Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-Rated Health by Sexual Orientation Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Canada.

OBJECTIVES This article examines patterns of self-rated physical and mental health by sexual orientation among middle-aged and older adults in Canada, a rapidly growing subpopulation shown to be at risk of poor health. METHOD We use the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS 2015-16) to estimate logit models predicting fair/poor self-rated physical and mental health by sexual orientation among middle-aged and older adults, stratifying by sex and age group. RESULTS We find no differences in physical health for gay men and lesbian women compared to their heterosexual counterparts. However, middle-aged gay men are disadvantaged in terms of mental health, but not women. Bisexual women are disadvantaged in terms of physical health, and for mental health in some model specifications. Respondents who did not know their sexual orientation have poorer health across some measures of health and age groups. DISCUSSION Our findings add to the paucity of research on older sexual minorities in Canada. They highlight the importance of separating out sexual minority groups since bisexual women have distinct health profiles. In addition, this is the first study to examine the health of respondents who "don't know" their sexual orientation, and future research should distinguish between different explanations for their poor health.
West Nile Virus Associations in Wild Mammals: An Update

Although West Nile virus (WNV) is generally thought to circulate among mosquitoes and birds, several historic and recent works providing evidence of WNV activity in wild mammals have been published. Indeed, a previous review tabulated evidence of WNV exposure in at least 100 mammalian species. Herein, we provide an update on WNV activity in wild and select other mammals that have been reported since the last major review article on this subject was published in early 2013. Of interest, new species, such as Hoffman’s two-toed sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni), are now included in the growing list of wild mammals that have been naturally exposed to WNV. Furthermore, new instances of WNV viremia as well as severe disease presumably caused by this virus have been reported in wild mammals (e.g., the Virginia opossum [Didelphis virginiana]) from natural and semi-captive (e.g., zoological institution) settings. Regrettably, few recent challenge studies have been conducted on wild mammals, which would provide key information as to their potential role(s) in WNV cycles. Largely based on these recent findings, important future lines of research are recommended to assess which mammalian species are commonly exposed to WNV, which mammal species develop viremias sufficient for infecting mosquitoes, and which mammal species might be negatively affected by WNV infection at the species or population level.
Putative interaction site for membrane phospholipids controls activation of TRPA1 channel at physiological membrane potentials

The transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel is a polymodal sensor of environmental irritant compounds, endogenous proalgesic agents, and cold. Upon activation, TRPA1 channels increase cellular calcium levels via direct permeation and trigger signaling pathways that hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐bisphosphate (PIP2) in the inner membrane leaflet. Our objective was to determine the extent to which a putative PIP2‐interaction site (Y1006‐Q1031) is involved in TRPA1 regulation. The interactions of two specific peptides (L992‐N1008 and T1003‐P1034) with model lipid membranes were characterized by biophysical approaches to obtain information about affinity, peptide secondary structure, and peptide effect in the lipid organization. The results indicate that the two peptides interact with lipid membranes only if PIP2 is present and their affinities depend on the presence of calcium. Using whole‐cell electrophysiology, we demonstrate that mutation at F1020 produced channels with faster activation kinetics and with a rightward shifted voltage‐dependent activation curve by altering the allosteric constant that couples voltage sensing to pore opening. We assert that the presence of PIP2 is essential for the interaction of the two peptide sequences with the lipid membrane. The putative phosphoinositide‐interacting domain comprising the highly conserved F1020 contributes to the stabilization of the TRPA1 channel gate.
Timing of Food Introduction and the Risk of Food Allergy

Given that the prevalence of pediatric IgE-mediated food allergies (FA) has followed a substantive increase in recent decades, nowadays, a research challenge is to establish whether the weaning strategy can have a role in FA prevention. In recent decades, several studies have demonstrated that delayed exposure to allergenic foods did not reduce the risk of FA, leading to the publication of recent guidelines which recommend against delaying the introduction of solid foods after 4–6 months of age, both in high- and low-risk infants, in order to prevent food allergy. In the present review, focusing on cow’s milk protein, hen’s eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat and fish, we describe the current scientific evidence on the relationship between timing of these foods’ introduction in infants’ diet and allergy development.
Designing in-depth semi-structured interviews for revealing meaning reconstruction after loss

Abstract The recent upsurge in the use of qualitative empirical studies, aiming to provide a deeper understanding of human reactions to loss, requires a methodological account of how to conduct better qualitative research with regard to data collection. This paper offers six general interview guidelines aimed at assisting researchers to achieve quality interviews in qualitative bereavement studies, based on the theoretical framework of meaning (re)construction in loss.
Challenges in health-care service use among Burmese refugees: A grounded theory approach

ABSTRACT The timely use of health-care services is essential to achieve the best health outcomes. We explore barriers to health-care access among refugees from Burma through interviews with key community informants who serve their community as interpreters, health-care professionals, paraprofessionals, and/or representatives. The interviews with a convenience sampling of 11 leaders from Burmese and Karen ethnic communities revealed three stages of health-care use (i.e., before, during, and after doctor’s appointments), in which their community members encounter difficulties in accessing health-care services. Using grounded theory analysis approach, specific difficulties and cultural considerations for each stage were emerged. This study suggests that training programs for health-care providers on refugee populations’ needs, cultural expectations, attitudes, and health behaviors may ease the process for refugees during each of these three stages. Interpreters as cultural brokers have an important role in facilitating cross-cultural communications not only before and during the appointment but also after doctor’s visits, such as in the pharmacy and labs.
Trophic Response of Gut and Pancreas After Ileojejunal Transposition

ObjectiveThe authors determined whether ileojejunal transposition (IJT) stimulates the growth of the pancreas or the nontransposed segment of small intestine, and ascertained whether this trophic effect is altered by the location of transposed gut segment. Summary Background DataTransposition of the ileum to the proximal small intestine stimulates a marked mucosal growth of the transposed ileal segment; the cellular mechanisms responsible for this adaptive hyperplasia are not known. MethodsThe distal quarter of the small intestine (distal ileum) was transposed into the proximal (Type I), middle (Type II), or distal (Type III) portions of the remaining small intestine. On postoperative day 28, the pancreas and scraped mucosa from the segments of transposed ileum, proximal ileum, and duodenum were obtained, weighed, and examined for DNA and protein content. ResultsAll types of IJT increased mucosal weight and DNA content of the transposed ileum. Types I and II IJT produced a significant proliferation of the pancreas and mucosa of the duodenum and proximal ileum The magnitude of proliferative increases was greatest in Type IIJT. ConclusionsIleojejunal transposition appears to be an excellent model to examine the mechanisms by which intestinal epitheial cells proliferate in response to luminal nutrients or humoral factors.
Clinicoradiological Features of Pulmonary Tuberculosis with Interstitial Pneumonia

Objective Although rare, pulmonary tuberculosis occasionally develops in patients with interstitial pneumonia (IP). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinicoradiological features of pulmonary tuberculosis associated with IP. Methods In this retrospective, observational, single-center study, the medical charts, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings, and bacteriological test results of patients with IP who also tested positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were reviewed. Patients The study included 20 patients with IP out of 329 who tested positive for M. tuberculosis in sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cultures at Toranomon Hospital between January 2006 and December 2017. Results The HRCT patterns were usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) in 11 patients and non-UIP in 9 patients. Consolidations (80%) were the most frequent HRCT findings, followed by cavities (60%) and nodules (45%), which are generally characteristic of pulmonary tuberculosis. Consolidations often developed in relation to fibrotic or emphysematous lesions. Tuberculosis lesions could not be identified in one patient. All patients were treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs according to WHO guidelines, and 13 patients achieved a WHO category of “Treatment success. ” No patient died of tuberculosis, and the median survival time for the 20 patients was 1,196 days. Conclusion Although the HRCT findings for pulmonary tuberculosis associated with IP are atypical, appropriate tuberculosis treatments can lead to favorable outcomes.
Implant Fixation and Risk of Prosthetic Joint Infection Following Primary Total Hip Replacement: Meta-Analysis of Observational Cohort and Randomised Intervention Studies

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI), although uncommon, is a dreaded and devastating complication of total hip replacement (THR). Whether implant-related factors, such as the fixation method, influences the risk of PJI following THR is contentious. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the body of evidence linking fixation methods (cemented, uncemented, hybrid, or reverse hybrid) with the risk of PJI following primary THR. Observational studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing fixation methods, and reporting PJI incidence following THR, were identified through MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and reference lists of relevant studies up to 24 April 2019. Summary measures were relative risks (RRs) (95% confidence intervals, CIs). We identified 22 eligible articles (based on 11 distinct observational cohort studies comprising 2,260,428 THRs and 4 RCTs comprising 945 THRs). In pooled analyses of observational studies, all cemented fixations (plain and antibiotic combined), plain cemented fixations, hybrid fixations, and reverse hybrid fixations were each associated with an increased overall PJI risk when compared with uncemented fixations: 1.10 (95% CI: 1.04–1.17), 1.50 (95% CI: 1.27–1.77), 1.49 (95% CI: 1.36–1.64), and 1.49 (95% CI: 1.14–1.95), respectively. However, in the first six months, uncemented fixations were associated with increased PJI risk when compared to all cemented fixations. Compared to antibiotic-loaded cemented fixations, plain cemented fixations were associated with an increased PJI risk (1.52; 95% CI: 1.36–1.70). One RCT showed an increased PJI risk comparing plain cemented fixations with antibiotic-loaded cemented fixations. Uncemented and antibiotic-loaded cemented fixations remain options for the prevention of PJI in primary THR.
Crystal Structure of the Mouse p53 Core DNA-binding Domain at 2.7 Å Resolution*

The p53 tumor suppressor is a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that activates transcription in response to DNA damage to promote cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. The p53 protein functions in a tetrameric form in vivo and contains four domains including an N-terminal transcriptional activation domain, a C-terminal regulatory domain, a tetramerization domain, and a central core DNA-binding domain that is the site of the majority of tumor-derived mutations. Here we report the 2.7-Å crystal structure of the mouse p53 core domain. Like the human p53 core domain in complex with DNA, the mouse p53 core domain adopts an immunoglobulin-like β sandwich architecture with a series of loops and short helices at opposite ends of the β sandwich. Comparison of the DNA-bound and DNA-free p53 core domains reveals that while the central β sandwich architecture remains largely unchanged, a loop region important for DNA binding undergoes significant rearrangement. Although this loop region mediates major groove DNA contacts in the DNA-bound structure, it adopts a conformation that is incompatible with DNA binding in the DNA-free structure. Interestingly, crystals of the DNA-free core domain contain a noncrystallographic trimer with three nearly identical subunit-subunit (dimer) contacts. These dimer contacts align the p53 core domains in a way that is incompatible with simultaneous DNA binding by both protomers of the dimer. Surprisingly, similar dimer contacts are observed in crystals of the human p53 core domain with DNA in which only one of the three p53 protomers in the asymmetric unit cell is specifically bound to DNA. We propose that the p53 core domain dimer that is seen in the crystals described here represents a physiologically relevant inactive form of p53 that must undergo structural rearrangement for sequence-specific DNA binding.
Factors related to the use of magnifying low vision aids: a scoping review

Abstract Background: The decision process around the (non-)use of assistive technologies is multifactorial. Its determinants have previously been classified into personal, device-related, environmental and interventional categories. Whether these categories specifically apply to the use of magnifying low vision aids was explored here, using this classification. Methods: A scoping review (Embase, MedLine, Cochrane, ERIC ProQuest, CINAHL, NICE Evidence, Trip Database) was conducted to summarize the extent, range, and nature of research regarding the categories that are associated with low vision aid (non-)usage. A combination of key words and MeSH terms was used based upon the identified core concepts of the research question: low vision, assistive technology and adherence. Inter-rater reliability for the selection process was considered acceptable (kappa = 0.87). A combination of numerical and qualitative description of 21 studies was performed. Results: Studies report high variability rates of people possessing devices but not using them (range: 2.3–50%, M = 25%, SD = 14%). We were able to replicate the conceptual structure of the four categories that had previsouly been identified with other devices. Age, diagnosis and visual acuity demonstrated contradictory influence on optical low vision aid usage. Change in vision, appropriate environment, consistent training, patient’s motivation and awareness of low vision services, emerged as contributor factors of use. Conclusion: This review provides evidence that clinicians should not rely on traditionally available clinical factors to predict device use behavior. Worsening vision and low motivation appear as predictors of device nonuse and should be considered from the clinician's point of view. Education about potential facilitating factors and promotion of innovative care are strongly encouraged. Implications for rehabilitation Investigation of the factors predicting (non-)use of magnifying low vision aids is important. These findings can help clinicians to identify patients with a higher risk of non-use of low vision aids as well as provide evidence for interventions designed to improve use. Knowledge of low vision services and types of magnifying low vision aids available to patients appears as fundamental in the process of device use and needs to be supported by more educational programs. Psychological factors predicting (non-)use of low vision aids need to be considered in the choice of rehabilitation and follow-up strategies by a multidisciplinary team, focusing more on mechanisms of adaptation and patient’s motivation. Training intensity should play a central role in the development of innovative intervention programs to reduce device abandonment.
Hospital Telehealth Adoption Increased in 2014 and 2015 and Was Influenced by Population, Hospital, and Policy Characteristics.

Background: Telehealth can increase value by reducing gaps in care, access, and cost for patients, providers, and payers. Medicare reimbursement policies aim to increase health access in areas with a provider shortage. Introduction: The influences of telehealth adoption over time are not well known, and would be beneficial for further policy discussion. Materials and Methods: Using the Information Technology Supplement to the American Hospital Association Annual Survey of Acute Care Hospitals, we determined several predictors of telehealth adoption in California hospitals from 2012 to 2015. Results: There were 870 hospitals evaluated. Telehealth adoption was more likely in 2014 and 2015. Compared with those not using telehealth, hospitals using telehealth were less likely to be located in more populated areas (odds ratio [OR] = 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57-0.98), nonrural areas as defined by metropolitan statistical area (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.20-0.70), and have a higher percentage of employed individuals (OR = 0.0001; 95% CI: 0.00-0.010). Hospitals were more likely to adopt telehealth if they had mobile device integration into the electronic health record (EHR) (OR = 2.97; 95% CI: 1.39-6.33) or a higher percentage of commuters in their ZIP code (OR = 20.24; 95% CI: 1.29-317.4). Telehealth reimbursement for health professional shortage areas did not contribute to increased telehealth adoption. Discussion: The findings suggest how addressing current infrastructural and policy barriers may improve value-based care. Conclusion: Our analysis suggests that telehealth has become more prominent since 2014, and factors such as significant commuting population, mobile device/EHR integration, and nonrural location influence adoption.
Aromatic Amines and Human Urinary Bladder Cancer: Exposure Sources and Epidemiology

Abstract Human exposure to aromatic amines has long been associated with an elevated risk of urinary bladder cancer. Nonetheless, use of these materials has continued due to their industrial and commercial value. Commercial value, chemical reactivity and biological effect are closely linked, making it difficult to select materials that are commercially useful and safe. The chemical structure of carcinogenic aromatic amines is discussed in this paper along with some past and current sources of exposure and the overall epidemiological data supporting the carcinogenicity of these materials. The low dose effects of aromatic amines in tobacco smoke are considered. In addition, the possibility that such widely used commercial products as hair dyes may be related to urinary bladder cancer in humans is reviewed. Research questions either now being currently addressed or may potentially be addressed by the application of biomarkers to human aromatic amine exposure assessment are highlighted. This is the first of a series of two reviews on Aromatic Amines and Human Urinary Bladder Cancer. The second review, focusing on biomarker issues, will be published in the next issue of this journal
Using Video Processing for the Full-Field Identification of Backbone Curves in Case of Large Vibrations

Nonlinear modal analysis is a demanding yet imperative task to rigorously address real-life situations where the dynamics involved clearly exceed the limits of linear approximation. The specific case of geometric nonlinearities, where the effects induced by the second and higher-order terms in the strain–displacement relationship cannot be neglected, is of great significance for structural engineering in most of its fields of application—aerospace, civil construction, mechanical systems, and so on. However, this nonlinear behaviour is strongly affected by even small changes in stiffness or mass, e.g., by applying physically-attached sensors to the structure of interest. Indeed, the sensors placement introduces a certain amount of geometric hardening and mass variation, which becomes relevant for very flexible structures. The effects of mass loading, while highly recognised to be much larger in the nonlinear domain than in its linear counterpart, have seldom been explored experimentally. In this context, the aim of this paper is to perform a noncontact, full-field nonlinear investigation of the very light and very flexible XB-1 air wing prototype aluminum spar, applying the well-known resonance decay method. Video processing in general, and a high-speed, optical target tracking technique in particular, are proposed for this purpose; the methodology can be easily extended to any slender beam-like or plate-like element. Obtained results have been used to describe the first nonlinear normal mode of the spar in both unloaded and sensors-loaded conditions by means of their respective backbone curves. Noticeable changes were encountered between the two conditions when the structure undergoes large-amplitude flexural vibrations.
Momentary emotional responding and emotion regulation in PTSD-related drinking urge.

The momentary processes that contribute to alcohol misuse among those with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are not well understood. Emotional responding (i.e., the intensity of an emotional response to a trauma-related stimulus) and emotion regulation (i.e., the ability to influence one's emotions), are two such crucial processes that may be important, in-the-moment determinants of drinking. This study investigated (a) associations among PTSD, emotional responding, and alcohol urge following exposure to a trauma cue, and (b) the conditional influence of emotion regulation abilities on these relationships. During an initial assessment session, 305 college students recruited from the community were classified based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Criterion A trauma exposure and PTSD symptom level: no trauma (NT), trauma exposure but no PTSD diagnosis (trauma only), or trauma exposure and PTSD (PTSD). During an experimental session, participants were presented with a personalized trauma cue. Emotional valence and arousal and urge to drink alcohol were reported before and after cue presentations. Emotional responding was indexed as postcue affective valence and arousal controlled for their respective baseline scores. Emotional responding to a trauma cue significantly mediated the relationship between any trauma exposure and urge to drink alcohol. Emotion regulation did not moderate this mediated pathway. Emotional responding increases momentary desires to use alcohol and may contribute to problematic drinking in those with trauma exposure. Findings may have important implications for intervention, as targeting emotional responding to trauma stimuli may help reduce alcohol risk. Future directions and limitations of the current work are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).