Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic factors, effectiveness and safety of endoscopic balloon dilatation for de novo and anastomotic strictures in Crohn’s disease—A multicenter “real life” study

Abstract Introduction: Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease which is frequently complicated by obstructive symptoms secondary to development of intestinal strictures. The aim of this “real life” study was to assess the effectiveness, safety and outcome of endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) in de novo vs. anastomotic stenoses. Patients and methods: Data of 93 EBDs in 46 CD patients were retrospectively analyzed. Technical success rate was defined as the ability of endoscope to traverse the stenosis after dilatation. Long-term clinical success rate was claimed if a patient remained asymptomatic and did not require surgery or further endoscopic dilatation following the technical success. Results: About 62.4% of strictures were de novo and 37.6% anastomotic. The elapsed time between diagnosis and the first balloon dilatation was 9.5 (0–35) years. About 73.1% of dilatations were successful over a short-term period without serious complications. About 47.8% of patients showed that EBD is effective over a long-term period. EBD of anastomotic strictures showed better outcome than that of de novo strictures, however biological therapy before or after dilatation, immunomodulatory therapy and the time between the diagnosis and the first dilatation had no influence on long-term effectiveness. Nine subjects required surgery due to strictures after balloon dilatation. Conclusion: The results of this study highlight that EBD is an effective therapy of short strictures in CD with low complication rate. Using this endoscopic method we can avoid surgical interventions in most of the cases. EBD of anastomotic stenosis may be more preferable than that of the de novo strictures.
Multi-Agent Distributed Beamforming With Improper Gaussian Signaling for MIMO Interference Broadcast Channels

For rate optimization in interference limited networks, improper Gaussian signaling has shown its ability to outperform conventional proper Gaussian signaling. In this paper, we study a weighted sum-rate maximization problem with improper Gaussian signaling for the multiple-input multiple-output interference broadcast channel. To solve this nonconvex and NP-hard problem, we propose an effective separate covariance and pseudo-covariance matrices optimization algorithm. In the covariance optimization, a weighted minimum mean square error algorithm is adopted, and in the pseudo-covariance optimization, an alternating optimization (AO) algorithm is proposed, which guarantees convergence to a stationary solution and ensures a sum-rate improvement over proper Gaussian signaling. An alternating direction method of multipliers-based multi-agent distributed algorithm is proposed to solve an AO subproblem with the globally optimal solution in a parallel and scalable fashion. The proposed scheme exhibits favorable convergence, optimality, and complexity properties for future large-scale networks. The simulation results demonstrate the superior sum-rate performance of the proposed algorithm as compared with the existing schemes with proper as well as improper Gaussian signaling under various network configurations.
Study of prevalence of congenital heart diseases in children in a rural tertiary care hospital

Background: Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) are relatively common with a prevalence ranging from 3.7 to 17.5 per 1000 live births. Objective: To study the prevalence, age wise distribution and clinical spectrum of CHD in children from (0-15 years). Material & Methods: This hospital based study was conducted on 26,239 patients aged (0-15 years) in the Department of Paediatrics, Akash Hospital attached to Akash Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Devanahalli, Bangalore, Karnataka, India from October 2013 to October 2016. Clinical Diagnosis, 2D Echocardiography and Color Doppler were considered for diagnosis of CHD. Results: Pattern of CHD in this study was Acyanotic Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)-50 cases. Atrial Septal Defect(ASD)-48%, Ventricular Septal Defect(VSD)-16%, Patent Foramen Ovale(PFO)-12%, Patent Ductus Arteriosus(PDA)-8%, VSD+ASD-8%, Dextrocardia+Biscupid Aortic Valve+ Aortic Regurgitation-2%, Partial Anamolus Pulmonary Venous Connection(PAPVC)-2%, Pulmonary Stenosis(PS)-2%, PDA+ASD+Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension(PAH)-2%, of total cases. No case of cyanotic congenital heart diseases (CCHD) was found during the study period. Conclusion: Prevalence of CHD was 1.9 per 1000 patients, Acyanotic CHD was the common heart disease found in the study. ASD was the most commonest lesion (48%), followed by VSD (16%), PFO(12%), PDA(8%).
The impact of laptop provision on teacher attitudes towards ICT

The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Finnish primary and secondary schools has been increasing for the last decade, but the full potential of the new technology has not been achieved; pedagogical thinking in educational institutes has not advanced in parallel with technological advances. Teachers’ attitudes towards the use of ICTs in schools are significant factors in determining how technology is used in schools. The aim of this study is to investigate if there is a difference in attitudes towards ICTs by teachers who have a personal laptop computer (provided by the employer) compared to teachers who have not. The data were collected by means of an online questionnaire, to which 69 teachers out of 196 (31%) from four schools replied. Analysis of the data reveals that teachers who used personal laptops in their work regarded the use of ICTs, both in teaching and in general, more positively than teachers who did not.
Applying Pause Analysis to Explore Cognitive Processes Occurring During the Copying of Sentences Amongst 6 years old Children in Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Tasik Puteri

Pause analysis is a method that investigates processes of writing by measuring the amount of time between pen strokes. It provides the field of teaching and learning in the 21st century with insights of the cognitive processes underpinning the nature of writing in children. This study examined the potential of using free handwritten copying of sentences as a means of investigating components of the cognitive processes of children who have English as their Second Language (ESL). An experiment is conducted where 28 children of Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Tasik Puteri are asked to copy a sentence in Malay Language and a sentence in English. The handwritten activity is captured to study the pause lengths produced at different forms of chunking sizes (i.e. group of words, words and group of letters). Results are then associated to the Theoretical Model of Copying (MoC) in identifying the possible factors that might affect the chunking sizes. It was found that there is a clear chunk with long pauses that occur at letter level, group of letters and word level. This indicates that there is a possibility of language comprehension processes taking place during the copying of sentences.
Recent veterinary graduates over the last five decades: initial career experiences.

OBJECTIVE To describe changes in the initial work experiences of veterinary graduates over the last 50 years. DESIGN A questionnaire, sent by mail. PROCEDURE A questionnaire seeking information on work experience as a recent graduate was sent to about 100 veterinarians who graduated in or about each of 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000, and 68% responded. Data were entered onto an Excel spreadsheet, and analysed with the SAS System 8 for Windows. RESULTS The first veterinary position for about half the graduates of 1950 and 1960 was in government service. Since then an increasing percentage have started in small animal practice; the rest in mixed practice. Many earlier graduates worked alone and for long hours, with little or no respite after hours. Since 1950, the average recent graduate in private practice has worked progressively fewer hours with less after hours duty, and has worked with progressively more other veterinarians. Cattle were almost half the cases seen by graduates of 1950 and 1960. Dogs and cats were about 20% of the cases seen by those graduates, but this percentage ncreased progressively and was 77% of the cases seen by the graduates of 2000. Distemper was the most common transmissible disease of dogs seen by graduates of 1950-1970, but by few since then. Graduates of 1980 saw parvovirus most commonly; those of 2000 saw parvovirus and kennel/canine cough in about equal numbers. Two other major changes in canine cases seen by recent graduates have involved skin conditions, which increased progressively between 1950 and 2000, and trauma, mainly involving vehicles, which decreased as dogs have been restrained more effectively. Fracture repair was the most common surgical procedure performed by recent graduates between 1950 and 1970, but with decreasing incidence of trauma this has been overtaken by the removal of lumps and repair of lacerations. Barbiturates were used extensively by recent graduates for both induction and maintenance of anaesthesia, but with increasing use of anaesthetic machines from 1960 onwards, halothane and more recently isoflurane have largely taken their place for the maintenance of anaesthesia. CONCLUSIONS Over the last five decades, the average recent graduate has had progressively more opportunity for support and advice from other veterinarians, to work more sociable hours, and to work with a narrower range of species, especially dogs and cats.
The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use.

Cannabis is globally the most commonly used psychoactive substance under international control. In 2013, an estimated 181.8 million people aged 15-64 years used cannabis for nonmedical purposes globally (uncertainty estimates 128.5–232.1 million) (UNODC, 2015). There is an increasing demand of treatment for cannabis use disorders and associated health conditions in high- and middle-income countries, and there has been increased attention to the public health aspects of cannabis use and related disorders in international drug policy dialogues. This publication builds on contributions from a broad range of experts and researchers from different parts of the world. It aims to present the current knowledge on the impact of nonmedical cannabis use on health.
An Initial Comparison of Educational Technology Courses for Training Teachers at Malaysian Universities: A Comparative Study.

Introducing a course in educational technology is vital especially to pre-service teachers in establishing early interest and long term habits. The initial disclosure and guidance in educational technology will determine the technique of beginning teachers at integrating ICT into their teaching-learning activities. Educators should feel comfortable in the utilization and deployment of proper instructional techniques. This is to ascertain the continuity of knowledge and skills obtained during the training program and consequently transfer in the real teaching situation. Institutions of higher learning that offers an undergraduate degree in education will include at least a course in the foundation of educational technology. However, the contents and emphasis of the curriculum differs from one institution to the next. Thus, there should be a standard or an indicator that essential areas of educational technology be met by pre-service teachers. This paper reports a small part of a larger ongoing research on the standards of ICT training curriculum and strategies for pre-service teachers throughout Malaysia. Specifically the curriculum and strategies at four local universities will be compared to the revised International Society for Technology in Education’s (ISTE’s) 2008 National Educational Technology Standards for teachers (NETSyT). An analysis of the extent of training curriculum in which the program adhere to the standards and the development of the field will be discussed.
Ocorrências Iatrogênicas em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI): Análise dos Fatores Relacionados

O estudo teve por objetivos identificar os fatores estruturais da UTI e as condicoes do paciente relacionados as ocorrencias iatrogenicas (Ols) e verificar a associacao entre a gravidade das Ols e os fatores relacionados. Os dados foram coletados, prospectivamente, em sete UTIs do Municipio de Sao Paulo, durante trinta dias. Do total de 113 Ols, 40,7 foram relacionadas a sondas, drenos e cateteres, seguidas por medicacao (27,4) e equipamentos (18,6 ). A maioria das ocorrencias (73,5 ) nao casou a ameaca a vida dos pacientes, porem em 26,5 houve ameaca moderada e grave a vida. Verificou-se que 89,4 das Ols foram relacionadas aos recursos humanos, porem nao houve associacao desses fatores com a gravidade das consequencias. Observou-se que pacientes instaveis apresentaram Ols com consequencias mais graves.Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de investimentos na educacao dos enfermeiros para a prevencao de Ols e reforcam a importância de novos estudos sobre o tema. The aims of this study were to identify the structural factors and the patient's conditions related to the Iatrogenic Occurrences (IO) in the ICU. The data were prospectively collected in two phases, at seven ICU from the Municipality of Sao Paulo, for thirty days. From the total of 113 IO 40.7% were related to catheters and drainage tubes, followed by medication (27.4%) and equipment (18.6%). The majority of the occurrences (73.5%) did not cause life threaten, however, 26.5% caused moderate and severe life threaten for the patients. The occurrences related to the human resources were predominant (89.4%) but there weren't associations between those variables and the severity of patients. However, patient with unstable conditions had more severe IO consequences. These results point out the necessity of improving nursing education as an attempt to prevent iatrogenic occurrences and reinforce the importance of new researches on this issue. El estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar los factores estructurales de la UCI y las condiciones del paciente, relacionados con las ocurrencias iatrogenicas (OIs) ademas de verificar la asociacion entre la gravedad de las OIs y los factores relacionados. Los datos fueron recolectados, prospectivamente, en siete UCIs del Municipio de Sao Paulo, durante treinta dias. De un total de 113 OIs, el 40,7% se relacionaron con las sondas, los drenajes y cateteres, seguidas por medicacion (el 27,4%) y equipos (el 18,6%). La mayoria de las ocurrencias (el 73,5%) no represento una amenaza a la vida de los pacientes, sin embargo en el 26,5% hubo amenaza moderada y grave a la vida. Se constato que el 89,4% de las OIs tuvieron relacion con los recursos humanos, pero no hubo asociacion de estos factores con la gravedad de las consecuencias. Se observo que pacientes inestables presentaron OIs con consecuencias mas graves. Los resultados muestran la necesidad de capacitar a los enfermeros para la prevencion de las OIs y refuerzan la importancia de nuevos estudios acerca del tema.
Cost-size optima of monolithic integrated circuits

A generalized cost-size relationship is derived for a monolithic circuit consisting of N identical components, taking into account variations in component density, yield, and assembly costs with N. It is intended to reveal cost trends rather than give accurate results for specific cases and deals only with fabrication costs. A yield-area relationship is used which takes into account chip-to-chip variations in defect density. It is found that the ratio (circuit cost per component/cost of discrete transistor) is a minimum at a chip size which is determined primarily by the spot defect density on the device. This optimum chip size lies between approximately 20 and approximately 60 mils square for a wide range of parameter values. State-of-the-art parameter values indicate a potential order of magnitude cost saving in integrated circuits compared with discrete transistors. The minimum value for the cost ratio is in general inversely proportional to the maximum packing density of components on a semiconductor slice and has a limiting value approximately 1/8N, N 0 being the number of components which can be packed on the chip size normally used for transistors. Arrays of identical logic gates fit the circuit model used quite closely, and the curves indicate that the cost per gate in reasonably densely packed arrays can be less than the cost of a discrete transistor. The results also indicate that when systems requirements make it desirable to include larger numbers of components in one package than the optimum for one monolith, wired-chip schemes are preferable to single monoliths, the optimum chip size being smaller than that for a simple monolith.
Archiving after Empire:Saint-Louis and its Sufi Counter-Memory

Saint-Louis is the former capital of French West Africa that was recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2000. Using de Certeau's distinction between strategies and tactics, this article examines how the cityscape of this colonial city is ‘archived’. It is suggested that different archival impulses generate different affects for the cityscape. The conservation of Saint-Louis's cityscape by UNESCO, in collaboration with the French non-governmental organisation (NGO) Le Partenariat, promotes a return to ‘the splendour of times gone by’. In contrast, through the preservation of sites associated with the trial of Sufi saint Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, his disciples remember his anti-colonial resistance. If the archiving of Saint-Louis as World Heritage Site generates colonial nostalgia, the tactical archive of ‘local legends’ on the Sufi saint supports a postcolonial subjectivity.Saint-Louis, l'ancien centre administratif de l'Afrique occidentale francaise en Afrique de l'Ouest, fut recemment reconnu comme.
Pattern and Management of Obstructive Jaundice in Wad Medani Teaching Hospital, March 2014 -2015

Obstructive jaundice is not uncommon in this area certainly with what is reported in the literature, malignant jaundice is more common than choledocholithiasis. The pre-operative management followed the international guidelines; most of the surgery done to the malignant jaundice was palliative because of the late presentation. Endoscopic service in management of obstructive jaundice is important and shall be utelized after completion of the new GIT Centre-Wad Medani Hospital. This study was a prospective cross sectional descriptive study, conducted in Wad Medani hospital - Gezira state – Sudan from March 2014 to March 2015. Wad Medani Teaching Hospital is a tertiary hospital with 600 beds serving all Gezira state and nearby states Material and Method: 124 patients admitted to hospital with symptoms and signs of obstructive jaundice including; yellow coloration of the sclera, dark urine,pale stools, itching, with or without the association of vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal mass and weight loss. Diagnosis was confirmed by history, examination and biochemical and radiological investigations.The data was analyzed by computer using SSPS. Results: 52(41.9%) were males and72 (51.8%) were females, with male to female ratio of 1:1.3. The cases of obstructive jaundice were found to be distributed among their age groups from 18-40yr (15.3%),41-60yr(31.5%) , 60yr and above (53.2%). Definitive diagnosis after completion of investigations results showed that cases due to common bile duct (CBD) stone and carcinoma of the head of pancrease were 55 (44.4%) and 52 (41.9%) respectively. The relation between the diagnosis and sex results showed CBD stone in females was 37(51.4%) where as in males carcinoma of the head of pancrease was 25(48.11%), ERCP was used in 67(54%) patients both for diagnostic and therapeutic indications. The operative intervention was also studied for all patients with obstructive jaundice and the results showed that 48(38.7%) patients underwent surgical intervention with 7(5.6%) CBD exploration and 41(33.1%) by pass surgical operation. Conclusion: ERCP has a promising role in the study area in managing patients with obstructive jaundice. The family physicians have an important role to play in early detection and referral of patients with obstructive jaundice to hospitals to avoid delayed presentation and minimize the harmful effects of hyper bilirubinemia on the liver so the step should start with how to detect the case and after that what to do for the case before referral to nearby hospital.
Evaluating Potential Environmental Variables and Active Aging in Older Adults for Age-Friendly Neighborhoods in Malaysia

ABSTRACT As Malaysia's population is aging rapidly, and since there is no specific housing policy for the elderly, it is vital that neighborhoods meet the different needs of elderly for active aging to maintain their quality of life. This study aims to investigate the neighborhood environmental variables, the outcome active aging, and potential variables that inhibit active aging in the elderly that lead to their quality of life. It examined quality-of-life determinants that are influenced by the existence of certain neighborhood characteristics. In the study, 385 older adults aged 60+ years residing in two different cities in Malaysia were surveyed. Multiple regression was used to explore how much variance in active aging variables the neighborhood environmental factors explained as a group. The results showed that permeability, accessibility, and facilitators to walking are key determinants of active aging. There is a need to improve the physical design of the neighborhoods with regard to these three factors.
MORPHOLOGY AND MORPHOMETRY OF THE ANTEBRACHIAL SKELETON AND BONES OF HAND OF THE DOMESTIC PEKIN DUCK

Anna Charuta, Bartlomiej J. Bartyzel, Maciej Karbowicz, Henryk Kobryn 1 Department of Vertebrates Morphology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Podlasie, ul. B. Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland 2 Department of Morphological Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Warsaw, ul. Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland Corresponding author. Present address: Department of Vertebrates Morphology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Podlasie, ul. B. Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland; e-mail: annacharuta@poczta.onet. pl
Rôles des facteurs de croissance dans la prolifération de la cellule β-pancréatique en réponse à un excès de nutriments : étude du facteur de croissance HB-EGF et du récepteur à l’EGF

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) results from insulin resistance in peripheral tissues and impaired insulin secretion from the pancreatic β-cell. Over the time, compensation of the β cell islets for insulin resistance fails, and therefore leads to a gradual decline in β-cell function. Several factors may contribute to β-cell compensation. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying βcell compensation remain unknown. The purpose of this thesis was to identify what mechanism could lead to β cell compensation in response to nutrients excess and specifically the increase in proliferation and β-cell mass. Thus, with increasing insulin resistance and circulating factors in the 6 month rats infused with glucose + intralipid, the hypothesis was made and confirmed in our study that the growth factor HB-EGF would activate the EGF receptor, and subsequent signaling pathways such as mTOR and FoxM1, both involved in the proliferation of the pancreatic beta-cell. Collectively, these results allow us to understand better the molecular mechanisms involved in the β cell compensation in the insulin resistance state and may serve as a potential new therapeutic approach to prevent or delay T2D development.