Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk of Bleeding and Stroke with Oral Anticoagulation and Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation in Taiwan: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Background Data on the use of oral anticoagulation (OAC) and antiplatelet therapy and the risk of bleeding and stroke amongst Asian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are limited. We investigated the risks of bleeding and stroke with use of oral anticoagulation (OAC) and antiplatelet therapy as mono- or combination therapy, in patients with AF from a Chinese nationwide cohort study. Methods We studied a cohort of 10384 patients (57.2% men, age 67.8 ± 13.2 yrs) between 1999 and 2010 from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Records of prescriptions were obtained during follow-up. The main outcome was a recurrent stroke during the follow-up period. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models were used for this analysis. Results We documented 1009 events for bleeding, as well as 224 hemorrhagic stroke and 1642 ischemic stroke events during a median 3.2 (interquartile range, 1.05-6.54) years’ follow-up. Compared with warfarin users, patients with antiplatelet therapy had a lower risk of bleeding (adjusted relative risk [RR], 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-0.71, p<0.001) whilst combination therapy had a non-statistically significant higher bleeding risk (RR, 1.33, 95%, 0.91-1.94, p = 0.20). Patients on antiplatelet monotherapy had a similar risk for ischemic stroke compared with OAC (RR 1.05, 95% CI, 0.89-1.25, p = 0.50), whilst those on combination therapy had a significantly higher risk (RR 1.90, 95% CI, 1.34-2.70, p<0.001). Conclusion In a national representative cohort, antiplatelet therapy had no significant difference in ischemic stroke risk to warfarin. For bleeding, aspirin had a lower risk compared to warfarin. This may reflect poor anticoagulation control, highlighting important missed opportunities for improved stroke prevention, especially in countries where anticoagulation management is suboptimal.
Marriage patterns in South Africa: Methodological and substantive issues

The relative dearth of analytical work on marital status to date arises, in part, from the difficulties associated with collecting and interpreting data. The problems are particularly acute in South Africa as a result of the wide diversity in marriage forms, cultures, religions and languages. Inadequacies in coverage of large segments of the population during the apartheid years add to the difficulties. The paper describes some of the historical, legal and social reasons for the data difficulties. It then describes and examines data from various household surveys, the 1996 population census and administrative sources on type, prevalence and timing of marriage to assess the extent of the problems. Because census and survey data reflect perceptions of marriage, while administrative data generally record the legal system, the paper can consider differences between the two views of marriage, as well as differences between sources which purport to measure the same view. The paper concludes that despite the many problems in the data, careful analysis can reveal important trends in marriage patterns in the country.
Dynamic power evaluation of LTE wireless baseband processing on FPGA

Mobile networks and user equipments continuously evolve to circumvent the data traffic growth and the increasing number of users. However, the complexity and heterogeneity of such systems (3G, LTE, LTE-A, etc.) makes power one of the most critical metric. In this context, power estimation has become an unavoidable task in the design process. In this paper, a dynamic power estimation methodology for FPGA-based systems is presented. It aims at providing accurate and fast power estimations of an entire system prior to its implementation. It also aims at making design space exploration easier. We introduce an innovative scenario-level in order to facilitate the comparison of domain-specific systems. We show the effectiveness of our approach on several LTE baseband configurations which leads to a low absolute error, compared to classic estimations. It also exhibits a high speed-up factor which is determinant during design space exploration.
Nutrition-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Anemia Status of Lactating Mothers in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo—A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Maternal nutrition is impacted by personal and environmental factors including dietary intake, knowledge, food availability, and affordability. This cross-sectional analysis aimed to evaluate nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, practices, and associations with hemoglobin concentration among lactating mothers in the Bukavu region, Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 444 lactating mothers, nutrition-related knowledge and practice were assessed by questionnaires and translated into knowledge and practice scores ranging from 0 to 1, attitudes and drivers of food choice were assessed, the Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was assessed with 24 h dietary recalls in a potential range from 0 to 10, and hemoglobin (Hb) was measured in mothers and their infants. Anemia prevalence was 28.2% among mothers and 74.3% among infants aged 3–8 months. Nutritional knowledge and practice were limited (the median total knowledge score was 0.39, median DDS was 3.0). While there were slight positive correlations between knowledge and maternal Hb, DDS did not significantly correlate with either knowledge or Hb. Although half of the mothers stated a perception about their own susceptibility to anemia or vitamin A deficiency (56.4%, 47.4%), less than half of those could justify their estimation (40.9%, 44.2%). Taste (68.1%), appearance (42.5%), availability (29.0%), and health effects (25.6%) were important drivers of food choice. In conclusion, interventions on the different influencing factors including nutrition education strategies are needed.
Investigation of the SPINK 1 N 34 S Mutation in Romanian Patients with Alcoholic Chronic Pancreatitis . A Clinical Analysis Based on the Criteria of the MANNHEIM Classifi cation

Background and aims: The N34S mutation in the serine protease inhibitor Kazal type I (SPINK1) gene has been associated with chronic pancreatitis. Clinical data about the phenotypic expression of alcoholic chronic pancreatitis with the N34S variant are limited. The prevalence of the N34S mutation in patients with chronic pancreatitis and healthy individuals from Eastern Europe is unknown. Methods: We studied Romanian patients with chronic pancreatitis and investigated the clinical presentation in patients with N34S mutation. The SPINK1 N34S variant was analysed in 94 chronic pancreatitis patients and 96 healthy controls by an allele specifi c PCR method and a restriction fragment length polymorphism method. A meta-analysis was conducted with previous N34S association studies. The clinical course of alcoholic pancreatitis was evaluated according to the severity criteria of the M-ANNHEIM classifi cation system of chronic pancreatitis. Results: A heterozygous N34S mutation was found in 1 of 96 healthy individuals (1%) and in 4 of 80 patients (5 %) with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis. The metaanalysis confi rmed the status of N34S as a risk factor for the development of alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (OR=5.3). However, the clinical course of the disease was similar in patients with and without N34S mutation. Conclusion: The N34S mutation is a weak risk factor for alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.
Immunity to Mucosal CandidiasisDependent - Role of Neutrophils in IL-17

Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), caused by the commensal fungus Candida albicans , is an opportunistic infection associated with infancy, AIDS, and IL-17–related primary immunodeﬁciencies. The Th17-associated cytokines IL-23 and IL-17 are crucial for immunity to OPC, but the mechanisms by which they mediate immunity are poorly deﬁned. IL-17RA–deﬁcient humans and mice are strongly susceptible to OPC, with reduced levels of CXC chemokines and concomitantly impaired neutrophil recruitment to the oral mucosa. Paradoxically, humans with isolated neutropenia are typically not susceptible to candidiasis. To determine whether immunity to OPC is mediated via neutrophil recruitment, mice lacking CXCR2 were subjected to OPC and were found to be highly susceptible, although there was no dissemination of fungi to peripheral organs. To assess whether the entire neutrophil response is IL-17 dependent, IL-17RA 2 / 2 and IL-23 2 / 2 mice were administered neutrophil-depleting Abs and subjected to OPC. These mice displayed increased oral fungal burdens compared with IL-17RA 2 / 2 or IL-23 2 / 2 mice alone, indicating that addi-tional IL-17–independent signals contribute to the neutrophil response. WT mice treated with anti–Gr-1 Abs exhibited a robust inﬁltrate of CD11b + Ly-6G low F4/80 2 cells to the oral mucosa but were nonetheless highly susceptible to OPC, indicating that this monocytic inﬂux is insufﬁcient for host defense. Surprisingly, Ly-6G Ab treatment did not induce the same strong susceptibility to OPC in WT mice. Thus, CXCR2 + and Gr-1 + neutrophils play a vital Ly-6G neutrophils results in heightened susceptibility to OPC. neutropenia.
Co-Residence Patterns in Hunter-Gatherer Societies Show Unique Human Social Structure

Individuals in residential groups in contemporary hunter-gatherer societies are unrelated to each other. Contemporary humans exhibit spectacular biological success derived from cumulative culture and cooperation. The origins of these traits may be related to our ancestral group structure. Because humans lived as foragers for 95% of our species’ history, we analyzed co-residence patterns among 32 present-day foraging societies (total n = 5067 individuals, mean experienced band size = 28.2 adults). We found that hunter-gatherers display a unique social structure where (i) either sex may disperse or remain in their natal group, (ii) adult brothers and sisters often co-reside, and (iii) most individuals in residential groups are genetically unrelated. These patterns produce large interaction networks of unrelated adults and suggest that inclusive fitness cannot explain extensive cooperation in hunter-gatherer bands. However, large social networks may help to explain why humans evolved capacities for social learning that resulted in cumulative culture.
Performance of Grouted Splice Sleeve as A Connection for Wall Panels

A grouted sleeve is a mechanical coupler used to join steel bars. It can be used to join precast concrete walls. Most grouted sleeves are pricey proprietary products. This study investigated the behaviour of a grouted sleeve made of steel pipe sections. The grouted sleeve was used as a wall panel connection. The specimens were subjected to three types of loads: tensile, shear, and flexural. The performance of the specimens was evaluated based on the load-displacement responses. For satisfactory bond strength, a bar embedded length of 11 times the bar diameter was required. The grouted sleeve performed well in tension but poorly in shear load. The service shear load was just one-third of the total load capacity. Thus, the grouted sleeve was not recommended for resisting shear load without shear keys to strengthen the joint.
Study of Nutritional Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among Parents of Young Children in Public and Private Schools in Rural Nepal

This study examines the Nutritional Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among parents of young school children in Eastern Nepal, with a specific focus on the impact of school type and gender. A survey conducted among 139 parents of grade 4 to 6 students in Halesi Tuwachung Municipality, Khotang district, examined parental KAP in relation to the type of schooling their children received, and distinguishing between private and public schools. Utilizing guidelines from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), data collection involved home visits and response analysis. A higher proportion of female, 92 out of 139 attributes to the emigration of males, which has resulted in a greater availability of females compared to their male counterparts. Significant variations were found in parental KAP based on the type of schools attended by their children (p < 0.002 for knowledge, p = 0.08 for attitude, and p < 0.01 for practice). Parents of children in private schools exhibited higher scores in knowledge and practice compared to those in public schools. Gender differences persisted, with female parents generally scoring lower in knowledge. The study also revealed a lower nutritional knowledge among females (ß=-1.7, p = 0.06). These findings may hint the socio-economic influences on nutritional KAP disparities and advocate for targeted interventions involving both parents, addressing differences across private and public schools. The study calls for future research with larger sample sizes to provide a more comprehensive understanding of these dynamics, suggesting a focus on gender-specific assessments within nutritional policies or national projects led by the Government of Nepal (GoN).
Genes contributing to subcortical volumes and intellectual ability implicate the thalamus

It has been shown that brain volume and general intellectual ability are to a significant extent influenced by the same genetic factors. Several cortical regions of the brain also show a genetic correlation with intellectual ability, demonstrating that intellectual functioning is probably represented in a heritable distributed network of cortical regions throughout the brain. This study is the first to investigate a genetic association between subcortical volumes and intellectual ability, taking into account the thalamus, caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, hippocampus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens using an extended twin design. Genetic modeling was performed on a healthy adult twin sample consisting of 106 twin pairs and 30 of their siblings, IQ data was obtained from 132 subjects. Our results demonstrate that of all subcortical volumes measured, only thalamus volume is significantly correlated with intellectual functioning. Importantly, the association found between thalamus volume and intellectual ability is significantly influenced by a common genetic factor. This genetic factor is also implicated in cerebral brain volume. The thalamus, with its widespread cortical connections, may thus play a key role in human intelligence. Hum Brain Mapp 35:2632–2642, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus (FeP) Located in the Left Lower Quadrant of the Abdomen - Case Report and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus (FeP) is an uncommon and controversial skin lesion, sharing features of both basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and trichoepithelioma. In this article, we present a case of FeP and synthesise current concepts on the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon tumour. CASE REPORT We report the case of an 88-year-old male patient presenting to the dermatology clinic for a sharply demarcated, pink, exophytic cutaneous tumour situated in the left inguinal region. The histopathological examination performed after complete surgical excision of the lesion revealed a diagnosis of FeP. A systematic review of the literature was conducted. The terms `fibroepithelioma` and `Pinkus` have been searched in bibliographical databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, without time limitation up to February 15th, 2017. Seventy-nine articles that fulfilled all the required conditions were identified. Relevant citations and additional articles identified from references have been assessed. The systematic review included a total number of 452 cases of FeP. CONCLUSION Even though FeP is considered a relatively rare tumour, its true incidence rate might be higher than previously believed. The clinical aspects of the lesion described in this paper and its location in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen are classic features of FeP. Histopathologic examination revealed features of both BCC and trichoepithelioma. Further epidemiological studies are required to clarify whether patients with FEP should be screened for the occurrence of other malignancies.
Initiation and Use of Propranolol for Infantile Hemangioma: Report of a Consensus Conference

Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are common neoplasms composed of proliferating endothelial-like cells. Despite the relative frequency of IH and the potential severity of complications, there are currently no uniform guidelines for treatment. Although propranolol has rapidly been adopted, there is significant uncertainty and divergence of opinion regarding safety monitoring, dose escalation, and its use in PHACE syndrome (PHACE = posterior fossa, hemangioma, arterial lesions, cardiac abnormalities, eye abnormalities; a cutaneous neurovascular syndrome characterized by large, segmental hemangiomas of the head and neck along with congenital anomalies of the brain, heart, eyes and/or chest wall). A consensus conference was held on December 9, 2011. The multidisciplinary team reviewed existing data on the pharmacologic properties of propranolol and all published reports pertaining to the use of propranolol in pediatric patients. Workgroups were assigned specific topics to propose protocols on the following subjects: contraindications, special populations, pretreatment evaluation, dose escalation, and monitoring. Consensus protocols were recorded during the meeting and refined after the meeting. When appropriate, protocol clarifications and revision were made and agreed upon by the group via teleconference. Because of the absence of high-quality clinical research data, evidence-based recommendations are not possible at present. However, the team agreed on a number of recommendations that arose from a review of existing evidence, including when to treat complicated IH; contraindications and pretreatment evaluation protocols; propranolol use in PHACE syndrome; formulation, target dose, and frequency of propranolol; initiation of propranolol in infants; cardiovascular monitoring; ongoing monitoring; and prevention of hypoglycemia. Where there was considerable controversy, the more conservative approach was selected. We acknowledge that the recommendations are conservative in nature and anticipate that they will be revised as more data are made available.
SnTox3 Acts in Effector Triggered Susceptibility to Induce Disease on Wheat Carrying the Snn3 Gene

The necrotrophic fungus Stagonospora nodorum produces multiple proteinaceous host-selective toxins (HSTs) which act in effector triggered susceptibility. Here, we report the molecular cloning and functional characterization of the SnTox3-encoding gene, designated SnTox3, as well as the initial characterization of the SnTox3 protein. SnTox3 is a 693 bp intron-free gene with little obvious homology to other known genes. The predicted immature SnTox3 protein is 25.8 kDa in size. A 20 amino acid signal sequence as well as a possible pro sequence are predicted. Six cysteine residues are predicted to form disulfide bonds and are shown to be important for SnTox3 activity. Using heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris and transformation into an avirulent S. nodorum isolate, we show that SnTox3 encodes the SnTox3 protein and that SnTox3 interacts with the wheat susceptibility gene Snn3. In addition, the avirulent S. nodorum isolate transformed with SnTox3 was virulent on host lines expressing the Snn3 gene. SnTox3-disrupted mutants were deficient in the production of SnTox3 and avirulent on the Snn3 differential wheat line BG220. An analysis of genetic diversity revealed that SnTox3 is present in 60.1% of a worldwide collection of 923 isolates and occurs as eleven nucleotide haplotypes resulting in four amino acid haplotypes. The cloning of SnTox3 provides a fundamental tool for the investigation of the S. nodorum–wheat interaction, as well as vital information for the general characterization of necrotroph–plant interactions.
EGF-Induced Bronchial Epithelial Cells Drive Neutrophil Chemotactic and Anti-Apoptotic Activity in Asthma

Chronic damage and repair of the bronchial epithelium are features of asthma. We have previously reported that ex vivo stimulation of normal bronchial epithelial cells with epidermal growth factor (EGF), a key factor of epithelial repair, enhances the mechanisms of neutrophil accumulation, thereby promoting neutrophil defences during acute injury but potentially enhancing inflammation in chronic airway diseases. We have now sought to (i) determine whether this EGF-dependent pro-neutrophil activity is increased in asthma, where EGF and its epithelial receptor are over-expressed, and (ii) elucidate some of the mechanisms underlying this asthmatic epithelial-neutrophil interaction. Primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) from healthy subjects, mild asthmatics and moderate-to-severe asthmatics (Mod/Sev) were stimulated with EGF, a model that mimics a repairing epithelium. Conditioned culture media (EGF-CM) were assessed for neutrophil chemotactic and anti-apoptotic activities and inflammatory mediator production. EGF induced the epithelium to produce soluble mediators with neutrophil chemotactic (p<0.001) and pro-survival (p = 0.021) activities which were related to the clinical severity of asthma (trend p = 0.010 and p = 0.009, respectively). This was associated with enhanced IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF and TNF-α release, and cytokine-neutralising experiments using EGF-CM from Mod/Sev asthmatics demonstrated a role for GM-CSF in neutrophil survival (p<0.001). Pre-treatment of neutrophils with specific inhibitors of the myeloid-restricted class I phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI(3)K) isoforms showed that the EGF-CM from Mod/Sev asthmatics depended on the γ (p<0.021) but not δ isoforms, while neutrophil survival required multiple class I PI(3)Ks. The EGF-induced chemotactic, but not pro-survival activity, involved RhoA signaling in neutrophils (p = 0.012). EGF whose activity is upregulated in asthma induces ex vivo the epithelium from asthmatic patients to produce pro-neutrophil activities; these are related to asthma severity and, in moderate-to-severe asthmatics, involves class IB PI(3)Kγ signaling, providing a potential therapeutic target for neutrophilic forms of asthma.
Aberrant expression of p53, p16INK4a and Ki-67 as basic biomarker for malignant progression of oral leukoplakias.

BACKGROUND The risk of malignant progression of oral leukoplakia with and without dysplasia is unpredictable. MATERIALS AND METHODS Leukoplakias without dysplasia of 35 patients, leukoplakias with dysplasia of 4 patients, and similar lesions obtained from tumor patients were retrospectively examined by immunohistochemistry for the expression of the proteins pRb, p53, p16(INK4a), Cyclin D1 and Ki-67. The predictive power of combined aberrant expression patterns for the progression of leukoplakias without dysplasia was examined. RESULTS Increased expression of p53, Ki-67 and Cyclin D1, and loss of p16(INK4a) occurred in 45.9%, 38.9%, 29.4% and 32.4% of the leukoplakias without dysplasia, respectively. All alterations increased with progression but had poor positive predictive value. However, the combined p53/p16(INK4a)/Ki-67 aberration occurred in only three (9%) cases, of which two patients (66.7%) experienced progression to dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. The combined p53/p16(INK4a)/Ki-67 alteration had a negative predictive value (NPV) and sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 97% and positive predictive value (PPV) of 67%. By contrast, the combined p53/p16(INK4a)/Cyclin D1 alteration had 97% NPV and sensitivity of 50%, specificity of 90% and only 25% PPV. Loss of pRb and concomitant overexpression of p16(INK4a) were not observed arguing against an involvement of HPV in oral leukoplakia. CONCLUSIONS We propose the combined p53/p16(INK4a)/Ki-67 alteration as a basic marker to define high risk leukoplakia patients. Lesions not showing this alteration appear to be harmless. Future studies should validate these findings and search for proteins which can further improve the PPV of the proposed basic marker.