Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Evolving Concept of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Focus on Unique Feature of East Asian and “Asian Paradox”

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor is essential after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), while many studies have focused on determining the optimal degree of platelet inhibition and optimal DAPT duration to minimize complications after PCI. Current guidelines developed by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology summarize previous studies and provide recommendations. However, these guidelines are mainly based on Western patients, and their characteristics might differ from those of East Asian patients. Previous data suggested that East Asian patients have unique features with regard to the response to antiplatelet agents. On comparing Western and East Asian patients, it was found that East Asian patients have a lower rate of ischemic events and higher rate of bleeding events after PCI, despite a higher on-treatment platelet reactivity, which is referred to as the “East Asian paradox. ” As the main purpose of DAPT is to minimize ischemic and bleeding complications after PCI, these differences should be clarified before adopting the guidelines for East Asian patients. Therefore, in this article, we will review various issues regarding DAPT in East Asian patients, with a focus on the unique characteristics of East Asian patients, previous studies regarding antiplatelet agents in East Asian patients, and a guideline from an East Asian perspective.
Cotton Yield Estimation Using Very High-Resolution Digital Images Acquired with a Low-Cost Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Yield estimation is a critical task in crop management. Traditional methods are costly, time-consuming, and difficult to expand to a relatively large field. Remote sensing can provide quick coverage over a field at any scale. Satellite remote sensing is used for large-scale earth observation. Remote sensing with manned airplanes at relatively high altitudes (>500 m) has difficulty achieving the spatial resolution required for field-scale precision farming. Ground-based systems are typically used for point measurements and are restricted to field conditions. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) provide a unique platform for high-resolution remote sensing, and UAV-based remote sensing systems can be used to estimate crop yield in a cost-effective manner. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate new methods for estimation of cotton yield for precision cotton farming. Experimental plots were laid out in a cotton field near Stoneville, Mississippi, in 2014. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied to the plots at five different rates to generate cotton yield variation. Two methods were employed to estimate cotton yield using very high-resolution digital images (2.7 cm pixel-1) acquired from an inexpensive small multirotor UAV: (1) using three-dimensional point cloud data derived from multiple digital images of the cotton field to estimate cotton plant height and hence estimate yield, and (2) segmenting cotton boll signatures from the background of the digital images of the defoliated cotton field just prior to harvest and then estimating yield with the estimated cotton plot unit coverage. The results indicated that low-altitude remote sensing with an inexpensive small UAV can be used to estimate cotton yield accurately through estimation of plant height (R2 = 0.43, compared with R2 = 0.42 for yield estimation through manually measured plant height). The results further indicated that the method can offer reliable cotton yield estimation through estimation of cotton boll coverage in each plot with Laplacian image processing while considering a few plots with poor light condition as outliers (R2 = 0.83). This study could benefit yield estimation of cotton, with similar methods used for other crops, in agricultural research and crop production.
Categorical perception of newly learned faces

Five experiments investigated identification and discrimination of faces. Stimuli were blends of two faces generated with a morphing algorithm. Two same-gender and two different-gender pairs of faces were tested. Experiment 1 (identification) estimated the point of indifference along the morphing sequence, and the associated differential threshold. Experiment 2 (discrimination, ABX) demonstrated that novel faces are perceived categorically. Identity was a more important factor than gender in generating the perceptual categories. Experiment 3 and 4 (identification) demonstrated that categories are generated progressively in the course of the experiment and depend on the range of morphs tested in any one condition. Confidence ratings (Experiment 5) showed that the multidimensional space where faces are represented can be collapsed onto a single dimension. Response probabilities and response times for Experiments 1–4 were predicted simultaneously by a counting model postulating that quanta of discriminal information are sampled independently from the stimuli.
EFFECTS OF HIGH-DOSE VITAMIN C AND HYALURONIC ACID ON TENDON HEALING

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the histopathologic and biomechanical effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) and high-dose vitamin C (VC) on rat Achilles tendon healing. Methods: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to HA and VC and control groups with equal numbers. Each group was further divided into two subgroups to be sacrificed on Day 15 (n=8) and Day 30 (n=8). The Achilles tendons were cut and repaired. While the control rats remained untreated, HA and VC were administered after repair. The repaired tendons were removed for biomechanical and histopathologic analyses. In the biomechanical tests, the tendons were stretched to failure and maximum forces were measured. For histopathologic examination, the specimens were interpreted semiquantitatively using Movin’s grading scale and Bonar scores. Results: The highest mean forces were obtained in the HA group on Day 15 and in the VC group on Day 30, with a significant difference between HA and VC on Day 15 between control and VC on Day 30 (p<0.05). Histological examination showed both Movin and Bonar scores decreased in all groups on Day 30, with significant improvements in the HA and VC groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that both VC and HA had therapeutic effects on tendon healing, especially in the late phase. Level of Evidence I; High quality randomized trial with statistically significant difference.
Physiological Perspective on Therapies of Lymphatic Vessels

Significance: Growth of distinctive blood vessels of granulation tissue is a central step in the post-developmental tissue remodeling. Even though lymphangiogenesis is a part of the regeneration process, the significance of the controlled restoration of lymphatic vessels has only recently been recognized. Recent Advances: Identification of lymphatic markers and growth factors paved the way for the exploration of the roles of lymphatic vessels in health and disease. Emerging pro-lymphangiogenic therapies use vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C to combat fluid retention disorders such as lymphedema and to enhance the local healing process. Critical Issues: The relevance of recently identified lymphatic functions awaits verification by their association with pathologic conditions. Further, despite a century of research, the complete etiology of secondary lymphedema, a fluid retention disorder directly linked to the lymphatic function, is not understood. Finally, the specificity of pro-lymphangiogenic therapy depends on VEGF-C transfection efficiency, dose exposure, and the age of the subject, factors that are difficult to standardize in a heterogeneous human population. Future Directions: Further research should reveal the role of lymphatic circulation in internal organs and connect its impairment with human diseases. Pro-lymphangiogenic therapies that aim at the acceleration of tissue healing should focus on the controlled administration of VEGF-C to increase their capillary specificity, whereas regeneration of collecting vessels might benefit from balanced maturation and differentiation of pre-existing lymphatics. Unique features of pre-nodal lymphatics, fault tolerance and functional hyperplasia of capillaries, may find applications outreaching traditional pro-lymphangiogenic therapies, such as immunomodulation or enhancement of subcutaneous grafting.
Primordial black hole formation during slow reheating after inflation

We study the formation of primordial black holes (PBHs) in the early Universe during a period of slow reheating after inflation. We demonstrate how the PBH formation mechanism may change even before the end of the matter-dominated phase and calculate the expected PBH mass function. We find that there is a threshold for the variance of the density contrast, σ_c ≃ 0.05, below which the transition occurs even before reheating, with this having important consequences for the PBH mass function. We also show that there is a maximum cutoff for the PBH mass at around 100 M⊙, below which the subdominant radiation bath affects PBH production, making the scenario particularly interesting for the recent LIGO observations of black hole mergers.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) An Investigation on the Detectability of Deceptive Intent about Flying through Verbal Deception Detection

Background: Academic research on deception detection has largely focused on the detection of past events. For many applied purposes, however, the detection of false reports about someone’s intention merits attention. Based on the verbal deception detection paradigm, we explored whether true statements on intentions were more detailed and more specific than false statements on intentions, particularly when instructed to be as specific as possible. Method: Participants (n = 222) lied or told the truth about their upcoming travel plans either providing ‘as much information as possible’ (standard instructions) or being ‘as specific as possible’ (i.e., mentioning times, locations, places; specific instructions), resulting in four conditions (truthful vs. deceptive intention by standard vs. specific instructions). We collected data via a custom-made web app and performed automated verbal content analysis of participants’ written answers. Findings: We did not find a significant difference in the specificity of participants’ statements. The instruction to be as specific as possible promoted more specific information but did not help to discern honest from deceptive flying intentions. Conclusion: The experiment reported here attempted to demonstrate automated verbal deception detection of intentions. The difficulty in capturing genuine intentions, and the non-intrusive, non-interactive questioning approach might explain the null findings and raise questions for further research. We conclude with suggestions for a novel framework on semi-interactive information elicitation.
A case of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy while using rituximab and mycophenolate mofetil in refractory systemic lupus erythematosus

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a central nervous system infection caused by John Cunningham (JC) virus reactivation in an immunocompromised patient. PML has various neurologic symptoms and has very poor prognosis. A 36-year-old man developed transverse myelitis and had a psychiatric disorder at the age of 26. He was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE), on the basis of leukopenia and presence of anti-DNA and anti-nuclear antibodies. Treatment with glucocorticoid (GC) was started, and remission was introduced. Six months before PML onset, his condition was complicated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) due to exacerbation of SLE. Remission re-induction therapy by GC, cyclosporine-A, intravenous cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (RTX) was initiated and HLH improved. However, interleukin-6 levels of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) continued to rise. We thought that the disease activity of NPSLE worsened; thus, we introduced mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) 4 months before the PML onset. He developed progressive dysarthria and right hemiplegia. He was diagnosed with PML via magnetic resonance imaging and JC virus polymerase chain reaction in CSF. Considering that immunosuppressants, including RTX and MMF, are precipitating factors of PML, we discussed the RTX removal using plasma exchange (PEx), but we did not introduce PEx, because it was expected that the concentration of RTX was already lowered when he was diagnosed with PML. Treatment for PML with mefloquine and mirtazapine saved his life, but severe residual disabilities remained. This is the first report of a patient who developed PML during combination therapy with RTX and MMF.
LIMIT CYCLES BIFURCATING FROM DISCONTINUOUS POLYNOMIAL PERTURBATIONS OF HIGHER DIMENSIONAL LINEAR DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEMS

We study the periodic solutions bifurcating from periodic orbits of linear differential systems x′ = Mx, when they are perturbed inside a class of discontinuous piecewise polynomial differential systems with two zones. More precisely, we study the periodic solutions of the differential system x′ = Mx+ εF 1 (x) + ε F 2 (x), in R where ε is a small parameter, M is a (d+2)×(d+2) matrix having one pair of pure imaginary conjugate eigenvalues, m zeros eigenvalues, and d−m non–zero real eigenvalues. For solving this problem we need to extend the averaging theory for studying periodic solutions to a new class of non–autonomous d + 1-dimensional discontinuous piecewise smooth differential system.
Low Lymphocyte Proportion in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid as a Risk Factor Associated with the Change from Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole used as First-Line Treatment for Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia

Background Trimethoprim/sufamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) is the recommended treatment for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP). However, the efficacy and the safety of alternative salvage treatments are less guarauteed especially when patient experiences treatment failure and/or an adverse drug reactions (ADR). The purpose of this study is to recognize potential risk factors imitating successful treatment with TMP/SMX among PCP patients. Materials and Methods Ninety one adult patients diagnosed with PCP were included after searching electronical medical records from January 2013 through July 2015 at Asan Medical Center Seoul, Korea. We compared clinical characteristics and laboratory findings including bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid analysis in patients who experienced TMP/SMX treatment failure or ADR (the case group) versus those who did not (the control group). Results Among the enrolled PCP patients, 39 (42.9%) required salvage treatment owing to either treatment failure (28, 28.6%) and/or ADR (17, 18.7%). The BAL lymphocyte percentage (25% [IQR, 8–40%] vs. 47% [IQR, 15–62%]; P = 0.005) was lower in the case group. Diabetes mellitus (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.98, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.20–18.58), glomerular filtration rate ≤50 mL/min (aOR 4.48, 95% CI 1.08–18.66), and BAL lymphocyte percentage ≤45% (aOR 9.25, 95% CI 2.47–34.58) were independently associated with the case group in multivariate analysis. Conclusion This study suggests that BAL lymphocyte count may play some role during PCP treatment. Further studies should be followed to reveal what the role of BAL lymphocyte is in the PCP treatment.
The Effect of Storage Environment on Dimensional Changes of Acrylic Resin Post Patterns

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare dimensional changes of two types of auto polymerizing acrylic resin patterns (APARPs) in three different storing environments. Methods: 60 acrylic post and core patterns were made of two types of Duralay acrylic resins (Aria dent, Iran and Reliance, Dental Mfg. Co, USA) using a canine model. Then coronal, apical diameter and coronoapical length of patterns were measured. Afterwards, they were divided into two categories of 30 for each type of Duralay acrylic resin type. Each category was divided into three groups of ten randomly to immerse in three storage environments (Deconex®53plus Borer ChemieAG, Switzerland), Unident ® Impre(USF Healthcare S.A, Sweitzerland) and water. After one hour, three mentioned values were measured again. Data were analyzed by SPSS20 using t-test, paired t-test and ANOVA. Results: Results showed that there were no statistically difference (p value> 0.05) about all dimensions of auto polymerizing acrylic post and core patterns except apical diameter and coronoapical length of Dental Mfg. Co, USA in Deconex®53 plus. Conclusion: The best environment to store Duralay APARPs with minimal changes was water and for disinfection, Deconex®53plus and Unident ® Imprecan showed acceptable properties with both of Duralay types.
Modification of the TNM Staging System for Stage II/III Gastric Cancer Based on a Prognostic Single Patient Classifier Algorithm

Purpose The modification of the cancer classification system aimed to improve the classical anatomy-based tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging by considering tumor biology, which is associated with patient prognosis, because such information provides additional precision and flexibility. Materials and Methods We previously developed an mRNA expression-based single patient classifier (SPC) algorithm that could predict the prognosis of patients with stage II/III gastric cancer. We also validated its utilization in clinical settings. The prognostic single patient classifier (pSPC) differentiates based on 3 prognostic groups (low-, intermediate-, and high-risk), and these groups were considered as independent prognostic factors along with TNM stages. We evaluated whether the modified TNM staging system based on the pSPC has a better prognostic performance than the TNM 8th edition staging system. The data of 652 patients who underwent gastrectomy with curative intent for gastric cancer between 2000 and 2004 were evaluated. Furthermore, 2 other cohorts (n=307 and 625) from a previous study were assessed. Thus, 1,584 patients were included in the analysis. To modify the TNM staging system, one-grade down-staging was applied to low-risk patients according to the pSPC in the TNM 8th edition staging system; for intermediate- and high-risk groups, the modified TNM and TNM 8th edition staging systems were identical. Results Among the 1,584 patients, 187 (11.8%), 664 (41.9%), and 733 (46.3%) were classified into the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively, according to the pSPC. pSPC prognoses and survival curves of the overall population were well stratified, and the TNM stage-adjusted hazard ratios of the intermediate- and high-risk groups were 1.96 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41–2.72; P<0.001) and 2.54 (95% CI, 1.84–3.50; P<0.001), respectively. Using Harrell's C-index, the prognostic performance of the modified TNM system was evaluated, and the results showed that its prognostic performance was better than that of the TNM 8th edition staging system in terms of overall survival (0.635 vs. 0.620, P<0.001). Conclusions The pSPC-modified TNM staging is an alternative staging system for stage II/III gastric cancer.
Isothermal melt-and cold-crystallization kinetics and subsequent melting behavior in syndiotactic polypropylene : a differential scanning calorimetry study

The isothermal meltand cold-crystallization kinetics and subsequent melting behavior of syndiotactic polypropylene ( s-PP) were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The overall crystallization kinetics was determined by directly fitting the experimental data to the Avrami and Malkin macrokinetic models using a non-linear multi-variable regression program. When plotted as a function of crystallization temperature, the overall crystallization rate parameters for melt-crystallization process exhibited an unmistakable double bell-shaped curve, while those for cold-crystallization process showed the typical bell-shaped curve. Comparison of the overall crystallization rate parameters obtained for both meltand cold-crystallization processes indicated that crystallization from the glassy state proceeded at a much greater rate than that from the melt state. Melting of samples isothermally crystallized at low and moderate crystallization temperatures exhibited multiple-melting phenomenon. Determination of the equilibrium melting temperature according to the “linear” and “non-linear” Hoffman–Weeks extrapolative methods provided values of ca. 145 and 182 8C, respectively.q 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Sofosbuvir–daclatasvir improves hepatitis C virus–induced mixed cryoglobulinemia: Upper Egypt experience

Background and aims Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with extrahepatic manifestations such as cryoglobulinemia and accounts for up to 90% of all cases of mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC). The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of sofosbuvir–daclatasvir therapy on symptomatic HCV-related MC and sustained virologic response (SVR) achievement. Patients and methods This prospective cohort study was carried out on 120 patients with chronic HCV infection, clinically suspected to have MC, but only 63 of whom were positive for cryoglobulins. HCV-MC patients were treated with sofosbuvir 400 mg and daclatasvir 60 mg once daily for 3 months. The serum cryoglobulins levels, complement 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4) (using ELISA assay kits) and rheumatoid factor (RF) (using immunoturbidimetric assay kit), were measured in the included HCV infected patients (to confirm HCV-MC diagnosis), in addition to quantitave HCV-RNA assays, using real time PCR. All these measurements have been done before stating therapy and 12, 24 weeks post-therapy for assessments of immunological recovery, viral load and SVR. Results Significant increase in the serum cryoglobulin levels and RF with significant decrease in C3 and C4 serum levels were detected in only 63 out of 120 included HCV infected patients, upon whom the study has been completed. They showed significant decrease in their mean cryoglobulin levels from 41.47 µg/mL ±12.32 SD to 5.12 µg/mL ±3.59 SD then to 5.09 µg/mL ±3.02 SD, 12 to 24 weeks post-therapy respectively (p<0.001), with significant decline in RF concentrations and rise in C3 and C4 serum levels approaching the normal values. There were improvements in the presenting HCV-MC clinical manifestations in variable degrees, ranging from 5 (71.42%) in patients with glomerulonephritis to 62 (98.4%) in patients with purpura. Eighty-seven percent of the included patients showed complete response (clinical, virological and immunological recovery) and 13% showed partial response (virological and immunological recovery without clinical improvement of cryoglobulinemia associated manifestations). Conclusion A combined therapy of sofosbuvir 400 mg and daclatasvir 60 mg once daily for 3 months was associated with a significant decrease in serum cryoglobulin levels and appears as a reasonable treatment option for HCV-associated MC.
Three Roots of Melanoma S

involvement between nodular melanoma (NM) and superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) with a nodular component. At RCM, SSMs frequently showed epidermal disarrangement and pagetoid infiltration, whereas NMs exhibited a preserved epidermal pattern and few pagetoid cells. This new observation provides fertile ground for revisiting the conventional concept of melanoma development. We propose an alternative hypothesis based on recent observations made in stem cell research and demonstrate how this hypothesis can better account for the observed clinical and epidemiologic differences between melanoma subtypes. Many clinicians and researchers subscribe to the theory that all cutaneous melanomas arise from transformed epidermal melanocytes. The malignant cells are thought to initially proliferate along the basal layer (melanoma in situ). After a variable period, which can range from months to decades, the malignant melanocytes may acquire the capacity to not only proliferate radially but also invade See also page 1311