Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Smoking Status on Stroke Recurrence

Background Smoking is a well‐established risk factor of stroke and smoking cessation has been recommended for stroke prevention; however, the impact of smoking status on stroke recurrence has not been well studied to date. Methods and Results Patients with first‐ever stroke were enrolled and followed in the NSRP (Nanjing Stroke Registry Program). Smoking status was assessed at baseline and reassessed at the first follow‐up. The primary end point was defined as fatal or nonfatal recurrent stroke after 3 months of the index stroke. The association between smoking and the risk of stroke recurrence was analyzed with multivariate Cox regression model. At baseline, among 3069 patients included, 1331 (43.4%) were nonsmokers, 263 (8.6%) were former smokers, and 1475 (48.0%) were current smokers. At the first follow‐up, 908 (61.6%) patients quit smoking. After a mean follow‐up of 2.4±1.2 years, 293 (9.5%) patients had stroke recurrence. With nonsmokers as the reference, the adjusted hazard ratios for stroke recurrence were 1.16 (95% CI, 0.75–1.79) in former smokers, 1.31 (95% CI, 0.99–1.75) in quitters, and 1.93 (95% CI, 1.43–2.61) in persistent smokers. Among persistent smokers, hazard ratios for stroke recurrence ranged from 1.68 (95% CI, 1.14–2.48) in those who smoked 1 to 20 cigarettes daily to 2.72 (95% CI, 1.36–5.43) in those who smoked more than 40 cigarettes daily (P for trend <0.001). Conclusions After an initial stroke, persistent smoking increases the risk of stroke recurrence. There exists a dose–response relationship between smoking quantity and the risk of stroke recurrence.
Aquatic pollution from anthropogenic discharges modulates gene expression in liver of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

With the aim to characterise the biological impact of anthropogenic discharge in a river, gene expression in fish was evaluated as a biomarker for mixture effects of potential toxic compounds in the aquatic environment. Adult male rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were used as monitoring organisms. Within the German experimental set up, trout were exposed actively for 28 days in biologically purified sewage as well as in river water up- and downstream of the sewage treatment plant (STP) effluent. In a different approach, wild trout were captured in southern Chile near anthropogenic discharges. Fish were taken from river Maullin receiving sewage from a settlement and from river Pescado influenced by effluents from a fish farm. In vivo effects were assessed by RT-qPCR analyses of biomarker gene expression, vitellogenin (vg), metallothionein (mt) and cytochrome 1A (cyp1A) in liver samples with primers amplifying specific sequences previously confirmed by cloning and sequencing. The modulation of expression of marker genes involved in metal stress, reproduction and detoxifying systems in the liver of male rainbow trout revealed organismal response to anthropogenic contamination in two different study areas, such as Chile and Germany, thereby indicating a potential risk on the aquatic ecosystems.
Fatigue reduces the complexity of knee extensor torque during fatiguing sustained isometric contractions

Abstract The temporal structure, or complexity, of muscle torque output reflects the adaptability of motor control to changes in task demands. This complexity is reduced by neuromuscular fatigue during intermittent isometric contractions. We tested the hypothesis that sustained fatiguing isometric contractions would result in a similar loss of complexity. To that end, nine healthy participants performed, on separate days, sustained isometric contractions of the knee extensors at 20% MVC to task failure and at 100% MVC for 60 s. Torque and surface EMG signals were sampled continuously. Complexity and fractal scaling were quantified by calculating approximate entropy (ApEn) and the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) α scaling exponent. Global, central and peripheral fatigue were quantified using maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) with femoral nerve stimulation. Fatigue reduced the complexity of both submaximal (ApEn from 1.02 ± 0.06 to 0.41 ± 0.04, P < 0.05) and maximal contractions (ApEn from 0.34 ± 0.05 to 0.26 ± 0.04, P < 0.05; DFA α from 1.41 ± 0.04 to 1.52 ± 0.03, P < 0.05). The losses of complexity were accompanied by significant global, central and peripheral fatigue (all P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that a fatigue-induced loss of torque complexity is evident not only during fatiguing intermittent isometric contractions, but also during sustained fatiguing contractions.
Connective Effervescence and Streaming Chat During Political Debates

Recent advancements in online streaming technologies have re-centered the audience as an important part of live broadcasts, including live political events. In fall 2020, each of the U.S. presidential and vice presidential debates were streamed on a number of online platforms that provided an integrated streaming chat where the public could comment in real-time alongside the live debate video. Viewers could simultaneously tune into what the candidates were saying and see what a sample of their peers thought about the candidates. This study examines large samples of comments made in social chat feeds during the livestreamed debates on the ABC News, NBC News, and Fox News Facebook pages to quantify key features associated with the quality of political discussion on these platforms. The results reveal that consistent with the quasi-anonymous, constrained nature of dynamic chat, the comments made are generally short, include a substantial degree of toxicity and insults, and differ significantly in their content across platforms. These findings underscore the importance of further study of online streaming chat as a new source of potential influence on political attitudes and behavior.
Analysis of the performance optimisation parameters of shell and tube heat exchanger using CFD

ABSTRACT Heat exchangers have found extensive applications in the engineering sector owing to the crucial need for heat transfer and temperature regulation in the process industry. The performance analysis of a heat exchanger can either be investigated experimentally or utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The simulation of flow conditions based on CFD principles is considered as a contemporary approach for conducting performance analysis and design optimization of the heat exchanger. The paper aims to present how the performance optimization parameters of shell and tube heat exchanger effect its performance in terms of the extent of heat transfer achieved and fall in the shell outlet temperature. A standard model (Model 1) was initially defined, and seven subsequent models were created with one varying parameter as compared to Model 1 to carry out the comparative analysis. The results showed that decrease in inlet velocity, increase in thermal conductivity of the heat exchanger material, reduction in baffle spacing and use of triangular tube bundle arrangement has significant influence on the reduction of the condensate temperature. The effects of the same parameters on the temperature distribution and heat transfer rate have also been discussed.
Deep convolutional neural networks for surface coal mines determination from sentinel-2 images

ABSTRACT Coal is a principal source of energy and the combustion of coal supplies around one-third of the global electricity generation. Coal mines are also an important source of CH4 emissions, the second most important greenhouse gas. Monitoring CH4 emissions caused by coal mining using earth observation will require the exact location of coal mines. This paper aims to determine surface coal mines from satellite images through deep learning techniques by treating them as a land use/land cover classification task. This is achieved using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) that has proven to be capable of complex land use/land cover classification tasks. With a list of known coal mine locations from various countries, a training dataset of “Coal Mine” and “No Coal Mine” image patches is prepared using Sentinel-2 satellite images with 13 spectral bands. Various pre-trained CNN network architectures (VGG, ResNet, DenseNet) are trained and validated with our prepared coal mine dataset of 3500 “Coal Mine” and 3000 “No Coal Mine” image patches. After several experiments with the VGG network combined with transfer learning is found to be an optimal model for this task. Classification accuracy of 98% has been achieved for the validation dataset of the pre-trained VGG architecture. The model produces more than 95% overall accuracy when tested on unseen satellite images from different countries outside the training dataset and evaluated against visual classification.
A new low-cost commercial bubble CPAP (bCPAP) machine compared with a traditional bCPAP device in Nigeria

ABSTRACT Background: The bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) technique is widely applied in neonatal respiratory support. Commercial bCPAP brands are expensive in Nigeria and this has driven Nigerian paediatricians to use potentially risky improvised devices (IbCPAP). Aim: This study aimed to design, produce and trial an appropriate low-cost bCPAP machine which is functionally effective and safe. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to assess the need for a new bCPAP design for use in Nigeria, leading to the development of a new system (politeCPAP) which was functionally and clinically validated in three Nigerian hospitals. Six months of clinical data on the new device of sufficient comparative quality were generated from one of the hospitals and compared with control data on the IbCPAP. The hospitals (n = 3) submitted data on 71 patients on IbCPAP or politeCPAP; 14 were disqualified on the basis of the elimination criteria. The infants were classified into two birthweight categories: <1000 g (extremely low birthweight, ELBW, n = 15) and 1000 g (n = 42). Results: Six ELBW neonates on politeCPAP survived; there were no ELBW survivors in the IbCPAP group (n = 9). The IbCPAP device delivered an average 90% O2–gas ratio (FiO2) whereas the politeCPAP required only 47%. Many heavier neonates in the IbCPAP group survived (23 of 26); however, supplementary warming was required for all of them whereas none of the politeCPAP infants required warming. The politeCPAP costs around US$2000 whereas standard commercial CPAP brands in Nigeria range from US$5000 to US$18,000. High oxygen requirement and iatrogenic hypothermia were serious adverse features of IbCPAP. Conclusions: The study has narrowed the gap between relatively low-cost, risky devices (e.g. IbCPAP) and high-cost commercial machines. The politeCPAP is a feasible alternative to the IbCPAP in cost-constrained settings. Abbreviations: bCPAP: bubble continuous positive airway pressure; CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure; ELBW: extremely low birthweight; FiO2: ratio of oxygen content in gas flow (%); IbCPAP: improvised bubble continuous positive airway pressure device; LBW: low birthweight; NNU: neonatal unit; PEEP: positive end expiratory pressure; politeCPAP: the newly developed commercial bCPAP machine; RDS: respiratory distress syndrome; SpO2, oxygen saturation level (%).
Anxiety, depression and treatment adherence among HIV-infected migrants

ABSTRACT Diagnosing symptoms of psychological distress can be challenging in migrants living with HIV (MLWH) living in Western Europe. We evaluated the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) as a screening tool for psychological distress. Additionally, the association between psychological distress and adherence to combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) was determined. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, psychosocial variables, and self-reported adherence to cART data were collected. 306/352 participants completed the HADS. A HADS+ (≥15, at risk for psychological distress) was found in 106/306. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was completed by 60/106. The HADS was repeated in 58 participants as the time between the first HADS and the CIDI was more than three months. In 21/37 participants with a HADS+ (57%) within three months before the CIDI a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder based on the CIDI was found. Participants with a HADS+ were more likely to be non-adherent (71.3% vs. 43.6%). In a large group of MLWH in the Netherlands, 35% were at risk for symptoms of psychological distress. The HADS seems to be a suitable screening tool for MLWH.
Prevalence of Sexual Initiation Before Age 13 Years Among Male Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States

Key Points Question Does the prevalence of sexual initiation before age 13 years among males in the United States vary by race/ethnicity, location, and socioeconomic status? Findings This cross-sectional study of 19 916 male high school students and 7739 males aged 15 to 24 years found substantial variation in the rates of sexual onset before 13 years of age across metropolitan areas and by race/ethnicity, with rates as high as 28% among non-Hispanic black males in Memphis, Tennessee. Meaning Variation in timing of sexual initiation before age 13 years may have implications for the provision of early, inclusive, and comprehensive sex education as well as sexual and reproductive health care to male children and adolescents.
Peritraumatic dissociation and post-traumatic stress disorder in individuals exposed to armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to verify the hypothesis that there is an association between peritraumatic dissociation (PD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in individuals exposed to recurrent armed conflict. More specifically, we sought to evaluate whether PD differentially predicts PTSD according to the degree of exposure to the potentially traumatic event (PTE), the level of education, and gender. A total of 120 individuals between 17 and 75 years of age, including 51 women, completed the Traumatic Events List, the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire, and the French version of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Scale, as well as a questionnaire providing information regarding sociodemographic details. The group of participants with high scores for PD had significantly more PTSD. PD differentially predicts PTSD depending on the level of education and gender of the individual. Those who had been physically assaulted and raped, as well as the less educated, were more likely to be dissociated during PTE· exposure compared to witnesses and those with a higher level of education. The primary target population for prevention and early management should comprise individuals with high levels of PD, low levels of education, and women.
A Facial Recognition Mobile App for Patient Safety and Biometric Identification: Design, Development, and Validation

Background Patient verification by unique identification is an important procedure in health care settings. Risks to patient safety occur throughout health care settings by failure to correctly identify patients, resulting in the incorrect patient, incorrect site procedure, incorrect medication, and other errors. To avoid medical malpractice, radio-frequency identification (RFID), fingerprint scanners, iris scanners, and other technologies have been implemented in care settings. The drawbacks of these technologies include the possibility to lose the RFID bracelet, infection transmission, and impracticality when the patient is unconscious. Objective The purpose of this study was to develop a mobile health app for patient identification to overcome the limitations of current patient identification alternatives. The development of this app is expected to provide an easy-to-use alternative method for patient identification. Methods We have developed a facial recognition mobile app for improved patient verification. As an evaluation purpose, a total of 62 pediatric patients, including both outpatient and inpatient, were registered for the facial recognition test and tracked throughout the facilities for patient verification purpose. Results The app was developed to contain 5 main parts: registration, medical records, examinations, prescriptions, and appointments. Among 62 patients, 30 were outpatients visiting plastic surgery department and 32 were inpatients reserved for surgery. Whether patients were under anesthesia or unconscious, facial recognition verified all patients with 99% accuracy even after a surgery. Conclusions It is possible to correctly identify both outpatients and inpatients and also reduce the unnecessary cost of patient verification by using the mobile facial recognition app with great accuracy. Our mobile app can provide valuable aid to patient verification, including when the patient is unconscious, as an alternative identification method.
Nationally-representative serostudy of dengue in Bangladesh allows generalizable disease burden estimates

Serostudies are needed to answer generalizable questions on disease risk. However, recruitment is usually biased by age or location. We present a nationally-representative study for dengue from 70 communities in Bangladesh. We collected data on risk factors, trapped mosquitoes and tested serum for IgG. Out of 5866 individuals, 24% had evidence of historic infection, ranging from 3% in the north to >80% in Dhaka. Being male (aOR:1.8, [95%CI:1.5–2.0]) and recent travel (aOR:1.3, [1.1–1.8]) were linked to seropositivity. We estimate that 40 million [34.3–47.2] people have been infected nationally, with 2.4 million ([1.3–4.5]) annual infections. Had we visited only 20 communities, seropositivity estimates would have ranged from 13% to 37%, highlighting the lack of representativeness generated by small numbers of communities. Our findings have implications for both the design of serosurveys and tackling dengue in Bangladesh.
Actinobacteria Isolated From Laminaria ochroleuca: A Source of New Bioactive Compounds

Nature is the major reservoir of biologically active molecules. The urgent need of finding novel molecules for pharmaceutical application is prompting the research of underexplored environments, such as marine ecosystems. Here, we investigated cultivable actinobacteria associated with the macroalgae Laminaria ochroleuca and assessed their potential to produce compounds with antimicrobial or anticancer activities. A specimen of L. ochroleuca was collected in a rocky shore in northern Portugal, and fragments of tissues from different parts of the macroalgae (holdfast, stipe, and blades) were surface sterilized and plated in three culture media selective for actinobacteria. A total of 90 actinobacterial strains were isolated, most of which affiliated with the genus Streptomyces. Isolates associated with the genera Isoptericola, Rhodococcus, Nonomuraeae, Nocardiopsis, Microbispora, and Microbacterium were also obtained. Organic extracts from the isolates were tested for their antimicrobial activity using the agar-based disk diffusion method, followed by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. Forty-five isolates inhibited the growth of Candida albicans and/or Staphylococcus aureus, with MIC values ranging from <0.5 to 1000 μg mL−1. The actinobacterial isolates were also tested for their anticancer potential on two human cancer cell lines. Twenty-eight extracts affected the viability of at least one human cancer cell line (breast carcinoma T-47D and neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y) and non-carcinogenic endothelial cell line (hCMEC/D3). Seven extracts affected the viability of cancer cells only. This study revealed that L. ochroleuca is a rich source of actinobacteria with promising antimicrobial and anticancer activities and suggests that macroalgae may be a valuable source of actinobacteria and, consequently, of new molecules with biotechnological importance.
Transplant-Associated Thrombotic Microangiopathy in Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients: A Practical Approach to Diagnosis and Management

Transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) is an endothelial damage syndrome that is increasingly identified as a complication of both autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in children. If not promptly diagnosed and treated, TA-TMA can lead to significant morbidity (e.g., permanent renal injury) or mortality. However, as the recognition of the early stages of TA-TMA may be difficult, we propose a TA-TMA “triad” of hypertension, thrombocytopenia (or platelet transfusion refractoriness), and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). While not diagnostic, this triad should prompt further evaluation for TA-TMA. There is increased understanding of the risk factors for the development of TA-TMA, including those which are inherent (e.g., race, genetics), transplant approach-related (e.g., second HCT, use of HLA-mismatched donors), and related to post-transplant events (e.g., receipt of calcineurin inhibitors, development of graft-vs. -host-disease, or certain infections). This understanding should lead to enhanced screening for TA-TMA signs and symptoms in high-risk patients. The pathophysiology of TA-TMA is complex, resulting from a cycle of activation of endothelial cells to produce a pro-coagulant state, along with activation of antigen-presenting cells and lymphocytes, as well as activation of the complement cascade and microthrombi formation. This has led to the formulation of a “Three-Hit Hypothesis” in which patients with either an underlying predisposition to complement activation or pre-existing endothelial injury (Hit 1) undergo a toxic conditioning regimen causing endothelial injury (Hit 2), and then additional insults are triggered by medications, alloreactivity, infections, and/or antibodies (Hit 3). Understanding this cycle of injury permits the development of a specific TA-TMA treatment algorithm designed to treat both the triggers and the drivers of the endothelial injury. Finally, several intriguing approaches to TA-TMA prophylaxis have been identified. Future work on the development of a single diagnostic test with high specificity and sensitivity, and the development of a robust risk-scoring system, will further improve the management of this serious post-transplant complication.
Knowledge, attitude, and usage pattern of tobacco among high school students in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar

ABSTRACT In Myanmar, although the law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to and by those aged less than 18 years, the use of smoking and smokeless tobacco among high school students is a social problem. There has been no previous study on tobacco use or knowledge of tobacco law among students in Nay Pyi Taw. A survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and usage pattern of tobacco among high school students in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The data were collected in three high schools, from 300 students of Grade 10 and 11, in September 2015, using anonymous self-administered questionnaires which included characteristics of students, knowledge, attitude, and usage pattern of tobacco. Of the 300 students, 104 (34.7%) were smokers and 85 (28.3%) were users of smokeless tobacco. The average age of first use of tobacco was 14 years. Although most students knew about the ill effects of tobacco, only 25% knew about the Tobacco Product Law. The most common source of tobacco was friends and male family members were main smokers in families. Most students had seen male teachers and headmasters smoking in schools. The usage of tobacco and smokeless tobacco was associated with sex and the students’ attitude towards tobacco. This study indicated that the high school students knew about the ill effects of tobacco, but not about the Tobacco Product Law. Schools need to educate students and teachers about tobacco and the Tobacco Product Law and the enforcement of the law is also needed.