Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Porphyromonas Gingivalis - A Periodontal Pathogen with Potential Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis and its Association with Anti-CCP and Anti-MCV Antibodies Positivity

Background: In recent studies, a strong association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic periodontal disease (CPD) has been identified, indicating common disease pathogenesis and risk factors. One of them is the presence of the pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG), which can initiate the process of citrullination, by secreting the enzyme Porphyromonas Peptydil Arginine Deminase (PPAD). The aim of the study is to show the presence of PG in RA patients, and to evaluate the association of the PG presence with anti-citrullinated proteins/peptides (ACPA) positivity i.e. anti CCP and anti MCV positivity. Methods: The study included 80 participants - 30 patients which fulfilled 2010 ACR/EULAR RA classification criteria and 50 controls, which were genetically analyzed for the presence of PG by Chelex®100 method and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and for the presence of anti CCP and anti MCV autoantibodies with the ELISA method. Results: Twenty out of thirty RA patients (80 %) and 16 out of 50 controls (32%) were positive for PG. (χ 2 = 11.461, p <0.001 for OA and χ2 = 13.91, p <0.001 for HC). Of the PG-positive RA patients, 83% had positive anti-CCP and 79% had positive anti-MCV test. The odds ratios OR of 25 and 19 were statistically significant (p = 0.008 and p =0,014 respectfully). Conclusions: PG was present more frequently in RA patients and there was a statistically significant association with anti CCP and anti MCV antibodies.
The Effect of a Tele-Health Intervention Program on Home-Dwelling Persons with Dementia or MCI and on Their Primary Caregivers during the Stay-at-Home-Order Period in the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak: Evidence from Taiwan

Background: The Taiwanese government implemented a stay-at-home order that restricted all community-based health promotion activities for the elderly by shutting down all community care centers from May 2021 to August 2021 to control the spread of COVID-19. Community-based dementia care centers were barely able to provide dementia care services during that period. Methods: The data used in this study were collected from a community-based dementia care center that was able to continue their dementia care services through a Tele-Health intervention program. The difference-in-differences methodology was applied to evaluate the effects of the Tele-Health intervention program on home-dwelling persons with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and on their primary caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The Tele-Health intervention program significantly increased the well-being of the participants and their primary caregivers, but the negative correlations between the Tele-Health intervention program and family functioning were also found to be significant. Conclusions: The significant substitution (negative) effects between the Tele-Health intervention program and family functioning raises the concern that promotion of the Tele-Health intervention program comes at the potential cost of a loss of family functioning. Policymakers should be cautious when considering the Tele-Health intervention program in response to pandemics and demographic transitions.
The impact of community-based STI screening results on sexual risk behaviors of African-American Adolescents

Purpose— To examine the effect of a community-based sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening program on sexual risk behavior among African-American adolescents. We hypothesized that adolescents testing positive for an STI and receiving post-test counseling would reduce risky sexual practices, whereas STI-negative adolescents would show little or no change in protective sexual behavior after screening. Methods— From August 2006 to January 2008, we recruited 636 sexually active African American adolescents (ages 14–17) from community-based organizations in two mid-sized U.S. cities with high STI prevalence. Participants were screened for three STIs (gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis) and completed an audio computer-assisted self-interview. Youth who tested positive for an STI (6.6%) received treatment and counseling. Youth testing negative received no further intervention. Approximately 85% of participants completed 3- and 6 month follow-up assessments. Generalized estimating equations determined the effects of STI screening on adolescents' number of sexual partners and occurrence of unprotected sex. Results— Adolescents who tested positive for an STI reduced their number of vaginal and oral sex partners and the probability of unprotected sex. STI-negative adolescents demonstrated no change in numbers of partners or in unprotected sex. Conclusions— Community-based STI screening can help to reduce sexual risk behavior in youth who test positive for STIs. Alternative approaches will be needed to reduce risk behavior in youth who test negative but who are nevertheless at risk for acquiring an STI.
Real-World Clinical Outcomes and Replacement Factor VIII Consumption in Patients with Haemophilia A in Italy: A Comparison between Prophylaxis Pre and Post Octocog Alfa (BAY 81-8973)

(1) Background: new generations of rFVIII products offered the possibility to improve personalized therapeutic approaches, reducing the number of infusions or increasing the protection against bleeding risk. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of prophylaxis with BAY 81-8973 (octocog alfa, Kovaltry®, Bayer Pharma AG) in the real-world setting and its impact on FVIII consumption compared to previous standard half-life treatments. (2) Methods: a retrospective observational study was conducted in five Italian Haemophilia Centers. Patients with haemophilia A under prophylactic treatment with BAY 81-8973 for at least one year, and previously on prophylaxis with a different product were included in the study. Annual bleeding rate (ABR) and annual FVIII consumption were compared. (3) Results: forty-four patients were included in the study. After switching to BAY 81-8973, ABR was significantly reduced (1.76 vs. 0.23; p = 0.015), the percentage of patients with zero bleeds increased from 54.6% to 84.1% (p = 0.003), and the overall FVIII consumption decreased by 25,542 (−7.2%, p = 0.046) IU per patient-year. Patients treated every 3 days or 2 times per week increased from 0% to 27.3%. (4) Conclusion: our results suggest that prophylaxis with BAY 81-8973 can improve clinical outcomes and reduce FVIII consumption, in the real-world practice, compared with the previous prophylaxis regimen with standard half-life products.
Architectural analysis of root system and phytohormone biosynthetic genes expression in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) inoculated with Penicillium oxalicum

In this study, a fungal plant growth promoter Penicillium oxalicum T4 isolated from non‐rhizosphere soil of Arunachal Pradesh, India, was screened for different plant growth promoting traits in a gnotobiotic study. Though inoculation improved the overall growth of the plants, critical differences were observed in root architecture. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope, Scanning electron microscope and the stereo microscopic study showed that inoculated wheat plants could develop profuse root hairs as compared to control. Root scanning indicated improvement in cumulative root length, root area, root volume, number of forks, links, crossings, and other parameters. A confocal scanning laser microscope indicated signs of endophytic colonization in wheat roots. Gene expression studies revealed that inoculation of T4 modulated the genes affecting root hair development. Significant differences were marked in the expression levels of TaRSL4, TaEXPB1, TaEXPB23, PIN‐FORMED protein, kaurene oxidase, lipoxygenase, ACC synthase, ACC oxidase, 9‐cis‐epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase, and ABA 8′‐hydroxylase genes. These genes contribute to early plant development and ultimately to biomass accumulation and yield. The results suggested that P. oxalicum T4 has potential for growth promotion in wheat and perhaps also in other cereals.
Risk Diversification in Asian Stock Markets: An Empirical Analysis in the Context of the 2020 and 2022 Events

The World Health Organization (WHO) designated coronavi­rus infection a worldwide pandemic in 2020, based on the risk of contagion and the number of confirmed cases in more than 195 countries. Covid-19 had a severe impact on the global economy as a result of uncertainty and pessimism, causing adverse effects on financial markets. On February 24th, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion against Ukraine, signify­ing a dramatic escalation of a conflict that began in 2014. Several analysts named the invasion the largest military invasion in Europe since World War II. In the context of these events, this paper aims to estimate whether port­folio diversification is practicable in the stock markets of Indonesia (JKSE), Malaysia (KLSE), South Korea (KOSPI), Japan (NIKKEI 400), Philippines (PSI), Thailand (SET) and China (SSEC), for the period from September 18th, 2017 to September 15th, 2022. In the purpose of reaching such analysis it is intended to provide answers to two questions: (i) if the global pandemic of 2020 and the Russian invasion in 2022 have accentuated financial integration in these Asian markets? (ii) If yes, the existence of persistence in returns, could put portfolio diversification into question? The results indicate that those mar­kets have low levels of integration, both in periods of normality and in peri­ods of global uncertainty. Complementarily, the 2020 and 2022 events have significantly increased persistence in these regional markets. These results demonstrate that prices do not fully reflect available information and that changes in prices are not i.i. d. This situation has implications for investors, as some returns may be expected, creating some opportunities for arbitrage and windfalls profits. The authors consider that these results provide an op­portunity for regulators in these regional markets to take efforts to ensure better information between these markets and the international markets.
Chinese student migration, social networking, and local engagement in the UK

The unprecedented growth in the number of Chinese international students since the twenty-first century raises questions about their links to and impact on local communities in host countries. Viewing Chinese students as an important part of diasporic Chinese community, this paper sheds new light on Chinese students’ social networking with different groups internally and externally, both Chinese and non-Chinese, on campus or in the wider community. Many questions arise: What is the contribution of Chinese students to the growth and transformation of diasporic Chinese communities in major destinations? What is the scope of their social networking and what are their functions in regard to Chinese community cohesion and integration? What are the differences between Chinese students and local residents and between Chinese students from mainland China and those from Hong Kong and Singapore in terms of network building and local engagement? The above questions are addressed by a combination of official data analysis and a questionnaire survey conducted in Nottingham. The evidence suggests a correlation between the local engagement of Chinese students in the wider community and their social networking, which offers a key to understand the new momentum for the transformation of diasporic Chinese community in major HE destinations. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.
Verified Experiment: Intelligent Fuzzy Weighted Input Estimation Method to Inverse Heat Conduction Problem

In this paper, the innovative intelligent fuzzy weighted input estimation method (FWIEM) can be applied to the inverse heat transfer conduction problem (IHCP) to estimate the unknown time-varying heat flux efficiently as presented. The feasibility of this method can be verified by adopting the temperature measurement experiment. We would like to focus attention on the heat flux estimation to three kinds of samples (Copper, Iron and Steel/AISI 304) with the same 3mm thickness. The temperature measurements are then regarded as the inputs into the FWIEM to estimate the heat flux. The experiment results show that the proposed algorithm can estimate the unknown time-varying heat flux on-line. Keywords—Fuzzy Weighted Input Estimation Method, IHCP and Heat Flux. NOMENCLATURE ( ) B k Sensitivity matrix ŝ q Estimated heat flux B ⎡ ⎤ ⎢ ⎥ ⎣ ⎦ Gradient matrix R Measurement noise covariance p C Sample specific heat ( / J Kg K ⋅ ) s Innovation covariance H Measurement matrix t Time I Identity matrix f t Sampling time k Time (discretized) T Temperature k Sample thermal conductivity ( / ( ) J m s K ⋅ ⋅ ) 0 T Initial temperature K Kalman gain ( ) v t Measurement noise vector b K Correction gain ( ) X k State vector ( ) M k Sensitivity matrix ( ) Z k Observation vector Chen-Yu Wang is with the School of Defense Science, Chung Cheng Institute of Technology, National Defense University, Ta-His, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, R.O. C. (e-mail: topdick@kimo.com). Tsung-Chien Chen is with the Department of Power Vehicle and Systems Engineering, Chung Cheng Institute of Technology, National Defense University, Ta-His, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, R.O. C. (e-mail: chojan@ccit.edu.tw). Ming-Hui Lee is with the Department of Civil Engineering, Republic of China Military Academy, Ta-His, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, R.O. C. (e-mail: g990406@ccit.edu.tw). Jen-Feng Huang is with the School of Power Vehicle and Systems Engineering Chung Cheng Institute of Technology, National Defense University, Ta-His, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, R.O. C (e-mail: bigbird0903@yahoo.com.tw). M ⎡ ⎤ ⎢ ⎥ ⎣ ⎦ Global conductance matrix α Thermal diffusivity N Total number of nodes γ Weighting factor n Total number of time steps Γ Input matrix P Filter’s error covariance matrix δ Kronecker delta function b P Error covariance matrix ρ Density of the sample ( 3 / Kg m ) Q Process noise covariance p c ρ Heat-melting coefficient of the sample ( ) q k Heat flux Ω Coefficient matrix ( ) q k The unknown input estimated heat flux ω Process noise vector σ Standard deviation t Δ Sampling time interval Φ State transition matrix x Δ Discrete space interval Ψ Coefficient matrix
Quality of life in north-eastern India: The totally fuzzy analysis

The paper traces the status of quality of life in India with particular reference to north-eastern states. It proposes a methodology to combine different dimensions of quality of life, such as income, education, health, employment and infrastructure, into Quality of Life Index (QLI) by applying Totally Fuzzy Analysis (TFA). The empirical findings suggest that the status of quality of life is substantially high in Goa, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram. It is quite low in Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Assam. The other states are in the average level of quality of life. Coming to north-east India, the quality of life is substantially high in Mizoram, Sikkim and Nagaland and considerably low in Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Manipur. The position of these states remains unchanged during the last two decades. However between these two groups, the position of the individual state differs from one period to another. The paper at the end confirms that all the dimensions included in the study are very relevant to forecast the quality of life in the Indian economy in general and north-eastern India in particular.
The Gh 0 st in the Shell : Network Security in the Himalayas

The town of Dharamsala in the Himalayas of India harbors not only the Tibetan government in-exile, but also a very unique Internet community operated by AirJaldi. The combination of high-profile clientele and naive users makes for a very interesting setting from a network security standpoint. Using packet capture and network intrusion detection systems (NIDS), we analyze the security of the network. Given the sensitive history between China and Tibet, and the general public’s penchant to support the freedom of Tibet, it would not be surprising for the Chinese government to be interested in the activities of the community in-exile. Therefore, we also look for evidence of malware targeted at this unique user-base. In our work, we find significant amounts of malicious activity in the traffic, including a solid link to a previously discovered highprofile spy network operated in China.
Employers’ concern does not help female foreign domestic workers sustain quality of life in Hong Kong

Abstract The usual but untested assumption is that the employer’s concern about the foreign domestic worker buttresses the worker’s life quality. To clarify how the assumption fares, this study analysed data from a survey of 1514 foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong, China. Results revealed that, contrary to the usual assumption, the employer’s concern for the worker posed a negative effect on the worker’s life quality. These results imply that cultural discrepancies between the worker and employer make the employer’s concern detrimental to the worker’s life quality. This detriment is explicable with exchange theory.
Electroconvulsive Therapy in Hong Kong: Rates of Use, Indications, and Outcome

Introduction There has been a concern about indiscriminate use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Asian countries. This study examined the rates of ECT use and the characteristics and outcomes of patients treated with ECT in Hong Kong. Method A central database of ECT treatments was used to calculate annual rates of ECT use from 1997 to 2002. We surveyed prospectively patients received ECT over 12 months by a standardized questionnaire. Results The ECT utilization rates varied from 0.27 to 0.34 patients treated per 10,000 population and 1.34 to 1.88 patients treated per 100 inpatients discharged. There were differences in the pattern of ECT use among Hong Kong, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Only 15% of ECT recipients were 65 years old or older and 23% had schizophrenia as primary diagnosis for ECT. Ninety-five percent of patients who received ECT improved with the treatment as assessed by clinicians. No severe complications and deaths occurred, and 6% stopped ECT due to undesirable results. Conclusion The rate of ECT use in Hong Kong continues to be below that in the United States and the United Kingdom. Access to ECT is most limited to the elderly and private patients.
Rates and Determinants of Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection in Young Men

Background Little is known about the rates and determinants of oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, an infection that is etiologically linked with oropharyngeal cancers. Methods A cohort of male university students (18–24 years) was examined every 4 months (212 men, 704 visits). Oral specimens were collected via gargle/rinse and swabbing of the oropharynx. Genotyping for HPV-16 and 36 other &agr;-genus types was performed by polymerase chain reaction–based assay. Data on potential determinants were gathered via clinical examination, in-person questionnaire, and biweekly online diary. Hazards ratios (HR) were used to measure associations with incident infection. Results Prevalence of oral HPV infection at enrollment was 7.5%, and 12-month cumulative incidence was 12.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.0, 21.3). Prevalence of oral HPV-16 was 2.8% and 12-month cumulative incidence was 0.8% (95% CI, 0.1%–5.7%). None of the incident oral HPV infections and 28.6% of the prevalent oral HPV infections were detected more than once. In a multivariate model, incident oral HPV infection was associated with recent frequency of performing oral sex (≥1 per week: HR, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.4–9.8), recent anal sex with men (HR, 42.9; 95% CI, 8.8–205.5), current infection with the same HPV type in the genitals (HR, 6.2; 95% CI, 2.4–16.4), and hyponychium (HR, 11.8, 95% CI, 4.1–34.2). Conclusions Although nearly 20% of sexually active male university students had evidence of oral HPV infection within 12 months, most infections were transient. Human papillomavirus type 16 was not common. Sexual contact and autoinoculation appeared to play independent roles in the transmission of &agr;-genus HPV to the oral cavity of young men.
A Pharmacoeconomic Analysis of Atypical Antipsychotics and Haloperidol in First-Episode Schizophrenic Patients in Taiwan

The study prospectively examined the economic outcomes and comedications among first-episode schizophrenic patients treated with monotherapy of second-generation antipsychotic agents (SGAs) continuously as compared with each other and with haloperidol. The sample included 3047 out of Taiwan's national sample of 29,341 first-episode schizophrenic patients, who were selected, based on International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision code 295, from the National Health Insurance original claims data from 1999 to 2004. They were treated with only 1 of the following antipsychotic agents: haloperidol (n = 526), clozapine (n = 224), risperidone (n = 827), olanzapine (n = 824), zotepine (n = 286), or quetiapine (n = 360), without changing antipsychotics during the observation for at least 1 year (mean, 1.80 years; SD, 0.93 years) for each subject. Economic outcomes included clinic visits, prescription days, frequencies and duration of hospitalizations, and total and separate treatment costs (outpatient department- and hospital-related costs). Comedications included use of anticholinergic, anxiolytic, hypnotic/sedative, and antidepressant agents. Patients treated with SGAs had lower number and shorter durations of hospitalizations than did haloperidol-treated patients, except for the clozapine group. Olanzapine was associated with the lowest hospitalization rates per year (mean, 1.63 vs 2.83). In terms of cost, haloperidol was more expensive in total hospitalization expenses (mean, US $3215 per year) and total treatment cost (mean, $3769 per year) than olanzapine, zotepine, or quetiapine. In general, there was no difference among the haloperidol and SGA groups in terms of rates of comedications. The reduced number of hospitalizations and then lower total hospitalization costs seem to be more than the offset of high medication acquisition costs of SGAs.
Predicting factors for disappearance of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies in sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Objectives: We aimed to determine the predicting factors for disappearance of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibody (anti-MCV Ab) in sera from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Methods: In 2013, 95 RA patients whose Disease Activity Score with erythrocyte sedimentation rate were moderate to severe (DAS28-ESR ≥3.2) at baseline were enrolled. Titers of anti-MCV Ab and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) Ab for 2013 and 2014 were measured. The association of anti-MCV disappearance with disease activity, treatment, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and serum markers of ILD were retrospectively examined. Predicting factors of anti-MCV disappearance were determined by multivariable analysis. Results: While anti-CCP positivity rate did not change during the year, anti-MCV Ab changed from positive to negative in 18 patients (=19.0%). Continuous biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug use, prednisolone dose (≥5.0 mg daily), and low KL-6 level (<191 U/mL) were determined as predicting factors of anti-MCV disappearance by multivariable analysis. In our cohort, anti-MCV Ab disappearance was not linked to clinical and radiological improvement. Conclusion: Different from anti-CCP Ab, anti-MCV Ab in sera from RA patients can disappear in a year. Some predicting factors for such negative seroconversion were found, whereas clinical significance of anti-MCV Ab disappearance was undetermined.