Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality of anticoagulation with warfarin across Kuwait.

INTRODUCTION Warfarin is widely used in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) because it is effective in reducing thromboembolic complications. However, it has a narrow safe therapeutic window. We aimed to examine the frequency of maintaining this therapeutic window in daily practice. METHODS We enrolled consecutive patients with non-valvular AF presenting to five busy general hospitals in Kuwait for regular international normalised ratio (INR) testing. Patients were required to be on warfarin for more than 3 months and to have had at least 5 INR measurements. We recorded up to 20 INR measurements per patient. Time in therapeutic range (TTR) was assessed by the Rosendaal method and the percentage of INR measurements in the therapeutic range was recorded. RESULTS A total of 369 patients with non-valvular AF underwent 4392 INR measurements. (mean age 62.89 ± 11 years, 56% women, 78% had hypertension and 58% had diabetes). Mean duration of warfarin use was 13 ± 9.1 months. Of all INR measurements, 47% were in the therapeutic range of 2-3 and TTR by Rosendaal method was 52.6%. CONCLUSIONS The quality of anticoagulation with warfarin in non-selected daily practice in Kuwait is poor. This could have serious implications for patients' outcomes.
A performance study of practical channel assignment solutions in multi-radio multi-hop IEEE 802.11 networks

Multi-radio IEEE 802.11 nodes make use of the multiple channels defined by the standard in order to improve multi-hop networks performance. Since the number of available non-overlapping channels is usually higher than the number of interfaces per node, channel assignment mechanisms are needed. However, implementing an efficient channel assignment is a complex task. Problems like the trade-off between channel diversity and network connectivity, the circular dependency between routing and channel allocation, and the significant delay when switching the channel of the interfaces, have to be considered. Considerable research effort has been devoted to this topic. However, many proposals lack of practical vision and are complex to implement in real networks. This paper presents a performance study of practical or readily applicable channel assignment solutions, including our own proposal based on dynamic allocation of the channels. We discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the different strategies, whose conclusions can be applied to the design and evaluation of other practical solutions.
Government and the provision of public goods:from equilibrium models to mechanismdesign

Abstract This paper investigates to what extent the seminal contribution of Samuelson has been or not incorporated by the theories of general equilibrium and mechanism design in their analysis of optimal public good provision, and more generally of optimal public policy. Our conclusion is that, far from taking up the challenges raised by Samuelson's contribution, both paradigms lead to the negative conclusion of the impossibility of a fully decentralized optimal public goods provision through market or market-like institutions, without giving a key for (re)defining the role of state in market economies.
Comparative Study Using Different Methods for Diagnosis of Intestinal Parasites of Goats and Sheep in Gombe, Northeastern Nigeria

Aim: This study was carried out to compare the diagnostic efficiency of direct smear, floatation, and sedimentation methods for intestinal parasites in order to come out with a simple, precise and affordable method. Study Design: Cross-sectional study was used where faecal samples on indigenous goats and sheep were used. A total number of 120 samples were collected from the intestinal tract of goats and sheep slaughtered. 60 faecal samples were collected from each of the two ruminants accompanied by identification using masking tape on each polythene bag. Parameters such as age and sex of the goats and sheep were observed. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Gombe township abattoir where small ruminants are mostly slaughtered without inspection from April to June, 2016. Methodology: Direct smear using normal saline preparation, Sedimentation method and Floatation method were used for identification of parasites. Result: Out of the 120 faecal samples examined, 97(80.8%) were positive for parasitic infections. Original Research Article Abba et al.; SAJP, 2(3): 1-7, 2019; Article no.SAJP. 48024 2 The sensitivity indicated that Floatation techniques had the highest percentage of 50%, followed by Sedimentation with 36.6% and direct smear had the least with 13.4%. Conclusion: The sensitivity of the three methods indicated that Floatation method is the best and even far better when compared to the conventional Direct smear. We therefore recommend the use of floatation method for easier and more authentic results.
Transient Heat Transfer Between Two Horizontal Pipelines in a Heat Tracing Enclosure

In this study, a numerical simulation of natural convection between two horizontal differentially heated pipelines inside a circular air-filled enclosure is performed using the finite difference method. The relevant parameters of the problem are the inclinations of the two cylinders (positioned vertically in this study, with the cold cylinder above the hot cylinder), the distance between cylinders and the Rayleigh number. The results show that transient irregular fluctuations in the flow field and heat transfer occur when the Rayleigh number increases or the distance between cylinders decreases. Under the current test conditions, increasing the Rayleigh number significantly increases the average heat transfer coefficient between the cold and hot cylinders.
Identification of dye-sensitive strains of Brucella melitensis

Strains of Brucella melitensis biovars 1, 2, and 3 isolated in India, Italy, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Federal Republic of Germany, and Zimbabwe were inhibited by thionin (20 micrograms/ml) but not by basic fuchsin (20 micrograms/ml) or safranin O (200 micrograms/ml). In other respects the strains were typical of their species and biovars. The existence of dye-sensitive strains of B. melitensis suggests that the present system of classification requires modification.
Rubik: Knowledge Guided Tensor Factorization and Completion for Health Data Analytics

Computational phenotyping is the process of converting heterogeneous electronic health records (EHRs) into meaningful clinical concepts. Unsupervised phenotyping methods have the potential to leverage a vast amount of labeled EHR data for phenotype discovery. However, existing unsupervised phenotyping methods do not incorporate current medical knowledge and cannot directly handle missing, or noisy data. We propose Rubik, a constrained non-negative tensor factorization and completion method for phenotyping. Rubik incorporates 1) guidance constraints to align with existing medical knowledge, and 2) pairwise constraints for obtaining distinct, non-overlapping phenotypes. Rubik also has built-in tensor completion that can significantly alleviate the impact of noisy and missing data. We utilize the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) framework to tensor factorization and completion, which can be easily scaled through parallel computing. We evaluate Rubik on two EHR datasets, one of which contains 647,118 records for 7,744 patients from an outpatient clinic, the other of which is a public dataset containing 1,018,614 CMS claims records for 472,645 patients. Our results show that Rubik can discover more meaningful and distinct phenotypes than the baselines. In particular, by using knowledge guidance constraints, Rubik can also discover sub-phenotypes for several major diseases. Rubik also runs around seven times faster than current state-of-the-art tensor methods. Finally, Rubik is scalable to large datasets containing millions of EHR records.
Protease-Activated Receptors and other G-Protein-Coupled Receptors: the Melanoma Connection

The vast array of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play crucial roles in both physiological and pathological processes, including vision, coagulation, inflammation, autophagy, and cell proliferation. GPCRs also affect processes that augment cell proliferation and metastases in many cancers including melanoma. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, yet limited therapeutic modalities are available to patients with metastatic melanoma. Studies have found that both chemokine receptors and protease-activated receptors, both of which are GPCRs, are central to the metastatic melanoma phenotype and may serve as potential targets in novel therapies against melanoma and other cancers.
Nonpenetrating very deep sclerectomy with reticulated hyaluronic acid implant in glaucoma treatment.

BACKGROUND The purpose of our study was to assess intraocular pressure control (IOP) and postoperative complications in nonpenetrating very deep sclerectomy (NPVDS) with reticulated hyaluronic acid implant (SKGEL) and Mitomycin C (MMC). MATERIAL/METHODS Fifty eyes from fifty patients with medically uncontrolled glaucoma were randomized to either the NPVDS or NPDS group. The NPVDS procedure was similar to traditional NPDS (control group); however, excision of sclera and exposure of ciliary body were also performed, and only a narrow scleral flap was retained at a distance of 0.5 mm from Schlemm's canal. Mitomycin-C 0.2 mg/ml was applied on and under the superficial flap of the sclera during both NPVDS and NPDS. Follow-up examinations were carried out at 1 week, and then at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Success was defined as IOP <22 mmHg with or without glaucoma medication and laser procedures. RESULTS The 12-month success rate in the NPVDS group was 96%, not significantly higher than in the control group (88%, p=0.88). There was no statistically significant difference in IOP between the NPVDS (15.9+/-2.5 mmHg) and NPDS (16.3+/-3.6 mmHg) groups (p=0.57). Complications included four cases of hyphema, three of choroidal detachment (myopic eyes), and one of filtering bleb fibrosis in the NPVDS group, and three cases of hyphema, two of choroidal detachment (myopic eyes), and three of filtering bleb fibrosis in the NPDS group. CONCLUSIONS NPVDS is an effective surgical modality for patients with glaucoma. The safety of NPVDS is comparable to that of NPDS.
Neural networks for the coordination of the hands in time.

Without practice, bimanual movements can typically be performed either in phase or in antiphase. Complex temporal coordination, e.g., during movements at different frequencies with a noninteger ratio (polyrhythms), requires training. Here, we investigate the organization of the neural control systems for in-phase, antiphase, and polyrhythmic coordination using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Brisk rhythmic tapping with the index fingers was used as a model behavior. We demonstrate different patterns of brain activity during in-phase and antiphase coordination. In-phase coordination was characterized by activation of the right anterior cerebellum and cingulate motor area (CMA). Antiphase coordination was accompanied by extensive fronto-parieto-temporal activations, including the supplementary motor area (SMA), the preSMA, and the bilateral inferior parietal gyri, premotor cortex, and superior temporal gyri. When contrasting polyrhythmic tapping with in-phase tapping, activity was seen in the same set of brain regions, and in the posterior cerebellum and the CMA. Antiphase and polyrhythmic coordination may thus to a large extent use common neural control circuitry. In a separate experiment, we analyzed the neural control of the rhythmic structure and the serial order of finger movements during polyrhythmic tapping. Polyrhythmic tapping was compared with an isochronous coordination pattern that retained the same serial order of finger movements as the polyrhythm. This experiment showed that the preSMA and the bilateral superior temporal gyri may be crucial for the rhythmic control of polyrhythmic tapping, while the cerebellum, the CMA, and the premotor cortices presumably are more involved in the ordinal control of the sequence of finger movements.
Obstetric outcome of teenage pregnancy and labour in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals complex, Ile-Ife: A ten year review

Background: Teenage or adolescent pregnancy is a recognized problem of public health significance. Every year, in excess of 14 million teenage girls give birth to a child; most of these young mothers are living in non-industrialized countries. In view of the high prevalence, there is a need to audit such cases regularly to identify areas of possible improvement in its management. Results obtained from the audit can help in policy formulation and strengthen advocacy on issues ranging from abortion complications to early marriage. Objectives: The objectives of this 10-year retrospective study are to document the pattern of prevalence, presentation, obstetric outcome of teenage pregnancy, and labor at the Ife Hospital unit of obafemi awolowo university teaching hospitals complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife. Materials and Methods: The study involved a 10-year retrospective analysis of the data collected from the records of all cases of teenage pregnancies during the period from January 1999 to December 2008. Results: During the period studied there were 6,250 deliveries of which teenage pregnancies accounted for 255 giving an incidence of 4.08% of the total deliveries. Majority (51.76%) of the pregnant teenagers were unbooked for antenatal care and 92.12% of them were nulliparous. Antepartum hemorrhage, abnormal presentations, obstructed labor, and anemia were the commonest complications seen occurring in 54.5, 36.5, 14.1, and 11.4 per cent of the teenagers respectively which was significantly higher when compared to the adult pregnant women (P = 0.000). Delivery was by caesarean section in 32.2% of the teenagers compared to 22.6% in the other women (P = 0.000). The overall perinatal mortality rate was 68.8/1000 births while teenagers had a perinatal mortality rate of 106/1000 births (P = 0.013). Conclusion: Teenage pregnancy still remains a major recognized problem of public health significance. Most of these patients are from low socio-economic class and their obstetric performance is relatively poor compared to the adult group. The concept of women's sexual and reproductive health rights needs to be reinforced in most developing countries. Improving access to contraception and discouragement of early marriage will help to reduce teenage pregnancy and the overall burden of maternal mortality. Optimal care should be given to teenage mothers not only to improve the pregnancy outcome but also to enhance their social, educational, and emotional adjustment.
Regimes of Pulsar Pair Formation and Particle Energetics

We investigate the conditions required for the production of electron-positron pairs above a pulsar polar cap (PC) and the influence of pair production on the energetics of the primary particle acceleration. Assuming space charge-limited flow acceleration including the inertial frame-dragging effect, we allow both one-photon and two-photon pair production by either curvature radiation (CR) photons or photons resulting from inverse Compton scattering of thermal photons from the PC by primary electrons. We find that while only the younger pulsars can produce pairs through CR, nearly all known radio pulsars are capable of producing pairs through nonresonant inverse Compton scatterings. The effect of the neutron star equations of state on the pair death lines is explored. We show that pair production is facilitated in more compact stars and more massive stars. Therefore, accretion of mass by pulsars in binary systems may allow pair production in most of the millisecond pulsar population. We also find that two-photon pair production may be important in millisecond pulsars if their surface temperatures are above ≃three million kelvins. Pulsars that produce pairs through CR will have their primary acceleration limited by the effect of screening of the electric field. In this regime, the high-energy luminosity should follow an LHE ∝ dependence. The acceleration voltage drop in pulsars that produce pairs only through inverse Compton emission will not be limited by electric field screening. In this regime, the high-energy luminosity should follow an LHE ∝ rot dependence. Thus, older pulsars will have significantly lower γ-ray luminosity.
Leprosy: a disease with diagnostic and management challenges!

Accurate diagnosis of leprosy is of elementary importance to all aspects of the disease including epidemiology, case management and the prevention of disabilities. Delays in the diagnosis of leprosy are not uncommon and misdiagnosis is more common in non-endemic countries where the disease is rare. The long incubation period, variable clinical presentations and waning expertise about the disease are the likely reasons for a delay in diagnosis. Diagnosis and classification of leprosy have traditionally been based on the clinical examination and frequently with additional information from skin smears. Histopathologic examination, inoculation of the mouse foot pad, serologic tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests have been largely confined to research studies, but attempts are being made to develop new tools that will make the tasks of diagnosis and classification easier and more reliable. Three cardinal signs have remained the basis for the clinical diagnosis of leprosy:[1] a) Anaesthetic/ hypoanesthetic skin lesion(s) b) Thickened peripheral nerve(s) with impairment of sensations in the area supplied c) Acid-fast bacilli in the skin smear
Raman study of phonon anharmonicity in LaF3.

The first-order Raman spectrum of ${\mathrm{LaF}}_{3}$ was studied as a function of hydrostatic pressure (0\char21{}10 GPa) and temperature (60\char21{}900 K). The calculated values for the mode Gr\"uneisen parameters are between 1 and 2, in reasonable agreement with those derived from uniaxial-stress experiments. Deviations from the isotropic approximation, in handling the temperature dependence of the long-wavelength optical-phonon frequencies, are found to be smaller than 15%. Anharmonicity contributions to the phonon frequencies and half-widths are calculated from the joint data. The results indicate that for most of the phonons it is the volume contributions that are mainly responsible for the temperature-induced frequency shifts. Anharmonicity appears to be important for fewer phonons and also for the increase of linewidth with temperature for all phonons studied. Other observations are also discussed, such as the pressure dependence of the phonon linewidths and the frequency dependence of the frequency-versus-pressure slopes.
Glucocorticoid Effects on the Programming of AT1b Angiotensin Receptor Gene Methylation and Expression in the Rat

Adverse events in pregnancy may ‘programme’ offspring for the later development of cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Previously, using a rodent model of programmed hypertension we have demonstrated the role of the renin-angiotensin system in this process. More recently we showed that a maternal low protein diet resulted in undermethylation of the At1b angiotensin receptor promoter and the early overexpression of this gene in the adrenal of offspring. Here, we investigate the hypothesis that maternal glucocorticoid modulates this effect on fetal DNA methylation and gene expression. We investigated whether treatment of rat dams with the 11β-hydroxylase inhibitor metyrapone, could prevent the epigenetic and gene expression changes we observed. Offspring of mothers subjected to a low protein diet in pregnancy showed reduced adrenal Agtr1b methylation and increased adrenal gene expression as we observed previously. Treatment of mothers with metyrapone for the first 14 days of pregnancy reversed these changes and prevented the appearance of hypertension in the offspring at 4 weeks of age. As a control for non-specific effects of programmed hypertension we studied offspring of mothers treated with dexamethasone from day 15 of pregnancy and showed that, whilst they had raised blood pressure, they failed to show any evidence of Agtr1b methylation or increase in gene expression. We conclude that maternal glucocorticoid in early pregnancy may induce changes in methylation and expression of the Agtr1b gene as these are clearly reversed by an 11 beta-hydroxylase inhibitor. However in later pregnancy a converse effect with dexamethasone could not be demonstrated and this may reflect either an alternative mechanism of this glucocorticoid or a stage-specific influence.
Clavicepsphalaridis in Australia: biology, pathology and taxonomy with a description of the new genus Cepsiclava (Hypocreales, Clavicipitaceae)

Claviceps phalaridis is a native systemic grass endophyte known only from southeastern Australia. It renders its annual and perennial hosts sterile, producing deciduous sclerotia in all florets of infected plants and occurring at a low level on its four known native hosts (species of Austrodanthonia, Austrostipa, Elymus and Microlaena). Introduced pooid grasses in the genera Bromus, Dactylis, Holcus, Hordeum, Phalaris, Lolium and Vulpia are commonly infected. Occasional infection in crops of oats and barley (Avena sativa, A. strigosa, Hordeum vulgare) has occurred. Sclerotia are composed of fungal and host floret tissues (stamens, ovary, styles and stigmas) and can germinate immediately. In the field, production of ascostromata from sclerotia is synchronised with autumn seed germination of its grass hosts and seedling infection is suspected. Two conidial anamorphs are produced, one with dry unicellular conidia developing from enteroblastically proliferating conidiophores on the apex of maturing sclerotia, the other two-celled and with apical branched appendages, arising sympodially from germinating unicellular conidia and ascospores, and in culture. The morphological and biological characteristics of C. phalaridis are distinct from those of the genus Claviceps. Of species currently placed in Claviceps, it is most similar to C. diadema and related Central and South American taxa on panicoid hosts. These species have sclerotia including host tissue but they have a sphacelial anamorph characteristic of Claviceps. It differs from Neoclaviceps, recently described parasitising ovaries of a panicoid host in Costa Rica, in producing a discrete Sclerotium, a unicellular anamorph and in having mainly pooid hosts. Comparison with other genera of plant-parasitic Clavicipitaceae shows that it cannot be included in them. It is unique amongst these genera in invading male floret organs (stamens) before female organs (ovaries). The new genus Cepsiclava is established for it and the term pseudoergot proposed for the fungus and the disease it causes.