Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain Tumors in NF1 Children: Influence on Neurocognitive and Behavioral Outcome

Neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1) is a monogenic tumor-predisposition syndrome creating a wide variety of cognitive and behavioral abnormalities, such as decrease in cognitive functioning, deficits in visuospatial processing, attention, and social functioning. NF1 patients are at risk to develop neurofibromas and other tumors, such as optic pathway gliomas and other tumors of the central nervous system. Few studies have investigated the impact of an additional diagnosis of brain tumor on the cognitive outcome of children with NF1, showing unclear results and without controlling by the effect of surgery, radio- or chemotherapy. In the present mono-institutional study, we compared the behavioral and cognitive outcomes of 26 children with neurofibromatosis alone (NF1) with two age-matched groups of 26 children diagnosed with NF1 and untreated optic pathway glioma (NF1 + OPG) and 19 children with NF1 and untreated other central nervous system tumors (NF1 + CT). NF1 + CT and NF1 + OPG showed significantly impaired cognitive abilities compared to NF1 group, with weaknesses in visuo-spatial abilities, visual scanning and verbal working memory, while general verbal abilities are preserved. Moreover, NF1 + OPG patients present more frequent internalizing problems and increased oppositional-deviant behaviors. These results suggest that the co-diagnosis of a brain tumor in NF1 children may partially worsen the cognitive and emotional outcome.
Corporate Social Communication and Corporate Social Performance

The purpose of this paper is to provide firms in the food and agricultural sector a model that enables them to assess their corporate social initiatives in conjunction with their stakeholders. Building on the concepts of corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate social performance (CSP) and the relational view the paper argues that firms can improve the results of their corporate social initiatives by setting up a dialogue with their stakeholders and to relate this to their internal organizational delivery system. The CSP model is based on the SERVQUAL methodology. The model addresses how a potential (mis)match between a firm’s CSR initiative and stakeholders expectations and experiences is related to four gaps in the firm’s internal organizational delivery system and how this effects the firm’s CSP. CSP measurement is a fundamental part of a firm’s strategy if one accepts the tenet that firm survival and growth depends on the ability of firms to meet the needs of their stakeholders and to manage corporate image. It is to the firm to make stakeholder’s expectations transparent and plan action in alignment with the firm’s business strategy. The paper contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of CSP measurement by linking a firm’s CSP to the firm’s delivery system. It addresses how CSP can evolve over time by putting the dialogue with stakeholders central.
Towards a science of the acquisition of expert performance in sports: Clarifying the differences between deliberate practice and other types of practice

ABSTRACT Ericsson, Krampe, and Tesch- Römer published their research on “The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance” over 25 years ago. Since then, hundreds of new articles have been published with findings regarding the effects of practice on performance in sports. The original paper searched for conditions underpinning optimal acquisition of reproducibly superior (expert) performance in domains, where methods for producing such performance had been refined over centuries. At an elite music academy, superior music students were found to have engaged for longer periods in solitary practice guided by their music teachers – an explication of the conditions of this type of practice led to a definition of deliberate practice. When other researchers in sports started searching for optimal practice, they could not find any practice activities meeting all the criteria for “deliberate practice”, yet referred to somewhat similar activities using that same term. This paper shows that the effects of these different types of practice activities on attained performance differ from those of deliberate practice and should be given different distinct names. The paper concludes with recommendations for how future research on purposeful and deliberate practice can inform, not just athletes and their coaches, but all adults about how their achievements can be improved with individualized forms of effective practice.
Undergraduate training in breaking bad news: A continuation study exploring the patient perspective

This paper reports on the continuation of an initial study that demonstrated the effectiveness, as rated by experts, of an undergraduate training in breaking bad news (BBN) using simulated patient (SP) and individual feedback. The current study aimed to further explore whether such an individualized training approach also has positive effects from the perspective of the patient, using the analogue patient (AP) methodology.
Running title : Aeroallergens and risk of early delivery Sources of funding : Funding

Lavigne, Eric; Gasparrini, Antonio; Stieb, David M; Chen, Hong; Yasseen, Abdool S; Crighton, Eric; To, Teresa; Weichenthal, Scott; Villeneuve, Paul J; Cakmak, Sabit; +2 more. Coates, Frances; Walker, Mark; (2016) Maternal Exposure to Aeroallergens and the Risk of Early Delivery. Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass), 28 (1). pp. 107-115. ISSN 1044-3983 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0000000000000573 Downloaded from: http://researchonline.lshtm. ac.uk/id/eprint/3615669/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0000000000000573
Children ’ s encoding of simultaneity 1 / 46 Children ’ s encoding of simultaneity in British Sign Language narratives

Narrative discourse in BSL is first analyzed in an adult signer by describing how fixed and shifted sign space is used for reference and the encoding of simultaneity. Although children as young as 4 years old use parts of these sign spaces in isolation their combined use in encoding simultaneity in narrative is a major hurdle to achieving full mastery of British Sign Language (BSL). The paper describes the developmental trends in encoding simultaneity in BSL ‘frog story’ narratives from a group of 12 signing children, aged 4; 3 to 13; 4. We focus on the gradual control of reference in sign space. A transcription framework for recording this aspect of sign discourse is also outlined. The results point away from the role of iconicity and instead toward general patterns in narrative development as driving the organization of sign space and reference.
Alcohol use and associated factors among high school, college and university students in Ethiopia, systematic review, and meta-analysis, 2018

Abstract Background: Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that is widely consumed in the world. Alcohol use is the most prevalent among early adulthood. It affects individuals’ mental, physical, economical and their social issues. Aim: To show prevalence of alcohol use and associated factors among students in Ethiopia by reviewing relevant literature. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies on the prevalence of alcohol use and associated factors among students in Ethiopia were conducted. Data were searched using PubMed/Medline, Global Health, Africa-wides, PsycINFO, Google Scholar and EMBASE databases. We used the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement for reporting. The prevalence of alcohol use and associated factors was approved using the random-effects model and measured as the proportion of alcohol use (with 95% CI). Result: A month-pooled estimated prevalence of alcohol use among university, college and high school students was 26.19%. University, college and high school students who had used alcohol in the last 1-month were 25.27%, 32.34% and 23.44% respectively. Factors like being male, peer pressure and living alone were associated factors for alcohol use. Conclusion: Alcohol use among students was higher than the general population. It is better to give special attention to school students.
Combination of laccase, xylanase and cellulase in lignocellulose degradation by white rot fungi, Lentinus polychrous Lev. and L. squarrosulus Mont.

The 22 isolates of white rot fungi, Lentinus spp. were screened for their activity of cellulase, xylanase and laccase. L. polychrous Lev. LP-PT-1 was cultured in 8 liquid media and 2 solid media. These 10 media were tested for lignocellulose degradation. Potato dextrose broth (PDB) and Fahraeus broth with 2 % rice straw (FRS) were selected as appropriate media. Both media were conducted to cultivate 4 isolates of L. polychrous Lev. LP-PT-1, LP-SW-3, LP-WR-13 and LP-UD-1 and 1 isolate of L. squarrosulus Mont.LS-YA. The xylanase and cellulase activities were determined at 40∞C. Xylidine induced higher laccase actvity in 4 isolates, with the exception of LP-PT-1. LP-PT-1 produced three enzyme actvities in both PDB and FRS with and without xylidine addition. LP-SW-3 produced the highest activity of xylanase and laccase, 13.1 mU/ml and 3.27 U/ml, respectively, in FRS with xylidine addition. LP-SW-3, LP-WR-13 and LP-UD-1 showed the activity of three enzymes in FRS but lacked cellulase and/or xylanase activities in PDB. The production of xylanase of LP-SW-3 in FRS was induced by rice straw and of LP-UD-1 in PDB was induced by xylidine. LS-YA had the activity of all three enzymes in PDB but lacked xylanase activity in FRS without xylidine addition. FRS and xylidine addition was used to produce the culture broth for bleaching pulp. The increase in brightness of the treated pulp, 1.5-2.0 % higher than the control pulp, was correlated with the detected activity of xylanase of L. polychrous Lev.LP-PT-1, LP-UD-1 and L. squarrosulus Mont.LS-YA with low activity of laccase in each isolate. The high and moderate activity of xylanase with high and moderate activity of laccase in L. polychrous Lev. LP-SW-3 and LP-WR-13 did not increase the brightness of the treated pulp. It was concluded that these thermotolerant white rot fungi have the different combination of enzyme systems on lignocellulose degradation. The bleaching of pulp beneficially effected by the xylanase activity only when the activity
Clinic-level factors associated with time to antiretroviral initiation and viral suppression in a large urban cohort.

BACKGROUND Using the results of a site assessment survey performed at clinics throughout Washington DC, we studied the impact of clinic-level factors on antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and viral suppression (VS) among people living with HIV (PLWH). METHODS This was a retrospective analysis from the DC Cohort, an observational clinical cohort of PLWH from 2011-2018. We included data from PLWH not on ART and not virally suppressed at enrollment. Outcomes were ART initiation and VS (HIV RNA <200 copies/mL). A clinic survey captured information on care delivery (clinical services, adherence services, patient monitoring services, e.g.) and clinic characteristics (types of providers, availability of evenings/weekends sessions, e.g.). Multivariate marginal Cox regression models were generated to identify factors associated with time to ART initiation and VS. RESULTS Multiple clinic-level factors were associated with ART initiation, including retention in care monitoring and medication dispensing review (aHR = 1.34 to 1.40, p<0.05 for both). Furthermore, multiple factors were associated with VS, including retention in HIV care monitoring, medication dispensing review, presence of a peer interventionist (aHR ranging from 1.35 to 1.72, p<0.05 for all). In multivariable models evaluating different combinations of clinic-level factors, enhanced adherence services (aHR 1.37 (95% CI 1.18, 1.58), medication dispensing review (aHR 1.22, 95% CI 1,10, 1.36), and availability of opioid treatment (aHR 1.26 (95% CI 1.01, 1.57) were all associated with time to VS. CONCLUSIONS The observed association between clinic-level factors and ART initiation/VS suggests that the presence of specific clinic services may facilitate achievement of HIV treatment goals.
Insights into the Effects of Cancer Associated Mutations at the UPF2 and ATP-Binding Sites of NMD Master Regulator: UPF1

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a quality control mechanism that recognizes post-transcriptionally abnormal transcripts and mediates their degradation. The master regulator of NMD is UPF1, an enzyme with intrinsic ATPase and helicase activities. The cancer genomic sequencing data has identified frequently mutated residues in the CH-domain and ATP-binding site of UPF1. In silico screening of UPF1 stability change as a function over 41 cancer mutations has identified five variants with significant effects: K164R, R253W, T499M, E637K, and E833K. To explore the effects of these mutations on the associated energy landscape of UPF1, molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) were performed. MDS identified stable H-bonds between residues S152, S203, S205, Q230/R703, and UPF2/AMPPNP, and suggest that phosphorylation of Serine residues may control UPF1-UPF2 binding. Moreover, the alleles K164R and R253W in the CH-domain improved UPF1-UPF2 binding. In addition, E637K and E833K alleles exhibited improved UPF1-AMPPNP binding compared to the T499M variant; the lower binding is predicted from hindrance caused by the side-chain of T499M to the docking of the tri-phosphate moiety (AMPPNP) into the substrate site. The dynamics of wild-type/mutant systems highlights the flexible nature of the ATP-binding region in UPF1. These insights can facilitate the development of drug discovery strategies for manipulating NMD signaling in cell systems using chemical tools.
Characteristics and Factors Associated With Intimate Partner Violence–Related Homicide Post-Release From Jail or Prison

Intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and perpetration are common experiences among incarcerated people. Despite knowledge regarding the challenges of re-integrating post-release from jail or prison, including an increased risk of homicide victimization, there is a dearth of research focused on IPV-related homicides post-release from a correctional facility. To address this gap, the current study used 2003-2015 data from the National Violent Death Reporting System from 27 states to examine the characteristics and circumstances surrounding IPV-related homicides soon after the homicide victim was released from jail or prison. Of the 126 post-release homicides, 13.5% were related to IPV. Post-release homicides involving either a female victim or perpetrator were more likely to be IPV-related. In the case of many of the IPV-related homicides, there was evidence of prior IPV as well as potential bystanders (including formal and informal supports) who were aware of the risk for IPV escalation and possible lethality. Compared with non-IPV post-release homicides, those related to IPV were more likely to occur in the victim’s home, have been immediately preceded by a physical fight, and have occurred by means other than firearm. These findings highlight the importance of enhancing the capacity of correctional facilities and community-based services to assess for and respond to risk of IPV and IPV-related lethality for individuals leaving correctional institutions.
POSTPROCESSING OF THE HUMAN BODY RESPONSE TO TRANSIENT ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

The post-processing of human exposure to a transient electromagnetic fields is presented in the paper. The mathematical model is based on the cylindrical representation of the human body and the corresponding space-time Hallen integral equation. The Hallen integral equation is solved via the Galerkin-Bubnov scheme of the indirect boundary element method and the equivalent space-time current distribution along the cylindrical body model is obtained. The transient current flowing through the human body is postprocessed in terms of certain measures of quantifying the transient response. These measures arise from circuit theory and they are average and root-mean square value of time-varying current, instantaneous power dissipated in the body and total absorbed energy in the body. Illustrative numerical results are presented.
Global and zonal tropospheric ozone variations from 2003–2011 as seen by SCIAMACHY

Anonymous reviewer and editor (Comments to Author): This descriptive paper investigates tropospheric ozone trends from 2003 to 2011. It uses a data set generated by limb-nadir matching observations. The key figures 7 and 8 highlight regions of significant trends, which the paper tries to explain (tries to motivate why the trend might occur). Generally the paper is well written and illustrated. Sometimes it is hard to understand why figures have been chosen. Figures 3 to 6 are fairly underused (or not really necessary), but I have no objections keeping them in.
Differences in Osteoimmunological Biomarkers Predictive of Psoriatic Arthritis among a Large Italian Cohort of Psoriatic Patients

(1) Background: In literature it is reported that 20–30% of psoriatic patients evolve to psoriatic arthritis over time. Currently, no specific biochemical markers can either predict progression to psoriatic arthritis or response to therapies. This study aimed to identify osteoimmunological markers applicable to clinical practice, giving a quantitative tool for evaluating pathological status and, eventually, to provide prognostic support in diagnosis. (2) Methods: Soluble (serum) bone and cartilage markers were quantified in 50 patients with only psoriasis, 50 psoriatic patients with psoriatic arthritis, and 20 healthy controls by means of multiplex and enzyme-linked immunoassays. (3) Results: Differences in the concentrations of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B- ligand (RANK-L), procollagen type I N propeptide (PINP), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx-I), dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1), and sclerostin (SOST) distinguished healthy controls from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patients. We found that MMP2, MMP12, MMP13, TIMP2, and TIMP4 distinguished psoriasis from psoriatic arthritis patients undergoing a systemic treatment, with a good diagnostic accuracy (Area under the ROC Curve (AUC) > 0.7). Then, chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) and MMP10 distinguished psoriasis from psoriatic arthritis not undergoing systemic therapy and, in the presence of onychopathy, MMP8 levels were higher in psoriasis than in psoriatic arthritis. However, in these latter cases, the diagnostic accuracy of the identified biomarkers was low (0.5 < AUC < 0.7). (4) Conclusions. By highlighting never exploited differences, the wide osteoimmunological biomarkers panel provides a novel clue to the development of diagnostic paths in psoriasis and psoriasis-associated arthropathic disease.
Validation of Brief Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales in normal populations Walidacja skali Brief Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales u osób zdrowych

Aim of the study: To evaluate the psychometric properties of Brief Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (BANPS). Material and methods: For this purpose, 326 normal participants were selected, then the Brief Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales: Negative and Positive Affect Scale (NAPAS) and the Emotion Awareness Questionnaire were distributed among them to respond. The reliability of the Questionnaire was evaluated by Cronbach’s α, retest, and split-half coefficient, and then the criterion validity with other questionnaires was evaluated to determine the psychometric properties of the BANPS. The factor structure was assessed via confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The results of the factor analysis indicated that BANPS has six factors, and checking the reliability by using Cronbach’s α, retest and split-half coefficient reflects the stability of the scale and the criterion validity of the BANPS with other questionnaires showed desirable discriminant and convergent validity. Conclusions: Overall, the findings indicated that BANPS has good psychometric properties in normal samples, and the scale can be used in studies in normal samples.
ECMM/MSG –ERC

Mucormycosis is a difficult to diagnose rare disease with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis is often delayed, and disease tends to progress rapidly. Urgent surgical and medical intervention is lifesaving. Guidance on the complex multidisciplinary management has potential to improve prognosis, but approaches differ between health-care settings. From January, 2018, authors from 33 countries in all United Nations regions analysed the published evidence on mucormycosis management and provided consensus recommendations addressing differences between the regions of the world as part of the "One World One Guideline" initiative of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM). Diagnostic management does not differ greatly between world regions. Upon suspicion of mucormycosis appropriate imaging is strongly recommended to document extent of disease and is followed by strongly recommended surgical intervention. First-line treatment with high-dose liposomal amphotericin B is strongly recommended, while intravenous isavuconazole and intravenous or delayed release tablet posaconazole are recommended with moderate strength. Both triazoles are strongly recommended salvage treatments. Amphotericin B deoxycholate is recommended against, because of substantial toxicity, but may be the only option in resource limited settings. Management of mucormycosis depends on recognising disease patterns and on early diagnosis. Limited availability of contemporary treatments burdens patients in low and middle income settings. Areas of uncertainty were identified and future research directions specified.
Why Did High Productivity Growth of Banks Precede the Financial Crisis?

The observed high levels of banks’ operating efficiency, profi ts and market values in the years before the financial crisis raise reasonable doubts about the information content of conventional performance measures for the accurate assessment of the efficiency of banking intermediation. In this paper we estimate the productivity of individual Spanish banks and the industry’s productivity growth over time using the methodology of Olley and Pakes (1996) and Levinsohn and Petrin (2003), which controls for simultaneity bias. We then examine the contributions of two sets of factors to productivity growth: banking practices that have been signalled as the proximate causes of the crisis, and technical progress in the industry. We obtain that more than two thirds of the estimated productivity growth in the years 2000-2007 is attributable to practices such as the expansion of the housing market, the high recourse to securitization and short-term fi nance, and the leveraging of banks’ balance sheets. The remaining 2.8% cumulative annual growth rate is our estimate for the technical progress in the industry, similar to the estimated rate in the period 1993-2000.