Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of a device for monitoring laryngeal motion during swallowing

Objectives: Hyolaryngeal movement during swallowing is essential to airway protection and bolus clearance. Although palpation is widely used to evaluate hyolaryngeal motion, insufficient accuracy has been reported. The Bando Stretchable Strain Sensor for Swallowing (B4S™) was developed to capture hyolaryngeal elevation and display it as waveforms. This study compared laryngeal movement time detected by the B4S™ with laryngeal movement time measured by videofluoroscopy (VF). Methods: Participants were 20 patients without swallowing difficulty (10 men, 10 women; age 30.6 ± 7.1 years). The B4S™ was attached to the anterior neck and two saliva swallows were measured on VF images to determine the relative and absolute reliability of laryngeal elevation time measured on VF and that measured by the B4S™. Results: The intra-class correlation coefficient of the VF and B4S™ times was very high [ICC (1.1) = 0.980]. A Bland–Altman plot showed a strong positive correlation with a 95% confidence interval of 0.00–3.01 for the mean VF time and mean B4S™ time, with a fixed error detected in the positive direction but with no proportional error detected. Thus, the VF and B4S™ time measurements showed high consistency. Conclusion: The strong relative and absolute reliability suggest that the B4S™ can accurately detect the duration of superior-inferior laryngeal motion during swallowing. Further study is needed to develop a method for measuring the distance of laryngeal elevation. It is also necessary to investigate the usefulness of this device for evaluation and treatment in clinical settings.
Phyllanthi Tannin Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Lung Cancer Therapy: Preparation, Characterization, Pharmacodynamics and Safety Evaluation

The objective of the present study was to develop PTF-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (PTF-SLNs) and investigate their efficacy in treating lung cancer. The PTF-SLNs were prepared by the thin film hydration method and verified by FTIR and TEM. Their physicochemical properties were characterized by particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, entrapment efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL), etc. Then, the pharmacodynamic studies of PTF-SLNs were performed on Lewis lung cancer cells and tumor-bearing mice. Finally, the safety studies were assessed by organ index, serum biochemical indicators, and histopathological changes. The PTF-SLNs were characterized by around 50 nm sphere nanoparticles, sustained ideal stability, and controlled drug release effects. The pharmacodynamic evaluation results showed that PTF-SLNs had stronger anti-tumor efficacy than PTF. An in vitro study revealed a more obvious cytotoxicity and apoptosis effect. The IC 50 values of PTF and PTF-SLNs were 67.43 μg/mL and 20.74 μg/mL, respectively. An in vivo study showed that the tumor inhibition rates of 2 g/kg PTF and 0.4 g/kg PTF-SLNs were 59.97% and 64.55%, respectively. The safety preliminary study indicated that PTF-SLNs improve the damage of PTF to normal organs to a certain extent. This study provides a nanoparticle delivery system with phenolic herbal extract to improve anti-tumor efficacy in lung cancer.
Comparison of three different methods to select feature for discriminating forest cover types using SAR imagery

Three methods (fuzzy partition method, stepwise regression analysis and principal component analysis) were used to select meaningful texture features for discriminating forest cover types. The initial texture set was extracted from the wavelet sub-images. Feature selection was based on all texture features of four sub-images combined. Recognition of forest cover types was accomplished by the neural network of learning vector quantization. The performance of these techniques was evaluated using a case study area at Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada. The selection procedure seemed to be adequate to extract meaningful texture features to help discriminate forest cover types, because the classification accuracy of the selected feature sets was improved. In addition, the optimization process can be considered as an efficient one, since the number of features was reduced to about 24.5-66.8% of the total 208 features using the three selection methods.
Sex Differences Associated with Weekend Catch-Up Sleep and Waist-to-Height-Ratio among South Korean Adults Using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2021 Data

The global surge in obesity rates is closely linked to the rise in sleep deprivation and prevalence of sleep disorders. This study aimed to investigate the association between weekend catch-up sleep (CUS) and obesity among Korean adults. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, we analyzed the data of 6790 adults aged >19 years obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2021. In the subgroup analysis, we conducted multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the association between weekend CUS and obesity, stratified by sex. Women were significantly more likely to be obese than men (odds ratio (OR) = 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.46–0.61). Obesity was associated with 1 ≤ weekend CUS < 2 (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.75–0.99) but not with weekend CUS ≤ 0. Compared to men, women had a lower obesity risk when engaging in weekend supplementary sleep that was 1 ≤ weekend CUS < 2 (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.63–0.97). Our findings revealed that weekend CUS was associated with obesity. Our findings suggest that weekend CUS may offer a form of biological protection against obesity, and they contribute to a better understanding of this association and may serve as a basis for better obesity management.
Fluid-based wearable sensors: a turning point in personalized healthcare

Nowadays, it has become very popular to develop wearable devices that can monitor biomarkers to analyze the health status of the human body more comprehensively and accurately. Wearable sensors, specially designed for home care services, show great promise with their ease of use, especially during pandemic periods. Scientists have conducted many innovative studies on new wearable sensors that can noninvasively and simultaneously monitor biochemical indicators in body fluids for disease prediction, diagnosis, and management. Using noninvasive electrochemical sensors, biomarkers can be detected in tears, saliva, perspiration, and skin interstitial fluid (ISF). In this review, biofluids used for noninvasive wearable sensor detection under four main headings, saliva, sweat, tears, and ISF-based wearable sensors, were examined in detail. This report analyzes nearly 50 recent articles from 2017 to 2023. Based on current research, this review also discusses the evolution of wearable sensors, potential implementation challenges, and future prospects.
Influence of tumor mycobiome on cancer pathogenesis (Review)

Cancer tissues harbor a large microbiome. There is growing evidence that the tumor microbiome is significantly correlated with the prognosis of cancer patients, but the exact underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. Although the tumor mycobiome is less abundant than the biome of bacteria, it is prevalent in most cancers in humans. The present review describes in detail the impact of the tumor mycobiome on cancer pathogenesis. The tumor mycobiome promotes tumor progression and metastasis by affecting the human immune system, maintaining a pro-inflammatory environment, producing aflatoxins, attenuating cell adhesion mechanisms and fungal-bacterial interactions. Furthermore, the tumor mycobiome likewise has great potential for cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Cytotoxicity and reversal effect of sertraline, fluoxetine, and citalopram on MRP1- and MRP7-mediated MDR

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and the development of resistance to chemotherapy drugs is a major challenge in treating malignancies. In recent years, researchers have focused on understanding the mechanisms of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells and have identified the overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, including ABCC1/MRP1 and ABCC10/MRP7, as a key factor in the development of MDR. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether three drugs (sertraline, fluoxetine, and citalopram) from the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) family, commonly used as antidepressants, could be repurposed as inhibitors of MRP1 and MRP7 transporters and reverse MDR in cancer cells. Using a combination of in silico predictions and in vitro validations, we analyzed the interaction of MRP1 and MRP7 with the drugs and evaluated their ability to hinder cell resistance. We used computational tools to identify and analyze the binding site of these three molecules and determine their binding energy. Subsequently, we conducted experimental assays to assess cell viability when treated with various standard chemotherapies, both with and without the presence of SSRI inhibitors. Our results show that all three SSRI drugs exhibited inhibitory/reversal effects in the presence of chemotherapies on both MRP1-overexpressed cells and MRP7-overexpressed cells, suggesting that these medications have the potential to be repurposed to target MDR in cancer cells. These findings may open the door to using FDA-approved medications in combination therapy protocols to treat highly resistant malignancies and improve the efficacy of chemotherapy treatment. Our research highlights the importance of investigating and repurposing existing drugs to overcome MDR in cancer treatment.
Use of Integrated Geophysics to Characterize Paleo-Fluvial Deposits

Near-surface fluvial depositional environments at two field sites were characterized using integrated geophysical surveying techniques to determine the location and extent of paleo-fluvial deposits. The integrated surveys consisted of ground conductivity and electrical dipole-dipole resistivity measurements. The two techniques were used in combination to map the geoelectrical structure of the subsurface from which correlations to geologic structures were made. The correlations were subsequently confirmed by exploratory drilling and test trench data. Subsurface zones exhibiting high electrical resistivity values were correlated to coarse-grained fluvial deposits (i.e., sands and gravels) and zones exhibiting low electrical resistivity values were correlated with fine-grained fluvial deposits (i.e., clays and silts). Ground conductivity surveys were conducted to generate a map of the near-surface expression of the fluvial depositional environment. Dipole-dipole resistivity surveys were subsequently performed to generate vertical images of the subsurface structure and to map the vertical and lateral extent of the paleo-fluvial depositional environments. The integrated geophysical survey method successfully discriminated between fine-grained and coarse-grained fluvial deposits due to the significant electrical contrast that exists between these types of sediments and allowed for greater insight of the subsurface geologic structure and the nature of the depositional environments.
Upper Pleistocene glacial valley-junction sediments at Pias, Trevinca Mountains, NW Spain

Abstract Sediments at Pias (Galicia) provide evidence of Upper Pleistocene glacial activities at a valley junction in the north-western mountains of Spain. The sedimentary sequence consists of lower, predominately fine-grained lacustrine deposits with few lonestones, overlain by poorly sorted, sandy gravels interstratified with massive diamicton deposited during mid-Weichselian times (MIS 3) (marine isotope stage 3). The lacustrine sediments were deposited in a glacial valley temporarily dammed by a confluent glacier. The presence of active ice is suggested by massive diamicton layers best interpreted as till, rafted sediments in lacustrine deposits and deformation structures indicative of loading and kettle formation. Frozen ground conditions are suggested by a few involution-like structures. The Pias area contains one of the few western-Spain sedimentary records of Upper Pleistocene glaciation at relatively low latitude (about 42°N) and low altitude (less than 1000 m a.s.l.). A southern dip of the Polar front to 40–45°N latitudes, as occurred during Last Glacial Maximum, could have cut moisture to the northern Fennoscandinavian ice sheets. At the same time, however, sufficient precipitations would have persisted in north-western Spain to sustain extensive ice caps and their outlets to elevations as low as c. 900 m a.s. l.
Avances en la aplicación de luz ultravioleta de onda corta (UVC) en frutas y vegetales enteros y mínimamente procesados: revisión Advancements in the application of short-wave ultraviolet light (UVC) in whole and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables: a review

In light of the impact that involves the microbial contamination on the surface of fruits and vegetables, researchers and industry have focused their interest in the study and applications of short wave ultraviolet radiation by their deleterious effect against the pathogens, relatively low cost, versatility and zero residual. Recent findings have revealed that non-ionizing radiation, acts as an elicitor that at low doses stimulates the expression of genes involved in photomorphogenic responses which are in charge of triggering the tissue resilience. Considering aforesaid, this paper summarizes varied and recent studies that analyzed the responses of different fresh and minimally processed products subjected to photochemical treatments (UVC), constrains, benefits and adverse effects.
Appraising the Role of Pharmacists in Medication Reconciliation at Hospital Discharge: A Field-Based Study

Objective: To measure the effect of the pharmacist-led medication reconciliation service before hospital discharge on preventing potential medication errors. Methods: This behavioral interventional study took place in a public teaching hospital in Iraq between December 2022 and January 2023. It included inpatients who were taking four or more medications upon discharge from the internal medicine ward and the cardiac care unit. The researcher provided the patients with a medication reconciliation form and reconciliation form (including medication regimen and pharmacist instructions) before discharging them home. Any discrepancies between the patients’ understanding and the actual medication recommendations prescribed by the physician were identified and solved. Results: Fifty inpatients received a pharmacist-led medication reconciliation review before hospital discharge. Out of 50 patients, 44% had a clear understanding of their medications before the intervention. In contrast, 56% of the patients had at least one potential medication error before the reconciliation, which was addressed by the pharmacist's intervention. Approximately two-thirds (89.4%) of the potential medication errors were clinically significant, and 5.3% of these errors were serious. The most frequent potential error that prevented this was duplication (31.5%) (the patient was about to duplicate the same medication from different manufacturers or different medications from the same pharmacological class). Conclusion: Lack of medication reconciliation can cause significant medication errors, which might be serious and cause harm to patients. This study has the potential to shape policies and practices that prioritize medication safety and optimize patient outcomes during transitions of care.
Core–shell Cu1−x NCo3−y /a-CuFeCo antiperovskite as high-performance anode for Li-ion batteries

Currently, there is an emergent interest in the antiperovskite family of materials in the context of energy applications in view of their distinct and peculiar set of structural and electronic properties. This work examines the surface-modified antiperovskite nitride CuNCo3 as a high-performance anode material for Li-ion storage devices. The antiperovskite CuNCo3 was prepared by the hydrothermal method followed by calcination in the NH3 atmosphere. An amorphous layer on the surface of CuNCo3 (Cu1−x NCo3−y /a-CuFeCo) was also fabricated to enhance its performance as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. The surface-modified Cu1−x NCo3−y /a-CuFeCo material was noted to deliver an extraordinarily high reversible capacity of ∼1150 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.1 A g−1, whereas the CuNCo3 showed a reversible capacity of ∼408 mAh g−1 at the same current density. The initial capacity of Cu1−x NCo3−y /a-CuFeCo exhibited excellent retention (>62%) even after 350 cycles. A ∼6 nm thin amorphous layer around the surface of pure CuNCo3 helped almost double the specific capacity as compared to the pure CuNCo3 due to the presence of a multi-redox center for Li-ion to react and also concomitantly improved electrical conductivity property. The cyclic stability of the Cu1−x NCo3−y /a-CuFeCo material at a higher current density (0.5 and 1.0 A g−1) was also noticeable. This work opens up new materials routes and promising processing strategies to develop high reversible capacity anodes for alkali ion batteries.
Food Insecurity in the Bay Area: An Analysis of Disparities of Food Access

Food insecurity is an increasingly pressing problem in the United States. Food security is defined as having “consistent access to enough food for active healthy living”. Those who are food insecure typically lack access to healthy food, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, facing increased risk of certain types of cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Food insecurity is traditionally attributed to a lack of financial resources. Recently though, studies have looked to the migration of grocery stores out of low-income and urban communities as the cause of possible disparities in physical food access. Therefore I sought to determine if disparities in physical access of fresh produce, as measured in terms of access to quality vendors and walking access/proximity, existed between either urban and suburban or low-income and high-income neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area. I hypothesized suburban and high-income neighborhoods would have greater walking access as well as possess higher quality vendors compared to urban and low-income neighborhoods respectfully. I conducted walking tours of four neighborhoods – classified in terms of median household income and relative population density – to identify all vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables and assess the quality of these retailers. Finally I compared these neighborhoods based on the quality of available fresh produce vendors and in terms of proportion of households with access to at least one of these vendors. The findings of the study are incongruent with the first half of my hypothesis but support the second half. While high-income and urban neighborhoods possessed the higher quality fresh produce vendors they also possessed inferior walking access, alluding to the complexities of the issue of food insecurity.
Glycemic Index of Commonly Consumed Foods in Benin (West Africa)

Background: Consistent consumption of a diet with a high glycemic index (GI) increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and associated chronic diseases. As such, it is critical to know the GI of foods and make informed choices to prevent them. Unfortunately, the GI of commonly consumed foods in Benin has not been determined. Objective: To determine the GI of six commonly consumed foods in Benin among healthy young adult subjects. Methods: This study involved 18 healthy adult students from the Faculty of Health Sciences in Cotonou, southern Benin. Six local foods, namely local white rice, imported white rice, recycled corn paste, fried potatoes, corn paste, and red corn paste, were tested and compared to bread (reference food). The subjects' sociodemographic and anthropometric information was collected. Blood glucose levels were also measured 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after ingestion through venous blood samples. The GI was determined using the standard method. Results: The study population's mean age and body mass index were 22.1 years and 21.3 kg/m 2 , respectively. The GI of the selected foods: local white rice, imported white rice, recycled corn paste, fried potatoes, corn paste, and red corn paste were 148.4%, 136.5%, 94.3%, 89.9%, 85.3%, and 77.8%, respectively. Conclusion: All foods tested had a GI of over 70%, which is high, indicating that moderate consumption or small portions should be recommended to minimize their potential adverse health impacts.
Site effects and microzonation in the city of Thessaloniki (Greece) comparison of different approaches

Ten seismological stations were installed for 3 months in the city of Thessaloniki (Greece) to record earthquakes and ambient noise over areas of different geotechnical characteristics. About 40 local earthquakes were recorded with a good signal-to-noise ratio, in more than two stations. We analyze the records with three different techniques: (a) the classical spectral ratios to a reference station, (b) the receiver functions, and (c) the horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) spectral ratios on noise recordings. The results are compared in terms of predominant frequencies and amplification levels. The three methods are found equally able to reveal the fundamental frequency. Regarding local site amplification, they provide significantly different results with a general trend of the two H/V ratio methods (b and c) to underestimate the amplification levels compared to that inferred from the classical spectral ratio technique (a). The results are then used in relation with the microzonation of the city of Thessaloniki. A good correlation is found between the local site amplification and the type and age of the local geological formation as well as with the depth of bedrock. Finally, we compare our observations with the damage distribution in the city, which was hit by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in 1978. The amplification levels from spectral ratios obtained at each site exhibit a good agreement with the map of damage intensity.
Snack consumption frequency of children and adults in the Vaal region of Gauteng, South Africa

Background Energy-dense, nutrient-poor snacks are associated with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the double burden of malnutrition, especially among poor communities. Aim To determine and compare the snacking preferences and consumption frequency of children and adults from a low SES community in South Africa. Setting A preschool, primary school, and an elderly centre in Gauteng. Methods A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 90 children (3–8 years) and 100 adults (≥ 18 years) to assess snack consumption frequency and preferences of children and adults by means of a snack survey. Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the differences in preferences and snack consumption frequency of children and adults. Results The most preferred and consumed snacks included fruits, potato chips, corn chips, sweets, and cookies. Children frequently ate more potato chips (p < 0.001), corn chips (p < 0.001), cheese curls (p < 0.001), and muffins (p = 0.024) than adults. In contrast, adults frequently consumed more peanuts or nuts (p = 0.024), savoury biscuits (p = 0.048) and biltong (p < 0.001) than children. Conclusion Apart from fruits, the most preferred and frequently consumed snacks by the sample were highly processed snacks, which are low in fibre and high in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. Contributions Findings from this study highlight current snack trends and can guide future nutrition education interventions on healthy snacking and in developing nutritious snacks for the South African community