Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Outcomes of Extent of Revascularization in Complex High Risk and Indicated Patients Undergoing Impella-Protected Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Report from the Roma-Verona Registry

Objective To investigate the effect of extent of revascularization in complex high-risk indicated patients (CHIP) undergoing Impella-protected percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background Complete revascularization has been shown to be associated with improved outcomes. However, the impact of more complete revascularization during Impella-protected PCI in CHIP has not been reported. Methods A total of 86 CHIP undergoing elective PCI with Impella 2.5 or Impella CP between April 2007 and December 2016 from 2 high volume Italian centers were included. Baseline, procedural, and clinical outcomes data were collected retrospectively. Completeness of coronary revascularization was assessed using the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society myocardial jeopardy score (BCIS-JS) derived revascularization index (RI). The primary end-point was all-cause mortality. A multivariate regression model was used to identify independent predictors of mortality. Results All patients had multivessel disease and were considered unsuitable for surgery. At baseline, 44% had left main disease, 78% had LVEF ≤ 35%, and mean BCIS-JS score was 10±2. The mean BCIS-JS derived RI was 0.7±0.2 and procedural complications were uncommon. At 14-month follow-up, all-cause mortality was 10.5%. At follow-up, 67.4% of CHIP had LVEF ≥ 35% compared to 22.1% before Impella protected-PCI. Higher BCIS-JS RI was significantly associated with LVEF improvement (p=0.002). BCIS-JS RI of ≤ 0.8 (HR 0.11, 95% CI 0.01- 0.92, and p = 0.042) was an independent predictor of mortality. Conclusions These results support the practice of percutaneous Impella use for protected PCI in CHIP. A more complete revascularization was associated with significant LVEF improvement and survival.
On nonlinear forbidden 0-1 matrices: a refutation of a Füredi-Hajnal conjecture

A 0-1 matrix A is said to avoid a forbidden 0-1 matrix (or pattern) P if no submatrix of A matches P, where a 0 in P matches either 0 or 1 in A. The theory of forbidden matrices subsumes many extremal problems in combinatorics and graph theory such as bounding the length of Davenport-Schinzel sequences and their generalizations, Stanley and Wilf's permutation avoidance problem, and Turán-type subgraph avoidance problems. In addition, forbidden matrix theory has proved to be a powerful tool in discrete geometry and the analysis of both geometric and non-geometric algorithms. Clearly a 0-1 matrix can be interpreted as the incidence matrix of a bipartite graph in which vertices on each side of the partition are ordered. Our primary contribution is a refutation of a conjecture of Füredi and Hajnal: that if P corresponds to an acyclic graph then the maximum number of 1s in an n x n matrix avoiding P is O(n log n). In addition, we give a simpler proof that there are infinitely many minimal nonlinear patterns and give tight bounds on the extremal functions for several small forbidden patterns.
POONGKUZHALI-An Intelligent Tamil Chatterbot

A Chatterbot is a tool for Natural language communication between man and machine. Poongkuzhali is a chatterbot that simulates human conversation through Artificial Intelligence – a program to chat with the system in Tamil. A question or a statement is taken as input from the user. The function of the system is to generate an appropriate response, based on the context of the input. The user can choose any existing topic for conversation and ask in Tamil. Provision for input in transliterated form is available. The system identifies the minimal context of the input as to what the user is trying to ask, no matter in what way the user frames his question. This is done using a set of decomposition rules. The response is then formed using a set of reassembly rules that reside in the knowledge base. This response is then reframed to match the way in which the user had framed his question. Currently there are two domains available. More can be added. It provides a separate interface for adding domains and for updating the knowledge base
Multimodal biometric recognition inspired by visual cortex and Support vector machine classifier

Biometrics based personal identification is regarded as an effective method for automatic identification, with a high confidence coefficient. A multimodal biometric system consolidates the evidence presented by multiple biometric sources and typically provides better recognition performance compared to systems based on a single biometric modality. So in this paper we use combination of Face and Ear characteristic to individual's authentication. In our approach, features extracted using HMAX model are translation and scale-invariant. Then we applied Support vector machine (SVM) and K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifiers to distinguish the classes. In fusion stage we use matching-score level. Experimental results showed 96% accuracy rate on ORL Face database and 94% accuracy rate on USTB Ear database; however we achieve 98% accuracy rate on Face and Ear multimodal biometric.
Identifying Factors Which Influence Medication Adherence in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Population

Nonadherence to cardiovascular disease medications is a health-related behaviour which increases adverse patient outcomes and healthcare costs. Identification of factors which impact adherence levels in those undergoing cardiac rehabilitation may reduce cardiovascular mortality rates. We hypothesized that use of a greater number of medications and use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), beta-blockers and statins would result in lower medication adherence levels. A Poisson regression showed that those who were adherent were taking 1.15 (95% CI, 1.03-1.28, p=0.014) times more medications than those who were nonadherent. An analysis of covariance found the combined use of ASA, beta-blockers and statins was associated with higher adherence levels (F1, 242=5.76, p=0.017). Furthermore, lower cardiopulmonary fitness levels, increased depressive symptoms and forgetfulness were all associated with lower medication adherence levels. These findings suggest that factors other than polypharmacy and medication class – such as cognitive function, depression, or fitness – may negatively influence adherence rates in this population.
Enhanced 3-valued logic/fault simulation for full scan circuits using implicit logic values

When test vectors for a full scan logic circuit include unspecified values, conventional 3-valued fault simulation may not compute the exact fault coverage for single stuck-at faults. This paper first addresses the incompleteness of logic/fault simulation based on the conventional 3-valued logic. Then we propose an enhanced method of logic/fault simulation to compute more accurate fault coverage using implicit logic values. The proposed method employs indirect implications. We also propose a new learning criterion to identify indirect implications that are not identified by earlier static learning procedure. Since some indirect implications derived from a fault-free circuit become invalid in the presence of a fault, we use a sufficient condition for an indirect implication to remain valid for the faulty circuit, and give an efficient procedure for more accurate fault simulation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method reduces the number of unknown values at the circuit outputs in logic simulation, and hence it discovers several detected faults that are not declared as detected by the conventional fault simulation.
Experimental aqueous perfusion in enucleated human eyes.

Aqueous perfusion is a convenient and direct means for quantitative evaluation of facility of aqueous outflow (C) in enucleated eyes. The C value is obtained by simple calculation from the rate of injection (F) of saline solution and from the steady state pressure (P) induced in the eye. (Under steady state conditions of equal rate of flow in and out, the relationship at moderate pressures can be expressed asF/P=C.) This is the common basis for evaluation of C by several procedures which differ only in technical details of measurement of flow rate and pressure. (More complex considerations are involved when aqueous perfusion of the eye is applied in vivo or in study of elastic properties of the eye. These are beyond the scope of the present article.) In study of the mechanics of the outflow channels, good use has been made of aqueous perfusion. Applied to animal eyes,
The Relationship between Serum Uric Acid Level and Metabolic Syndrome: Differences by Sex and Age in Taiwanese

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hyperuricemia are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, findings regarding the relationship between serum uric acid (UA) level and components of MetS have been inconsistent. This study was performed to explore the potential value of UA level as a marker of MetS among male and female Chinese of different ages. Methods A total of 5896 subjects (2960 females and 2936 males) were recruited from the Department of Health Management at the Chang Gung Medical Center. Hyperuricemia was defined as a serum UA value >7.0 mg/dL for males or >6.0 mg/dL for females. MetS was defined according to the criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel III, as modified for Chinese subjects. Serum UA was used to differentiate MetS and to calculate epidemiological indices by means of discriminate analysis and logistic regression. Results The sensitivity and specificity of serum UA concentration as a marker of MetS ranged from 55.2% to 61.4% and 61.9% to 68.4%, respectively. Subjects with high UA had a higher risk of MetS, with odds ratios ranging from 1.23 to 1.82 (P < 0.01). A positive correlation between serum UA and MetS was observed in both sexes. Serum UA and the occurrence of MetS rose with increasing age in females; in males, however, UA values did not vary with age. Conclusions Serum UA is more closely associated with MetS in females than in males. High UA among middle-aged women may predict the development of MetS.
Effects of music on psychophysiological responses to a stressful film.

In this experiment musical scores were added to the soundtrack of an industrial safety film that has often been used as a stressful stimulus in psychophysiological research. Two musical scores were composed in accordance with contemporary film scoring techniques in an attempt to increase and decrease the stressfulness ofthe film. Subjects viewed one ofthree versions of the film: (a) the film with no music (control condition), (b) the film with "horror" music (increase condition), and (c) the film with "documentary" music (decrease condition). Physiological responses (cardiovascular, electrodermal, and somatic) were monitored continuously while subjects viewed the film; a report of subjects' perceived anxiety level was also obtained. Results indicated that the film scores were successful in both increasing and decreasing electrodermal responses to the film, compared to the control condition. These results are seen as providing preliminary experimental support for the efficacy of musical scores for manipulating the stressfulness of films.
Small Data Matters, Correlation versus Causation and Algorithmic Data Analytics

This is a review of aspects of the theory of algorithmic information that may contribute to a framework for formulating questions related to complex highly unpredictable systems. We start by contrasting Shannon Entropy and Kolmogorov-Chaitin complexity epitomizing the difference between correlation and causation to then move onto surveying classical results from algorithmic complexity and algorithmic probability, highlighting their deep connection to the study of automata frequency distributions. We end showing how long-range algorithmic predicting models for economic and biological systems may require infinite computation but locally approximated short-range estimations are possible thereby showing how small data can deliver important insights into important features of complex “Big Data”.
Family of Escherichia coli Dr adhesins: decay-accelerating factor receptor recognition and invasiveness.

In 1984, Viiisinen-Rhen [1] and Labigne-Roussel et al. [2] described a novel Escherichia coli adhesin of unknown receptor specificity. Due to its association with uropathogenic strains of serotype 075 and because of the unknown receptor, the adhesin was named 075X [1]. Between 1984 and 1989, 3 groups independently cloned novel adhesins that were later found to have very similar genetic organization: The clones were Dr (cloned by Nowicki et al. [3]), afimbrial adhesins (Afa)-I and Afa-III (cloned by Labigne-Roussel and colleagues [2, 4]), and F1845 (cloned by Bilge et al. [5]). In 1990, Nowicki et al. [6] provided evidence that the novel adhesins, including 075X, recognize a common receptor, Dr (a') blood group antigen. Dr (a+) blood antigen was later localized to the key complement regulatory molecule, decay-accelerating factor ([DAF]; CD55), which protects tissues from damage by autologous complement attack. Most uropathogenic adhesins traditionally were named after the receptor they recognized; hence, we proposed to rename 075X the "Dr adhesin," with the remaining adhesins to be included in the Dr family of E. coli adhesins. In the 1990s, various investigators described several adhesins that were cloned from E. coli of human and animal origin and that display similar genetic organization and/or DAF receptor recognition. Of interest, most of the tested adhesins appeared to have invasive capacity, with probably at least two genes contributing to the internalization process [7, 8]. We therefore propose that the prototypes and the new related adhesins constitute members of the Dr family of adhesins (table 1).
Adipocyte Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Evidence of Adipocyte Hypertrophy and Tissue-Specific Inflammation

Clinical research shows an association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and chronic inflammation, a pathological state thought to contribute to insulin resistance. The underlying pathways, however, have not been defined. The purpose of this study was to characterize the inflammatory state of a novel mouse model of PCOS. Female mice lacking leptin and insulin receptors in pro-opiomelanocortin neurons (IR/LepRPOMC mice) and littermate controls were evaluated for estrous cyclicity, ovarian and adipose tissue morphology, and body composition by QMR and CT scan. Tissue-specific macrophage infiltration and cytokine mRNA expression were measured, as well as circulating cytokine levels. Finally, glucose regulation during pregnancy was evaluated as a measure of risk for diabetes development. Forty-five percent of IR/LepRPOMC mice showed reduced or absent ovulation. IR/LepRPOMC mice also had increased fat mass and adipocyte hypertrophy. These traits accompanied elevations in macrophage accumulation and inflammatory cytokine production in perigonadal adipose tissue, liver, and ovary. These mice also exhibited gestational hyperglycemia as predicted. This report is the first to show the presence of inflammation in IR/LepRPOMC mice, which develop a PCOS-like phenotype. Thus, IR/LepRPOMC mice may serve as a new mouse model to clarify the involvement of adipose and liver tissue in the pathogenesis and etiology of PCOS, allowing more targeted research on the development of PCOS and potential therapeutic interventions.
ESWT and nutraceutical supplementation (Tendisulfur Forte) vs ESWT-only in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis, Achilles tendinopathy, and rotator cuff tendinopathy: a comparative study

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) in combination with the dietary supplement Tendisulfur Forte in the treatment of shoulder tendinopathy, lateral epicondylitis, and Achilles tendinopathy. Methods: Patients were sub-divided for each pathology into two equal sized groups of 15: one treated with ESWT supplemented with Tendisulfur Forte, and the other treated with ESWT only. Shoulder functionality was measured through the UCLA shoulder score. Treatment of epicondylitis was assessed with the Mayo elbow score. Achilles tendinopathy was measured with the VISA-A score. Pain through the various groups of the study was measures with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: Patients in the Tendisulfur Forte group had overall better functional and VAS scale scores for shoulder tendinopathy, elbow epicondylitis, and Achilles tendinopathy. UCLA scores for shoulder tendinopathy showed significant results at 60 days in the Tendisulfur Forte group (p = 0.0002). Mayo scores in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis was significant at 60 days in the study group (p < 0.0001). Achilles tendinopathy was improved in the study group at 30 days (p < 0.0001). VAS scales were significant for each pathology at 60 days (p < 0.0001). In addition, NSAIDs consumption was greatly reduced and, in most cases, stopped in the Tendisulfur Forte Groups. Conclusion: Concerning the results obtained, this paper underlines the effectiveness of combined treatment of ESWT plus Tendisulfur Forte, in the absence of side-effects. Indeed, oral supplementation lead to a faster recovery and better outcomes with a significant reduction in NSAIDs consumption.
Parents as Agents of Change in the Treatment of Childhood Obesity and the Promotion of Children's Health Behaviours

The overarching purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the role of parents as agents of change in the treatment of childhood obesity and the promotion of children’s health behaviours. In order to achieve this purpose, four studies were conducted. The purpose of Study 1 was to explore parents’ perceptions of nutritional literacy, as well as their needs for nutritional literacy information, supports, and resources at familial and community levels. Next, Study 2 described the theoretical components and model used in the development and implementation of a parent-focused childhood overweight and obesity intervention (i.e., C.H.A.M.P. Families). The purpose of Study 3 was to investigate the impact of the C.H. A.M.P. Families program on: (a) children’s standardized body mass index (BMI-z); and (b) parental self-efficacy for promoting children’s health behaviours. Finally, the aim of Study 4 was to explore parents’ perspectives of their experiences in and the influence of C.H. A.M.P. Families, as well as their recommendations related to future paediatric overweight and obesity treatment interventions. The findings presented in Study 1 showed that parents perceived nutritional literacy as having an understanding of nutrition and healthy eating, as well as having the skills to translate such knowledge into practice. All participants agreed that nutritional literacy was important, and the majority believed that it could be improved within their families. With regard to the resources parents identified as needing to enhance nutritional literacy in their families, professional advice, practical skills, kid-friendly recipes, and environmental information were identified. Food regulation, accessible community programming, and school-based policies and curriculum were the needs identified at the community level. In Study 2, the “C.H. A.M.P. Families” intervention was described in detail. This 13-week
Thinking about movement hurts: the effect of motor imagery on pain and swelling in people with chronic arm pain.

OBJECTIVE Chronic painful disease is associated with pain on movement, which is presumed to be caused by noxious stimulation. We investigated whether motor imagery, in the absence of movement, increases symptoms in patients with chronic arm pain. METHODS Thirty-seven subjects performed a motor imagery task. Pain and swelling were measured before, after, and 60 minutes after the task. Electromyography findings verified no muscle activity. Patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) were compared with those with non-CRPS pain. Secondary variables from clinical, psychophysical, and cognitive domains were related to change in symptoms using linear regression. RESULTS Motor imagery increased pain and swelling. For CRPS patients, pain (measured on a 100-mm visual analog scale) increased by a mean +/- SD of 5.3 +/- 3.9 mm and swelling by 8% +/- 5%. For non-CRPS patients, pain increased by 1.4 +/- 4.1 mm and swelling by 3% +/- 4%. There were no differences between groups (P > 0.19 for both). Increased pain and swelling related positively to duration of symptoms and performance on a left/right judgment task that interrogated the body schema, autonomic response, catastrophic thoughts about pain, and fear of movement (r > 0.42, P < 0.03 for all). CONCLUSION Motor imagery increased pain and swelling in patients with chronic painful disease of the arm. The effect increased in line with the duration of symptoms and seems to be modulated by autonomic arousal and beliefs about pain and movement. The results highlight the contribution of cortical mechanisms to pain on movement, which has implications for treatment.
Improving the Performances of Random Copolymer Based Organic Solar Cells by Adjusting the Film Features of Active Layers Using Mixed Solvents

A novel random copolymer based on donor–acceptor type polymers containing benzodithiophene and dithienosilole as donors and benzothiazole and diketopyrrolopyrrole as acceptors was designed and synthesized by Stille copolymerization, and their optical, electrochemical, charge transport, and photovoltaic properties were investigated. This copolymer with high molecular weight exhibited broad and strong absorption covering the spectra range from 500 to 800 nm with absorption maxima at around 750 nm, which would be very conducive to obtaining large short-circuits current densities. Unlike the general approach using single solvent to prepare the active layer film, mixed solvents were introduced to change the film feature and improve the morphology of the active layer, which lead to a significant improvement of the power conversion efficiency. These results indicate that constructing random copolymer with multiple donor and acceptor monomers and choosing proper mixed solvents to change the characteristics of the film is a very promising way for manufacturing organic solar cells with large current density and high power conversion efficiency.
Who Tweets with Their Location? Understanding the Relationship between Demographic Characteristics and the Use of Geoservices and Geotagging on Twitter

In this paper we take advantage of recent developments in identifying the demographic characteristics of Twitter users to explore the demographic differences between those who do and do not enable location services and those who do and do not geotag their tweets. We discuss the collation and processing of two datasets—one focusing on enabling geoservices and the other on tweet geotagging. We then investigate how opting in to either of these behaviours is associated with gender, age, class, the language in which tweets are written and the language in which users interact with the Twitter user interface. We find statistically significant differences for both behaviours for all demographic characteristics, although the magnitude of association differs substantially by factor. We conclude that there are significant demographic variations between those who opt in to geoservices and those who geotag their tweets. Not withstanding the limitations of the data, we suggest that Twitter users who publish geographical information are not representative of the wider Twitter population.