Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The worldwide epidemiology of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease

: Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are significant public health concerns around the world. Despite decreasing incidence, there is still a significant disease burden, especially in developing nations. This review provides background on the history of ARF, its pathology and treatment, and the current reported worldwide incidence of ARF and prevalence of RHD. Clinical Epidemiology is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal focusing on disease and drug epidemiology, identification of risk factors and screening procedures to develop optimal preventative initiatives and programs. Specific topics include: diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, screening, prevention, risk factor modification, systematic reviews, risk & safety of medical interventions, epidemiology & bio- statical methods, evaluation of guidelines, translational medicine, health policies & economic evaluations. The manuscript management system is completely online and includes a very quick and fair peer-review system, which is all easy to use.
ON THE CONSISTENCY OF THE LEAST SQUARES ESTIMATOR IN MODELS SAMPLED AT RANDOM TIMES DRIVEN BY LONG MEMORY NOISE: THE RENEWAL CASE

: In this study, we prove the strong consistency of the least squares estimator in a random sampled linear regression model with long-memory noise and an independent set of random times given by renewal process sampling. Addition-ally, we illustrate how to work with a random number of observations up to time T = 1. A simulation study is provided to illustrate the behavior of the diﬀerent terms, as well as the performance of the estimator under various values of the Hurst parameter H .
Statistical Inference for High-Dimensional Linear Models

High-dimensional linear models play an important role in the analysis of modern data sets. Although the estimation problem has been well understood, there is still a paucity of methods and theories on the inference problem for high-dimensional linear models. This thesis focuses on statistical inference for high-dimensional linear models and consists of the following three parts. 1. The first part of the thesis considers confidence intervals for linear functionals in high-dimensional linear regression. We first establish the convergence rates of the minimax expected length for confidence intervals. Furthermore, we investigate the problem of adaptation to sparsity for the construction of confidence intervals and identify the regimes in which it is possible to construct adaptive confidence intervals. 2. In the second part of the thesis, we consider point and interval estimation of the $\ell_q$ loss of a given estimator in high-dimensional linear regression. For the class of rate-optimal estimators, we establish the minimax rates for estimating their $\ell_{q}$ losses, the minimax expected length of confidence intervals for their $\ell_{q}$ losses and the possibility of adaptivity of confidence intervals for their $\ell_q$ losses. 3. In the third part of the thesis, we consider the problem in the framework of high-dimensional instrumental variable regression and construct confidence intervals for the treatment effect in the presence of possibly invalid instrumental variables. We develop a novel selection procedure, Two-Stage Hard Thresholding (TSHT) to select valid instrumental variables and construct honest confidence intervals for the treatment effect using the selected instrumental variables. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Statistics First Advisor Tony Cai
Pregnancy is associated with psychiatric symptoms in a low-income countryside community of Brazil

Background: Psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy induce an increase in morbidity and also in the mortality levels among women and children. However, the real association between pregnancy and psychiatric disorders and the peculiarities of the phenomenology of symptoms in underprivileged countryside communities remain uncertain. Objective: To verify the association between psychiatric disorder, symptoms, and pregnancy among women from a low-income countryside community and to determine the specific cutoff points for major depression diagnosis according to Beck Depression Inventory for the different trimesters of pregnancy in this population. Methods: Ninety-four pregnant women and 38 healthy women from the Conceição do Mato Dentro health service, a rural low-income community in Brazil, participated in the present study. Psychiatric examination included a structured clinical interview for psychiatric disorders according to Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and psychometric scales such as the Yale–Brown Obsessive Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale. The cutoff points for Beck Depression Inventory were determined through the application of receiver operating characteristic curves considering the diagnosis of major depression according to Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Results: The pregnant women had a higher frequency of psychiatric disorders and depression and anxiety symptoms. All cutoff points of Beck Depression Inventory were equal or higher than 12 with high sensitivity and specificity. Although the modified cutoff was selected based on both high sensitivity and high specificity, they were lower than when the cutoff was applied to nonpregnant women. Conclusion: Pregnancy was associated with the occurrence of psychiatric disorders and depressive and anxiety symptoms. In comparison to the literature, the present results indicate that there are different cutoff points in the Beck Depression Inventory for pregnant women from different cultures and in different pregnancy trimesters.
Role of Meridional Wind Anomalies in a Coupled Model of ENSO

The role of the meridional wind anomalies on the El Nino-Southern Oscillation as simulated by a simple coupled tropical Pacific ocean-atmosphere model is investigated. It is found that these anomalies play a key role in maintaining finite amplitude interannual variability in the coupled simulations. When the meridional wind stress anomalies are not allowed to feed back to the ocean, the simulated oscillations are damped out within a few years. This happens irrespective of initial conditions. During a warm (cold) event, the simulated meridional wind stress anomalies drive convergent (divergent) surface currents in the equatorial east Pacific, inducing downwelling (upwelling) anomalies that act to strongly reinforce the SST and wind anomalies. This is in contrast to the model zonal wind stress anomalies, which due to the tendency to reverse sign in the eastern Pacific, induce upwelling (downwelling) anomalies in the east, and SST patterns with weaker net positive feedback. Observed wind stress anomalies present some similarity with those simulated by the coupled model in the near-equatorial region. The zonal component reverses sign between the central and the eastern Pacific. There, the meridional component induces a vertical current anomaly of opposite sign and similar magnitude to that induced by the zonal one. These features suggest the importance of meridional wind stress anomalies in the real climate system.
Evaluation of antagonistic activity of an Egyptian probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum against bacteria isolated from ready-to-eat meat products

Background The increase in the incidence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens calls for strenuous efforts to substitute the administration of antibiotics with the use of probiotics. Aim The aim of the study was to evaluate the bacterial contamination of ready-to-eat meat products in Tanta city, determine the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates, determine in vitro antagonistic effect of a probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) against isolates, and compare this effect with the inhibitory effect of the commonly used antibiotics. Materials and Methods The samples were collected in stomacher packs, homogenized, and serially diluted. Identification of pathogenic bacteria was done via standard microbiological methods. Antibiotic-sensitivity tests were done by disk-diffusion method. The results were compared with the inhibitory effect of L. plantarum done by well-diffusion and overlay methods. Results The total rate of bacterial contamination of the collected samples was 72/90 (80%), while the contamination rates from good sanitation-state (GS) outlets and poor sanitation-state (PS) outlets were 27/37 (72.9%) and 45/53 (84.9%), respectively. The most isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli (E. coli) (29%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (21%). L. plantarum showed inhibitory effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates. Its activity was maximum against E. coli and least for Klebsiella spp. in both well-diffusion and overlay methods. Conclusion The presence of pathogenic bacteria in ready-to-eat products is a great public health issue; also, this research supports the promising use of the tested L. plantarum and its products as antimicrobial agents against foodborne pathogen.
The role of academic libraries in facilitating friendships among students

This study investigates the role of academic libraries in fostering friendships among students. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data in a cross-sectional research design, which was then analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results show that although the library may not be the primary location where students make their closest or long-lasting friends, it is still a place where they can develop acquaintances and close friendships because it provides a conducive environment for making friends and easy communication. Library personnel are perceived as friendly individuals, and students often visit the library to use school computers to meet new people and learn more about friendship through library books. However, the quietness of libraries is a significant obstacle to making friends, along with the preference of library users for reading over socializing. The study concludes that students who often make new friends in the library and make long-lasting friends in the library are likely to arrange and participate in informal gatherings with friends in the library. The study recommends that libraries find ways to create social spaces while also maintaining a quiet study environment; organize social events, book clubs and other activities that promote interaction among students; and offer resources on the topic of friendship to help students learn more about this critical aspect of their lives.
Infection and Drug Resistance Dovepress Extended-spectrum Beta-lactamase-and Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae among Ethiopian Children

you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms Background: Infections by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-(ESBL) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are an emerging problem in children nowadays. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ESBL-and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae among children suspected of septicemia and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2014. A total of 322 study participants suspected of septicemia and UTIs were recruited. All blood and urine samples were cultured on blood and MacConkey agar. All positive cultures were characterized by colony morphology, Gram stain, and standard biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed on Muller-Hinton agar using disk diffusion. ESBL was detected using combination disk and double-disk synergy methods, and the results were compared. Carbapenemase was detected by modified Hodge method using meropenem. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: The overall prevalence of ESBL-and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteria-(100%, n=1/1) were positive for ESBL. Double-disk synergy method showed 90.9% sensitivity, 66.7% specificity, 95.2% positive predictive value, and 50% negative predictive value. Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae were K. pneumoniae (9.09%, n=3/33) and Morganella morganii (3.03%, n=1/33). Conclusion: Screening Enterobacteriaceae for ESBL production is essential for better antibiotics selection and preventing its further emergence and spread. In resource-limited settings, double-disk synergy method can be implemented for screening and confirming ESBL production. Moreover, occurrence of CRE in countries where no carbapenems are sold is worrying microbiologists as well as clinicians. Hence, identifying factors that induce carbapenemase production in the absence of carbapenems prescription is essential for control of CRE dissemination within the community.
Models in Medicine

The major goals of medicine include predicting disease, controlling disease, and explaining disease. The main way of achieving these goals proceeds by modelling. In this chapter, we provide an introduction to the use of models in achieving the goals of medicine. To begin with, we introduce the notion of a model in medicine, and distinguish experimental models from theoretical models. Then we provide an overview of the extensive array of these models by giving an account of animal models, which are a kind of experimental model, as well as association models, causal models, and mechanistic models, which are kinds of theoretical model. Next, we argue that in order to achieve the goals of medicine we need all of the latter three kinds of theoretical model—none are redundant. We go on to provide a framework for systematising the production of theoretical models. Lastly, we present an example involving benzene and leukemia to illustrate the approach of this chapter.
Just for Fun: The Story of an Accidental Revolutionary

From the Publisher: Ten years ago, college student Linus Torvalds retreated to his own computer to write code. He quips, "I couldn't afford software that I liked, so I wrote my own operating system. " Not only did he write the operating system, he gave it away and invited other software engineers to improve it. The rest is history. Today, Torvalds has become the key figure in the open source software movement. The powerful operating system he wrote, Linux, has grown into a major force in the computer industry, while its voluntary development model has made Linux the world's largest collaborative project. Hundreds of the world's best engineers contribute to the improvement of Linux. Over 12 million machines, including many of the servers that power the World Wide Web, now run on Linux, as do the top-of-the-line offerings from such hardware giants as IBM and Compaq. Just for Fun chronicles Torvalds's amazing lifefrom his eccentric childhood in Finland, to his gangly, geeky teenage years when his greatest joy was writing programs on his grandfather's VIC-20 computer, to his rise to world-wide fame with Linux. Brimming with Torvalds's candid observations and opinions, this is a must-read for anyone who wants to know where high tech and business are going in the future.
Journal of Information Technology Education First Year Courses in It: a Bloom Rating

Executive Summary This paper explores the cognitive difficulty of assessment tasks in six first year computing courses within an Information Technology (IT) degree. This issue is pertinent to Information Technology education for two reasons. Degree level education in any field of study is expected to develop higher order thinking skills. Bloom's taxonomy is a framework which can be used to identify different levels of thinking skills. It calibrates ascending cognitive levels from the lowest, knowledge involving the recall of facts, to the highest, evaluation, which involves the comparative assessment of outcomes. Bloom's taxonomy can be used as a guide to designing a course of a requisite level. Bloom's taxonomy can also be used to calibrate the level of a particular assessment task retrospectively. Both approaches can be used for course planning and evaluation purposes , and, since a degree programme is simply a collection of courses, it is also possible to plan and measure at this level. This paper follows the second tactic, as the analysis presented in the paper is based on the assessment components of the courses studied. This approach requires the researcher to self-reflect on the mental processes he or she would use to answer each question (or part question) in each item of assessment and to register the Bloom level of the processes used. Bloom levels range from 1 to 6 and the Bloom rating for a course is the weighted average of the Bloom levels assigned to each assessment question. We calculate a Bloom rating for each of the courses involved in the study. This paper extends earlier work that examined the cognitive difficulty of two streams of three courses in an IT degree: a programming stream and a data communications and networking (DCN) stream. It was anticipated that within each stream there would be an increase in Bloom rating as the year level of a course advanced, since it was thought that later year courses would require higher level thinking skills than beginning ones. This expected gradient in Bloom ratings from early to later years was not confirmed by the analysis. The most striking feature of that analysis was a concentration of Bloom ratings for each stream and the wide difference between them. The Bloom rating for Programming courses were considerably higher than those in the DCN stream despite their placement at lower year levels in the degree. This study takes a horizontal perspective …
Surgical Management of Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules across Different World Regions: Results from a Retrospective Multicentric (the MAIN-NODE) Study

Simple Summary Indeterminate thyroid nodules are characterized by a low-moderate risk of malignancy, which ranges from 5% to 40%. The management of these nodules is uneven among the current guidelines, with some being more prone to surgery, and others being more accommodating for conservative management. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the management of indeterminate thyroid nodules across different world regions. We found the Asian region to be more prone to active surveillance and Eastern regions to a more aggressive approach. Furthermore, current clinical practice seems to be diverging from current guidelines particularly regarding indications of fine-needle aspiration cytology. Our study underlines the need for homogenous guidelines and to discover new tools to assess the actual risk of malignancy in patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules. Abstract Indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs) are characterized by an expected malignancy ranging from 5% to 30%, with most patients undergoing a diagnostic, rather than therapeutic, operation. The aim of our study was to compare the approach to ITNs across different regions of the world. In this retrospective, multicentric, international study, according to the WHO classification, we identified the South East Asian Region (SEAR), the Americas Region (AMR), the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), the Europe Region (EUR), and the Western Pacific Region (WPR). One high-volume thyroid centre was included for each region. Demographic, preoperative, and pathologic data were compared among the different regions. Overall, 5737 patients from five high-volume thyroid centres were included in this study. We found that the proportion of ITNs over the global activity for thyroid disease was higher in the EUR (37.6%) than in the other regions (21.1–23.6%). In the EMR, the patients were significantly younger (with a mean of 43.1 years) than in the other regions (range, 48.8–57.4 years). The proportion of lobectomy was significantly higher in the WPR, where 83.2% (114/137) of patients received this treatment, than in the other regions, where lobectomies were performed in 44.1–58.1% of patients. The pathological diagnosis of malignancy was significantly higher in the SEAR centre, being over 60%, than in centres of the other regions, where it ranged from 26.3% to 41.3%. The occurrence of lymph node metastases was higher in the WPR (27.8%), AMR (26.9%), and EMR (20%) centres than in the EUR and SEAR centres, where it was lower than 10%. In summary, we found in our study different approaches and outcomes in the diagnosis and treatment of ITNs among countries. Overall, almost 60% of patients with ITNs who underwent surgery actually presented a benign disease, potentially undergoing an unnecessary operation.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOKYO'S RAIL NETWORK.

As an introduction to Tokyo’s complex railway system, let’s look first at how Tokyo developed into today’s megalopolis. In 1995, the population of Tokyo-to (an administrative area of 23 wards (or boroughs) plus some 27 neighbouring cities) was 11,773,605, making it one of the world’s biggest cities at the time. But Tokyo is actually much bigger if we define it not as an administrative area but as the Tokyo Metropolitan Area (TMA) extending to cities such as Yokohama and Kawasaki in neighbouring prefectures. Metropolitan centres in other parts of the world, too, include surrounding areas that are under the administration of other local government entities. Tokyo is no exception but the area it draws toward its centre is far larger than that of other world metropolises. Academics do not always agree about how the area encompassing a large city should be classified. In Japan, a ‘greater city’ is considered to extend to include the daily commuting distance. In 1995, the population within this Greater Tokyo Commuting Zone totalled 31,987,117 or 2.7 times more than the population of Tokyo-to. This zone is almost circular with a radius of 50 km centred on JR East’s Tokyo Station, which is located in the city centre. If we exclude regions where the public transport system does not permit easy daily commuting, the area within this rough circle is 10,117 km2. This is less than one third the area of greater New York, which covers 33,020 km2. However, Tokyo’s population is about 1.5 times larger than New York’s, meaning that its population density is 4.5 times higher. London and Paris are smaller than New York, making Tokyo the world’s largest metropolitan region at this time. Actually, until 1965, greater New York’s population was higher than that of the TMA. However, their relative positions reversed over the next 30 years as New York’s population remained relatively stable while Tokyo’s was increasing dramatically. Figure 1 shows the extent of the TMA transport network. The city centre exerts a gravitational pull. Adjacent to the centre are sub-centres, sub-sub-centres, and other commercial urban cores. A predominant feature of this megalopolis is its extensive network of railways and expressways serving the huge population. As John Michael Thomson pointed out in Great Cities and Their Traffic, if a metropolis is to have a dominant city centre, it must have a well-developed railway network that creates transit corridors within the city proper. London, Paris, New York and Tokyo all meet this requirement. When we examine Tokyo’s railway network against this backdrop, it is true that Tokyo’s subways do not extend as far as subways in New York, London and Paris. But Tokyo’s subways carry far more passengers. In addition, suburban lines operated by JR East and the private railways have developed very extensive links to Tokyo’s centre— suburban residents in New York, London and Paris do not have such substantial links; the lines from Tokyo’s suburbs carry a considerable proportion of all railway passengers in the metropolis (Tables 1 and 2).