Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Permanent pacing in children: results of follow-up, assessment of complications

Aim. To present the experience and assess the complications of permanent pacing in children with bradyarrhythmias based on long-term follow-up.Methods. Data of 145 children with structurally normal heart with implanted pacemakers at the age from 1 month to 18 years were retrospectively assessed. The follow-up was from 1999 to 2020 years. Epicardial pacemaker was implanted in 71 children, endocardial - in 74. The mean age of the primary implantation was 8.67±5.2 years.Results. The following complications were disclosed: hemodynamic complications (heart chamber enlargement in dynamics and/or development of dyssynchrony, the appearance and increase in the regurgitation degree on the atrioventricular valves), bacterial endocarditis, hemopericardium, subclavian vein occlusion, pericarditis, infection of the pacemaker and its pocket, leads dislocation and fracture. With epicardial pacing various complications were detected in 24 (33.8%) examined patients, with endocardial - in 37 (50%). Hemodynamic complications with epicardial permanent pacing are associated with intraventricular dyssynchrony due to implantation of a ventricular lead on the lateral wall or the right ventricular outflow tract. Hemodynamic complications were not recorded in patients that performed the implantation of an epicardial lead at the left ventricular (LV) apex.Conclusion. Children with pacemakers require careful follow-up. The most rational is the use of a primary epicardial pacemaker system with lead implantation on the apex of the LV. Such approach allows the veins to be preserved for endocardial stimulation at an older age, and to prevent hemodynamic complications. Neither epicardial nor endocardial pacemaker implantation guarantee the absence of complications. However, compliance with the above conditions will allow achieving high efficiency and safety of cardiac stimulation in children.
Mood and gender effects in emotional word processing in unbalanced bilinguals

Aims and objectives: We aimed to explore the relationship between mood and emotional word processing in the bilingual context, as modulated by participants’ gender. Methodology: We presented mood-inducing film clips to 28 female and 28 male unbalanced Polish–English bilinguals to put them in positive and negative moods. Participants were asked to decide if native language (L1) and non-native language (L2) single words were positive, negative, or neutral (an emotive decision task). Data and analysis: We analysed participants’ subjective mood ratings pre- and post-experimentally together with speed (a linear mixed-effects model) and accuracy (a generalised mixed-effects model) of their responses to single L1 and L2 words. Findings: The results revealed an interaction between mood and language as dependent on word valence, whereby faster reaction times (RTs) were observed to L1 than L2 neutral words only in a positive mood and to L2 positive words in a positive than negative mood. We also observed a response facilitation in a positive compared to negative mood, yet only in females. Finally, we observed faster and more accurate responses to positive and negative compared to neutral words, irrespective of gender and language of operation. Altogether, the results suggest that mood influences how unbalanced bilinguals respond to emotional words and shed a novel light on the role of participants’ gender in emotional word processing. Originality: This study extends monolingual research on emotional word processing to the bilingual context and shows how word valence modulates the way unbalanced bilinguals, being put in positive and negative moods, respond to L1 and L2 words. Our results also offer novel insights into research on mood and language, demonstrating that females can be more susceptible to mood changes than males. Significance: Our results highlight the importance of controlling participants’ mood and gender in research on emotional language processing in both monolingual and bilingual contexts.
Risk governance and risk taking behavior of banks in emerging markets

The study examines how risk governance mechanisms affect the risk activities of banks in emerging markets, Africa in particular. The sample comprised of forty-one banks in twelve African economies. Consistent with Akbar, Kharabsheh, Poletti-Hughes, and Shah (2017), Battaglia and Gallo (2017), and Sila, Gonzalez, and Hagendorff (2016), system GMM which controls for reverse causality and endogeneity was used for analysis. Surprisingly, the study found that the presence of a standalone risk committee, training in risk management and/or related courses, and the appointment of the chief risk officer (CRO) to the board increases instead of decreasing bank risk. Qualifications and experience in risk management or finance and the establishment of a CRO position were found to have an insignificant impact on risk outcomes. Intuitively, the study found that the appointment of females on bank boards results in risk-averse decisions and thus supports current calls for female representation on boards. A key takeaway from this paper is that establishing effective risk governance systems in emerging markets creates incentives for banks to take more risk, possibly, due to the fact that governance mechanisms that align the interests of managers and shareholders lead to higher bank risk (Felício, Rodrigues, Grove, & Greiner, 2018). This counterintuitive behavior calls for the design of appropriate governance and regulatory mechanisms that curtail bank risk in the African context.
The why of where: Vietnamese doctoral students’ choice of PhD destinations

ABSTRACT Opting for academic sojourns has become increasingly popular for students worldwide at various levels of education. While there have been a number of research studies into the college and country choice of university students at the undergraduate level, the opinions of international doctoral students are less presented, and if presented, they are mostly categorised into push and pull factors. Using imagination and aspiration theorised by Appadurai [2004. “The Capacity to Aspire. ” In Culture and Public Action: A Cross-Disciplinary Dialogue on Development Policy, edited by M. Walton and V. Rao, 59–84. Washington, DC: Stanford University Press] as the conceptual lens, this study investigates the factors affecting the choice of 19 Vietnamese PhD students regarding where to embark for their academic pursuit. The findings of this paper demonstrate that their decision-making process was mediated at the intersection of family situations, financial plans, practical concerns including language development and environmental factors, the influences from their friends and direct networks, and their own prior mobility and transnational experiences.
Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Association with Iron Deficiency in African Children

Vitamin D regulates the master iron hormone hepcidin, and iron in turn alters vitamin D metabolism. Although vitamin D and iron deficiency are highly prevalent globally, little is known about their interactions in Africa. To evaluate associations between vitamin D and iron status we measured markers of iron status, inflammation, malaria parasitemia, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in 4509 children aged 0.3 months to 8 years living in Kenya, Uganda, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, and South Africa. Prevalence of iron deficiency was 35.1%, and prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 0.6% and 7.8% as defined by 25(OH)D concentrations of <30 nmol/L and <50 nmol/L, respectively. Children with 25(OH)D concentrations of <50 nmol/L had a 98% increased risk of iron deficiency (OR 1.98 [95% CI 1.52, 2.58]) compared to those with 25(OH)D concentrations >75 nmol/L. 25(OH)D concentrations variably influenced individual markers of iron status. Inflammation interacted with 25(OH)D concentrations to predict ferritin levels. The link between vitamin D and iron status should be considered in strategies to manage these nutrient deficiencies in African children.
PENGARUH KUALITAS SISTEM INFORMASI DAN PENGETAHUAN AKUNTANSI TERHADAP KUALITAS INFORMASI AKUNTANSI

The purpose of this research is to examine the influence quality of computerized information system and the accounting knowledge to the quality of accounting information which is done by using perceived ease of use as the intervening variable. The data analysis has been done by using regression analysis with the causal step method which has been developed by Baron and Keny (1986). The independent variables are: the quality of information system (KSI), and the accounting knowledge (PA), the dependent variable are: the quality of accounting information (KIA), and the intervening variable: perceived ease of use.The result of the research shows that directly the quality of information system and also the accounting knowledge variables simultaneously do not have any significant influence to the quality of accounting information. Indirectly the quality of computerized information system and also acounting knowledge simultaneously has significant influence to the quality of accounting infrmation through perceived ease of use. The perceived ease of use variable is proven as the intervening variable which is shown by the regression model 3 on t test shows that the independent variable of quality of information system and accounting knowledge do not have any significant influence when the simultaneous test has been done by using perceived ease of use variable. Keywords: System of Accounting Information, Accounting Knowledge, Perceived ease of use, Quality of Accounting Information.
Theoretical investigation of orbital alignment of x-ray-ionized atoms in exotic electronic configurations

We theoretically study orbital alignment in x-ray-ionized atoms and ions, based on improved electronic-structure calculations starting from the Hartree-Fock-Slater model. We employ first-order many-body perturbation theory to improve the Hartree-Fock-Slater calculations and show that the use of first-order-corrected energies yields significantly better transition energies than originally obtained. The improved electronic-structure calculations enable us also to compute individual state-to-state cross sections and transition rates and, thus, to investigate orbital alignment induced by linearly polarized x rays. To explore the orbital alignment of transiently formed ions after photoionization, we discuss alignment parameters and ratios of individual state-resolved photoionization cross sections for initially neutral argon and two exotic electronic configurations that may be formed during x-ray multiphoton ionization dynamics induced by x-ray free-electron lasers. We also present how the orbital alignment is affected by Auger-Meitner decay and demonstrate how it evolves during a sequence of one photoionization and one Auger-Meitner decay. Our present work establishes a step toward investigation of orbital alignment in atomic ionization driven by high-intensity x rays.
Retrospective Study Comparing Clinical Outcomes of Fixed Dental Prostheses in Matched Groups of Bruxer and Nonbruxer Patients

Background Tooth-supported fixed dental prosthesis (FDP) is one of the most reliable treatment options to replace missing teeth. The longevity of the treatment could, however, be affected by several general and local factors, especially bruxism. Objective To investigate the influence of bruxism on the long-term survival of tooth-supported FDPs in bruxers compared to a matched group of nonbruxers, taking several clinical variables into account. Materials and Methods The present retrospective cohort study was based on records of patients treated with 3–7-unit tooth-supported FDPs with a minimum follow-up time of 6 months after prosthesis delivery. The criteria for the diagnosis of “possible” and “probable” sleep or awake bruxism were used. A matched group of nonbruxers was selected on the basis of similarities in four factors, patients' gender and age, number of prosthetic units of the FDPs, and follow-up time. The paired-samples t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to compared mean values between the two groups. Contingency tables of categorical data were analyzed by McNemar's test. Results The cohort group consisted of 62 noncantilevered FDPs in each group, followed up for a mean of 110.1 and 106.5 months (bruxers and nonbruxers, respectively). Tooth-supported FDPs in bruxers presented significantly higher failure rate than in nonbruxers (32.3% vs. 25.8%, respectively; p = 0.001). Loss of retention and tooth loss were the main reasons for failures in both groups. For nonsmokers, the FDP failure rate was higher in nonbruxers. Technical and biological complications were significantly more prevalent in bruxers compared to nonbruxers. Conclusions Bruxism is suggested to increase technical and biological complications and FDP failure.
Implementation of a Carry Look-Ahead Adder circuit using Reversible Logic

Conventional irreversible gates have been firmly established to have a loss of energy equal to kT ln(2) joule per lost bit. This is due to the loss of information at every gate that has unequal number of inputs and outputs. Reversible logic based technologies provide a way around these losses. Reversible logic is highly useful in nanotechnology, low power design and quantum computing. This paper proposes a design for a faster adder using reversible gates.
Three-dimensional face point cloud hole-filling algorithm based on binocular stereo matching and a B-spline

When obtaining three-dimensional (3D) face point cloud data based on structured light, factors related to the environment, occlusion, and illumination intensity lead to holes in the collected data, which affect subsequent recognition. In this study, we propose a hole-filling method based on stereo-matching technology combined with a B-spline. The algorithm uses phase information acquired during raster projection to locate holes in the point cloud, simultaneously extracting boundary point cloud sets. By registering the face point cloud data using the stereo-matching algorithm and the data collected using the raster projection method, some supplementary information points can be obtained at the holes. The shape of the B-spline curve can then be roughly described by a few key points, and the control points are put into the hole area as key points for iterative calculation of surface reconstruction. Simulations using smooth ceramic cups and human face models showed that our model can accurately reproduce details and accurately restore complex shapes on the test surfaces. Simulation results indicated the robustness of the method, which is able to fill holes on complex areas such as the inner side of the nose without a prior model. This approach also effectively supplements the hole information, and the patched point cloud is closer to the original data. This method could be used across a wide range of applications requiring accurate facial recognition.
Multimodal Diagnostic Approaches to Advance Precision Medicine in Sarcopenia and Frailty

Sarcopenia, defined as the loss of muscle mass, strength, and function with aging, is a geriatric syndrome with important implications for patients and healthcare systems. Sarcopenia increases the risk of clinical decompensation when faced with physiological stressors and increases vulnerability, termed frailty. Sarcopenia develops due to inflammatory, hormonal, and myocellular changes in response to physiological and pathological aging, which promote progressive gains in fat mass and loss of lean mass and muscle strength. Progression of these pathophysiological changes can lead to sarcopenic obesity and physical frailty. These syndromes independently increase the risk of adverse patient outcomes including hospitalizations, long-term care placement, mortality, and decreased quality of life. This risk increases substantially when these syndromes co-exist. While there is evidence suggesting that the progression of sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, and frailty can be slowed or reversed, the adoption of broad-based screening or interventions has been slow to implement. Factors contributing to slow implementation include the lack of cost-effective, timely bedside diagnostics and interventions that target fundamental biological processes. This paper describes how clinical, radiographic, and biological data can be used to evaluate older adults with sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity and to further the understanding of the mechanisms leading to declines in physical function and frailty.
Factors Associated with Complicated Grief Following a Railway Tragedy

On July 6, 2013, a train with 72 crude oil tank cars derailed in the heart of Lac-Mégantic, a small municipality of 6,000 inhabitants located in Québec (Canada). This tragedy killed 47 people. Technological disasters are rarely studied in bereavement research, and train derailments even less. The goal of this article is to increase our understanding of the bereavement consequences of technological disasters. Specifically, we aim to identify the factors that lead to the experience complicated grief and distinguish from the protective factors. A representative population-based survey was conducted among 268 bereaved people, three and a half years after the train accident. Of these, 71 people (26.5%) experienced complicated grief. People with complicated grief (CG) differ significantly from those without CG in terms of psychological health, perception of physical health, alcohol use and medication, as well as social and professional relationships. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis identified four predictive factors for CG: level of exposure to the disaster, having a negative perception of the event, as well as having a paid job and low-income increase the risk of CG. The importance of having health and social practitioners pay attention to these factors of CG are discussed along with future directions for research.
Solute Dispersion From a Continuous Release Source in a Vegetated Flow: An Analytical Study

Steady dispersion of solute in flows with submerged vegetation due to a continuous release source is a focus in water resources research. This paper presents a fully analytical effort for a complete description of the steady‐state concentration field. The analytically predicted vertical concentration profiles agree well with both experimental measurements and numerical simulation results. Relations between the steady dispersion for a continuous release source and the transient dispersion due to an instantaneous release source are also discussed. Results show that the mean concentration in the canopy layer is higher than that in the upper water layer and the steady concentration distribution approaches relative uniformity at a dimensionless downstream distance x = 0.5. The solute release position is shown highly remarkably affecting the way in which the downstream state is approached. Moreover, the vertical concentration profiles predicted by a spatially dependent four‐zone turbulent diffusivity model are better than those predicted by a constant single‐zone model. The obtained analytical results contribute essentially to our understanding of solute transport in water flows with submerged vegetation.
Evolution of Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) and Its New Emerging Modalities in Prostate Cancer: An Update for Practicing Urologists, Clinicians and Medical Providers

Abstract Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the main management strategy for prostate cancer for more than eight decades, nowadays achieved commonly by administration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists. ADT markedly suppresses androgen hormones with the long-term risks of adverse events such as muscle weakness, impairment of glucose and lipid metabolism, impotence, osteoporosis, and secondary fractures. Extensive research has provided significantly better insight into the dynamics of ADT including identification of the benefits of sequential and combination therapies. This has led to the development of new pharmaceutical ADT modalities. This review provides a general overview of the evolution of ADT in the context of the new emerging pharmaceutical ADT modalities so that clinicians and medical providers have a better understanding of personalizing the available ADT options with their different risk-benefit profiles.
Long-Term Polygraphic Monitoring through MEMS and Charge Transfer for Low-Power Wearable Applications

In this work, we propose a wireless wearable system for the acquisition of multiple biopotentials through charge transfer electrostatic sensors realized in MEMS technology. The system is designed for low power consumption and low invasiveness, and thus candidates for long-time monitoring in free-living conditions, with data recording on an SD or wireless transmission to an external elaborator. Thanks to the wide horizon of applications, research is very active in this field, and in the last few years, some devices have been introduced on the market. The main problem with those devices is that their operation is time-limited, so they do not match the growing demand for long monitoring, which is a must-have feature in diagnosing specific diseases. Furthermore, their versatility is hampered by the fact that they have been designed to record just one type of signal. Using ST-Qvar sensors, we acquired an electrocardiogram trace and single-channel scalp electroencephalogram from the frontal lobes, together with an electrooculogram. Excellent results from all three types of acquisition tests were obtained. The power consumption is very low, demonstrating that, thanks to the MEMS technology, a continuous acquisition is feasible for several days.
Management of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in the era of disease-modifying treatment options

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the reported etiology in 10% of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients and has an estimated prevalence of 12.5 million cases worldwide across all ethnicities. There have been major advancements over the last two decades in understanding the pathogenesis and development of disease-modifying treatment options for ADPKD, culminating in regulatory approval of tolvaptan for ADPKD patients at risk of rapid progression to kidney failure. This review highlights the genetic mutations associated with ADPKD, defines patients at risk of rapid progression to ESKD, and focuses on the management of ADPKD in the era of disease-modifying agents.
An Organizational Structure of Indie Rock Musicians as Displayed by Facebook Usage

Indie rock musicians are a group of extra-institutional individuals who play an often-vibrant role in urban economic development. The organizational structure that guides their professional activities has yet to be investigated. Interviews with 18 indie rock musicians provided a way to investigate organizational structure. They reported a build structure featuring the principles of audience development, slow growth, and unevenness. The constraints of the musician’s professional situation require long-term promotion of aesthetic products to a slowly growing audience in a saturated market that produces unevenness through power imbalances. This slow-growing structure contrasts with organizational structures that provide immediate benefits.