effects on Wind Turbines

(25/12/2018) Experimental Vision Studies of Flow and Structural Effects on Wind Turbines In the present thesis, two modern vision technologies are developed and used to study wind turbines: 1Stereo vision to study vibrations and dynamics of the Vertical Axes Wind Turbine (VAWT) via operational modal analysis (OMA) 2Background-oriented Schlieren (BOS) method to study the tip vortices that are shed from a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) blades The thesis starts with an introduction to the stereo vision and OMA and is followed by two practical implementations of the basics derived in the introduction. In the first experiment, we developed the image processing tools to extract the displacement time series from stereo images taken from a VAWT blade subjected to the random vibrations. For analysing the time series, we devised an averaged approach of the covariance-driven stochastic subspace identification (COV-SSI) method. The method enables us to involve short measurement sets in OMA. Therefore, the first four natural frequencies are identified and agreed fairly with classical modal analysis (EMA) and finite element simulation (FEM). The second experiment is conducted on a VAWT rotor in the wind tunnel in a more controlled and designed condition, and the displacement time series are obtained using a more elaborated image processing algorithm. In OMA part, we developed the data-driven stochastic subspace identification (DDSSI) and frequency domain decomposition (FDD) codes for studying the dynamic behaviour of the turbine. The structural modes of the VAWT obtained with OMA are validated with the simulation and EMA, and then, the differences are explained with the aerodynamic effect and boundary conditions. The other frequencies obtained by OMA are interpreted via vortex shedding phenomena and guy wire effects. In the fifth chapter, the uncertainty of the displacements obtained in the two experiments mentioned above, is evaluated using the law of error propagation and several solutions are presented to decrease the uncertainty in the stereo vision experiments. In the last chapter of the thesis, the BOS method has been used to study the tip vortices behind a Nordtank horizontal axis wind turbine based on the density gradient in the vortex. The BOS method does not need complicated equipment such as special cameras or seeded flow, which makes it a convenient method to study large scale flows. However, the challenging part in the current case is the small refractive index change due to the small Mach number in the flow behind the HAWT. This issue has been addressed in the last chapter by designing a proper experimental setup according to the preliminary estimation of the tip vortex. The changes due to the vortex are modelled, and the tip vortex properties such as vortex size, density distribution and the maximum pressure drop in the vortex core are successfully estimated by comparison between the model and the experimental observations.
Assessment of physicochemical, rheological, and thermal properties of Indian rice cultivars: Implications on the extrusion characteristics.

The implications of physicochemical, rheological, and thermal properties of seven eminent Indian rice cultivars (PR 114, 121, 122, 123, 124, 126, 127) on the extrusion behavior and physico-functionalities of the extrudates were investigated. The amylose and amylopectin content of the cultivars ranged between 12.72 to 28.86%, and 71.14 to 87.28% in addition with protein and crude fat content that varied from 7.05 to 9.15% and 0.49 to 1.17%, respectively. The onset (r = 0.98), peak (r = 0.95) and conclusion (r = 0.98) temperatures of the cultivars were in positive correlation with amylose. Likewise, pasting temperature (r = 0.979), final viscosity (r = 0.91), set back viscosity (r = 0.89), and stability ratio (r = 0.90) of the cultivars demonstrated a significant positive correlation with the amylose content. However, peak (r = - 0.879) and hold viscosity (r = - 0.89) were negatively correlated. The cultivars were extruded at feed moisture of 15%, screw speed of 500 rpm and barrel temperature of 1500 C. The extrudates characteristics viz., expansion ratio - 1.82 (PR 123); bulk density - 184 g/cc (PR 123); specific mechanical energy - 262.35Wh/kg; water absorption index - 6.26 (PR 122); water solubility index-48.52% (PR 123); hardness-148.63 N (PR 122); and hydration power - 284% (PR 122) were viably hyphenated with the physicochemical and rheological behavior of cultivars. The physico-functional characterization of the extrudates in terms of their starch and protein structural indexes, α-amylase susceptibility; water soluble carbohydrates and proteins revealed the possibility of exploring these cultivars as a functionally viable and diverse ingredient for the production of ready-to-eat extrudates. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Anti-inflammatory activity of the water extract of Semiliquidambar cathayensis leaf

Abstract In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of the water extract of Semiliquidambar cathayensis leaf (WESCL) was evaluated for the first time. WESCL exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by significantly reducing the cell metamorphosis, the production of nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages while showing no cytotoxic effect to the cells. Furthermore, an in vivo study revealed that WESCL could alleviate the disease development of osteoarthritis (OA) and decrease the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in mice. Chemical composition analysis indicated that WESCL contained high amounts of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and triterpenoid saponins, with the total content being 30.6 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g, 38.2 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g, 100.5 mg oleanolic acid equivalent (OAE)/g, respectively. The present study successfully identified WESCL as a naturally-occurring anti-inflammatory agent, supporting its potent application for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases. Graphical Abstract