Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting the acceptability of isoniazid preventive therapy among healthcare providers in selected HIV clinics in Nairobi County, Kenya: a qualitative study

Objective Despite being globally recommended as an effective intervention in tuberculosis (TB) prevention among people living with HIV, isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) implementation remains suboptimal, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study explored the factors influencing the acceptability of IPT among healthcare providers in selected HIV clinics in Nairobi County, Kenya, a high HIV/TB burden country. Design A qualitative study was conducted using in-depth interviews with healthcare providers in selected HIV clinics. All conversations were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic approach. Setting The study was conducted in the HIV clinics of three purposefully selected public healthcare facilities in Nairobi County, Kenya between February 2017 and April 2017. Participants Eighteen purposefully selected healthcare providers (clinicians, nurses, pharmacists and counsellors) working in the HIV clinics participated in the study. Results Provider acceptability of IPT was influenced by factors relating to the organisational context, provider training on IPT and their perception on its efficacy, length and clarity of IPT guidelines and standard operation procedures, as well as structural factors (policy, physical and work environment). Inadequate high-level commitment and support for the IPT programme by programme managers and policy-makers were found to be the major barriers to successful IPT implementation in our study context. Conclusion This study provides insight into the complexity of factors affecting the IPT implementation in Kenya. Ensuring optimal acceptability of IPT among healthcare providers will require an expanded depth of engagement by policy-makers and IPT programme managers with both providers and patients, as well as on-the-job design specific actions to support providers in implementation. Such high-level commitment and support are consequently essential for quality delivery of the intervention.
Genomic Landscape and Endocrine-Resistant Subgroup in Estrogen Receptor-Positive, Progesterone Receptor-Negative, and HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

Estrogen receptor-positive, progesterone receptor-negative, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (ER+PR-HER2-) breast cancer comprise a special type of breast cancer that constitutes ~10% of all breast cancer patients. ER+PR-HER2- tumor benefits less from endocrine therapy, while its genomic features remain elusive. In this study, we systematically assessed the multiomic landscape and endocrine responsiveness of ER+PR-HER2- breast cancer. Methods: This study incorporated five cohorts. The first and second cohorts were from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (n=130,856) and Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (n=1,055) for analyzing survival outcomes and endocrine responsiveness. The third cohort was from The Cancer Genome Atlas (n=630) for multiomic analysis and endocrine-resistant subgroup exploration. The fourth cohort, from the MD Anderson database (n=92), was employed to assist gene selection. The fifth cohort was a prospective observational cohort from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (n=245) that was utilized to validate the gene-defined subgroup by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: Clinically, ER+PR-HER2- tumors showed lower endocrine responsiveness than did ER+PR+HER2- tumors. Genomically, copy number loss or promoter methylation of PR genes occurred in 75% of ER+PR-HER2- tumors, collectively explaining PR loss. ER+PR-HER2- tumors had higher TP53 (30.3% vs. 17.0%) and lower PIK3CA mutation rates (25.8% vs. 42.7%) and exhibited more ZNF703 (21.5% vs. 13.6%) and RPS6KB1 (18.5% vs. 7.8%) amplification events than ER+PR+HER2- tumors. Among ER+PR-HER2- tumors, nearly 20% were of the PAM50-defined non-luminal-like subgroup and manifested lower endocrine sensitivity scores and enriched biosynthesis, metabolism and DNA replication pathways. We further identified the non-luminal-like subgroup using three IHC markers, GATA3, CK5, and EGFR. These IHC-defined non-luminal-like (GATA3-negative, CK5-positive and/or EGFR-positive) tumors received limited benefit from adjuvant endocrine therapy. Conclusion: ER+PR-HER2- breast cancer consists of clinically and genomically distinct groups that may require different treatment strategies. The non-luminal-like subgroup was associated with reduced benefit from endocrine therapy.
Expression and potential role of cellular retinol binding protein I in psoriasis

Psoriasis is a diffuse chronic skin disorder characterized from accelerated epidermal turnover and inflammatory cell infiltrate. Retinoids influence keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation as well as inflammatory response. Cellular retinol binding protein (CRBPI) regulates intracellular vitamin A bioavailability and contributes to maintain skin homeostasis. The aim of present study was to investigate the expression of CRBPI and its role in the pathogenesis of skin psoriasis. Immunohistochemistry revealed more diffuse and increased CRBPI expression in all epidermal layers of human psoriatic lesions except in the stratum corneum. An imiquimod-induced psoriatic-like model documented the increase of skin lesional area and severity index score as well as of the severity of microscopic features as parakeratosis, papillomatosis and spongiosis in CRBPI-knockout compared to wild-type mice, associated to the increased keratinocyte CK17 and Ki-67 expression and the reduction of CK1, CRABPII and RXRα. Gene array of imiquimod-induced psoriatic skin documented the greater up-regulation of EGF/PDGF-related genes and down-regulation of EGR1 and pro-inflammatory IL-related genes in CRBPI-knockout compared to wild-type mice. Finally, CRBPI transfection in HaCaT cells increased AKT and NF-κB-related genes and proteins and down-regulated IL-2, IL-6 and IL-8 pro-inflammatory signalling. Although not recognized as a psoriatic susceptibility gene in our cohort of patients, the present data strongly supported the potential role of CRBPI to sustain keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation and to counteract pro-inflammatory genes expression in psoriatic lesions.
Association of non-allopathic drugs and dietary factors with chronic kidney disease: A matched case–control study in South India

Background: The multifactorial etiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is known to vary with geographical region. Although diabetes and hypertension are the major known contributors for CKD, the role of other risk factors relevant to India needs to be explored. This study was done to find out the role of dietary factors and nonallopathic drugs in CKD. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based individual pair-matched case–control study was conducted in a tertiary care center in South India. The sample included 80 incident cases of CKD matched with 80 controls. Factors assessed in the study include sociodemographic factors, medical history, dietary factors, nonallopathic drugs, substance use, and other possible confounders. Univariate analysis was performed using McNemar's test and multivariate analysis was done using conditional logistic regression. Results: On multivariate analysis, lifetime exposure to nonallopathic drugs increased risk of CKD by approximately five times [odds ratio (OR): 5.15, confidence interval (CI): 1.27–20.87] and chicken intake (two to three times a month to once a week) had an increased risk by approximately four times (OR = 4.23, CI: 1.13–15.80). Fish intake at a frequency of two to three times or more reduced the risk of CKD by 94% (OR = 0.06, CI: 0.01–0.43). Conclusion: Chicken intake and lifetime exposure to nonallopathic drugs could increase risk for CKD in South India. Increased fish intake was found to be protective for CKD.
Double burden of malnutrition among school-going adolescent girls in North India: A cross-sectional study

Context: Double burden of malnutrition comprising both undernutrition and overnutrition is nowadays emerging as a major public health concern among adolescent girls in India. Aim: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity among school-going adolescent girls along with dietary and physical activity-related factors associated with them. Settings and Design: The present cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2400 school-going adolescent girls (10–19 years) in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh. Subjects and Methods: Multistage sampling technique was used for enrolment of the study subjects. Data were collected on sociodemographic profile, physical activity, dietary intake, and anthropometry. WHO body mass index (BMI)-for-age cutoff classification of girls was used for assessment of underweight, overweight, and obesity. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was done with the Epi Info software. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to ascertain various predictors of underweight, overweight, and obesity among adolescent females (P < 0.05 was considered as significant). Results: The proportion of underweight, overweight, and obese students were 47.0%, 5.9%, and 2.7%, respectively. The girls in mid and late adolescent age group were significantly less susceptible for being underweight for age (odds ratio [OR] 0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22–0.36; P = 0.00). The girls belonging to middle and upper socioeconomic strata were about 35 times more susceptible toward obesity (OR 35.12; 95% CI 13.33–92.49; P = 0.00) and 12 times more susceptible toward being overweight (OR 12.46; 95% CI 13.33–92.49; P = 0.00) as compared to those in lower income groups. The probability of overweight and obesity were about 3 times (OR 3.13; 95% CI 1.76–5.55; P = 0.00) and 10 times (OR 9.66; 95% CI 4.00–23.35; P = 0.00) higher among adolescent girls who reside in urban areas as compared to rural one. Apart from these, non-Hindu religion, nuclear type of family, parent's education profile of middle school and above, and engagement in physical activities more than 2 h a day were other factors found to be directly associated with increased chances of overweight/obesity (OR > 1; P < 0.05). Conclusions: The high prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition revealed the need of the hour to modify and strengthen the existing adolescent health programs of India so as to deal with both the facets of nutrition spectrum substantially.
Incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes a host of disease spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis liver, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD can occur at all ages, and the highest prevalence is found in the age group of 35–55 years. NAFLD is becoming the commonest cause leading to hepatic cirrhosis, but there is no prescribed therapy for this common condition. Reduction in body weight may reverse the condition. Aim: To find the prevalence of NAFLD in a cohort of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy in this part of the country and also to evaluate the usefulness of routine liver biopsy for the diagnosis of NAFLD. Materials and Methods: Interventional type of cross-sectional study. In all, 200 consecutive patients underwent a liver biopsy at the end of a standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and detailed histopathological examination was done. Clinical, biochemical, demographic, and anthropometric variables were obtained prospectively. NAFLD Activity Score (NAS) was obtained for each patient. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22. Results: A total of 200 patients (140 females and 60 males) were included in the study. In all, 138 patients were categorized as non-nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), 39 patients as borderline/suspicious NASH, and 23 patients had definitive NASH. A higher body mass index, weight, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, alkaline phosphatise, and weight circumference were found in patients with NASH. Conclusion: The high prevalence of NAFLD in patients with gallstone disease may justify routine liver biopsy during cholecystectomy to establish the diagnosis, stage, and possibly direct therapy.
Mindfulness training enhances flow state and mental health among baseball players in Taiwan

Objective To examine the effect of mindfulness-based training on performance and mental health among a group of elite athletes. Methods This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mindful sport performance enhancement (MSPE) on mental health, flow state, and competitive state anxiety using a 4-week workshop. We recruited an amateur baseball team (N=21) in Taiwan, and collected information by self-reported questionnaires administered before, immediately after, and at a 4-week follow-up. The primary outcome was to evaluate sports performance by flow state and competitive state anxiety, which included self-confidence, somatic anxiety, and cognitive anxiety. The secondary outcome was to explore whether MSPE intervention can improve anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and eating disorders. Result After the workshop and follow-up 1 month later, we found improvements in flow state (P=0.001; P=0.045), cognitive anxiety in competitive anxiety (P=0.056; P=0.008), global eating disorder (P=0.009; P<0.001), marked shape concern (P=0.005; P<0.001), and weight concern (P=0.007; P<0.001). Scores of sleep disturbance (P=0.047) showed significant improvement at follow-up. We also found significant association between flow state and mindfulness ability (P<0.001). Conclusion This is the first mindfulness intervention to enhance athletes’ performance in Taiwan, and also the first application of MSPE for team sports. Our study results suggested that mindfulness ability is associated with flow state, and that MSPE is a promising training program for strengthening flow state and mental health.
Foundation houses, fire altars and the frataraka : Interpreting the iconography of some post-achaemenid persian coins

The iconography of Persid coins of the frataraka dynasty has been discussed by many scholars. Interpretations have considered whether the building shown on the reverse of these coins was 1. a fire temple 2. an atāshgah, i.e. a repository of holy fire 3. a tomb 4. a coronation tower 5. a “foundation house” or a repository of Zoroastrian parapherlia or 6. a tower altar/fire altar. These putative functions, and the building’s relationship to the similarly shaped Zenda-e Sulaiman at Parsagadae and Ka’ba-e Zardosht at Naqsh-e Rustam, are evaluated.
Automatic Notification Bot using Web Mining for Event Analysis

— In today’s era, lot of important events happen all around the world. With the busy lives of an individual, it becomes difficult to keep track of all the events that they may be interested in. Online websites for different events enable users to get information, but at the same time users must know which website to visit, when to visit, and how to navigate through it to obtain relevant information. In this project, we suggest implementation of an online ”bot” that will retrieve important information and updates about any trending event and automatically notify users about the highlights of the event in real time. The information acquired from the source will be mined using data mining algorithms and users will be notified about the associations, correlations, and other connections that may be deduced from the data. In this case, we present a system for a sport event, specifically cricket. The system will extract current scores for the ongoing match and using analysis based on historical data, try to predict the winning chances of a team. Our system can be extended for analysis of other types of events in future.
Analysis of evolutions and interactions between science fields: the cooperation between feature selection and graph representation

This paper presents the application of a new method of feature selection for the analysis of the evolution and interaction of scientific domains. The query of bibliographic databases provides a corpus of scientific publications in different fields. Every scientific field is considered as a class issued from a machine learning process, either supervised or unsupervised, and each document is represented by a bag of words. Therefore, it is possible to select the most significant words of every class (domain). We then represent the words-classes relationships by a graph whose edges are weighted by a function of contrast. Thus we highlight the specific words for each area and those that are multidisciplinary. In addition, the joint analysis of two periods of time allows us to appreciate the evolution of the scientific fields.
Making Big Data Open in Edges: A Resource-Efficient Blockchain-Based Approach

The emergence of edge computing has witnessed a fast-growing volume of data on edge devices belonging to different stakeholders which, however, cannot be shared among them due to the lack of the trust. By exploiting blockchain’s non-repudiation and non-tampering properties that enable trust, we develop a blockchain-based big data sharing framework to support various applications across resource-limited edges. In particular, we devise a number of novel resource-efficient techniques for the framework: (1) the PoC (Proof-of-Collaboration) based consensus mechanism with low computation complexity which is especially beneficial to the edge devices with low computation capacity, (2) the blockchain transaction filtering and offloading scheme that can significantly reduce the storage overhead, and (3) new types of blockchain transaction (i.e., Express Transaction) and block (i.e., Hollow Block) to enhance the communication efficiency. Extensive experiments are conducted and the results demonstrate the superior performance of our proposal.
Comparison of two Registries of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Argentina: STRATEG-SIA and SCAR (1999-2011)

Background: The influence of clinical evidence on strategies implemented in the treatment of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronarysyndromes (NSTEACS) is not known in our setting.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in clinical characteristics, strategies adopted, therapeutic managementand in-hospital events of NSTEACS in participatingcenters from two registries in Argentina.Methods: Patients included in participating centers of the STRATEG-SIA registry (1999) and SCAR registry (Sindromes CoronariosAgudos en Argentina - 2011) were compared.Results: We analyzed 238 patients of the STRATEG-SIA registry and 452 of the SCAR registry in 36 centers. Most patients weremen and <65 years (SCAR 57%, STRATEG-SIA 54%; p=ns). The SCAR group presented higher prevalence of hypertension (75%vs. 60%; p=0.001), dyslipidemia (63% vs. 51%; p=0.003), chronic heart failure (10.5% vs. 4.6%; p=0.02) and history of myocardialrevascularization (30% vs. 17%; p=0.001). In the SCAR registry, the proportion of moderate and high-risk patients (TIMI risk score3-4: 48% vs. 37%; 5-7: 18% vs. 8%; p=0.0001) was higher and coronary angiography was more frequent (71% vs. 50%; p=0.0001),with a twofold increase in the proportion of percutaneous coronary interventions and 50% reduction in the number of myocardialrevascularization surgeries. There were no significant differences in the rate of mortality and myocardial infarction during hospitalization(7.2% vs. 5.9%; p=ns). Conclusions: Patients of the SCAR (2011) registry represent a group at higher risk. The differences in the rates of in-hospital eventswere not statistically significant.
Real-Parameter Black-Box Optimization Benchmarking 2009: Noiseless Functions Definitions

Quantifying and comparing performance of optimization algorithms is one important aspect of research in search and optimization. However, this task turns out to be tedious and difficult to realize even in the single-objective case -- at least if one is willing to accomplish it in a scientifically decent and rigorous way. The BBOB 2009 workshop will furnish most of this tedious task for its participants: (1) choice and implementation of a well-motivated real-parameter benchmark function testbed, (2) design of an experimental set-up, (3) generation of data output for (4) post-processing and presentation of the results in graphs and tables. What remains to be done for the participants is to allocate CPU-time, run their favorite black-box real-parameter optimizer in a few dimensions a few hundreds of times and execute the provided post-processing script afterwards. In this report, the testbed of noise-free functions is defined and motivated.
Web-Based Teaching and English Language Teaching: A Hong Kong Experience

This book is a report of a 2-year web-based teaching project called Multimedia English Learning Web. It demonstrates the use of information technology on English language teaching, with particular reference to how the pedagogic changes redefine the roles of students and teachers, and the problems encountered when teaching English on the web. A CD-ROM accompanies with the book to demonstrate the system design of the web-based project.
On dynamic channel assignment in cellular mobile radio systems

There are two types of strategies to assign the channels to a cell: fixed channel assignment (FCA) and dynamic channel assignment (DCA). The basic characteristics of DCA are presented in comparison with FCA. The authors introduce various DCA strategies and discuss some of most important DCA research topics currently being pursued. In particular, the authors focus on microcellular systems, including a proposed MD (moving direction) strategy. It uses the information a mobile station's (MS's) moving direction with the DCA strategy. A channel is selected among those occupied by MSs moving in the same direction with the concerned MS. In this manner, the MS can still use the same channel at the handover with high probability. DCA requires more radio equipment at each base station than FCA, and it requires elaborate channel assignment control. However, it exploits the limited frequency spectrum efficiently and has a lower forced call-termination rate than FCA when the blocking rates are equal. <<ETX>>
Multicomponent Optimal in the Hankel Norm Order Reduction for Design of the Digital Filter Banks

We use a novel extension of the Adamyan–Arov–Krein theorem to develop an algorithm for designing banks of digital filters by optimal in the Hankel norm reduction of a reference filter bank's order. Summary of the relevant mathematical background is followed by outline of the numerical implementation. We conclude by presenting an example of designing a bank of bandpass filters for splitting a signal into frequency bands.