Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hypertensive and Non-hypertensive Hospital Admission Blood Pressure Association with Cognitive Function in Stroke Patients

Highlight: A comparative study of hypertension and non-hypertension on cognitive function. Hospital admission blood pressure and cognitive function in acute-phase stroke patients. Blood pressure is not associated with cognitive function. ABSTRACT Introduction: Cognitive impairment is one of the many stroke effects. White matter damage, microinfarcts, microbleeding, atrophy, and amyloid buildup in the brain due to stroke are all potential causes of this condition. Cognitive impairment studies have yet to provide a definitive explanation for how this condition develops following a stroke. Blood pressure is one of several risk factors for stroke. Meanwhile, few studies have been conducted on the association between blood pressure and cognitive function in stroke patients, and no definitive results have been established. Objective: This research was designed to examine and evaluate the difference in the measured cognitive function category between hypertensive and non-hypertensive hospital admission blood pressure stroke patients. Methods: This research used a cross-sectional design with a consecutive sampling method on acute stroke patients at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital. The MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination) was carried out to assess the degree of cognitive function. The blood pressure measured is the hospital admission blood pressure. Results: There were 40 patients included in this study. A total of 36 patients (90%) were in the hypertension group (blood pressure ≥ 130/80 mmHg), and 4 patients (10%) were in the non-hypertension group (blood pressure < 130/80 mmHg). The MMSE results showed that 10 patients performed with no cognitive impairment, 12 patients performed with mild cognitive impairment, and 18 patients performed with severe cognitive impairment. Statistical analysis of the Mann-Whitney U test showed that p = 0.561. Conclusion: There was no difference in the measured cognitive function category between hypertensive and non-hypertensive hospital admission blood pressure stroke patients.
Updating perspectives on spinal cord function: motor coordination, timing, relational processing, and memory below the brain

Those studying neural systems within the brain have historically assumed that lower-level processes in the spinal cord act in a mechanical manner, to relay afferent signals and execute motor commands. From this view, abstracting temporal and environmental relations is the province of the brain. Here we review work conducted over the last 50 years that challenges this perspective, demonstrating that mechanisms within the spinal cord can organize coordinated behavior (stepping), induce a lasting change in how pain (nociceptive) signals are processed, abstract stimulus–stimulus (Pavlovian) and response-outcome (instrumental) relations, and infer whether stimuli occur in a random or regular manner. The mechanisms that underlie these processes depend upon signal pathways (e.g., NMDA receptor mediated plasticity) analogous to those implicated in brain-dependent learning and memory. New data show that spinal cord injury (SCI) can enable plasticity within the spinal cord by reducing the inhibitory effect of GABA. It is suggested that the signals relayed to the brain may contain information about environmental relations and that spinal cord systems can coordinate action in response to descending signals from the brain. We further suggest that the study of stimulus processing, learning, memory, and cognitive-like processing in the spinal cord can inform our views of brain function, providing an attractive model system. Most importantly, the work has revealed new avenues of treatment for those that have suffered a SCI.
The development of a stitch-based strain sensor for woven lashing straps

In this paper the development of a stitch-based strain sensor for lashing straps is discussed. A variety of Three different commercial woven narrow fabric straps were embroidered with conductive yarns in two designed patterns to enable belt tension measurement and monitoring. The applications were tested in a cyclic elongation test and a creep elongation procedure to investigate the strain sensitivity and the influences of the narrow fabric’s properties, the stitch design, and the conductive yarn properties. It was found that the developed applications provided a good strain sensing ability but lack in cyclic recovery abilities.
Assessment of Spatio-Temporal Changes of Land Use and Land Cover over South-Western African Basins and Their Relations with Variations of Discharges

West African basins play a vital role in the socio-economic development of the region. They are mostly trans-boundary and sources of different land use practices. This work attempts to assess the spatio-temporal land use and land cover changes over three South Western African basins (Volta, Mono and Sassandra basins) and their influence on discharge. The land use and land cover maps of each basin were developed for 1988, 2002 and 2016. The results show that all the studied basins present an increase in water bodies, built-up, agricultural land and a decline in vegetative areas. These increases in water bodies and land use are as a result of an increase in small reservoirs, of dugouts and of dam constructions. However, the decline in some vegetative clusters could be attributed to the demographic and socio-economic growth as expressed by the expansion of agriculture and urbanization. The basic statistical analysis of precipitation and discharge data reveals that the mean annual discharge varies much more than the total annual precipitation at the three basins. For instance, in the entire Volta basin, the annual precipitation coefficient of variation (CV) is 10% while the annual discharge CV of Nawuni, Saboba and Bui are 43.6%, 36.51% and 47.43%, respectively. In Mono basin, the annual precipitation CV is 11.5% while the Nangbeto and Athieme annual discharge CV are 37.15% and 46.60%, respectively. The annual precipitation CV in Sassandra basin is 7.64% while the annual discharge CV of Soubre and Dakpadou are 29.41% and 37%, respectively. The discharge varies at least three times much more than the precipitation in the studied basins. The same conclusion was found for all months except the driest months (December and January). We showed that this great variation in discharge is mainly due to land use and land cover changes. Beside the hydrological modification of the land use and land cover changes, the climate of the region as well as the water quality and availability and the hydropower generation may be impacted by these changes in land surfaces conditions. Therefore, these impacts should be further assessed to implement appropriate climate services and measures for a sustainable land use and water management.
Analysis of a Joint Degeneration Model and Degradable Craniofacial Screws in the Rabbit Temporomandibular Joint

To reduce the impact of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (TMDs), the primary goals are to eliminate pain and restore joint function. However, with the limitations of current treatment options reaching these goals remains elusive. Limitations of current approaches include diagnostic evaluation, missing the early signs of the disease, and recurring pain. There is also difficulty with device fixation, permanent metals implanted, and device life expectancy. To begin addressing some of these limitations and goals, the specific aims of this dissertation focused on the use of altered joint occlusion to gain a better understanding of a TMD model using fibrocartilage, pain, and joint kinematic assessments and testing magnesium as a biodegradable screw in the craniofacial region. From the altered occlusion model, a connection between the compressive properties of TMJ condylar fibrocartilage after 6 weeks of altered loading and changes in histology was observed. Behavioral and anatomical pain assessment results were consistent with an increase in nociceptive signaling, while changes in excitability and action potential waveform were consistent with compensatory changes of TMJ afferents for an overall increase in afferent drive associated with joint degeneration. With the development of the kinematic assessment for the TMJ, repeatable measurements for both translations and movement paths were found for both the incisors and the motion of the condyle relative to the fossa in rabbits. An overall decrease in the range of joint motion was observed at the incisors and in the joint space, with the altered occlusion model. These results suggest a change in joint occlusion, leads to condylar damage, which may contribute to pain associated with at least some forms of TMJ disease. Craniofacial bone remodeling occurred around two magnesium alloy screw types, indicating the promise of using magnesium alloys for craniofacial devices. Due to the essential function of the TMJ for everyday living, the knowledge gained in this dissertation will provide a better understanding of TMDs and improve treatment options.
Combined Plasma DHA-Containing Phosphatidylcholine PCaa C38:6 and Tetradecanoyl-Carnitine as an Early Biomarker for Assessing the Mortality Risk among Sarcopenic Patients

The coming of the hyper-aged society in Taiwan prompts us to investigate the relationship between the metabolic status of sarcopenic patients and their most adverse outcome–death. We studied the association between any plasma metabolites and the risk for mortality among older Taiwanese sarcopenic patients. We applied a targeted metabolomic approach to study the plasma metabolites of adults aged ≥65 years, and identified the metabolic signature predictive of the mortality of sarcopenic patients who died within a 5.5-year follow-up period. Thirty-five sarcopenic patients who died within the follow-up period (Dead cohort) had shown a specific plasma metabolic signature, as compared with 54 patients who were alive (Alive cohort). Only 10 of 116 non-sarcopenic individuals died during the same period. After multivariable adjustment, we found that sex, hypertension, tetradecanoyl-carnitine (C14-carnitine), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-containing phosphatidylcholine diacyl (PCaa) C38:6 and C40:6 were important risk factors for the mortality of sarcopenic patients. Low PCaa C38:6 levels and high C14-carnitine levels correlated with an increased mortality risk; this was even the same for those patients with hypertension (HTN). Our findings suggest that plasma PCaa C38:6 and acylcarnitine C14-carnitine, when combined, can be a better early biomarker for evaluating the mortality risk of sarcopenia patients.
Problem Solving Skills through Mathematical Vocabulary and Formative Feedback: Evidence from Grade VII Private Schools

The objective is to understand what teachers should be acquainted with to facilitate the development of problem-solving proficiency in their students. Another objective is to inquire how a teacher is informed by a comprehensive review of the research literature in mathematics education. There has been a significant focus on effective mathematics instruction.This article employs a category-based approach to examine the types of knowledge deemed essential for effective mathematical problem-solving instruction. This paper presents the findings of an action research study conducted by a teacher educator and researcher. This study sought to uncover the intentions of Grade VII school teachers. The research utilized various data sources, including reflective journals, semi-structured interviews, field notes, lesson observations, and reports. A two-stage model was proposed to guide the planning and execution of action research projects in schools. The paper concludes that formative feedback is crucial for the learning of challenging skills like problem-solving in Mathematics. It then observed their actions concerning formative feedback on midterm exams in courses that claim to teach problem-solving. The study found that action research is a highly effective approach for enhancing professional development; however, it also highlighted the challenges associated with implementing this methodology in real-world educational settings. It is essential for teachers to have a deep understanding of mathematical problem-solving, not only for their own proficiency as problem solvers, but also to guide students in developing their problem-solving skills. The study recommends that a mathematics teacher's expertise in teaching problem-solving must extend beyond their general ability to solve problems.
Exploring the Structure of Contact Networks at Multiple Scales

GIScience 2016 Short Paper Proceedings Exploring the Structure of Contact Networks at Multiple Scales P. Gao and L. Bian Department of Geography, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14261, United States Email: {pgao3, lbian}@buffalo.edu Abstract This study examines the scale effects on the network structure and spatial structure of contact networks. Regular grids with different cell sizes are used to divide one observed and two reference random networks into multiple scales. Four metrics are used to represent the two structures. Results show that the network structure of the observed network is sensitive to scale changes at fine scales. In comparison, the clustered spatial structure is scale independent. 1. Introduction Contact networks play a critical role in disease dispersion, as repeatedly stressed in reports on the most dangerous communicable diseases, such as SARS, H1N1, and Ebola (Ferguson et al. 2005). Understanding the properties of contact networks helps gain insights into how to prevent and control the dispersion of these diseases (Keeling and Eames 2005). Disease dispersion is inherently a spatial process, while scale is involved in all spatial phenomena (Wu and Wu 2013). There are rarely studies addressing the scale effects on network properties. Contact networks have both network structure and spatial structure (Barthelemy 2011), while the spatial structure has received attention only in recent years (Bian This study aims to evaluate (1) the scale effects on the network structure and spatial structure of contact networks, and (2) the ranges of scale at which contact networks are scale dependent. To achieve these goals, three networks, one observed and two randomly structured, are partitioned into multiple scales using regular grids. The properties of the resultant networks represented by four metrics are compared across scales. 2. Contact Network This study uses a contact network previously constructed for a metropolitan community in the Northeastern US (Bian et al. 2012). Each individual belongs to a family and most belong to a workplace. There are two types of contact relationships between individuals, those between family members and those between co-workers. The network represents individuals as nodes and the contact relationships as edges, resulting in a total of 64,726 nodes and 194,683 edges. The two types of relationships are treated as family and co-worker edges, respectively. To examine the scale effects, the contact network is projected into space. Nodes are projected according to their home locations. A family edge is within a home location with a zero physical distance. The co-worker edges are between two different home locations and have various physical distances.
A multi-model ensemble approach for quantifying sub-pixel land cover fractions in the urban environments

ABSTRACT Land cover information is essential for sustainable management of the environment in urban areas. Satellite images have increasingly been used to extract such information, yet the accuracy has been challenged by the spectral and spatial heterogeneity of urban land covers. This paper presents a framework to develop a more skilful and reliable model for estimating land cover fractions using a multi-model ensemble technique, named Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA). The BMA is a statistical technique that combines the estimates of different models using Bayesian probability theory. In the BMA, each individual estimate is assigned a weight that is optimised in such a way that the likelihood of an individual estimate given the observation is maximised. In this study, three methods, viz. Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP), Pre-screened and Normalised Multiple Endmember Spectral Mixture Analysis (PNMESMA) and Support Vector Regression (SVR) have been used to develop an Ensemble Model (EM). We used a cluster-based approach for applying the BMA to utilise the diverse advantages in individual models. First, the image pixels were separated into three clusters by applying Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) thresholds. Second, an ensemble of models for each cluster was derived using the BMA, and these ensembles were finally combined to derive the final output. The EM was tested in a heterogeneous urban area, viz. South Delhi, India, using two multi-spectral images, including Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Reflectance Radiometer (ASTER). The modelled land cover fractions were compared with the reference land cover fractions derived from a high-resolution (approximately 1 m) panchromatic image of the OrbitView-3 satellite. The accuracy assessment revealed that the EM estimates more accurate and reliable land cover fractions than the individual models on both the images. The performance of the EM in terms of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), bias and kappa coefficient (k) is generally superior to that of the best of the individual models. These findings can help improve the accuracy of land cover fractions in heterogeneous landscapes by combining the outputs of various diverse models.
Psychological Disorders and Coping among Undergraduate College Students: Advocating for Students’ Counselling Services at Kuwait University

Objectives: The objectives of the current study are twofold. First, it aimed to explore the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms (i.e., psychological disorders) among Kuwait University students. Second, it sought to identify and quantify the associated risk factors as well as the students’ coping strategies utilized to address these psychological disorders. Methods: We used a cross-sectional study at Kuwait University and selected students using a multistage stratified cluster sampling design among the 15 faculties of Kuwait University. To serve the study purposes, two cross-cultural and validated instruments were used, including the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) and the Brief-COPE scale. Descriptive statistics, as well as logistic regression analysis, were used to analyze the study findings. Results: A sample of 1142 students from various faculties participated in this study. We found that 681 (59.6%), 791 (69.3%) and 588 (51.5%) of the participants had depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, respectively. The highest coping strategies for stressors and challenges faced were moderate and high emotion-based coping strategies (n = 1063, 93.1%). Students from the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences as well as students from the Faculty of Engineering had significantly higher stress levels compared with students from other faculties (p < 0.05). Our results demonstrated that family problems were consistently a significant predictor of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms among Kuwait University students (p < 0.05). We further found that students who presented with stress and anxiety symptoms and those who practiced avoidant-focused coping strategies were substantially more likely to experience depression (ORs ≥ 2.7, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our findings inferred that the majority of Kuwait University students have a remarkably high prevalence of mental health problems, mainly anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms along with inconsistent coping strategies toward the faced challenges during their studies. Therefore, the most important recommendation of the current study is the establishment of counselling centers in all faculties at Kuwait University. In turn, doing so facilitates the integration of wellness programs and the provision of comprehensive educational seminars, specialized training sessions and self-management techniques for Kuwait University students, leading to desired academic outcomes.
Elastic Softening of (Mg0.8Fe0.2)O Ferropericlase Across the Iron Spin Crossover Measured at Seismic Frequencies

We experimentally determined the bulk modulus of (Mg0.8Fe0.2)O ferropericlase across the iron spin transition and in the low‐spin phase by employing a new experimental approach. In our measurements, we simulate the propagation of a compressional seismic wave (P wave) through our sample by employing a piezo‐driven dynamic diamond anvil cell that allows to oscillate pressure at seismic frequencies. During pressure oscillations, X‐ray diffraction images were continuously collected every 5–50 ms. The bulk modulus is directly calculated from these data at different pressures. Our experiments show a pronounced softening of the bulk modulus throughout the spin crossover, supporting previous single‐crystal measurements at very high frequencies and computations. Comparison of our results to previous data collected on (Mg,Fe)O with lower iron contents shows that the magnitude of softening strongly depends on iron content. Our experiments at seismic frequencies confirm that the iron spin crossover markedly affects the ratio of seismic compressional to shear wave velocities in Earth's lower mantle.
Factors of Medicinal Plants Users as Alternative Medicinal in Indonesia

Traditional medicines are the cultural heritance of Indonesian nation that should be preserved and developed in order to support the society’s health development and to improve the society’s economy. This research was aimed to figure out the society’s behaviors in using traditional medicines and the dominant factors that influence them in using traditional medicines. This research is a non-experimental research, with analytical survey method and cross-sectional approach. Fifty percent of the existing districts (16 districts) were selected randomly to serve as the sample. The districts selected included the districts of Muara Kuang, Tj. Raja, Lubuk Keliat, Payaraman, Indralaya, Pemulutan, Pemulutan Selatan and Rantau Panjang, totaling eight. The number of villages selected was 66. From these villages, the research sample was selected using stratified random sampling technique, and a sample of 400 people was obtained. The analysis was conducted in a bivariate manner with chi square test. The results showed that the respondents were motivated to use traditional medicines through (a) predisposing factors perceived sickness; (b) enabling factors, including economic level, location of domicile, type of complaints, insurance and distance to health facilities; and (c) reinforcing factors, including family support and traditional medicine promotion. Serving as the predicting factors in the traditional medicine use were the variables perceived sickness, type of complaint, distance to health facilities and traditional medicine promotion, with the variables occupation, insurance, education, family support, domicile and income serving as the confounding variables.