Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of bariatric and metabolic surgery on rheumatoid arthritis outcomes: A systematic review

Introduction Obesity is a growing and debilitating epidemic worldwide that is associated with an increased inflammation. It is often linked to rheumatic diseases and may impact negatively their natural history. The use of bariatric and metabolic surgery (BMS) has increased thanks to its positive effect on major comorbidities like diabetes type 2. This systematic review provides the most up-to-date published literature regarding the effect of BMS on outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis. Methods This systematic review followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews guidelines. Original articles from Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane, published until June 16th 2023, and tackling the effect of BMS on disease outcomes in patients with RA were included. Results Three studies met the inclusion criteria. They were published between 2015 and 2022. The total number of RA patients was 33193 and 6700 of them underwent BMS. Compared to non-surgical patients, weight loss after BMS was associated with lower disease activity outcomes at 12 months (p<0.05). Similarly, prior BMS in RA patients was significantly associated with reduced odds ratios for all the morbidities and in-hospital mortality compared with no prior BMS (36.5% vs 54.6%, OR = 0.45, 95% CI (0.42, 0.48), p< 0.001) and (0.4% vs 0.9%, OR = 0.41, 95% CI (0.27–0.61), p < 0.001) respectively. Conclusion To conclude, published data indicate that BMS seems a promising alternative in reducing RA disease activity as well as morbidity and mortality in patients with obesity.
Online reviews, customer Q&As, and product sales: A PVAR approach

Online reviews and customer Q&As have emerged as two vital forms of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) that significantly influence consumer decisions in e-commerce. Yet, a comprehensive understanding of the individual and combined roles of these eWOM types in shaping market dynamics remains elusive. This study addresses this research gap by tracking and analyzing three months of eWOM and sales data for 120 laptops on Amazon, comprising 7,205 online reviews, 6,365 customer Q&A questions, and 7,419 answers. Leveraging the Panel Vector Autoregression (PVAR) model and STATA16.0 software, we unravel the intricate dynamics between online reviews, customer Q&As, and laptop sales. The empirical results reveal distinctive influence mechanisms of online reviews and customer Q&As on product sales, with review volume and answer valence positively affecting sales. Importantly, answer volume was found to stimulate online reviews and enhance their valence. Our study elucidates the interplay among online reviews, customer Q&As, and product sales, underscoring the need for future research on multi-type eWOM. Further, the insights gleaned offer valuable guidance for online platforms and retailers to strategize their eWOM management.
Children with Down syndrome who experience developmental skill loss, characterization, and phenomenology: A case series

Loss of previously acquired developmental skills in children with Down syndrome (DS) is not a well characterized phenomenon. We identified 20 confirmed cases of childhood‐onset skill loss for descriptive analysis. Eligible participants were recruited from a specialty clinic for persons with DS at a large medical center. Age and gender‐matched participants also with DS but without skill loss were used as a comparison group. Case and control participants were between 3 and 14 years (mean 7.6 yr) at the time of evaluation. Loss of previously acquired communication, social‐communication, and play skills was experienced by all cases, as well as new‐onset or intensification of pre‐existing maladaptive behaviors. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC)‐community was helpful in distinguishing group differences in maladaptive behavior among cases and controls. All cases met DSMIV criteria for autism. Developmental skill loss associated with autism is an extreme example of within‐group phenotypic variability and needs to be the focus of further research.
Depleting ANTXR1 suppresses glioma growth via deactivating PI3K/AKT pathway

ABSTRACT Gliomas are commonly known as primary brain tumors and associated with frequent recurrence and an unsatisfactory prognosis despite extensive research in the underlying molecular mechanisms. We aimed to examine the role of ANTXR1 in glioma tumorigenesis and explore its downstream regulatory mechanism. ANTXR1 expression in clinical specimens and its relationship with some pathological characteristics were detected using immunohistochemical staining. After silencing/upregulating ANTXR1 through lentiviral transfection in glioma cell lines, qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to examine mRNA and protein levels, and cell phenotype was also detected. ANTXR1-knockdown and -overexpression cells were then processed by AKT activator and PI3K inhibitor, respectively, to verify downstream PI3K/AKT pathway regulated by ANTXR1. Xenograft nude mice models were constructed to verify the role of ANTXR1 in vivo. We found overexpression of ANTXR1 in both cell lines in comparison with those in normal brain tissues. Glioma cell growth and migratory ability were dramatically impaired as a result of silencing ANTXR1 by shANTXR1 lentiviruses. ANTXR1 blockade also accelerated cell apoptosis and held back cell cycle via targeting G2 phrase during cell mitosis. In vivo xenograft models verified in vitro findings above. Further exploration disclosed that AKT activator promoted anti-tumor effects mediated by ANTXR1 knockdown, while PI3K inhibitor limited pro-tumor effects mediated by ANTXR1 overexpression, indicating that ANTXR1 functioned in glioma cells through regulating PI3K/AKT pathway. ANTXR1 could play an indispensable role in glioma tumorigenesis via activating PI3K/AKT-mediated cell growth. Our study provides a theoretical basis for targeting ANTXR1 as a molecular target in glioma clinical therapeutics.
Challenges facing minimal residual disease testing for acute myeloid leukemia and promising strategies to overcome them

ABSTRACT Introduction Minimal residual disease (MRD) has been an important biomarker for relapse prediction and treatment choice in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). False-positive or false-negative MRD results due to the low specificity and sensitivity of techniques such as multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC), real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and next-generation sequencing, as well as the biological characteristics of residual leukemia cells, including antigen shift, clone involution, heterogeneous genome of the blast cells, and lack of specific targets, all restrict the clinical use of MRD. Areas covered We summarized the challenges of the techniques for MRD detection, and their application in the clinical setting. We also discussed strategies to overcome these challenges, such as the MFC MRD method based on leukemia stem cells, single-cell DNA sequencing or single-cell RNA sequencing for the investigation of biological characteristics of residual leukemia cells, and the potential of omics techniques for MRD detection. We further noted out that prospective clinical trials are needed to answer clinical questions related to MRD in patients with AML. Expert opinion MRD is an important biomarker for individual therapy of patients with AML. In the future, it is important to increase the specificity and sensitivity of the detection techniques.
UNCERTAINTIES IN THE SIMULATION OF BED EVOLUTION IN RECIRCULATING FLOW AREA BEHIND GROYNES

The main characteristic of the flow induced by groynes is the development of a recirculating flow area. An interaction between the recirculating flow and bed mobility leads to the development of a scour hole around the groyne, and a sediment deposition bar downstream. The simulation of the bed evolution around a groyne was investigated by linking a developed sediment transport model (STM-2D) to the FAST-2D flow model. The flow model was modified for the present study to simulate the detailed characteristics of the flow around the groyne. The previous study by the author indicated that the results of the numerical simulations compare well with the experimental data in two cases of the flows in flat-bed channels and in channels with complex-bed topography induced by a groyne. The present state of sediment transport relationships, in particular the relationships for calculating the bed-shear stress and the bed-load transport rate, was evaluated as an essential step for the computational simulation of the groynes performance. A depth-averaged version of the bed-shear stress relationship was modified with the inclusion of correction factors for the effects of the local spiral motion and of the local bed topography. Sediment transport relationships of Ackers and White, and of van Rijn (both deterministic and stochastic methods) were adapted. A number of difficulties were encountered in the development and validation of this model, nevertheless, substantial progress was made. This paper discusses the major uncertainties in the simulation process. It is concluded that modification of the conventional bed-shear stress relationship is not sufficient for simulating realistically the bed features behind the groyne. The development of a conceptual method for calculating the bed-shear stresses around groynes is a priority and recommended for future studies. Keywords– River modeling, groynes, recirculating flow, bed-shear stress, bed load, bed evolution
Delayed Extrahepatic Biliary Leak: A Rare Presentation 9 Years Post-Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Patient: Female, 77-year-old Final Diagnosis: Biliary leakage Symptoms: Abdominal distension • abdominal pain • nausea Clinical Procedure: ERCP • laparoscopic washout Specialty: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Objective: Rare disease Background: Biliary leaks are an important cause of the acute abdomen condition, carrying significant levels of morbidity and mortality. They are most commonly the result of acute iatrogenic or blunt trauma, with an identifiable cause. In comparison, spontaneous and delayed biliary leaks are rare phenomena occurring in the absence of recent surgery, endoscopic intervention, or trauma. Here we report the case of a 77-year-old woman presenting with acute abdominal pain, distension, and rigors caused by an extrahepatic biliary leakage 9 years after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Case Report: Laparoscopic hepatobiliary intervention, rather than open surgery, is associated with increased risk of biliary tree injury, including biliary leaks, which typically arise in the immediate postoperative period. This report concerns a 77-year-old woman presenting with acute abdominal pain, distension, and rigors due to extrahepatic biliary leakage 9 years following elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. Computed tomography (CT) showed large-volume abdominopelvic ascites with no obvious source. Intra-abdominal exploration revealed a large biloma with 2 lacerations in the gallbladder fossa. Subsequent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) found only a vague leak in the extrahepatic biliary tree, with no focal defect or retained biliary calculi. Intra-abdominal drainage and common bile duct (CBD) stenting were performed. Repeat ERCP undertaken 3 months later, however, identified a calculus within the CBD. Conclusions: The patient’s rare presentation of biliary leakage 9 years after cholecystectomy raises the question of whether the condition was delayed or spontaneous in nature. The biliary calculus identified 3 months following the leakage raises the possibility of retained biliary calculi.
Treatment with adult glottic stenosis using CO2 laser surgery combined with self-made laryngeal dilator

Abstract Background/Aims/Objectives To investigate the treatment for adult glottic stenosis using CO2 laser surgery combined with a self-made laryngeal dilator. Material and Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 18 patients with glottic stenosis who were treated using CO2 laser surgery combined with a self-made laryngeal dilator in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2020. Results 4 cases were caused by trauma and one by laryngophthisis. Laryngeal stenosis occurred in 4 and 9 patients respectively after CO2 laser surgery and open partial laryngectomy. Of them, one patient underwent postoperative radiotherapy. All patients were treated through CO2 laser surgery combined with a self-made laryngeal dilator under general anesthesia. 3-6 months later, the dilator was removed. Inflammation, ulceration and granulation were observed surrounding the dilator. But these complications would be cured and respiration was not affected. Finally, four patients could not be extubated and the decannulation rate achieved 78%. All patients successfully decannulated could normally intake. 13 cases had good voice quality and only one patient pronounced hoarsely. Conclusions and significance It is demonstrated that the application of CO2 laser surgery combined with a laryngeal self-made dilator is feasible and effective for the treatment with adult glottic stenosis.
Evaluating the Competitiveness of the Countries in the Baltic Sea Region

In the last decade, economic literature has provided many discussions about the concept of “competitiveness” and a theoretical framework for evaluating the competitive positions of nations (Porter, 1990, 1998 and 2002; Aiginger, 1998; Ezeala-Harrison, 1999; Garelli, 2002 and 2003; Blanke, Paua, and Sala-i-Martin, 2003). Emphasis is also laid on the role of competitiveness in transition and integration processes (Sachs, Zinnes and Eilat, 2000a and 2000b; Zeman, 2000; Warner (ed), 2002) and to the regional aspects of competitiveness (Karppi, 2001; Johansson, Karlsson and Stough (ed), 2002). These discussions and research papers form a theoretical basis for evaluating the competitiveness of countries and regions and elaborating proposals for adopting appropriate policies.
Aggression and Irritability in Middle Childhood: Between- and Within-Person Associations.

OBJECTIVE This study tested predicted bidirectional associations between irritability and physical and relational forms of aggression, disentangling theorized within- and between-person effects using latent curve models with structured residuals (LCM-SR) over one year in middle childhood. Gender differences and robustness of results when controlling for other externalizing problems (i.e., attention problems, delinquency) were also considered. METHOD Children in third, fourth, and fifth grade (N = 704, 49.9% female) were recruited from schools in a large midwestern city. The sample was diverse in regard to race/ethnicity (31% Black, 29% White, 13% Hmong, 14% Latinx, 4% Native American, 4% Asian, 5% other races/ethnicities). Irritability, attention problems, and delinquency were measured using teacher-report, and physical and relational aggression were measured using self-report at three time points over one calendar year. RESULTS At the between-person level, higher mean levels of irritability predicted higher initial levels of physical and relational aggression. Irritability continued to predict higher levels of physical aggression across the course of the study, whereas the effect of irritability on relational aggression diminished. Boys showed higher starting levels of physical aggression, but no other significant gender differences emerged. No significant within-person associations were found. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that irritability may represent a between-person risk factor for high levels of physical and relational aggression in middle childhood, although effects on physical aggression may be more persistent. This highlights the importance of considering affective processes to understand the development of aggression trajectories.
Methane Hydrate Field Program: Development of a Scientific Plan for a Methane Hydrate-Focused Marine Drilling, Logging and Coring Program

This topical report represents a pathway toward better understanding of the impact of marine methane hydrates on safety and seafloor stability and future collection of data that can be used by scientists, engineers, managers and planners to study climate change and to assess the feasibility of marine methane hydrate as a potential future energy resource. Our understanding of the occurrence, distribution and characteristics of marine methane hydrates is incomplete; therefore, research must continue to expand if methane hydrates are to be used as a future energy source. Exploring basins with methane hydrates has been occurring for over 30 years, but these efforts have been episodic in nature. To further our understanding, these efforts must be more regular and employ new techniques to capture more data. This plan identifies incomplete areas of methane hydrate research and offers solutions by systematically reviewing known methane hydrate “Science Challenges” and linking them with “Technical Challenges” and potential field program locations.
SOME RISKS OF UNLIMITED THERMAL CYCLING ESS

A common practice in thermal cycling Environmental Stress Screening (ESS) is to require the last cycle, or the last two or three cycles, to be failure free, with no limit placed on the maximum number of cycles to which the product is subjected. This results in a risk of overstressing, and thereby taking life out of, the product. The pitfalls of unlimited thermal cycling ESS are: 1. Reducing the time before the first expected random failure of the delivered system. 2. Producing a risk of a random failure during ESS. This paper describes, and illustrates by example, the pitfalls.
Fibroblast Activation Protein–Targeted PET/CT With Al18F-NODA-FAPI-04 for In Vivo Imaging of Tendon Healing in Rat Achilles Tendon Injury Models

Background: Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) has shown high expression in inflammatory responses and fibrosis. Hypothesis: We speculated that FAP could serve as a diagnostic and monitoring target in the tendon healing process. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 72 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a tendon crush group and a half-partial tendon laceration group. Four rats in each group were injected with radiotracers weekly for 4 weeks after surgery, with aluminum fluoride–labeled 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid–conjugated FAP inhibitor (Al18F-NODA-FAPI-04) administered on the first day of each week and 18F-fludeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) on the next day. Small animal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was performed, and tendon tissue was collected for pathology and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis each week after surgery. Results: One week after surgery, both radiotracers showed signal concentration at the lesion site, which was the highest radioactive uptake observed during 4 weeks postoperatively, consistent with the severity of the lesion. Consistent trends were observed for inflammatory cytokines during qRT-PCR analysis. Additionally, Al18F-NODA-FAPI-04 PET exhibited a more precise lesion pattern, attributed to its high specificity for naive fibroblasts when referring to histological findings. Over time, the uptake of both radiotracers at the injury site gradually decreased, with 18F-FDG experiencing a more rapid decrease than Al18F-NODA-FAPI-04. In the fourth week after surgery, the maximum standardized uptake values of Al18F-NODA-FAPI-04 in the injured lesion almost reverted to the baseline levels, indicating a substantial decrease in naive fibroblasts and inflammatory cells and a reduction in inflammation and fibrosis, especially compared with the first week. Corresponding trends were also revealed in pathological and qRT-PCR results. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that inflammation is a prominent feature during the early stage of tendon injury. Al18F-NODA-FAPI-04 PET allows accurate localization and provides detailed morphological imaging, enabling continuous monitoring of the healing progress and assessment of injury severity.
Prehistoric cannibalism at Mancos 5MTUMR-2346

Cannibalism is one of the oldest and most emotionally charged topics in anthropological literature. This analysis of human bones from an Anasazi pueblo in southwestern Colorado, site 5MTUMR-2346, reveals that nearly 30 men, women and children were butchered and cooked there around 1100 AD. Their bones were fractured for marrow, and the remains discarded in several rooms of the pueblo. By comparing the human skeletal remains with those of animals used for food at other sites, the author analyzes evidence for skinning, dismembering, cooking and fracturing to infer that cannibalism took place at Mancos. As White evaluates claims for cannibalism in ethnographic and archaeological contexts worldwide, he describes how cultural biases can often distort the interpretation of scientific data. This book applies and introduces anatomical, taphonomic, zooarchaeological and forensic methods in the investigation of prehistoric human behaviour.
An Evaluation of a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Program in Rural Communities Outside of Port- au-Prince, Haiti

Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the entire Samaritan's Purse Water Project team. I would like to especially thank my thesis chair, Dr. Christine Stauber, for providing constant insight into my work and giving me so much of her time and wisdom. I would also like to thank my thesis committee member, Dr. Sheryl Strasser, for sharing her experience in evaluation research and Dr. Lisa Casanova, for her invaluable feedback. Finally, I am incredibly grateful to my fellow students and especially, my fiancé Britton for their constant support and endless words of encouragement. ABSTRACT Background: In 2010, a massive earthquake left the capitol Port-au-Prince in ruins and destroyed infrastructure providing electricity, piped clean water, and waste removal to the region. Water, sanitation, and hygiene intervention programs attempt to reduce the burden of water-related disease in earthquake-affected regions. However, there are few evaluations of these programs, especially following natural disasters. Methods: Data provided by Samaritan's Purse Canada's WASH program were examined. The data set included a household (N=1198) and a latrine (N=167) survey that recorded household use of laundry pads, bath houses, hand-pumped drilled wells, health and hygiene education sessions, and latrines as well as demographic data. Data analysis was conducted in IBM SPSS Version 20.0. Descriptive statistics were computed, and statistical relationships were analyzed for 1. ) Health and hygiene education session attendance and program outcomes and 2. ) Household diarrheal disease and program interventions Results: This study found that households attending any of four health and hygiene sessions were significantly more likely to use program-provided bath houses and hand-pumped wells (p<0.05). Attendance was also significantly associated with increased knowledge of diarrheal disease prevention and hand washing technique. Households using the program-provided hand pump reported lower rates of diarrhea in children under five years old. Discussion: This study concluded that health and hygiene session attendance is positively associated with the utilization of program interventions. However, further improvements in data collection methodology are needed to fully understand the effects of this multi-intervention WASH program on target communities.