Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What is the prevalence of chronic kidney disease among hypertensive non-diabetic Egyptian patients attending primary healthcare?

ABSTRACT Background Although chronic kidney disease (CKD) is considered the major cause of morbidity and mortality in hypertension, the recognition and prevention of CKD remain deficient. CKD is one of the major health challenges in Egypt. CKD affects approximately 13% of the adult population, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Patients with more progressive stage 3 or stage 4 CKD experience a high rate of cardiovascular events and death compared to earlier stages of CKD. Aim This study was performed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of CKD among hypertensive non-diabetic patients attending primary health care (PHC) centers in Cairo. Methodology The study type is a cross-sectional study. Study setting: Two PHC centers: Saraya El-kobba and El-Sharabya. Sampling method: Recruitment of participants was done in one day weekly. Any known essential hypertensive patients aged 18 or more registered in the two PHC centers in Cairo. Results The prevalence of CKD was 33% among the hypertensive non-diabetic patients. Among CKD participants, the prevalence is more common in females (59.7%) than males (40.3%), in those who completed primary education and in the illiterates and low socioeconomic class. Surprisingly, it is more common in patients with positive family history of CKD and patients with ischemic heart disease and the antihypertensive drugs use. Conclusion CKD has a high prevalence among hypertensive non-diabetic patients, and it has a significant morbidity and mortality among those patients.
Pre-College Deaf Students’ Understanding of Fractional Concepts: What We Know and What We Do Not Know

Mathematical knowledge and skills are crucial to success in academics and the workplace. The Common Core State Standards emphasizes fraction teaching and learning in elementary school. This mixed-method study explores fraction concept understanding among 14 deaf and hard of hearing participants between the ages of 8 and 16, as quantitatively measured by their ability to describe the properties of fractional numbers, convert between fractional numbers and their visual representations, and determine the order and equivalence of fractional numbers. Furthermore, the qualitative study was supplemented by interviews with the deaf participants and surveys with their parents and teachers to examine use of mathematical fraction concepts in the student participant's experience, at home and in the classroom. Results indicated a strong understanding of fractional magnitude/size when comparing two fractions; however, putting several fractions in order from the smallest to the largest was a struggle for the participants. The findings also support the call for increased incidental learning opportunities between deaf and hard of hearing children and their parents along with increased use of practical applications of fractional numbers, and additional training for teachers who teach fractions to deaf students.
Asian ageing: The relationship between the elderly population and economic growth in the Asian context

The elderly population and economic growth have been a contentious topic among researchers. Regardless of the economic growth rate, the population and its growth have a stimulating influence on economic development. This study aims to explore the relationship between the elderly population and economic growth in 15 Asian countries, based on secondary data gathered from the WDI (World Development Indicators) from 1961 to 2021. This research contributes to filling the empirical gap, capturing the Granger causality concerning the relationship between the elderly population and economic growth in the Asian context in a single study. The empirical findings highlighted a one-way Granger causality from economic growth to the elderly population for India, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore while vice versa for Bangladesh, China, and Pakistan. Furthermore, for Nepal, there is a two-way Granger causality, while there is no Granger causality for remaining countries. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study has been the first to investigate the relationship between the elderly population and economic growth for Asian nations, using a lengthy data series and a Granger causality test. The main findings will assist the governments, policymakers, and foreign investors in effective decision-making in this regard.
Establishing semantic relatedness through ratings, reaction times, and semantic vectors: A database in Polish

This study presents a Polish semantic priming dataset and semantic similarity ratings for word pairs obtained with native Polish speakers, as well as a range of semantic spaces. The word pairs include strongly related, weakly related, and semantically unrelated word pairs. The rating study (Experiment 1) confirmed that the three conditions differed in semantic relatedness. The semantic priming lexical decision study with a carefully matched subset of the stimuli (Experiment 2), revealed strong semantic priming effects for strongly related word pairs, whereas weakly related word pairs showed a smaller but still significant priming effect relative to semantically unrelated word pairs. The datasets of both experiments and those of SimLex-999 for Polish were then used in a robust semantic model selection from existing and newly trained semantic spaces. This database of semantic vectors, semantic relatedness ratings, and behavioral data collected for all word pairs enable future researchers to benchmark new vectors against this dataset. Furthermore, the new vectors are made freely available for researchers. Although similar semantically strongly and weakly related word pairs are available in other languages, this is the first freely available database for Polish, that combines measures of semantic distance and human data.
Out of the ESCPE room: Emerging roles of endosomal SNX‐BARs in receptor transport and host–pathogen interaction

Several functions of the human cell, such as sensing nutrients, cell movement and interaction with the surrounding environment, depend on a myriad of transmembrane proteins and their associated proteins and lipids (collectively termed “cargoes”). To successfully perform their tasks, cargo must be sorted and delivered to the right place, at the right time, and in the right amount. To achieve this, eukaryotic cells have evolved a highly organized sorting platform, the endosomal network. Here, a variety of specialized multiprotein complexes sort cargo into itineraries leading to either their degradation or their recycling to various organelles for further rounds of reuse. A key sorting complex is the Endosomal SNX‐BAR Sorting Complex for Promoting Exit (ESCPE‐1) that promotes the recycling of an array of cargos to the plasma membrane and/or the trans‐Golgi network. ESCPE‐1 recognizes a hydrophobic‐based sorting motif in numerous cargoes and orchestrates their packaging into tubular carriers that pinch off from the endosome and travel to the target organelle. A wide range of pathogens mimic this sorting motif to hijack ESCPE‐1 transport to promote their invasion and survival within infected cells. In other instances, ESCPE‐1 exerts restrictive functions against pathogens by limiting their replication and infection. In this review, we discuss ESCPE‐1 assembly and functions, with a particular focus on recent advances in the understanding of its role in membrane trafficking, cellular homeostasis and host–pathogen interaction.
FURIN suppresses the progression of atherosclerosis by promoting macrophage autophagy

FURIN, a member of the mammalian proprotein convertases (PCs) family, can promote the proteolytic maturation of proproteins. It has been shown that FURIN plays an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Current evidence indicates that autophagy widely participates in atherogenesis. This study aimed to explore whether FURIN could affect atherogenesis via autophagy. The effect of FURIN on autophagy was studied using aortic tissues from aortic dissection patients who had BENTALL surgery, as well as macrophages and ApoE−/− mice. In atherosclerotic plaques of aortic tissues from patients, FURIN expression and autophagy were elevated. In macrophages, FURIN‐shRNA and FURIN‐overexpression lentivirus were used to intervene in FURIN expression. The results showed that FURIN overexpression accelerated LC3 formation in macrophages during the autophagosome formation phase. Furthermore, FURIN‐induced autophagy resulted in lower lipid droplet concentrations in macrophages. The western blot revealed that FURIN regulated autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1/PI3KIII signaling pathway. In vivo, FURIN overexpression resulted in increased macrophage LC3 formation in ApoE−/− mice atherosclerotic plaques, confirming that FURIN could inhibit the progression of AS by promoting macrophage autophagy. The present study demonstrated that FURIN suppressed the progression of AS by promoting macrophage autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1/PI3KIII signaling pathway, which attenuated atherosclerotic lesion formation. Based on this data, current findings add to our understanding of the complexity of AS.
Evaluating the compressive strength of glass powder-based cement mortar subjected to the acidic environment using testing and modeling approaches

This study conducted experimental and machine learning (ML) modeling approaches to investigate the impact of using recycled glass powder in cement mortar in an acidic environment. Mortar samples were prepared by partially replacing cement and sand with glass powder at various percentages (from 0% to 15%, in 2.5% increments), which were immersed in a 5% sulphuric acid solution. Compressive strength (CS) tests were conducted before and after the acid attack for each mix. To create ML-based prediction models, such as bagging regressor and random forest, for the CS prediction following the acid attack, the dataset produced through testing methods was utilized. The test results indicated that the CS loss of the cement mortar might be reduced by utilizing glass powder. For maximum resistance to acidic conditions, the optimum proportion of glass powder was noted to be 10% as cement, which restricted the CS loss to 5.54%, and 15% as a sand replacement, which restricted the CS loss to 4.48%, compared to the same mix poured in plain water. The built ML models also agreed well with the test findings and could be utilized to calculate the CS of cementitious composites incorporating glass powder after the acid attack. On the basis of the R2 value (random forest: 0.97 and bagging regressor: 0.96), the variance between tests and forecasted results, and errors assessment, it was found that the performance of both the bagging regressor and random forest models was similarly accurate.
A Method for Particle Simulation

We extend a recent approach to the direct numerical simulation of particle flows to the case in which the particles are not fixed. The basic idea is to use a local analytic representation valid near the particle to transfer'' the no-slip condition from the particle surface to the adjacent grid nodes. In this way the geometric complexity arising from the irregular relation between the particle boundary and the underlying mesh is avoided and fast salvers can be used
β-Catenin signaling in alveolar macrophages enhances lung metastasis through a TNF-dependent mechanism

The main cause of malignancy-related mortality is metastasis. Although metastatic progression is driven by diverse tumor-intrinsic mechanisms, there is a growing appreciation for the contribution of tumor-extrinsic elements of the tumor microenvironment, especially macrophages, which correlate with poor clinical outcomes. Macrophages consist of bone marrow–derived and tissue-resident populations. In contrast to bone marrow–derived macrophages, the transcriptional pathways that govern the pro-metastatic activities of tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) remain less clear. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are a TRM population with critical roles in tissue homeostasis and metastasis. Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a hallmark of cancer and has been identified as a pathologic regulator of AMs in infection. We tested the hypothesis that β-catenin expression in AMs enhances metastasis in solid tumor models. Using a genetic β-catenin gain-of-function approach, we demonstrated that (a) enhanced β-catenin in AMs heightened lung metastasis; (b) β-catenin activity in AMs drove a dysregulated inflammatory program strongly associated with Tnf expression; and (c) localized TNF-α blockade abrogated this metastatic outcome. Last, β-catenin gene CTNNB1 and TNF expression levels were positively correlated in AMs of patients with lung cancer. Overall, our findings revealed a Wnt/β-catenin/TNF-α pro-metastatic axis in AMs with potential therapeutic implications against tumors refractory to the antineoplastic actions of TNF-α.
Graft and Flap: Orthoplastic Approach to Achilles Tendon Secondary Rupture

Summary: Achilles tendon rupture represents one of the most common tendon ruptures. Although primary repair remains the treatment of choice, surgical complications, such as secondary rupture and tendon exposure, require salvage procedures. This article aims to present the authors’ orthoplastic approach for the functional reconstruction of composite secondary Achilles tendon defects. Seven patients with chronic open-wound and large Achilles tendon defects (Kuwada type IV) underwent one-stage reconstruction between October of 2018 and October of 2020. The size of the average soft-tissue defect was 126.2 cm2 (range, 86.1 to 175.9 cm2), with a tendon gap of 8.2 cm (range, 7.1 to 10.3 cm). A combined team of orthoplastic surgeons performed the reconstructive procedure, using a turndown gastrocnemius fascial flap and a fascia lata autograft for the tendon reconstruction and a free fasciocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap for soft-tissue coverage (graft and flap). Subjective evaluation and quality-of-life measures were obtained preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire. Mean follow-up was 18.3 months (range, 12 to 24 months). The flap survival rate was 100%. Overall range of motion of the reconstructed side was 87% of the unaffected side (54 degrees versus 62 degrees). The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey scores of all patients improved significantly (P < 0.005) at 12 months of follow-up. A microsurgical approach combined with orthopedic techniques can solve complex cases of Achilles tendon secondary rupture, providing a reconstructed tendon that achieves satisfactory anatomic shape and function. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.
Toward Enhanced Clinical Decision Support for Patients Undergoing a Hip or Knee Replacement: Focus Group and Interview Study With Surgeons

Background The current assessment of recovery after total hip or knee replacement is largely based on the measurement of health outcomes through self-report and clinical observations at follow-up appointments in clinical settings. Home activity-based monitoring may improve assessment of recovery by enabling the collection of more holistic information on a continuous basis. Objective This study aimed to introduce orthopedic surgeons to time-series analyses of patient activity data generated from a platform of sensors deployed in the homes of patients who have undergone primary total hip or knee replacement and understand the potential role of these data in postoperative clinical decision-making. Methods Orthopedic surgeons and registrars were recruited through a combination of convenience and snowball sampling. Inclusion criteria were a minimum required experience in total joint replacement surgery specific to the hip or knee or familiarity with postoperative recovery assessment. Exclusion criteria included a lack of specific experience in the field. Of the 9 approached participants, 6 (67%) orthopedic surgeons and 3 (33%) registrars took part in either 1 of 3 focus groups or 1 of 2 interviews. Data were collected using an action-based approach in which stimulus materials (mock data visualizations) provided imaginative and creative interactions with the data. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results Each data visualization was presented sequentially followed by a discussion of key illustrative commentary from participants, ending with a summary of key themes emerging across the focus group and interview data set. Conclusions The limitations of the evidence are as follows. The data presented are from 1 English hospital. However, all data reflect the views of surgeons following standard national approaches and training. Although convenience sampling was used, participants’ background, skills, and experience were considered heterogeneous. Passively collected home monitoring data offered a real opportunity to more objectively characterize patients’ recovery from surgery. However, orthopedic surgeons highlighted the considerable difficulty in navigating large amounts of complex data within short medical consultations with patients. Orthopedic surgeons thought that a proposed dashboard presenting information and decision support alerts would fit best with existing clinical workflows. From this, the following guidelines for system design were developed: minimize the risk of misinterpreting data, express a level of confidence in the data, support clinicians in developing relevant skills as time-series data are often unfamiliar, and consider the impact of patient engagement with data in the future. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2018-021862
Amebic encephalitis and meningoencephalitis: an update on epidemiology, diagnostic methods, and treatment

Purpose of review Free-living amebae (FLA) including Naegleria fowleri, Balamuthia mandrillaris, and Acanthamoeba species can cause rare, yet severe infections that are nearly always fatal. This review describes recent developments in epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of amebic meningoencephalitis. Recent findings Despite similarities among the three pathogenic FLA, there are notable variations in disease presentations, routes of transmission, populations at risk, and outcomes for each. Recently, molecular diagnostic tools have been used to diagnose a greater number of FLA infections. Treatment regimens for FLA have historically relied on survivor reports; more data is needed about novel treatments, including nitroxoline. Summary Research to identify new drugs and guide treatment regimens for amebic meningoencephalitis is lacking. However, improved diagnostic capabilities may lead to earlier diagnoses, allowing earlier treatment initiation and improved outcomes. Public health practitioners should continue to prioritize increasing awareness and providing education to clinicians, laboratorians, and the public about amebic infections.
Corrective adjustment methods for relative age effects on French young swimmers’ performances

Background This study aimed to identify a Relative Age Effect (RAE) among French young swimmers and apply corrective adjustment procedures to rebalance performances according to categories and events. Methods 5,339,351 performances of French swimmers aged 10 to 18 were collected between 2000 and 2019. Birth quarters distribution was examined according to competitiveness level (‘All’, ‘Top50%’, ‘Top25%’ and ‘Top10%’), event and age category. A linear relationship between the distribution of performances and calendar days provides a calibration coefficient allowing to rebalance performances by considering the effect of RAE for each event. Then, adjusted performances are recalculated using this coefficient, the initial performance and the relative age. Results Proportion of swimmers born in the first quarter was higher than the proportion of those born in the last quarter for all events and strokes (p < 0.01). RAE increases with the competitiveness level for all events. Indeed, among ’All’ 12 years old 50m freestyle swimmers, the proportion born in the first quarter is 30.9% vs 19.2% in the fourth quarter, while among the “Top10%”, 47.5% were born in the first quarter vs 10.3% in the last one. (p-value < 0.01). In average, each day represents a gap of 0.008 second, resulting in a difference of almost 3 seconds over a year. This tool is validated by comparing swimmers who have performed at least twice in a season. It provides a day by day rebalancing method for all swimming events and age categories. Conclusions Relative age effect is present among French young male and female swimmers, and is strengthened by competitiveness level. A new corrective adjustment procedure to rebalance performances considering categories and events is proposed and validated. By applying such a tool, we are able to reveal the full potential of swimmers and make it possible to compare them at the same relative age.
Transdermal administration of ibuprofen-loaded hexagonal liquid crystal gel for enhancement of drug concentration in the uterus: in vitro and in vivo evaluation

Abstract Primary dysmenorrhea is a common disease in women, and oral administration of Ibuprofen (IBU) is associated with first-pass effects and gastrointestinal irritation. Here, we developed ibuprofen-loaded hexagonal liquid crystal (IBU HLC) gel for transdermal administration. In this study, the structure of prepared IBU HLC was characterized using polarizing microscopey (PLM) and small angle X ray diffraction (SAXS). In vitro drug release behavior and percutaneous penetration were investigated, and drug transdermal behavior was observed by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Finally, the pharmacokinetic profile and tissue distribution were investigated after transdermal administration. The PLM and SAXS results showed that the inner structure of IBU HLC was hexagonal phase. Moreover, in vitro release, skin permeation and CLSM demonstrated that IBU HLC had an excellent sustained-release effect, and a good transdermal penetration effect accompanied by the combination of multiple percutaneous routes. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that IBU entered the blood circulation through abdominal transdermal administration in small amounts, mainly entering the uterus, and had a certain targeting ability. In conclusion, the IBU HLC gel would be a promising sustained-release preparation for transdermal administration to relieve dysmenorrhea with a significant drug concentration in the uterus. Graphical Abstract