Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of hyperphosphatemia and its relation with hemoglobin levels among hemodialysis patients in two hospitals from Syria: a prospective cross-sectional study

Introduction: Hyperphosphatemia and anemia were both associated with several complications in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This study aimed to determine the risk factors of hyperphosphatemia and its relation with anemia among hemodialysis (HD) patients. Secondly, it aimed to determine the prevalence of hyperphosphatemia and anemia. Material and methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 146 HD patients from two HD centers in Syria, between June 2021 and March 2022. All patients at least 18 years old on maintenance HD were enrolled. The threshold of phosphorus (phos) level was divided by the upper normal range among HD patients (5.5 mg/dl). We used parametric and nonparametric statistics, the Pearson and Spearman correlations with simple and multiple linear regressions between study variables. Results: 36.9% of patients had a serum phos level of 5.5 or less (norm phos group), and 63.1% of patients had a serum phos level higher than 5.5 (high phos group). Also, 60.9% of patients had hemoglobin (Hb) less than 10 g/dl, and 40.4% of patients had Hb at least 10 g/dl. Age, type of HD access, phos binders (P-binders), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and calcium (Ca) showed significant effects on phos levels. Most patients were using arteriovenous fistula (AVF) (89.7%) as a HD access, and the meantime on HD was higher in the norm phos group compared to the high phos group. In a multivariate and univariate logistic regression analysis, hyperphosphatemia increased with increasing urea (Ur) and creatinine (Cr) levels, while the odds declined with increasing time on HD. Hb did not show a significant relation with phos by using several statistical methods. Discussion/Conclusion: A high prevalence of hyperphosphatemia and anemia was encountered among this sample of HD patients from Syria. There was no correlation between phos and Hb levels in contrast to previous conflicting studies, which mandates future studies to evaluate this correlation and further efforts to determine the range of phos that could have a benefit on anemia with respect to other comorbidities.
Bi-Factor MIRT Observed-Score Equating for Mixed-Format Tests

ABSTRACT The main purposes of this study were to develop bi-factor multidimensional item response theory (BF-MIRT) observed-score equating procedures for mixed-format tests and to investigate relative appropriateness of the proposed procedures. Using data from a large-scale testing program, three types of pseudo data sets were formulated: matched samples, pseudo forms, and simulated data sets. Very minor within-format residual dependence in mixed-format tests was found after controlling for the influence of the primary general factor. The unidimensional IRT and BF-MIRT equating methods produced similar equating results for the data used in this study. When a BF-MIRT model is implemented, we recommend the use of observed-score equating instead of true-score equating because the latter requires an arbitrary approximation or reduction process to relate true scores on test forms.
Graph Reconfigurable Pooling for Graph Representation Learning

In recent years, graph neural networks have been widely used for tasks such as graph classification, link prediction, and node classification, and have achieved excellent results. In order to apply GNNs to graph classification tasks, recent works generate graph-level representations using node representations through a hierarchical pooling approach. Existing graph pooling methods such as DiffPool and EigenPool encourage adjacent nodes to be assigned to the same cluster, making the node assignment process similar to the graph partitioning process that ignores the role of nodes or some substructures (e.g., amino acids) in the process of composing a graph (e.g., proteins). In this article, we propose a new pooling operator RecPool to capture the role played by nodes in the process of composing a graph. Specifically, we probabilistically model the feature distribution of the coarsened graph, construct the feature distribution of each cluster, resample the features of the coarsened graph into the original nodes according to the soft assignment matrix, reconstruct the original graph, and optimize the soft assignment matrix to divide the nodes that play the same role in the reconstruction process into the same cluster. The excellent performance of Recpool is demonstrated through experiments on four public benchmark dataset.
Strontium Isotope Characteristics (δ88/86Sr, 87Sr/86Sr) of Arima‐Type Brines Originated From Slab‐Fluids

In the southwest Japan forearc, slab‐fluids produced from subducted materials migrate to crustal levels and appear as deep‐seated brine. We have analyzed for the first‐time stable strontium isotopes in non‐volcanic spring water with high salinity, referred to as Arima‐type saline water that likely originate from slab‐fluid that upwelled along major faults. The stable strontium isotope compositions of the saline water are isotopically light (δ88/86Sr = 0.122–0.157‰) and different from those of local bedrock and near‐surface water. The light strontium‐enriched and radiogenic signature of the saline water reflects the primary characteristic of slab‐fluids without an isotopic overprint in the crust. The Arima‐type brines show signatures of slab‐fluids at forearc depth, which is different from the slab‐fluids at subarc depth estimated from arc lavas. The characteristic features of the Arima‐type brines are explained by a larger contribution of subducted sediments and strontium isotope fractionation during fluids generation at shallower depth.
: Antigenotoxic and Antioxidative activites of Curcumin

Leaf extracts of Echeveria subrigida show antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-mutagenic, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. The inhibitory α-glucosidase is associated with the content of quercetin-3-O-glucoside and isorhametin-3-O-glucoside. The aims of this study were to analyze the effect on mice glycemia and in vitro kinetics of α-glucosidase inhibition of the hydroalcoholic extract of Echeveria subrigida standardized in the content of isorhametin-3-O-glucoside. The high-performance liquid chromatography method was validated to quantitate isorhametin-3-O-glucoside. Hydroalcoholic extract of Echeveria subrigida identity was characterized by its organoleptic, physicochemical, pharmacological and toxicological parameters. The effects on glycemia were carried out in 6 w old male Balb-C mice and using the following treatments; hydroalcoholic extract of Echeveria subrigida at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w. ; positive control glibenclamide or acarbose at 10 mg/kg b.w. The inhibition kinetics of hydroalcoholic extract of Echeveria subrigida was determined by the Lineweaver-Burk plots. Hydroalcoholic extract of Echeveria subrigida had 4.87±0.14 mg isorhametin-3-O-glucoside/g, complied with the World Health Organization parameters for standardized extracts and induced a mixed inhibition on α-glucosidase. Hydroalcoholic extract of Echeveria subrigida (200 mg/kg b.w) and glibenclamide treatments showed similar percent hypoglycemia, 49.1 % and 52 %, respectively. The anti-hyperglycemic assay showed that similar percent reductions in glucose-levels were found in the treatments with hydroalcoholic extract of Echeveria subrigida (100 mg/kg, 29.32 %; 200 mg/kg, 28.99 %) and acarbose (10 mg/kg, 19.87 %). The standardized hydroalcoholic extract of Echeveria subrigida showed hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic activities, stability, and innocuity, suggesting its potential to prevent/treat diabetes mellitus.
Characterization of Ultra-Thin HfO$_2$ Gate Oxide Prepared by Using Atomic Layer Deposition

Ultra-thin hafnium-oxide films were deposited by using atomic layer deposition. The impurity distribution and the film properties were studied in the deposition temperature range between 200 ◦C and 400 ◦C. Suppressed crystallization with effective Cl impurity reduction was obtained at medium temperature (300 ◦C), which resulted in a hafnium-oxide film with a low leakage current (2.06×10−7 A/cm at −2.0 MV/cm) and a small equivalent oxide thickness value (23.9 A) at the same time.
How Human Drivers Can Benefit From Collective Perception: A User Study

Collective perception is one of the key ideas of vehicular networking and allows the exchange of data about perceived objects. However, unlike autonomous driving systems, human drivers cannot screen large numbers of objects to judge their dangerousness. An assistance system in the vehicle, therefore, must do this job. This article shows a concept for a human–machine interface that could be used to warn the driver in case such a system detects an actually dangerous object. A user study in a driving simulator was performed to evaluate its potential to prevent accidents. Eye-tracking glasses were used to analyze the driver’s gaze during different types of situations. Furthermore, the participants’ subjective experience was evaluated with a questionnaire. Results show that drivers trust the system and brake earlier and with more control due to the warnings, and ultimately, the majority of accidents could be avoided thanks to the warnings.
Instability of High Mach Number Poiseuille (Channel) Flow: Linear Analysis and Direct Numerical Simulations

Compressibility exerts a profound influence on flow stability. In this thesis, we investigate the stability characteristics of high-speed Poiseuille flow by examining the growth of small perturbations and their subsequent breakdown toward turbulence. This study employs both linear analysis and temporal direct numerical simulations (DNS). The Orr-Sommerfeld analysis and pressure-released Navier-Stokes analysis are performed at incompressible limit and infinite Mach number limit respectively. These analyses are compared against DNS resulting in excellent agreement. The linear analysis shows that compressibility effect manifests via pressure-velocity interactions in highspeed flow. The perturbation orientation and Mach number are shown to be the two critical parameters that affect flow stability. The streamwise perturbation experiences strong suppression and stabilization in high Mach number flow, however, the span-wise perturbation is almost unaffected by Mach number. The DNS results also demonstrate the non-linear interactions between perturbations and late stage breakdown toward turbulence. Zhimin Xie is a PHD candidate in the Aerospace Engineering Department working under the supervision of Professor Sharath Girimaji. His research interests are in the areas of fluid mechanics, numerical computation and modeling & simulation. He is seeking employment with fluid dynamics modeling and simulation applications.
‘Representational Irony’: Navigating Succession Planning in Youth Civil Society Organisations

ABSTRACT A strong civil society is fundamental to the wellbeing and resilience of communities. Young people play powerful in civil society activism, but their contribution is yet to be fully grasped and appreciated. As the 10-year anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security approaches in 2025, more action is needed to genuinely include, prioritise and champion the role and perspectives of young people. Succession planning is an important aspect of youth civil society activism. Whilst much has been written about the topic in the public and private sectors, very little exists in the context of civil society organisations, and in particular, in youth civil society organisations. Drawing on lived experience of voluntarily coordinating a youth feminist organisation in Australia, I argue there are six added complexities that youth civil society organisations face. As part of feminist ethic of practice, the purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of ‘representational irony’ and in doing so, share learnings, reflections, and practical recommendations to assist others. Whilst the paper focuses on youth civil society activism, learnings apply more broadly to stewardship and succession planning in organisations that seek to include and champion young people.
Left Ventricle Segmental Longitudinal Strain and Regional Myocardial Work Index Could Help Determine Mitral Valve Prolapse Patients with Increased Risk of Ventricular Arrhythmias

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) could associate with malignant ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). Mitral annular disjunction, a putative mechanism for an arrhythmic substrate, leads to excessive mobility, stretch, and damage of some segments. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), with particular attention to the segmental longitudinal strain and myocardial work index (MWI), could be an indicator of the segments we aimed to check. Seventy-two MVP patients and twenty controls underwent echocardiography. Complex VAs documented prospectively after the enrollment was qualified as the primary endpoint, which was noticed in 29 (40%) patients. Pre-specified cut-off values for peak segmental longitudinal strain (PSS) and segmental MWI for basal lateral (−25%, 2200 mmHg%), mid-lateral (−25%, 2500 mmHg%), mid-posterior (−25%, 2400 mmHg%), and mid-inferior (−23%, 2400 mmHg%) segments were accurate predictors of complex VAs. A combination of PSS and MWI increased the probability of the endpoint, reaching the highest predictive value for the basal lateral segment: odds ratio 32.15 (3.78–273.8), p < 0.001 for PSS ≥ −25% and MWI ≥ 2200 mmHg%. STE may be a valuable tool for assessing the arrhythmic risk in MVP patients. Excessively increased segmental longitudinal strain with an augmented regional myocardial work index identifies patients with the highest risk of complex VAs.
Association of d-dimer levels with in-hospital outcomes among COVID-19 positive patients: a developing country multicenter retrospective cohort

Introduction D-dimer levels, which originate from the lysis of cross-linked fibrin, are serially measured during coronavirus disease 2019 illness to rule out hypercoagulability as well as a septic marker. Methods This multicenter retrospective study was carried out in two tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. The study included adult patients admitted with a laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 infection, with at least one measured d-dimer within 24 h following admission. Discharged patients were compared with the mortality group for survival analysis. Results The study population of 813 patients had 68.5% males, with a median age of 57.0 years and 14.0 days of illness. The largest d-dimer elevation was between 0.51–2.00 mcg/ml (tertile 2) observed in 332 patients (40.8%), followed by 236 patients (29.2%) having values greater than 5.00 mcg/ml (tertile 4). Within 45 days of hospital stay, 230 patients (28.3%) died, with the majority in the ICU (53.9%). On multivariable logistic regression between d-dimer and mortality, the unadjusted (Model 1) had a higher d-dimer category (tertile 3 and tertile 4) associated with a higher risk of death (OR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.02–4.54, P=0.044) and (OR: 4.74; 95% CI: 2.38–9.46, P<0.001). Adjustment for age, sex, and BMI (Model 2) yields only tertile 4 being significant (OR: 4.27; 95% CI: 2.06–8.86, P<0.001). Conclusion: Higher d-dimer levels were independently associated with a high risk of mortality. The added value of d-dimer in risk stratifying patients for mortality was not affected by invasive ventilation, ICU stays, length of hospital stays, or comorbidities.
Connection between Cardiac Fibrosis Biomarkers and Echocardiography Parameters in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Background: Myocardial fibrosis represents a mainstay pathway in the pathophysiology of uremic cardiomyopathy. This process leads to structural and functional changes in the heart, which can be detected by echocardiography. The purpose of our study was to determine the association between four echocardiographic parameters (ejection fraction (EF), global longitudinal strain (GLS), mean E/e’ ratio, and left atrial volume indexed) and biomarkers associated with cardiac fibrosis, such as procollagen type I carboxy-terminal propeptide (PICP), procollagen type III N-terminal peptide (P3NP), and galectin-3 (Gal-3) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Methods: 140 patients with ESRD were enrolled and investigated by echocardiography and the serum levels of the aforementioned biomarkers were determined at baseline. Results: The mean EF was 53.63 ± 8%, the mean GLS was −10.2 ± 5.3%, the mean E/e’ ratio was 9.8 ± 4.3, and the mean left atrial volume indexed (LAVI) was 45.8 ± 14.2 mL/m2. The average levels for PICP, P3NP, and Gal-3 were 457.2 ± 240 µg/L, 242 ± 199.9 µg/L, and 10.7 ± 3.7 ng/mL, respectively. In regression analysis, PICP was strongly associated with all four echocardiographic parameters (EF: p = 0.0002, R2 = 0.69; GLS: p = 0.00001, R2 = 0.81; mean E/e’: p = 0.00002; R2 = 0.89; LAVI: p = 0.003; R2 = 0.73). P3NP and Gal-3 were only associated with the EF (p = 0.01, R2 = 0.31 and p = 0.02; R2 = 0.35, respectively). Conclusion: Our study evidenced that PICP, a collagen-derived biomarker, is associated with important echocardiography parameters, suggesting that it can serve as an indicator of the presence of subclinical systolic and diastolic dysfunction in patients with advanced CKD.
Interaction and spin—orbit effects on a kagome lattice at 1/3 filling

We investigate the competing effects of spin—orbit coupling and electron—electron interaction on a kagome lattice at 1/3 filling. We apply the cellular dynamical mean-field theory and its real-space extension combined with the continuous time quantum Monte Carlo method, and obtain a phase diagram including the effects of the interaction and the spin—orbit coupling at T = 0.1t, where T is the temperature and t is the hopping energy. We find that without the spin—orbit coupling, the system is in a semi-metal phase stable against the electron—electron interaction. The presence of the spin—orbit coupling can induce a topological non-trivial gap and drive the system to a topological insulator, and as the interaction increases, a larger spin—orbit coupling is required to reach the topological insulating phase.
Comparison of low-dose (162 mg) and high-dose (650 mg) Aspirin prophylaxis following total joint arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study

Background: Since Aspirin’s adverse effects are dose-dependent, and evidence supporting the use of low-dose (LD) Aspirin in preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is weak, the authors do not know what the minimal effective dosage of Aspirin is to prevent VTE. This study aimed to compare the rates of 90-day symptomatic VTE following THA and total knee arthroplasty in healthy patients taking LD Aspirin vs. high-dose (HD) Aspirin for 6 weeks postoperatively. Materials and methods: A prospective cohort of patients with THA and total knee arthroplasty was conducted at two tertiary centres. Symptomatic VTE within 90 days of index arthroplasty was the primary outcome; gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and mortality were secondary outcomes. Results: The final analysis included 312 consecutive patients: 158 in the LD group and 154 in the HD group. Two groups were similar regarding preoperative data, including sex, age, BMI, smoking, diabetes mellitus, Hgb and platelet count, and type of surgery. The LD group had one deep vein thrombosis (0.6%), and the HD group had two (1.3%) (P=0.62). Neither group had PTE. Therefore, VTE rates are the same as deep vein thrombosis rates and similar between the groups (0.6% vs. 1.3%, P=0.62) Regarding GIB due to anticoagulant therapy, no patient in the LD group reported GIB, whereas two (1.3%) patients in the HD group reported GIB within 90 days of arthroplasty. GIB rates did not differ significantly between groups (P=0.24). Considering VTE + GIB combined, the HD groups showed a higher rate of complications (N=4, 2.6%) than the LD groups (N=1, 0.6%) but not statistically significant (P=0.21). Conclusions: Prophylactic administration of Aspirin with low doses (81 mg BID) and high doses (325 mg BID) for six weeks is equally effective at reducing VTE in total joint arthroplasty patients and had similar adverse effects. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level II
Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients in the Northern Region of Saudi Arabia

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases, and ignoring dental health care before and after treatment can have severe long-term consequences. Additionally, this may have a negative impact on the patient’s general quality of life. Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among breast cancer patients and identify possible factors associated with the outcome. Methodology: In this observational cross-sectional study, 200 women who had received breast cancer therapy and were being followed up at a hospital made up the sample. The study was conducted between January 2021 and July 2022. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, general health, and breast cancer was recorded. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth index was used in clinical examinations to identify caries experience. OHRQoL was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. After adjusting for confounding variables, a logistic regression analysis was used to determine the related factors. Results: The mean OHIP-14 score was 11.48 (SD 1.35). There was a 63.0% prevalence of negative impacts. Age and the time frame from cancer diagnosis were found to be significantly linked with the outcome by binary logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors who were ≤55 years old and the time elapsed since diagnosis was less than 36 months had a poor OHRQoL. To lessen the negative impacts of cancer treatment and enhance quality of life, patients with breast cancer need special oral care and should be monitored before, during, and after cancer treatment.
A Peer-support Mini-counseling Model to Improve Treatment in HIV-positive Pregnant Women in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Objectives Low adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy in pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) increases the risk of virus transmission from mother to newborn. Increasing mothers’ knowledge and motivation to access treatment has been identified as a critical factor in prevention. Therefore, this research aimed to explore barriers and enablers in accessing HIV care and treatment services. Methods This research was the first phase of a mixed-method analysis conducted in Kupang, a remote city in East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Samples were taken by purposive sampling of 17 people interviewed, consisting of 6 mothers with HIV, 5 peer facilitators, and 6 health workers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and document review. Inductive thematic analysis was also performed. The existing data were grouped into several themes, then relationships and linkages were drawn from each group of informants. Results Barriers to accessing care and treatment were lack of knowledge about the benefits of ARV; stigma from within and the surrounding environment; difficulty in accessing services due to distance, time, and cost; completeness of administration; drugs’ side effects; and the quality of health workers and HIV services. Conclusions There was a need for a structured and integrated model of peer support to improve ARV uptake and treatment in pregnant women with HIV. This research identified needs including mini-counseling sessions designed to address psychosocial barriers as an integrated approach to support antenatal care that can effectively assist HIV-positive pregnant women in improving treatment adherence.