Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Journal of Anesthesiology and Clinical Research (JACR)

Introduction: Afterpain is cramping pain that occurs in the stomach of postpartum mothers after giving birth. This pain can interfere with activities and reduce the mother's quality of life. Lavender aromatherapy has been proven effective in reducing pain in several conditions. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of lavender aromatherapy in reducing afterpain in postpartum mothers in Purwakarta Regency. Methods: This research uses a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test design. A total of 60 postpartum mothers were randomly divided into two groups: the intervention group (lavender aromatherapy) and the control group (no intervention). The intervention group was inhaled with lavender aromatherapy for 30 minutes twice a day for 3 days. The control group was not given any intervention. Afterpain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) on the first, third, and seventh days postpartum. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference in the reduction of afterpain between the intervention group and the control group on the third (p=0.002) and seventh (p=0.001) postpartum day. Conclusion: Lavender aromatherapy is effective in reducing afterpain in postpartum mothers in Purwakarta Regency.
Exposure assessment of 60 GHz communication antenna and 79 GHz automotive radar

Günter Vermeeren, Sven Kühn, Björn Debaillie, Guy Torfs, Niels Kuster, Piet Demeester, Wim Van Thillo, Luc Martens, and Wout Joseph 1 imec WAVES, Department of Information Technology at Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium 2 IT’IS Foundation, Zürich, Switzerland 3 imec IoT, Leuven, Belgium 4 IDlab, Department of Information Technology at Ghent University imec, Ghent, Belgium 5 WAVES, Department of Information Technology at Ghent University imec, Ghent, Belgium Corresponding author e-mail: Gunter.Vermeeren@UGent.be
Brain volume changes following blast-related mild TBI in service members and veterans: a LIMBIC-CENC study

Importance: Blast-related mild traumatic brain injuries (bTBI), the 'signature injury' of post-9/11 conflicts, are associated with clinically-relevant long-term cognitive, psychological, and behavioral dysfunction and disability; however, the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. Objective: To investigate associations between a history of remote bTBI and regional brain volume in a sample of United States (U.S.) Veterans and Active Duty Service Members (VADSM). Design: Prospective case-control study of U.S. VADSM of participants from the Long-term Impact of Military-relevant Brain Injury Consortium - Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (LIMBIC-CENC), which enrolled over 1,500 participants at five sites used in this analysis between 2014-2023. Setting: Participants were recruited from Veterans Affairs medical centers across the U.S. Participants: Seven hundred and seventy-four VADSM of the U.S. military met eligibility criteria for this analysis. Exposure: All participants had combat exposure, and 82% had one or more lifetime mild TBIs with variable injury mechanisms. Main Outcomes and Measures: Regional brain volume was calculated using tensor-based morphometry on 3D T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans. TBI history, including history of blast-related injury (bTBI), was assessed by structured clinical interview. Cognitive performance and psychiatric symptoms were assessed with a battery of validated instruments. We hypothesized that regional volume would be smaller in the bTBI group, and that this would be associated with cognitive performance. Results: Individuals with a history of bTBI had smaller brain volumes in several clusters, with the largest centered bilaterally in the superior corona radiata and globus pallidus. Greater volume deficits were associated with a larger number of lifetime bTBIs. Additionally, causal mediation analysis revealed that these volume differences significantly mediated the association between bTBI and performance on measures of working memory and processing speed. Conclusions and Relevance: Our results reveal robust volume differences associated with bTBI. Magnetic resonance elastography atlases reveal that the specific regions affected include the stiffest tissues in the brain, which may underlie their vulnerability to pressure waves from blast exposures. Furthermore, these volume differences significantly mediated the association between bTBI and cognitive function, indicating that this may be a helpful biomarker in tracking outcome after bTBI and suggesting potential treatment targets to prevent or limit chronic dysfunction.
Volitional control of movement interacts with proprioceptive feedback in motor cortex during brain-computer interface control in humans

Vision and proprioception regulate motor output during reaching. To study the effects of sensory input on motor control, brain computer interfaces (BCIs) offer particular advantages. As part of a long-term clinical BCI trial, we implanted two 96-channel microelectrode arrays into M1 of a person who was completely paralyzed below the neck but retained intact somatosensation. Neural recordings from M1 were transformed into a 2-dimensional velocity control signal for a robotic arm using an optimal linear estimator decoder that was calibrated while the participant imagined performing movements demonstrated by a virtual arm. Once the decoder was calibrated, we asked the participant to move the robotic arm left and right past a pair of lines as many times as possible in one minute. We examined how visual and proprioceptive feedback were incorporated into BCI control during this task by providing the participant with either visual or proprioceptive feedback, both, or neither. Proprioceptive feedback was provided by moving the participant’s
Distribution and behavior of selected elements in soil ver a historical Pb-Ag mining site at Sv. Jakob, Croatia

The geochemical patterns of certain elements (Pb, Zn, Cd and Hg) in soils from the floodplain of the river Sava and some tributaries that drain Mt. Medvednica NW of Zagreb, Croatia, obtained during an environmental regional geochemical study indicated that the sources of pollution were not only from Pb-Hg-Ba mining region situated along the upper course of the river Sava in neighboring Slovenia, but also in part from local historical mining sites located on Mt. Medvednica. As a target of this study was an old 17 century lead mine (galena with 485 ppm of Ag) situated near the chapel of St. Jacob (Croatian Sv. Jakob) on the crest of Mt. Medvednica (830m a.s.l.). The mineralization which consists of galena, sphalerite, pyrite and quartz occurs as irregular veins within Triassic dolomites. A total of 110 brown forest topsoil (0-25 cm) soil samples was collected on dense regular grid covering an area of approximately 1.5 km2. Ten samples were selected for detailed chemical and mineralogical analysis. Trace metal values were obtained from aqua regia extracts, while their residence sites in soils were identified by sequential extraction performed with the aid of a modified combination of procedures proposed by Tessier et al., (1979) and Hall et al., (1996). The following phases were defined by the reagents used: exchangeable, carbonate, iron and manganese oxide, organic-sulphidic and residual. The concentration trace metals in resulting solutions was determined by atomic adsorption spectroscopy and inductively-coupled plasma spectrometry. Total mercury was determined by flameless AAS mercury detector (AGP-1) from solid samples after heating at 700°C and pre-concentration with a gold wire (detection limit = 10 ngg-1). The aqua regia extractable Pb values varied from 9 to 18000 mgg-1, Zn 12-9000 mgg-1, Cd from Fe and Mn oxide> organic-sulphide> exchangeable = residual b) Zn organic-sulphide> Fe and Mn oxide> residual> carbonate> exchangeable c) Cd Fe and Mn oxide>carbonate=organic-sulphide> exchangeable>residual The mineralogy of the soils is dominated by quartz, mica, geothite, kaolinite and plagioclase, cerrusite was identified by XRD only in one sample and no primary sulphide minerals (galena) were found. The flooding of the river Sava (the last major flood occurred in 1964) is the major source of soil pollution in the floodplain area south of Zagreb, but the violent mudflows from streams that drain the areas of historical mining sites that occur after rainstorms and flood northwestern parts of the city, as this study shows, also present a probable source of pollution.
Tertiary Plasticity Drives the Efficiency of Enterocin 7B Interactions with Lipid Membranes

The ability of antimicrobial peptides to efficiently kill their bacterial targets depends on the efficiency of their binding to the microbial membrane. In the case of enterocins, there is a three-part interaction: initial binding, unpacking of helices on the membrane surface, and permeation of the lipid bilayer. Helical unpacking is driven by disruption of the peptide hydrophobic core when in contact with membranes. Enterocin 7B is a leaderless enterocin antimicrobial peptide produced from Enterococcus faecalis that functions alone, or with its cognate partner enterocin 7A, to efficiently kill a wide variety of Gram-stain positive bacteria. To better characterize the role that tertiary structural plasticity plays in the ability of enterocin 7B to interact with the membranes, a series of arginine single-site mutants were constructed that destabilize the hydrophobic core to varying degrees. A series of experimental measures of structure, stability, and function, including CD spectra, far UV CD melting profiles, minimal inhibitory concentrations analysis, and release kinetics of calcein, show that decreased stabilization of the hydrophobic core is correlated with increased efficiency of a peptide to permeate membranes and in killing bacteria. Finally, using the computational technique of adaptive steered molecular dynamics, we found that the atomistic/energetic landscape of peptide mechanical unfolding leads to free energy differences between the wild type and its mutants, whose trends correlate well with our experiment.
Rational attenuation of canine distemper virus (CDV) to develop a morbillivirus animal model that mimics measles in humans

ABSTRACT Morbilliviruses are members of the family Paramyxoviridae and are known for their ability to cause systemic disease in a variety of mammalian hosts. The prototypic morbillivirus, measles virus (MeV), infects humans and still causes morbidity and mortality in unvaccinated children and young adults. Experimental infection studies in non-human primates have contributed to the understanding of measles pathogenesis. However, ethical restrictions call for the development of new animal models. Canine distemper virus (CDV) infects a wide range of animals, including ferrets, and its pathogenesis shares many features with measles. However, wild-type CDV infection is almost always lethal, while MeV infection is usually self-limiting. Here, we made five recombinant CDVs, predicted to be attenuated, and compared their pathogenesis to the non-attenuated recombinant CDV in a ferret model. Three viruses were insufficiently attenuated based on clinical signs, fatality, and systemic infection, while one virus was too attenuated. The last candidate virus caused a self-limiting infection associated with transient viremia and viral dissemination to all lymphoid tissues, was shed transiently from the upper respiratory tract, and did not result in acute neurological signs. Additionally, an in-depth phenotyping of the infected white blood cells showed lower infection percentages in all lymphocyte subsets when compared to the non-attenuated CDV. In conclusion, infection models using this candidate virus mimic measles and can be used to study pathogenesis-related questions and to test interventions for morbilliviruses in a natural host species. IMPORTANCE Morbilliviruses are transmitted via the respiratory route but cause systemic disease. The viruses use two cellular receptors to infect myeloid, lymphoid, and epithelial cells. Measles virus (MeV) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in humans, requiring animal models to study pathogenesis or intervention strategies. Experimental MeV infections in non-human primates are restricted by ethical and practical constraints, and animal morbillivirus infections in natural host species have been considered as alternatives. Inoculation of ferrets with wild-type canine distemper virus (CDV) has been used for this purpose, but in most cases, the virus overwhelms the immune system and causes highly lethal disease. Introduction of an additional transcription unit and an additional attenuating point mutation in the polymerase yielded a candidate virus that caused self-limiting disease with transient viremia and virus shedding. This rationally attenuated CDV strain can be used for experimental morbillivirus infections in ferrets that reflect measles in humans.
Effects of a Phone-Based Support Program for Women With Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Pilot Study

Introduction The increasing number of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy may result in long-lasting, adverse physical side effects and reduced quality of life. Objective This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility and preliminary effects of the Phone-Based Support Program for women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The primary outcome was self-care self-efficacy; secondary outcomes were symptom distress and quality of life. Methods This pilot study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Jiangsu province, China, from February to March 2023. The Phone-Based Support Program was delivered to 20 participants through the smartphone application WeChat, consisting of learning, discussion, ask-the-expert, and personal stories components. Outcome measures were assessed at three time points: preintervention, postintervention, and follow-up. Results The Phone-Based Support Program was feasible and could improve self-care self-efficacy, decrease symptom distress, and promote quality of life. The program was well-accepted, and participants engaged actively in the online discussion and sought expert advice. Conclusions The Phone-Based Support Program showed feasibility and effectiveness in improving self-care self-efficacy, reducing symptom distress, and enhancing quality of life.
Walrus Movements in Smith Sound: A Canada–Greenland Shared Stock + Supplementary Appendix 1 (See Article Tools)

Fifty of 58 walruses ( Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus ) instrumented with satellite-linked transmitters in four areas in eastern Smith Sound, Northwest Greenland, during May and June of 2010 – 13 and 2015 provided data for this study. These animals departed from the feeding banks along the Greenland coast in June – July (average 14th June), simultaneously with the disappearance of sea ice from these areas. Most of them moved to Canadian waters in western Smith Sound. The most frequently used summering grounds were along the coasts of Ellesmere Island: on the eastern coast, the area around Alexandra Fiord, Buchanan Bay, and Flagler Bay (west of Kane Basin) and Talbot Inlet farther south, and on the southern coast, Craig Harbour. This distribution of tagged walruses is consistent with prior understanding of walrus movements in summer. In addition, however, nine tracks of these tagged animals entered western Jones Sound and four entered the Penny Strait-Lancaster Sound area, crossing two putative stock boundaries. Since these 13 tracks were made by 12 animals, one walrus entered both areas. It is possible that some of the tracked walruses used terrestrial haul-out sites in the largely ice-free areas of Jones Sound and Lancaster Sound for short periods during the summer, though this cannot be confirmed with certainty. The return migration from western Smith Sound to the wintering area in eastern Smith Sound takes place in October. The tracked walrus showed high affinity to coastal areas, while walruses moving between Greenland and Canada also used offshore areas in Smith Sound. This study demonstrates that the walrus population that winters along the northwestern coast of Greenland is shared more widely in Canada than previously thought and should be managed accordingly.
Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Water Access in Rural Areas of Low and Middle Income Countries

Worldwide, 844 million people still lack access to basic drinking water, especially in the rural areas of low and middle income countries. However, considerable progress has been made in recent years due to work on the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals. Nevertheless, countries’ national characteristics have often impacted on this progress. This paper analyzes whether specific socioeconomic factors affect access to improved water sources in the rural areas of developing countries. In particular, we analyze access to ‘total improved’, piped on premises, as well as other improved sources of access in rural areas for low income, low-middle income, and high-middle income countries. Our results suggest that gross national income (GNI); female primary completion rate; agriculture; growth of rural population; and governance indicators, such as political stability, control of corruption, or regulatory quality are variables related to water access, although specific associations depend on the source of water and income group examined. Understanding these interrelations could be of great importance for decision makers in the water sector as well as for future research on this topic.
Himalayan earthquakes: a review of historical seismicity and early 21st century slip potential

Abstract This article summarizes recent advances in our knowledge of the past 1000 years of earthquakes in the Himalaya using geodetic, historical and seismological data, and identifies segments of the Himalaya that remain unruptured. The width of the Main Himalayan Thrust is quantified along the arc, together with estimates for the bounding coordinates of historical rupture zones, convergence rates, rupture propagation directions as constrained by felt intensities. The 2018 slip potential for fifteen segments of the Himalaya are evaluated and potential magnitudes assessed for future earthquakes should these segments fail in isolation or as contiguous ruptures. Ten of these fifteen segments are sufficiently mature currently to host a great earthquake (Mw ≥ 8). Fatal Himalayan earthquakes have in the past occurred mostly in the daylight hours. The death toll from a future nocturnal earthquake in the Himalaya could possibly exceed 100 000 due to increased populations and the vulnerability of present-day construction methods.
In vivo microstructural heterogeneity of white matter and cognitive correlates in aging using tissue compositional analysis of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Background Age‐related cognitive decline is linked to changes in the brain, particularly the deterioration of white matter (WM) microstructure that accelerates after the age of 60. WM deterioration is associated with mild cognitive impairment and dementia, but the origin and role of white matter signal abnormalities (WMSA) seen in standard MRI remain debated due to their heterogeneity. This study explores the potential of single‐shell 3‐tissue constrained spherical deconvolution (SS3T‐CSD), a novel technique that models diffusion data in terms of gray matter (TG), white matter (Tw), and cerebrospinal fluid (TC), to differentiate WMSA from normal‐appearing white matter and better understand the interplay between changes in WM microstructure and decline in cognition. Methods A total of 189 individuals from the GENIC cohort were included. MRI data, including T1‐weighted and diffusion images, were obtained. Preprocessing steps were performed on the diffusion MRI data, followed by the SS3T‐CSD. WMSA were segmented using FreeSurfer. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the association between age, WMSA volume, 3‐tissue signal fractions (Tw, TG, and TC), and neuropsychological variables. Results Participants above 60 years old showed worse cognitive performance and processing speed compared to those below 60 (p < .001). Age was negatively associated with Tw in normal‐appearing white matter (p < .001) and positively associated with TG in both WMSA (p < .01) and normal‐appearing white matter (p < .001). Age was also significantly associated with WMSA volume (p < .001). Higher processing speed was associated with lower Tw and higher TG, in normal‐appearing white matter (p < .01 and p < .001, respectively), as well as increased WMSA volume (p < .001). Similarly, lower MMSE scores correlated with lower Tw and higher TG in normal‐appearing white matter (p < .05). High cholesterol and hypertension were associated with higher WMSA volume (p < .05). Conclusion The microstructural heterogeneity within normal‐appearing white matter and WMSA is associated with increasing age and cognitive variation, in cognitively unimpaired individuals. Furthermore, the 3‐tissue signal fractions are more specific to potential white matter alterations than conventional MRI measures such as WMSA volume. These findings also support the view that the WMSA volumes may be more influenced by vascular risk factors than the 3‐tissue metrics. Finally, the 3‐tissue metrics were able to capture associations with cognitive tests and therefore capable of capturing subtle pathological changes in the brain in individuals who are still within the normal range of cognitive performance.
Use of machine learning to identify characteristics associated with severe hypoglycemia in older adults with type 1 diabetes: a post-hoc analysis of a case–control study

Introduction Severe hypoglycemia (SH) in older adults (OAs) with type 1 diabetes is associated with profound morbidity and mortality, yet its etiology can be complex and multifactorial. Enhanced tools to identify OAs who are at high risk for SH are needed. This study used machine learning to identify characteristics that distinguish those with and without recent SH, selecting from a range of demographic and clinical, behavioral and lifestyle, and neurocognitive characteristics, along with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) measures. Research design and methods Data from a case–control study involving OAs recruited from the T1D Exchange Clinical Network were analyzed. The random forest machine learning algorithm was used to elucidate the characteristics associated with case versus control status and their relative importance. Models with successively rich characteristic sets were examined to systematically incorporate each domain of possible risk characteristics. Results Data from 191 OAs with type 1 diabetes (47.1% female, 92.1% non-Hispanic white) were analyzed. Across models, hypoglycemia unawareness was the top characteristic associated with SH history. For the model with the richest input data, the most important characteristics, in descending order, were hypoglycemia unawareness, hypoglycemia fear, coefficient of variation from CGM, % time blood glucose below 70 mg/dL, and trail making test B score. Conclusions Machine learning may augment risk stratification for OAs by identifying key characteristics associated with SH. Prospective studies are needed to identify the predictive performance of these risk characteristics.