Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of MIS-C patients treated with anakinra: a retrospective multicenter national study

Background The treatment of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children unresponsive to first-line therapies (IVIG and/or steroids) is challenging. The effectiveness of IL-1 receptor antagonist, anakinra, is debated. Patients and methods We conducted an anonymous retrospective multicenter study on MIS-C patients treated with anakinra in Italy from January 2020 to February 2021. Our study outcomes included the percentage of patients who required further therapeutic step-up, the percentage of patients who experienced fever resolution within 24 h and a reduction of CRP by half within 48 h, and the percentage of patients who developed Coronary Artery Anomalies (CAA) during follow-up. Results 35 cases of MIS-C were treated in 10 hospitals. Of these, 13 patients started anakinra while in the ICU, and 22 patients started anakinra in other wards. 25 patients (71.4%) were treated with corticosteroids at a starting dose 2–30 mg/Kg/day plus IVIG (2 g/Kg), 10 patients (28.6%) received only corticosteroids without IVIG. Anakinra was administered intravenously to all patients in Group A (mean dose 8 mg/Kg/day), and subcutaneously in Group B (mean dose 4 mg/Kg/day). Only two patients required further treatment step-up and no patients developed CAA after receiving anakinra. The most commonly observed side effect was an increase in ALT, occurring in 17.1% of patients. Conclusions In this retrospective cohort of severe MIS-C patients treated with anakinra we report favorable clinical outcomes with a low incidence of side effects. The simultaneous use of steroids ± IVIG in these patients hinders definitive conclusions regarding the need of IL-1 inhibition in MIS-C treatment.
Self-Supervised Learning-Based General Laboratory Progress Pretrained Model for Cardiovascular Event Detection

Objective: Leveraging patient data through machine learning techniques in disease care offers a multitude of substantial benefits. Nonetheless, the inherent nature of patient data poses several challenges. Prevalent cases amass substantial longitudinal data owing to their patient volume and consistent follow-ups, however, longitudinal laboratory data are renowned for their irregularity, temporality, absenteeism, and sparsity; In contrast, recruitment for rare or specific cases is often constrained due to their limited patient size and episodic observations. This study employed self-supervised learning (SSL) to pretrain a generalized laboratory progress (GLP) model that captures the overall progression of six common laboratory markers in prevalent cardiovascular cases, with the intention of transferring this knowledge to aid in the detection of specific cardiovascular event. Methods and procedures: GLP implemented a two-stage training approach, leveraging the information embedded within interpolated data and amplify the performance of SSL. After GLP pretraining, it is transferred for target vessel revascularization (TVR) detection. Results: The proposed two-stage training improved the performance of pure SSL, and the transferability of GLP exhibited distinctiveness. After GLP processing, the classification exhibited a notable enhancement, with averaged accuracy rising from 0.63 to 0.90. All evaluated metrics demonstrated substantial superiority ( ${p} < 0.01$ ) compared to prior GLP processing. Conclusion: Our study effectively engages in translational engineering by transferring patient progression of cardiovascular laboratory parameters from one patient group to another, transcending the limitations of data availability. The transferability of disease progression optimized the strategies of examinations and treatments, and improves patient prognosis while using commonly available laboratory parameters. The potential for expanding this approach to encompass other diseases holds great promise. Clinical impact: Our study effectively transposes patient progression from one cohort to another, surpassing the constraints of episodic observation. The transferability of disease progression contributed to cardiovascular event assessment.
Instruction Increases Canadian Students’ Preference for and Use of Lateral Reading Strategies to Fact-Check Online Information

Canadian middle and high school students (N = 2,278) completed a “CTRL-F” curriculum teaching them how to evaluate online information by reading laterally to investigate sources, check claims, and trace information to original contexts. A subset of CTRL-F students (N = 316) were in classes with teacher-matched control groups (N = 287). Some CTRL-F students (N = 994) completed a delayed posttest. At pretest, students indicated preference for some lateral reading strategies, but preference rarely translated into use. Following instruction, CTRL-F students showed greater preference for and use of lateral reading than controls and greater alignment between preference and use. The curriculum’s impact varied by demographic factors but not by differences in implementation. Gains were maintained from posttest to delayed posttest. Direct instruction and practice in lateral reading appear to strengthen connections between students’ preferences and utilization of these strategies to evaluate online content relevant to academic and personal life.
Integration of geometric and contextual inputs to hippocampal place cells.

Neurons in the rodent hippocampus fire in highly restricted portions of an environment. These place cells have receptive fields called place fields and are argued to form a representation of space. The work described in this thesis explores the different types of sensory input to these cells, how these inputs are integrated and the implications for our understanding of hippocampal processing. To this end, hippocampal pyramidal neurons were recorded from awake, behaving rats as they foraged for food in a series of different environments. By manipulating the environments to which rats were exposed the nature of the input to place cells was elucidated. The first two experiments explored the influence of geometry on place fields. A novel environment was created that facilitated an examination of how the boundaries that constituted that environment affected place field activity. It was found that the presence of boundaries was important in order to have well-defined and consistent place fields across trials. Furthermore, exposure to one environment affected the place fields recorded in a similar but different environment, suggesting that learning was occurring. The final experiment examined in greater detail the effect of learning on the place cell representation. Place cells were recorded in two neighbouring environments that were the same colour. Initially similar place cell representations were found to diverge over the course of several days and weeks such that the place cell activations in both environments became distinct. Once a distinct pattern of place cell activity was seen, the colour of the environments was changed. The learnt discrimination that was acquired in the initial environments was not transferred to the novel environment. This suggested that the information acquired by place cells was specific to a given environment. These results are incorporated into, and extend, an existing model of place field formation.
A Modified LeNet CNN for Breast Cancer Diagnosis in Ultrasound Images

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been extensively utilized in medical image processing to automatically extract meaningful features and classify various medical conditions, enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses. In this paper, LeNet, a classic CNN architecture, has been successfully applied to breast cancer data analysis. It demonstrates its ability to extract discriminative features and classify malignant and benign tumors with high accuracy, thereby supporting early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. LeNet with corrected Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU), a modification of the traditional ReLU activation function, has been found to improve the performance of LeNet in breast cancer data analysis tasks via addressing the “dying ReLU” problem and enhancing the discriminative power of the extracted features. This has led to more accurate, reliable breast cancer detection and diagnosis and improved patient outcomes. Batch normalization improves the performance and training stability of small and shallow CNN architecture like LeNet. It helps to mitigate the effects of internal covariate shift, which refers to the change in the distribution of network activations during training. This classifier will lessen the overfitting problem and reduce the running time. The designed classifier is evaluated against the benchmarking deep learning models, proving that this has produced a higher recognition rate. The accuracy of the breast image recognition rate is 89.91%. This model will achieve better performance in segmentation, feature extraction, classification, and breast cancer tumor detection.
Women’s political representation in local government: Its impact on public service quality

Public service quality has been a significant issue in Indonesia (Lanin & Hermanto, 2019) along with woman’s representation in politics (Aspinall et al., 2021). This study investigates the effect of woman’s representation in the local government head and legislative positions on public service quality in Indonesian local governments. We use secondary data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a local government website, and the Indonesia Statistics Bureau from 2016–2019, analyzed with panel data regression analysis. Overall, we find that local government public service quality is at a high level. Meanwhile, women’s political representation in Indonesian local government is still considerably low, both in legislative and top executive positions. Empirical findings demonstrate that women’s representation in the legislative board provides a positive impact on public service quality while women’s local government head has no significant effect. The effect is consistent both in district local governments and city local governments observations. Our study provides recommendations that suggest that women’s representation in local politics should be increased to promote gender equality which leads to better public governance
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE MODEL IN ANALYZING ATTITUDES TOWARD THE ADOPTION OF FINTECH

The intention of this study is to find empirical prooving regarding the relationship model of Perceived Risk, Perceived Ease-of-Use, and Perceived Usefulness against Attitudes Toward the Adoption of FinTech, by adopting the Technology Acceptance Model theoretical approach. The source of the data used is primary data derived from questionnaires which are distributed directly to respondents using a questionnaire with a Google Form format. Respondents are limited to users of banking services and marketplaces who are domiciled in Jakarta and its surroundings. Data were collected using non-probability sampling method. The instrument used is a structured questionnaire of 14 questions which are arranged based on indicators and dimensions derived from each variable. This study uses the multiple regression method with the support of the Smart PLS version 3. The finding of this study show that Perceived Risk, Perceived Ease-of-Use, and Perceived Usefulness have a positive effect on Attitudes Toward the Adoption of FinTech Services.
Evaluating the effectiveness of a small-scale forest extension program on Leyte Island, The Philippines

This paper describes the evaluation of a forestry extension program on Leyte Island, the Philippines which was undertaken as one of the activities of Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project ASEM/2003/052, Improving Financial Returns to Smallholder Tree Farmers in the Philippines. The program provided technical assistance to 22 farmers using a field tour and follow-up visits to individual farms as the main extension activities. Farmers responded positively to assistance and overcame difficulties caused by incessant wet weather to grow seedlings and establish timber plantations on unproductive privately owned land. Although the extension assistance was available to any farmer who owned land suitable for planting trees, the program inadvertently targeted a relatively well-off cohort of smallholders who are typically semi-retired or have employment other than on their farms. Evaluation of the program was undertaken by collating a chain of evidence from translated interviews and conversations, reports by extension staff, corroboration by external observers and visual observations. Seventeen of the farmers identified lack of seed or seedlings as major constraints to the expansion of tree growing but did not consider that marketing trees was likely to be a problem in the future. Farmers had little knowledge of nursery procedures and five of them required assistance to set out, stake and plant their trees. Formative evaluation undertaken to guide the delivery of the program indicated that extension activities were well received by farmers. However, eight farmers established plantations on sites which are unsuitable for the growth or marketing of trees. Farmers also prioritised other farming activities over extension assistance and this complicated the scheduling of field visits. Summative evaluation of the program indicated that a hypothetically expanded program would attract support from farmers. However, further research is needed to ascertain the size of the cohort of farmers in Leyte who are likely to respond to extension assistance to grow timber plantations.
Serotype distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular epidemiology of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae in the nine-year period in Serbia

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the leading bacterial pathogens that can cause severe invasive diseases. The aim of the study was to characterize invasive isolates of S. pneumoniae obtained during the nine-year period in Serbia before the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) into routine vaccination programs by determining: serotype distribution, the prevalence and genetic basis of antimicrobial resistance, and genetic relatedness of the circulating pneumococcal clones. A total of 490 invasive S. pneumoniae isolates were included in this study. The serotype, antimicrobial susceptibility, and ST of the strains were determined by the Quellung reaction, disk- and gradient-diffusion methods, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), respectively. The most common serotypes in this study were 3, 19F, 14, 6B, 6A, 19A, and 23F. The serotype coverages of PCV10 and PCV13 in children less than 2 years were 71.3 and 86.1%, respectively, while PPV23 coverage in adults was in the range of 85-96%, depending on the age group. Penicillin and ceftriaxone-non-susceptible isolates account for 47.6 and 16.5% of all isolates, respectively. Macrolide non-susceptibility was detected in 40.4% of isolates, while the rate of multidrug- and extensive-drug resistance was 20.0 and 16.9%, respectively. The MLST analysis of 158 pneumococci identified 60 different STs belonging to the 16 Clonal Complexes (CCs) (consisting of 42 STs) and 18 singletons. The most common CC/ST were ST1377, CC320, CC15, CC273, CC156, CC473, CC81, and CC180. Results obtained in this study indicate that the pre-vaccine pneumococcal population in Serbia is characterized by high penicillin and macrolides non-susceptibility, worrisome rates of MDR and XDR, as well as a high degree of genetic diversity. These findings provide a basis for further investigation of the changes in serotypes and genotypes that can be expected after the routine introduction of PCVs.
Abnormal T-Wave Alternans In Coronary Artery Disease Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction >40% With Myocardial Infarction

Coronary artery disease (CAD) may present with or without myocardial infarction, with the left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% or >40%. Myocardial infarction with LVEF <40% has been reported to cause abnormal T-wave alternans (TWA) value. The data about abnormal TWA value in myocardial infarction with LVEF >40% is still limited. A case-control analytic study was held at Dr. Sardjito general hospital Since March 2021 until April 2022 on adult CAD subjects with LVEF >40%. The TWA value was obtained from treadmill test which was then divided into the case group if the TWA value was abnormal and into the control group if the TWA value was normal. The data about myocardial infarction was retrospectively evaluated afterwards. Hypothesis testing was performed by Chi-Square test. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression test was conducted to determine the effect of confounding variables on TWA value. A total of 124 subjects were included in this study (62 subjects in the case group with abnormal TWA value, and 62 subjects in the control group with normal TWA value) with the mean age of 55,48 ± 8,6 years old and 83,8% were male subjects The proportion of subjects with abnormal TWA value with myocardial infarction and without myocardial infarction were 74,6% and 16,7% respectively. The Chi-Square test showed an association between PAH and abnormal TWA with OR 14,395 (CI 95%: 5,88-35,21; p<0,001). After multivariate analysis, myocardial infarction was the only remaining variable independently associated with abnormal TWA values. Abnormal TWA value occurred more frequently in subjects with myocardial infarction compared to subjects without myocardial infarction, in population of CAD LVEF >40%, with the possibility of 14,395 times more frequent
The effect of organizational support on employee performance: A systematic literature review

Employees are essential assets for a company's business operations, and the organization's role as an overarching institution is essential to support them. This support is essential for motivating workers and determining the progress or decline of an organization's achievements. Organizational support is also important for determining the progress or decline of an organization's achievements. The purpose of this Systematic Literature Review is to compile studies published between 2018 and 2023 that examine the connection between organizational assistance and worker productivity. The influence of organizational support on employee performance was the subject of this systematic review and meta-analysis, which was prepared using the Preferred Reporting Item. Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome techniques are used to get information from Google Scholar and Digital Reference Garba (Garuda). A total of 79 data points were filtered using data inclusion criteria, yielding a final score of 79. The research found that a favorable and substantial relationship existed between organizational support and performance in 26 out of 50 individual cases. Four items have a detrimental impact on performance significantly because of the assistance they get from their company. This study implies that Organizational support is seen as very important for the behavior of workers/employees. With organizational support, employees feel valued and valued by the organization.
Refining Evaluation of Bone Mass and Adipose Distribution in Dunnigan Syndrome

Familial partial lipodystrophies (FPLD) are rare diseases characterized by selective loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue at different sites. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to estimate adipose tissue in the bone marrow (BMAT), intra (IMCL) and extra-myocyte lipids (EMCL), and define the bone phenotype in the context of FPLD2/Dunnigan syndrome (DS). The subjects comprised 23 controls (C) and 18 DS patients, matched by age, weight and height. Blood samples, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) and 1H-spectroscopy using magnetic resonance to estimate BMAT in the lumbar spine, IMCL, EMCL and osteoclastogenesis were assessed. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 78% in DS patients. Glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, insulin and HOMA-IR levels were elevated in DS, whereas HDLc, 25(OH)D, PTH and osteocalcin levels were reduced. BMD was similar between groups at all sites, except 1/3 radius, which was lower in DS group. TBS was reduced in DS. DS presented increased osteoclastogenesis and elevated BMAT, with greater saturation levels and higher IMCL than the C group. HOMA-IR and EMCL were negatively associated with TBS; osteocalcin and EMCL were correlated negatively with BMD. This study contributes to refining the estimation of adipose tissue in DS by showing increased adiposity in the lumbar spine and muscle tissue. DXA detected lower TBS and BMD in the 1/3 radius, suggesting impairment in bone quality and that bone mass is mainly affected in the cortical bone.
Multiple Factors Involved in Bone Damage Caused by Chikungunya Virus Infection

Chronic cases of chikungunya fever represent a public health problem in countries where the virus circulates. The disease is prolonged, in some cases, for years, resulting in disabling pain and bone erosion among other bone and joint problems. As time progresses, tissue damage is persistent, although the virus has not been found in blood or joints. The pathogenesis of these conditions has not been fully explained. Additionally, it has been considered that there are multiple factors that might intervene in the viral pathogenesis of the different conditions that develop. Other mechanisms involved in osteoarthritic diseases of non-viral origin could help explain how damage is produced in chronic conditions. The aim of this review is to analyze the molecular and cellular factors that could be involved in the tissue damage generated by different infectious conditions of the chikungunya virus.
De Novo Design and Development of a Nutrient-Rich Perfusate for Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion with Cell Culture Models

Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has increased donor lung utilization through assessment of “marginal” lungs prior to transplantation. To develop it as a donor lung reconditioning platform, prolonged EVLP is necessary, and new perfusates are required to provide sufficient nutritional support. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and epithelial cells were used to test different formulas for basic cellular function. A selected formula was further tested on an EVLP cell culture model, and cell confluence, apoptosis, and GSH and HSP70 levels were measured. When a cell culture medium (DMEM) was mixed with a current EVLP perfusate—Steen solution, DMEM enhanced cell confluence and migration and reduced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. A new EVLP perfusate was designed and tested based on DMEM. The final formula contains 5 g/L Dextran-40 and 7% albumin and is named as D05D7A solution. It inhibited cold static storage and warm reperfusion-induced cell apoptosis, improved cell confluence, and enhanced GSH and HSP70 levels in human lung cells compared to Steen solution. DMEM-based nutrient-rich EVLP perfusate could be a promising formula to prolong EVLP and support donor lung repair, reconditioning and further improve donor lung quality and quantity for transplantation with better clinical outcome.