Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of atherosclerosis risk factors on the clinical presentation of arterial occlusive disease in Arabic patients.

BACKGROUND Although the risk factors for atherosclerosis have been identified, their impact on the presentation of arterial occlusive disease has not been studied among Arabs. OBJECTIVE To determine the correlation between atherosclerotic risk factors and the extent and presentation of atherosclerotic disease in different arterial systems. METHODS The present case-control study was performed on a consecutive series of Arabic patients over one year. There were two groups - an atherosclerotic group, which included patients with peripheral arterial disease, extracranial cerebrovascular disease or coronary artery disease (CAD), and the control group, which included patients admitted to one of the general surgical units who were free from atherosclerotic disease. All patients underwent evaluation of risk factors (diabetes mellitus [DM], smoking, dyslipidemia and hypertension) for atherosclerosis and systemic assessment of the vascular tree. RESULTS Two hundred fifteen patients in the atherosclerotic group and 191 patients in the control group were included in the study. There were positive correlations between the prevalence of DM, smoking, dyslipidemia and the severity of presentation of peripheral arterial disease, and the extent of CAD. The correlation between the incidence of DM and the severity of presentation of CAD was also significant. The correlation was also positive between the incidence of ex-smoking and hypertension, and the severity of presentation of extracranial cerebrovascular disease. CONCLUSION Different risk factors may interact in different ways in the clinical presentation of atherosclerotic disease in different arterial systems.
A Fully Integrated UHF-Band CMOS Receiver With Multi-Resolution Spectrum Sensing (MRSS) Functionality for IEEE 802.22 Cognitive Radio Applications

Fast and accurate spectrum sensing is one of the most important functions in a cognitive radio (CR) seeking to use the licensed but unoccupied spectrum segments. In this paper, we present a fully integrated CMOS receiver with a CR spectrum sensing capability in the UHF band. We propose multi-resolution spectrum sensing (MRSS), which is a digitally-assisted analog energy detection technique. Without using bulky analog filters, detection bandwidth can be flexibly controlled by correlating the received analog signals with window signal generated by built-in digital window generator. The integrated chip has been fabricated in a standard 0.18-mumm CMOS technology, and has achieved 32 dB of detection dynamic range with minimum detection sensitivity of -74 dBm by using a 100-kHz cos4 window.
Development of sleep–wakefulness rhythm in premature babies

The aims of this study were: (1) to investigate the evolution of the sleep pattern in preterm newborns during their first month of life; (2) to assess the influence of light–dark on the sleep pattern; and (3) to compare this pattern with that of full–term newborns. The population consisted of 60 healthy, preterm newborns and 63 full–term newborns, divided into four age groups, 1 week apart, throughout the first month of life. Preterm newborns were further divided into five groups according to conceptional (corrected) age. An observer took note every 30 min, for 24 h, of sleep or wakefulness in every case. The average sleeping time in preterm groups according to postnatal age remained unchanged during the first month of life: 17.57 honday 1 and 17.15h on day 28. When the preterm infants were re–grouped according to conceptional age, average daily sleep was 17.86 h at 32 weeks and 15.22 h at 37 weeks. The full–term newborns had an average daily sleep of 14.78 h on day 1 and 11.94 h on day 28, with a decrease throughout week 4 of life (p < 0.001). The decrease in daily sleeping time in the full–term groups, took place at the expense of the daylight span, where there was a decrease througout the first month of life (p < 0.01). There were no differences in preterm newborns during the light and dark phases. A progressive synchronization of sleep to the light–dark was seen in the control group. Therefore, the sleeping pattern could be taken as an indication of the degree of biological immaturity of preterm newborns.
Ranking Fluctuating Asymmetry in a Dot Figure and the Significant Impact of Imagining a Face

Fluctuating asymmetry and averageness is correlated with our perception of beauty in human faces. Yet, whether deviations of centrality in the positioning of the eyes, the nose, and the mouth have different effects on our perception of asymmetry in a holistic human face, is still uncertain. In this study we aimed to test the relative effect of decentralising the horizontal position of three sets of paired dots representing eyes, nostrils, or mouth from the vertical midline of ambiguous dot figures, vaguely resembling a face. The figures were ranked according to perceived asymmetry by human observers. When associating the figures with non-facial objects (eg a butterfly), none of the figures' rank distribution differed from each other. However, when observers imagined the figures to represent a human face, the figure with the decentralised pair of dots representing the nostrils was significantly ranked as more asymmetric than the other figures. This result provides indications that the brain may deal with information about facial asymmetry and averageness heavily depending on the centrality of the nasal region.
Endocasts and brain evolution in Anthracotheriidae (Artiodactyla, Hippopotamoidea)

Anthracotheres are a fossil family of ‘Suiformes’ from the Old World, North and Central America. They are known from the middle Eocene to the late Pliocene, and are suggested to be the stem group of Hippopotamidae. Yet, their soft anatomy remains poorly known. In this study we describe the virtual endocast of the late Oligocene anthracothere Microbunodon minimum, reconstructed using microtomography, as well as the natural endocast of Merycopotamus medioximus from the late Miocene. These are the first anthracothere endocasts ever described. Particular attention is given to the relative proportions of the brain, the neocortex, the cerebellum and the olfactory bulbs. The ‘backward shift’ of the pituitary of M. minimum, and the possible presence of a K lobe in M. medioximus, is discussed. Previous statements that some endocranial characters were subject to convergence among mammals are also corroborated.
Boom-Bust Housing Price Dynamic: The Case of Malaysia

This paper aims to differentiate housing price bubble from a housing price cycle through the investigation and analysis of the price volatility driving components using graphical analysis, cointegrating regression and mean reversion regression. The findings suggest that Malaysia is not facing any housing bubble at the point of time since there is no sharp upsurge and rapid fall of house prices. The recent upswing in house prices followed by a gradual coming down rather reflect a severe price cycle which started in 2009. The peak was observed in 2013 and since then has reversed into a continuous but gradual fall. The cycle is persisting and has not bottomed out yet. Our results show that the main reasons for the price booms are speculative herd instinct and lax in house loan lending policy before 2012. Subsequently the various anti cooling measures by the Malaysian government have helped to control price expansion.
Preliminary findings regarding overweight and obesity in pediatric bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE Overweight/obesity is highly prevalent among adults with bipolar disorder and has been associated with illness severity. Little is known regarding overweight/obesity among youth with bipolar disorder. METHOD Subjects were 348 youths aged 7 to 17 years who met DSM-IV criteria for bipolar I or bipolar II disorder or study-operationalized criteria for bipolar disorder not otherwise specified and were enrolled in the Course and Outcome of Bipolar Illness in Youth study. Age- and sex-adjusted body mass index was computed according to International Obesity Task Force cut points, based on self- and parent-reported height and weight, to determine overweight/obesity. The study was conducted from October 2000 to July 2006. RESULTS Overweight/obesity was prevalent among 42% of subjects. The most robust predictors of overweight/obesity in a logistic regression model were younger age, nonwhite race, lifetime physical abuse, substance use disorders, psychiatric hospitalizations, and exposure to ≥ 2 medication classes associated with weight gain. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of overweight/obesity among youth with bipolar disorder may be modestly greater than in the general population. Moreover, similar to adults, overweight/obesity among youth with bipolar disorder may be associated with increased psychiatric burden. These preliminary findings underscore the importance of early identification of overweight/obesity among youth with bipolar disorder. Future studies are needed to clarify the direction of the associations between overweight/obesity and the identified predictors and to compare the prevalence of overweight/obesity among youth with bipolar disorder versus other psychiatric disorders.
“HIV isn't me…”: HIV+ adolescents' experiences in a positive context of support and treatment

Abstract We describe the experiences of a sample of Canadian HIV+ youth whose intact adolescent identities contrast sharply with the expected identity challenges of persons living with a serious, chronic disease. We first showcase the positive HIV+ identities emerging from the successful management of HIV+ status through long-term HIV-related medical care and established pharmaceutical regimes. Second, we describe the medical, familial, and broader social context of support in which these adolescents' are negotiating HIV. Finally, we highlight the youth's expectations of future, specific identity and role challenges regarding intimacy and sexuality-related to disclosure of their private HIV+ identities and their embodied HIV+ status. Continued social and medical supports will be key to their emergence into adulthood as healthy HIV+ persons; with such supports, these youths’ experiences highlight the capacity for living optimally with HIV.
MULTIPLICATION OF TULAREMIA ORGANISMS IN THE LONE STAR TICK.

Certain of his previous observations suggested to Hopla (1) that the number of tularemia organisms found in the tick depend to some degree upon the particular stage in its life cycle and on the time elapsed since its last blood meal. The species of tick which he studied, the spot-backed or lone star tick. Amblyomma americanum, completes its entire development with but three blood meals. On further study, Hopla found that the lowest average number of organisms per tick occurred in the freshly engorged larvae (2). From this point on the bacterial count increased to a maximum at the time the adult ticks emerged from the nymphal cases. The number of bacteria then decreased as the fasting period lengthened. The infected adult after long fasting was, however, just as capable of producing tularemia in guinea pigs as freshly-emerged infected adults. Coxsackie can occur natural conditions
Assessing developmental delay in early childhood — concerns with the Bayley-III scales

Abstract Objective: Early detection of children with developmental delay is crucial for determining which children require close surveillance and intervention services. For many decades, the Bayley Scales has been the most widely used objective measure of early developmental delay, both in clinical and research settings. Significant structural changes were incorporated in the most recent edition, the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). This article reviews the psychometric properties of the Bayley-III and investigates criticisms raised on the Bayley-III, namely that it overestimates developmental status and is a poor predictor of later functioning. Method: This critical review examines the literature on the Bayley-III, which was released in 2006. Results: The Cognitive, Language, and Motor composites of the Bayley-III overestimate development, resulting in an under-identification of children with developmental delay. A range of strategies have been proposed for dealing with the inflated scores on the Bayley-III, none of which are ideal. Evidence to date suggests that the Bayley-III is a poor predictor of later cognitive and motor impairments. Conclusions: The Bayley-III needs new norms, or alternatively, it may be time for a new edition of the Bayley Scales.
Work organization and musculoskeletal injuries among a cohort of health care workers.

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the relationship between work-organization factors (job control, job demands, and workload measures) and the risk of lower-body musculoskeletal injury among health care workers. METHODS A four-year, retrospective cohort study of 3769 health care workers was carried out in one acute care hospital in the Canadian province of British Columbia. A job-exposure matrix was constructed for the work-organization factors from survey and administrative data and assigned to workers on the basis of their occupation and department of employment. Musculoskeletal injuries resulting in workers' compensation claims were ascertained from the injury database of the hospital's Occupational Health and Safety Department. RESULTS In the final Poisson models adjusted for demographic and biomechanical factors, an increased risk for compensated musculoskeletal injuries of the lower back and lower limb was related to low job control [relative risk (RR) 1.64, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.08-2.49] and workload defined by working during periods of high absenteeism within a department (RR 2.10, 95% CI 1.61-2.98). The risk also increased with more biomechanical demands in an occupation and with a recent previous injury. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that work-organization characteristics (job control and workload) were associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries resulting in a compensation claim. These associations remained after the effect of demographic and biomechanical factors was taken into consideration. The association with workload measured by departmental levels of absenteeism should be explored further in future studies as reverse causality (musculoskeletal symptoms resulting in absenteeism) could not be fully ruled out in the current study.
Los refugiados guatemaltecos y la frontera-frente de discriminación, explotación y desigualdad

This work aims to give an historical and sociocultural content to the category of border, through the case of Guatemalan refugees that entered Mexico in 1981. The South border is analyzed from a socio-geographical position and the long term historical perspective. The border area is conceived as a territorialized space, in which the population that sought refuge and naturalized in Mexico anchors its new identity. It is an exam of the concept of refuge as a non-homogenous process, where the border is defined from contradictory relations of solidarity, racism and inequality in the inhabited space. Key words: refuge, territorialized space, citizenship, racism
Characteristics of Family/Friend Care Networks of Frail Seniors

ABSTRACT This paper tests assumptions often made by policy makers and practitioners that networks of family, friends, and neighbours are able to provide sustained care to frail elderly Canadians. Using national survey data, we examined characteristics of the care networks of 1,104 seniors living with a long-term health problem. Care networks were found to vary considerably in size, relationship composition, gender composition, age composition, and proximity, and these network characteristics were found to help explain variations in the types and amounts of care received. As a result, network characteristics that might place seniors at risk of receiving inadequate care (including small size and higher proportions of non-kin, male, and geographically distant members) were identified. These risk factors appear to be poorly reflected in most existing policy. RÉSUMÉ Ce mémoire explore certaines hypothèses souvent formulées par les décideurs et praticiens, à savoir que les réseaux informels, comme la famille, les amis et les voisins, peuvent fournir une aide soutenue aux Canadiens fragilisés âgés. À partir des données d'une enquête nationale, nous avons étudié les caractéristiques des réseaux de soins offerts à 1104 personnes âgées ayant une affection chronique. Nous avons constaté que les réseaux de soins différaient considérablement par la taille, la composition des relations, des sexes et de l'âge, et la proximité, et ces caractéristiques permettaient d'expliquer les variations entre le type et la quantité de soins reçus. Nous avons pu ainsi identifier certaines caractéristiques pouvant être préjudiciables aux personnes âgées parce qu'elles se traduisent par des soins inadéquats (p. ex., petits réseaux, forte proportion d'intervenants sans lien de parenté avec la personne âgée, forte proportion d'hommes, et éloignement géographique). Pourtant ces facteurs de risque ne semblent pas pris en compte dans les politiques actuelles.
Two-year Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Long Segments Drug-Eluting Stents: Comparison of Sirolimus-Eluting Stent with Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent

Limited data are available on the long-term clinical efficacy of drug-eluting stent (DES) in diffuse long lesions. From May 2006 to May 2007, a total of 335 consecutive patients (374 lesions) were underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with implantation of long DES (≥ 30 mm) in real world practice. Eight-month angiographic outcomes and 2-yr clinical outcomes were compared between SES (n = 218) and PES (n = 117). Study endpoints were major adverse cardiac events including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, target-lesion revascularization, target-vessel revascularization and stent thrombosis. Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups as were mean stent length (44.9 ± 15.2 mm in SES and 47.4 ± 15.9 in PES, P = 0.121). Late loss at 8 months follow-up was significantly lower in SES than in PES group (0.4 ± 0.6 mm in SES vs 0.7 ± 0.8 mm in PES, P = 0.007). Mean follow-up duration was 849 ± 256 days, and 2-yr cumulative major adverse cardiac events were significantly lower in the SES than in the PES group (5.5% in SES vs 15.4% in PES, P = 0.003). In conclusion, long-term DES use in diffuse long coronary lesions is associated with favorable results, with SES being more effective and safer than PES in this real-world clinical experience.
Biochip Array‐based Analysis of Plasma Cytokines in HIV Patients with Immunological and Virological Discordance

Assessment of cytokines in body fluids or cells provides important information in understanding the disease process and designing treatment strategies. Recent introduction of antibody‐based protein arrays have provided investigators simultaneous and specific detection of multiple analytes in a single sample using minimum volumes. In this study, we used a biochip array system capable of measuring 12 cytokines and growth factors (IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF)) in HIV patients with immunological and virological discordance (discordant) to find out differences if any, in their plasma cytokine profiles when compared with concordant HIV‐infected individuals. A sandwich chemiluminescent assay was performed with plasma specimens of 110 HIV patients (55 discordant, 55 concordant) and 22 normal healthy individuals followed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to the confirm levels of cytokines and growth factors that showed significant differences in the two groups. The discordant HIV patients showed significantly higher levels of plasma VEGF (P = 0.001) and EGF (P = 0.034) levels when compared with concordant patients. Overall, the patients showed significantly higher levels of TNF‐α, MCP‐1 and VEGF when compared with the normal healthy controls (P < 0.05). ELISA for VEGF (P < 0.001) and EGF (P = 0.004) confirmed the comparison obtained with biochip array, between the discordant and concordant patients. The results of cytokine quantitation by biochip array and ELISA confirmed that this technology is not only comparable but also has a good potential in the future applications involving measurement of multiple cytokines with limiting specimens.
[Relationship between methylenetrahydrofolate reductase gene and ischemic stroke].

OBJECTIVE To study the relationship between methylenetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and ischemic stroke. METHODS Four hundred and fifty four ischemic stroke patients were enrolled in the study. They were divided into large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), cardioembolism (CE), small artery occlusion (SAA), stroke of other determined etiology (SOE) and stroke of undetermined etiology (SUE) according to TOAST (Trail of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) criteria; and they were divided into mild, moderate and severe types ischemic stroke according to their scores of neurologic impairment. Three hundred and thirty four subjects, in whom hypertension, coronary heart disease, cerebral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, renal failure etc. were excluded, served as controls in the study. Their C677T polymorphisms of MTHFR gene were determined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), and their risk factors of ischemic stroke were recorded at the same time. RESULTS The frequencies of CC, CT and TT genotype in ischemic stroke were 51.8%, 40.5% and 7.7%, respectively, and they were 56.9%, 38.3% and 4.8% respectively in controls. TT genotype and T allele were associated with LAA and CE, moderate type and severe type of ischemic stroke. The frequencies of TT genotype and T allele in ischemic stroke patients were significantly higher in those with smoking, alcohol abuse or diabetes mellitus than those in controls (all P<0.10), but CC genotype and C allele were significantly lower in them than those in controls (all P<0.05). On the other hand, all of genotypes and alleles in ischemic stroke patients with no history of smoking, alcohol abuse or diabetes mellitus were not significantly different from those in controls. CONCLUSION TT genotype and T allele are risk factors for ischemic stroke. It exists interactions between smoking, alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus and MTHFR gene in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke.