Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Time Duration on Bacterial Colonization in Double ‘J’ Stent after Ureteroscopy and Intracorporeal Pneumatic Lithotripsy in Adult

Introduction: Ureteric stone disease is common all over the world. Because of advancements in endourology and instruments- urologists manage ureteral stone effectively by ureteroscopy and lithotripsy using various energy sources. Commonly, lower ureteric stones are managed by ureteroscopy and intracorporeal pneumatic lithotripsy (URS and ICPL). After completing the procedure surgeons prefer to install double J (DJ) stent for a variable period within the ureter to overcome ureteral edema. There is no guideline for the optimal duration of keeping DJ stent in ureteral lumen. Urologists decide the duration of DJ stent according to their clinical experience & judgment- that makes a wide variation of stent period. Keeping the double J (DJ) stent for a longer duration may produce harmful effects, those even may be life-threatening. Objective: To observe the effect of time duration on bacterial colonization in DJ stent after URS and ICPL. Material and method: This experimental study was conducted in the Department of Urology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), for 1-year duration. The total sample size was 82. Samples were allocated into two groups. In group A: Double J stent was kept in situ for d” 4 weeks, whereas in Group B: stent duration was > 4 (up to 8) weeks. In this study, purposive sampling technique was implemented. Unilateral ureteral stone managed by URS, ICPL were included in the study. Patients having bilateral stones, co-morbidities like diabetes mellitus (DM), malignancy, immunosuppression, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and who had per operative ureteral injury were excluded. After removal of the DJ stent, 2-3 cm bladder-end tip was sent for culture and sensitivity. Reports were collected and documented. Result: Out of 82 cases, 40 were in group A and 42 in group B. 62 patients were male, 20 were female. DJ stent culture was positive in 14 cases (17%), whereas urine culture was positive in 7cases (8.5%). Among those- both stent and urine were positive in 4 cases (4.8%). Stent positive but urine negative in 10 cases (71%). In positive cases, stent and urine were colonized by a similar organism. E. coli was the commonest causative organism. Stent culture was positive in 4 cases (28.6%) in group A, 10 cases (71.4%) in group B but it was statically insignificant (p-value 0.09). Conclusion: Bacterial colonization in DJ stent increases with longer indwelling time. Individually stent or urine culture can not detect all pathogens in the urinary tract. So urine culture, as well as stent culture, is required to detect the uropathogen. The final recommendation is that-removal of DJ stent as early as possible is the key to prevent bacterial colonization. Bangladesh J. Urol. 2021; 24(2): 188-192
Intraoperative fluorescence imaging in esophagectomy and its application to the robotic platform: a narrative review

Background and Objective Robotic-assisted esophagectomy is an approach to minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) that has demonstrated equivalent or improved outcomes relative to open and other minimally invasive techniques. The robotic approach also allows unique opportunities to improve complications following esophagectomy through use of enhanced visualization tools, including intraoperative fluorescence imaging. In this review, we summarize the specific uses of intraoperative fluorescence imaging as an adjunct tool during esophagectomy and discuss its application to the robotic platform. Methods A literature search was conducted via PubMed in February 2022 with the following keywords: esophagectomy, esophageal cancer, infrared, near-infrared (NIR) and fluorescence. Peer-reviewed academic journal articles published in English between 2000 and 2021 were included. Key Content and Findings There is a growing body of literature evaluating the use of intraoperative fluorescence imaging in robotic-assisted esophagectomy. This includes assessment of gastric conduit perfusion, including feasibility, creation of the gastroesophageal anastomosis, and qualification of perfusion, along with lymphatic mapping and identification of critical anatomy. These tools are uniquely leveraged using the robotic platform to standardize and quantify key technical aspects of the operation. Conclusions Intraoperative fluorescence imaging provides the opportunity to assess perfusion and identify anatomy for more precise and patient-specific dissection and reconstruction. Among all the operative techniques for esophagectomy, robotic-assisted esophagectomy is uniquely suited to utilize these imaging modalities to optimize outcomes and minimize risk associated with esophagectomy.
Therapeutic Potential for Targeting Autophagy in ER+ Breast Cancer

Simple Summary While ER+ breast cancer is generally considered to have a better prognosis than other breast cancer subtypes, relapse may nevertheless occur years after diagnosis and treatment. Despite initially responding to treatment, 30–40% of tumors acquire resistance to treatment that contributes to disease recurrence, metastasis, and ultimately, death. In the case of the individual estrogen antagonists or aromatase inhibitors, the autophagy induced by these agents is largely cytoprotective. However, whether autophagy inhibition will prove to be a useful strategy for improving outcomes for current combination therapeutic strategies awaits further studies. Abstract While endocrine therapy remains the mainstay of treatment for ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, tumor progression and disease recurrence limit the utility of current standards of care. While existing therapies may allow for a prolonged progression-free survival, however, the growth-arrested (essentially dormant) state of residual tumor cells is not permanent and is frequently a precursor to disease relapse. Tumor cells that escape dormancy and regain proliferative capacity also tend to acquire resistance to further therapies. The cellular process of autophagy has been implicated in the adaptation, survival, and reactivation of dormant cells. Autophagy is a cellular stress mechanism induced to maintain cellular homeostasis. Tumor cells often undergo therapy-induced autophagy which, in most contexts, is cytoprotective in function; however, depending on how the autophagy is regulated, it can also be non-protective, cytostatic, or cytotoxic. In this review, we explore the literature on the relationship(s) between endocrine therapies and autophagy. Moreover, we address the different functional roles of autophagy in response to these treatments, exploring the possibility of targeting autophagy as an adjuvant therapeutic modality together with endocrine therapies.
Constrained Attitude Control for Flexible Spacecraft: Attitude Pointing Accuracy and Pointing Stability Improvement

This work deals with the complicated problem of constrained fixed-time attitude control for flexible spacecraft in view of actuator saturations and fault. The proposed controller is composed of two parts. The first part provides fast fixed-time convergence of system trajectories using a novel nonsingular terminal sliding mode control. The second part offers the desired performance specification, such as the rate of convergence, overshoot, and steady-state bounds for attitude/rotation velocity to improve attitude-pointing accuracy and pointing stability. The constrained control method ensures the desired performance in the transient/steady-state phases. It obtains a much simpler structure in comparison with other constrained controls. The simulations on a flexible spacecraft validate the efficacy of the planned scheme.
THE PRODUCTIVITY OF FAT-TAILED SHEEP IN SINGLE AND TWIN LAMBING

The purpose of this study was to compare the productivity of Fat-Tailed Sheep in single and twin lambing. The research method was a field study based on data recording of ewes that gave lambing three times or more. The variables observed were livestock productivity seen from the interval between giving birth and the reproduction rate of livestock. Data analysis used unpaired t-test with excel program. The results showed that twins had a very significantly higher reproductive rate (P < 0.01) and no significant difference between lambing intervals (P > 0.05) compared to single lambing ewes. This study concluded that the productivity of Fat-Tailed sheep was 88.19 % higher ewes of twin lambing than that of single lambing ewes. One of the criteria for choosing a ewe is the potential for twin lambing.
Efficacy of oral isotretinoin in the treatment of acne vulgaris

Background: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of pilosebaceous units. Objective: To assess the presentation of acne vulgaris and to evaluate the efficacy of oral isotretinoin therapy, Materials and method: This was a retrospective chart review of patients presenting to the dermatology private clinic in Almansoora, Aden, over a 2-year period, who complained of acne vulgaris and were treated with oral isotretinoin. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 17. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The total study patients were 86 (68.6% females and 31.4% males). The mean age of patients was 25.6 ± 7.9 years. The difference between means related to sex shows statistically significant (p = 0.006). The patients of the age group 20 years were predominant with (70.9%). The most common side effects were cheilitis (54.7%) followed by dry-skin (12.8%), acne flaring (9.3%), hair loss (7.0%) and the lowest side effect was increased liver enzyme in (1.2%) patients. Papulonodular of acne vulgaris is the most common severity type (36.1%) followed by comedones, papules, pustules (32.5%). Comedones, papules, pustules are more common in the age group < 20 years of age (24.4%) while papulonodular are more common in the age group 20 years with (33.7%). The difference between values of severity types of acne vulgaris related to age groups is statistically highly significant (p = 0.000). Complete clearance occurred in (80.2%) patients followed by partial clearance. Partial clearance was found in (16.3%) patients, most of them treated within 16 weeks (12.8%). The difference between values of therapy response of patients in relation to therapy duration is statistically highly significant (p = 0.000). Conclusion: The results of our study show that isotretinoin is a safe and effective therapy for acne vulgaris with few side effects. Key words: Efficacy, isotretinoin, treatment, acne vulgaris, Aden
Host inflammatory response is the major factor in the progression of Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia

Purpose Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) has caused sporadic, but recurring, fatal community-acquired pneumonia outbreaks worldwide, posing a serious threat to public health. Our understanding of host inflammatory responses to C. psittaci is limited, and many bronchitis cases of psittaci have rapidly progressed to pneumonia with deterioration. Methods To clarify the host inflammatory response in psittacosis, we analyzed clinical parameters, and compared transcriptomic data, concentrations of plasma cytokines/chemokines, and changes of immune cell populations in 17 laboratory-confirmed psittacosis cases, namely, 8 pneumonia and 9 bronchitis individuals, in order to assess transcriptomic profiles and pro-inflammatory responses. Results Psittacosis cases with pneumonia were found to have abnormal routine blood indices, liver damage, and unilateral pulmonary high-attenuation consolidation. Transcriptome sequencing revealed markedly elevated expression of several pro-inflammatory genes, especially interleukins and chemokines. A multiplex-biometric immunoassay showed that pneumonia cases had higher levels of serum cytokines (G-CSF, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, IP-10, MCP-3, and TNF-α) than bronchitis cases. Increases in activated neutrophils and decreases in the number of lymphocytes were also observed in pneumonia cases. Conclusion We identified a number of plasma biomarkers distinct to C. psittaci pneumonia and a variety of cytokines elevated with immunopathogenic potential likely inducing an inflammatory milieu and acceleration of the disease progression of psittaci pneumonia. This enhances our understanding of inflammatory responses and changes in vascular endothelial markers in psittacosis with heterogeneous symptoms and should prove helpful for developing both preventative and therapeutic strategies.
Effect of a Condensed NBA Season on Injury Risk: An Analysis of the 2020 Season and Player Safety

Background: Health and safety concerns surrounding the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led the National Basketball Association (NBA) to condense and accelerate the 2020 season. Although prior literature has suggested that inadequate rest may lead to an increased injury risk, the unique circumstances surrounding this season offer a unique opportunity to evaluate player safety in the setting of reduced interval rest. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the condensed 2020 NBA season resulted in an increased overall injury risk as compared with the 2015 to 2018 seasons. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: A publicly available database, Pro Sports Transactions, was queried for injuries that forced players to miss ≥1 game between the 2015 and 2020 seasons. Data from the 2019 season were omitted given the abrupt suspension of the league year. All injury incidences were calculated per 1000 game-exposures (GEs). The primary outcome was the overall injury proportion ratio (IPR) between the 2020 season and previous seasons. Secondary measures included injury incidences stratified by type, severity, age, position, and minutes per game. Results: A total of 4346 injuries occurred over a 5-season span among 2572 unique player-seasons. The overall incidence of injury during the 2020 season was 48.20 per 1000 GEs but decreased to 39.97 per 1000 GEs when excluding COVID-19. Despite this exclusion, the overall injury rate in 2020 remained significantly greater (IPR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.32-1.52]) than that of the 2015 to 2018 seasons (28.20 per 1000 GEs). On closer evaluation, the most notable increases seen in the 2020 season occurred within minor injuries requiring only a 1-game absence (IPR, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.37-1.70]) and in players who were aged 25 to 29 years (IPR, 1.57 [95% CI, 1.40-2.63]), averaging ≥30.0 minutes per game (IPR, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.47-1.90]), and playing the point guard position (IPR, 1.67 [95% 1.44-1.95]). Conclusion: Players in the condensed 2020 NBA season had a significantly higher incidence of injuries when compared with the prior 4 seasons, even when excluding COVID-19–related absences. This rise is consistent with the other congested NBA seasons of 1998 and 2011. These findings suggest that condensing the NBA schedule is associated with an increased risk to player health and safety.
Hybrid Recurrent Neural Network Modeling for Traffic Delay Prediction at Signalized Intersections Along an Urban Arterial

This paper studies the traffic delay prediction modeling for multiple signalized intersections along the Ala Moana Boulevard and Nimitz Highway in Hawaii. Several machine learning (ML) based approaches have been studied in the literature, and most of them focused on prediction accuracy rather than the end use of real-time control and implementation. These ML models tend to be very complex and non-linear in nature, making it challenging to achieve fast inferences and are computationally heavy for real-time signal control implementation. In this paper, a simple yet accurate hybrid modeling method is proposed to predict traffic delay one-step ahead with the model made suitable for real-time implementation to control traffic flow. Since real-time road-side measurements are recorded in unstructured form, the paper also discusses other issues related to data extraction and the pre-processing process. Finally, a simple signal control loop is developed to demonstrate the proposed modeling approach, which has shown advantages in model accuracy and computation efficiency compared against several existing modeling methods.
On the Borel summability of divergent solutions of the heat equation

Abstract In recent years, the theory of Borel summability or multisummability of divergent power series of one variable has been established and it has been proved that every formal solution of an ordinary differential equation with irregular singular point is multisummable. For partial differential equations the summability problem for divergent solutions has not been studied so well, and in this paper we shall try to develop the Borel summability of divergent solutions of the Cauchy problem of the complex heat equation, since the heat equation is a typical and an important equation where we meet diveregent solutions. In conclusion, the Borel summability of a formal solution is characterized by an analytic continuation property together with its growth condition of Cauchy data to infinity along a stripe domain, and the Borel sum is nothing but the solution given by the integral expression by the heat kernel. We also give new ways to get the heat kernel from the Borel sum by taking a special Cauchy data.
International Tourism and Poverty Alleviation: Cross-Country Evidence Using Panel Quantile Fixed Effects Approach

This paper evaluates the impact of tourism on poverty alleviation using a new panel quantile fixed effects method that allows regressors to affect the entire conditional distribution of the dependent variable providing substantial information gains. Our results show statistically significant negative marginal effects of tourism on both absolute poverty measures and Gini income inequality across all quantiles, including the poorest 10%. We also find evidence that international tourism can mitigate the slow improvement in domestic income level for poverty reduction. From a policy perspective, our findings can provide insights into developing targeted tourism policies and strategies to achieve better solutions on poverty alleviation. We also call for special attention to policymakers in developing countries to continue working on tourism product differentiation and targeting a smaller but reachable market in the post COVID-19 recovery era, to prevent the adverse effect of the worldwide income growth stagnation on their poverty rates.
Evaluating Genetic Modifiers of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Disease Progression Using Modeling and MRI

Background and Objectives Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive muscle degenerative disorder with a well-characterized disease phenotype but considerable interindividual heterogeneity that is not well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dystrophin variations and genetic modifiers of DMD on rate and age of muscle replacement by fat. Methods One hundred seventy-five corticosteroid treated participants from the ImagingDMD natural history study underwent repeated magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the vastus lateralis (VL) and soleus (SOL) to determine muscle fat fraction (FF). MRS was performed annually in most instances; however, some individuals had additional visits at 3 or 6 monthss intervals. FF changes over time were modeled using nonlinear mixed effects to estimate disease trajectories based on the age that the VL or SOL reached half-maximum change in FF (mu) and the time required for FF change (sigma). Computed mu and sigma values were evaluated for dystrophin variations that have demonstrated the ability to lead to a mild phenotype as well as compared between different genetic polymorphism groups. Results Participants with dystrophin gene deletions amenable to exon 8 skipping (n = 4) had minimal increases in SOL FF and had an increase in VL mu value by 4.4 years compared with a reference cohort (p = 0.039). Participants with nonsense variations within exons that may produce milder phenotypes (n = 11) also had minimal increases in SOL and VL FFs. No differences in estimated FF trajectories were seen for individuals amenable to exon 44 skipping (n = 10). Modeling of the SPP1, LTBP4, and thrombospondin-1 (THBS1) genetic modifiers did not result in significant differences in muscle FF trajectories between genotype groups (p > 0.05); however, trends were noted for the polymorphisms associated with long-range regulation of LTBP4 and THBS1 that deserve further follow-up. Discussion The results of this study link the historically mild phenotypes seen in individuals amenable to exon 8 skipping and with certain nonsense variations with alterations in trajectories of lower extremity muscle replacement by fat.
Identifying inconsistency in short-term reversal: evidence from the Chinese stock market

ABSTRACT We study the inconsistency between past return and profitability growth to explore the mispricing explanation for short-term reversal. Our empirical results indicate that reversal profits are more concentrated in stocks where past returns are inconsistent with profitability growth. Based on our finding, we develop a growth-anchored reversal (GAR) strategy defined as buying past losers with high profitability growth and selling past winners with low growth. This refined short-term reversal strategy turns out to be more profitable than conventional reversal strategy in the Chinese stock market. Our results remain robust under different sample periods, different market situations and alternative profitability measures.
The Analysis of Fundamental Factors Affecting Company Stock Prices (Case Studies of Companies Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange and Incorporated in the LQ45 Index)

The purpose of this study is to determine empirically the effect of Price Earning Ratio (PER), Price to Book Value (PBV), Dividend per Share (DPS), Earning Per Share (EPS), Debt to Equity Ratio (DER)¸ Return On Equity (ROE), Return On Assets (ROA) and Net Profit Margin (NPM) on LQ45 company stock prices for the period 2010 – 2019. In this study stock prices are used as a dependent variable, whereas PER, PBV, DPS, EPS, DER, ROE, ROA and NPM are used as independent variables. The analytical tools used are multiple linear regression with the classic assumption test, t test, F test and the coefficient of determination test. The results of this study are PER, PBV and EPS have positive and significant effects on stock prices. ROE has a negative and significant effect on stock prices. DPS, ROA and NPM have positive and insignificant effects on stock prices. DER has a negative and insignificant effect on stock prices. The variable that has the most significant effect on stock prices is EPS. The implications of this research are that companies need to improve their performance through effective and efficient corporate financial management, increase creativity and innovation in producing new products and increasing effective marketing. For investors, EPS can be used as the main reference when conducting stock investment analysis.