Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Implementation of Evidence-based Practice in Oman: A Multi-institutional, Cross-sectional Study

Objectives Little attention has been paid to the study of evidence-based practice (EBP) among nurses in Oman. Our aim was to explore knowledge, practice, and attitudes towards EBP among nurses working in Oman. Methods This multi-institutional cross-sectional study utilized the self-reported EBP Questionnaire with a random sample of 262 nurses working in three different health care settings in Al Dakhliyah governorate, Oman (local hospitals, primary health centers and polyclinics, and schools). Results A total of 202 nurses (response rate: 77.1%) completed the questionnaire. The mean age was 32.4±4.7 years. Most respondents were females (92.5%), Omani (79.1%), and holders of a diploma in nursing (73.5%) with a mean clinical experience of 10.9±4.2 years. Attitudes towards EBP showed the highest mean score of 5.5±1.2 followed by knowledge (4.9±0.8) and practice (4.7±1.2). Significant positive correlations were identified between the total years of nursing experience and knowledge (rs = 0.145, n = 198, p = 0.041), practice (rs = 0.172, n = 198, p = 0.015), and attitudes (rs = 0.158, n = 197, p = 0.026) mean scores. No significant difference in EBP scores was found among the three clinical settings. Conclusion Although attitudes towards EBP were positive, knowledge and implementation of EBP were low. This study serves as a baseline assessment for future evaluations and provides a basis for the implementation of strategies to promote EBP utilization among nurses in three different health care settings in Oman.
Transcriptomic Analysis Links Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Atopic Dermatitis

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is commonly associated with concomitant atopic diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic airway (AA) diseases including asthma. Despite this link and the shared pathologic features across these three disorders, detailed analyses of the unifying molecular pathways are lacking. Objectives: We sought to investigate the mRNA expression profile overlap between EoE, AA, and AD and to identify the involvement of interleukin 13 (IL-13) in modulating gene expression. Methods: Whole-genome mRNA expression analyses were performed on tissue specimens (biopsies or nasal brushes) from patients with EoE, AD, and AA, and IL-13-stimulated primary human epithelial cells from the esophagus, the skin, and the airways. Results: By human disease expression profiles, EoE evidenced a significantly higher overlap (p = 0.0006) with AD (181 transcripts; 10%) than with AA (124 transcripts, 7%). Only 18 genes were found to be commonly dysregulated among the three diseases; these included filaggrin, histamine receptor H1, claudin 1, cathepsin C, plasminogen activator urokinase receptor, and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3. Ontogenetic analysis revealed a common immune/inflammatory response among the three diseases and a different epithelial response (epidermal cell differentiation) between EoE and AA. The overlap between the IL-13–stimulated epithelial cell transcriptome and the respective disease transcriptome was 22, 9, and 5% in EoE, AD, and AA, respectively, indicating a greater involvement of the IL-13 pathway in EoE than AA (p = 0.0007) or AD (p = 0.02). Conclusion: EoE, AD, and AA share a common set of disease-specific transcripts, highlighting common molecular etiology. Their comparative analysis indicates relatively closer relationships between EoE and AD, particularly centered around IL-13–driven pathways. Therefore, these findings provide an increased rationale for shared therapeutic strategies.
Implementation of guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata), and a novel larvicide (Pyriproxyfen) product (Sumilarv 2MR) for dengue control in Cambodia: A qualitative study of acceptability, sustainability and community engagement

Background In Cambodia dengue vector control activities are focused on larviciding with temephos and pyrethroid based adulticide sprays to which Aedes have been shown to be increasingly resistant. A cluster randomized trial assessed the impact of using biological control tools (guppy fish, pyriproxyfen (PPF), and Communication for Behavioral Impact (COMBI) activities in combination), which would be used in a value comparison to traditional chemical control tools. Given these new intervention methods, a qualitative assessment was designed in order to represent the quality of understanding, acceptance, and implementation by participants. Methodology/Principal findings A total of 103 participants in 12 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and nine In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) were included in the study. The majority of participants in intervention villages (50 out of 80) preferred guppy fish over other vector control methods due to ease of use and rearing, quick reproduction and propensity to eat larvae. A substantial number of participants (11 out of 40) in intervention villages with PPF favored it due to long-lasting effectiveness, lack of smell and easy maintenance. Participants showed high demand for both interventions and were willing to pay between 100–500 riel (0.03–0.13 USD). Nearly all participants perceived that the interventions resulted in a reduction in Aedes mosquitos (both adults and immatures) and dengue cases. The presence of larvae in the water despite the use of PPF was a source of concern for some participants, although this was overcome in some cases with proper health education through health volunteers. Interpersonal communication through health volunteers was the most favorite method of transmitting prevention messages. Conclusions/Significance The community led COMBI strategy resulted in high acceptance and perceived effectiveness of the interventions in target villages. Health volunteers are an effective and accepted channel of communication to engage communities, disseminate information and promote behavioral change at the household and community level. If shown effective through corresponding entomological surveys, the interventions should be continued and further strengthened to ensure they are accessible, available and affordable.
Bone regeneration using β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) block with interconnected pores made by setting reaction of β-TCP granules.

We fabricated an interconnected dual porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) block via a setting reaction of β-TCP granules. This β-TCP block was unique because it exhibits a fully interconnected macroporous structure with micropores in the walls surrounding macropores and a roughened surface. The porosity and diametral tensile strength of the resulting product were 58.1 ± 1.7% and 1.4 ± 0.2 MPa, respectively. Rabbit distal femur bone defects were reconstructed using the porous β-TCP block and the efficacy of the porous β-TCP block as an artificial bone substitute was evaluated histomorphometrically. For a dense β-TCP control, four weeks following implantation, only 0.2 ± 0.1% of the β-TCP was resorbed, and the amount of newly formed bone was limited (0.1 ± 0.1 %), whereas when the defect was reconstructed with porous β-TCP, 9.2 ± 3.1% was resorbed, and the amount of new bone was 18.9 ± 5.5%. This represents an approximately 50-fold enhancement in resorption and a 200-fold increase in bone formation for our porous β-TCP block. Therefore, interconnected dual porous β-TCP made via β-TCP granule setting has good potential as an artificial bone substitute. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Associations Between Personality Traits and Cognitive Resilience in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES The goal of this paper was to examine associations between personality traits and resilience to neuropathologic burden. METHOD Using data from the Religious Orders Study and the Rush Memory and Aging Project, we identified a total of 1,375 participants with personality, cognitive, and post-mortem neuropathology data. We regressed cognition onto pathology and extracted the residuals as an indicator of cognitive resilience. We then modeled the effect of Big Five personality traits on cognitive resilience, adjusting for demographics, APOE status, medical comorbidities, and cognitive activity. The analytic plan was preregistered prior to data access or analysis, and all scripts and outputs are available online. RESULTS Higher neuroticism was associated with greater vulnerability to pathology. Results from exploratory analyses suggest that higher conscientiousness was associated with less cognitive decline relative to the amount of pathology, or greater resilience. Education and cognitive activity did not moderate these associations. DISCUSSION Personality may have a pathoplastic effect on neuropathology, as low neuroticism and high conscientiousness are associated with better function despite neuropathologic burden.
Evaluation Of B.ed Programme And Comparison Of Itâ€™s Curriculum With Bs Education Professional Area

Teacher plays pivotal role in the field of education. Quality of education depends on the quality of teachers. It is rightly stated that no system of education is better than its teachers. To play this role teacher must be proficient, skillful and well versed in the art of teaching. Therefore, it is imperative and obligatory that teacher should be properly trained to perform this awesome and onerous responsibility. Teacher can be made efficient and effective through imparting effective training. Different types of programmes are offered in Pakistan to impart training to prospective teachers. It is highly essential that effectiveness of these programmes may be ascertained to retain or revise the programmes, therefore, this study has been undertaken. To explore the topic of the study following major objectives were formulated.To analyze the objectives, curriculum, methodology, evaluation process, teaching practice and facilities in the institutions. ii) To compare the quality of training provided in the institutions. iii) to identify the problems and issues related to quality of teacher training in training institutions. iv) to compare the opinion of teacher educators on the curriculum of B.Ed and B S education.Population of this study consisted of the heads of the institutions, teacher educators and student teachers of teacher training institutions in public sector in Pakistan. The sample of the study was drawn 26 Govt colleges of education, institute of education and research and departments of education in the universities. Seven questionnaires were used as instrument for the collection of data. Seven questionnaires were developed for data collection from the sample. Questionnaires were pilot tested before their administration to the sample of the study and their reliability was calculated. Data were collected, tabulated and interpreted by applying the percentage, means, t test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to draw conclusions.In the light of analysis, it was found that majority of head of the institutions and teacher educators were satisfied with most of the dimensions of B.Ed training programme. Majority of student teachers expressed their dissatisfaction over the training programmes, because teacher educators use obsolete training techniques. B S education programme was declared to be more popular and effective than B.EdProgramme. On the basis of conclusions it was recommended that B.Edprogramme should be revised, modified to make it need oriented.
Recent trends in squamous cell carcinoma of the anus incidence and mortality in the United States, 2001-2015.

BACKGROUND Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) incidence is rising in the United States (US). Study of incidence trends by stage at diagnosis, age-specific and birth cohort patterns, and trends in mortality could provide evidence for a true increase and etiological clues for this rise. METHODS Using the US Cancer Statistics dataset, we examined trends in SCCA incidence (2001-2015) and mortality (2001-2016) rates. Joinpoint regression was used to compute annual and average annual percentage change (AAPC). Incidence patterns by five-year age group and birth cohort were evaluated using incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and age-period-cohort modeling. RESULTS SCCA incidence increased 2.7% per year (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1%-3.3%) with pronounced increases in age groups 50 years and older. Distant stage SCCA incidence tripled (AAPC, 8.6% [95% CI = 5.4%-12.0%]) among men and 7.5% [95% CI = 4.8%-10.2%] among women) and regional stage SCCA incidence nearly doubled (AAPC, 4.7% for men and women) in both sexes; the AAPC for localized stage was 1.3% [95% CI = 0.6%-2.0%] in men and 2.3% [95% CI = 1.8%-2.8%] in women. Compared to adults born circa 1946, recent born Black men (born circa 1986) had nearly fivefold higher (IRR, 4.7; 95% CI = 2.1-10.2) risk of SCCA and the risk doubled among White men (IRR= 2.0; 95% CI = 1.7-2.2) and White women (IRR, 2.1; 95% CI = 1.9-2.3) born after circa 1960. Anal cancer mortality rates increased 3.1% per year (95% CI = 2.6%-3.5%) with statistically significant increases in age groups 50 years and older. Incidence-based mortality increased 1.9% annually (95% CI = 0.5%-3.4%) with a notable (4.9% [95% CI = 2.4%-7.3%] per year) rise in 60-69-year-old adults. CONCLUSION The rise in SCCA incidence, particularly advanced stage disease, and a similar rise in mortality, suggests a true increase in the occurance of SCCA. Future research and improved prevention is urgently needed to mitigate the rising disease burden.
A The GLUE and SciTail Datasets

Similarity and Paraphrase Tasks. For this type of tasks, the model needs to determine whether or to what extent two given sentences are semantically similar to each other. Both the MRPC and the QQP tasks are classification tasks that require the model to predict whether the sentences in a pair are semantically equivalent. The STS-B task, on the other hand, is a regression task and requires the model to output a real-value score representing the semantic similarity of the two sentences.
Neonatal inhibition of DNA methylation disrupts testosterone-dependent masculinization of neurochemical phenotype.

Many neural sex differences are differences in the number of neurons of a particular phenotype. For example, male rodents have more calbindin-expressing neurons in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and females have more neurons expressing estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and kisspeptin in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) and the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV), respectively. These sex differences depend on neonatal exposure to testosterone, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. DNA methylation is important for cell phenotype differentiation throughout the developing organism. We hypothesized that testosterone causes sex differences in neurochemical phenotype via changes in DNA methylation, and tested this by inhibiting DNA methylation neonatally in male and female mice, and in females given a masculinizing dose of testosterone. Neonatal testosterone treatment masculinized calbindin, ERα and kisspeptin cell number of females at weaning. Inhibiting DNA methylation with zebularine increased calbindin cell number only in control females, thus eliminating sex differences in calbindin in the mPOA and BNST. Zebularine also reduced the sex difference in ERα cell number in the VMH, in this case by increasing ERα neuron number in males and testosterone-treated females. In contrast, the neonatal inhibition of DNA methylation had no effect on kisspeptin cell number. We conclude that testosterone normally increases the number of calbindin cells and reduces ERα cells in males through orchestrated changes in DNA methylation, contributing to, or causing, the sex differences in both cell types.
Validation and evaluation of the Mandarin version of the oral health literacy adult questionnaire in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to translate the Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire into a Mandarin version (MOHL-AQ) and to examine its psychometric properties. METHODS A methodological research using psychometric testing and evaluation of a translated instrument. A convenience sample of 402 participants from northern Taiwan were recruited for the validation of the MOHL-AQ. Internal consistency reliability, split-half reliability, inter-rater reliability, face validity, content validity, and construct validity were evaluated. RESULTS The value of internal consistency and split-half reliability of the MOHL-AQ were 0.77 and 0.78, respectively. Content validity reported a high content validity index (CVI = 95%). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and parallel analysis (PA) were used to determine a unidimensional model and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to confirm the model. The indices of good fit model were achieved at GFI = 0.93, AGFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.90, PGFI = 0.73, χ2 /df = 1.86 (p < .001). Most of the item-total correlations indicated adequate and acceptable convergent validity (r > .30). CONCLUSION MOHL-AQ demonstrates adequate psychometric properties for measuring the oral health literacy in Mandarin-speaking population. Public health nurses can use MOHL-AQ to assess oral health literacy in the community settings and further screen potential population with inadequate oral health literacy.
Single molecule characterization of individual extracellular vesicles from pancreatic cancer

ABSTRACT Biofluid-accessible extracellular vesicles (EVs) may represent a new means to improve the sensitivity and specificity of detecting disease. However, current methods to isolate EVs encounter challenges when they are used to select specific populations. Moreover, it has been difficult to comprehensively characterize heterogeneous EV populations at the single vesicle level. Here, we robustly assessed heterogeneous EV populations from cultured cell lines via nanoparticle tracking analysis, proteomics, transcriptomics, transmission electron microscopy, and quantitative single molecule localization microscopy (qSMLM). Using qSMLM, we quantified the size and biomarker content of individual EVs. We applied qSMLM to patient plasma samples and identified a pancreatic cancer-enriched EV population. Our goal is to advance single molecule characterization of EVs for early disease detection. Abbreviations: EV: Extracellular Vesicle; qSMLM: quantitative Single Molecule Localization Microscopy; PDAC: Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma; EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor 1; CA19-9: carbohydrate antigen 19-9; SEC: size exclusion chromatography; WGA: wheat germ agglutinin; AF647: Alexa Fluor 647; Ab: antibody; HPDEC: Healthy Pancreatic Ductal Epithelial Cell; TEM: Transmission Electron Microscopy.
Structural and biochemical studies of the glucuronoyl esterase OtCE15A illuminate its interaction with lignocellulosic components

Glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) catalyze the cleavage of ester linkages between lignin and glucuronic acid moieties on glucuronoxylan in plant biomass. As such, GEs represent promising biochemical tools in industrial processing of these recalcitrant resources. However, details on how GEs interact and catalyze degradation of their natural substrates are sparse, calling for thorough enzyme structure-function studies. Presented here is a structural and mechanistic investigation of the bacterial GE OtCE15A. GEs belong to the carbohydrate esterase family 15 (CE15), which is in turn part of the larger α/β-hydrolase superfamily. GEs contain a Ser-His-Asp/Glu catalytic triad, but the location of the catalytic acid in GEs has been shown to be variable, and OtCE15A possesses two putative catalytic acidic residues in the active site. Through site-directed mutagenesis, we demonstrate that these residues are functionally redundant, possibly indicating the evolutionary route toward new functionalities within the family. Structures determined with glucuronate, in both native and covalently bound intermediate states, and galacturonate provide insights into the catalytic mechanism of CE15. A structure of OtCE15A with the glucuronoxylooligosaccharide 23-(4-O-methyl-α-d-glucuronyl)-xylotriose (commonly referred to as XUX) shows that the enzyme can indeed interact with polysaccharides from the plant cell wall, and an additional structure with the disaccharide xylobiose revealed a surface binding site that could possibly indicate a recognition mechanism for long glucuronoxylan chains. Collectively, the results indicate that OtCE15A, and likely most of the CE15 family, can utilize esters of glucuronoxylooligosaccharides and support the proposal that these enzymes work on lignin-carbohydrate complexes in plant biomass.
THE ROLE OF REDUNDANT TEMPORAL CUE ON PERCEIVED VOWEL DURATION: EVIDENCE FROM TONE LANGUAGE SPEAKERS

This study explores whether temporal information associated with different lexical tones influences the perception of vowel duration. In a perception experiment, Mandarin and Korean listeners rated the duration of duration-controlled CV syllables carrying one of the four lexical tones in Mandarin and a reduced Tone 3 (T3half, X). The results showed that perceived vowel duration by Korean listeners reflected general perceptual biases: contour tones were rated as longer than level tones, and high-f0 tones (e.g., X) were rated as longer than low-f0 tones (e.g., X). In direct contrast, although contour tones were generally rated as longer than level tones, Mandarin listeners overestimated the duration of vowels carrying T3, the longest tone in production: X (T3full) was rated as the longest, and X (T3half) was rated as longer than X. The findings suggest that perceived vowel duration is guided by redundant temporal cues available in one’s native language as well as general auditory biases.
Neurodevelopment at 11 months after starting antiretroviral therapy within 3 weeks of life

Background Antiretroviral therapy (ART) started between 7 and 12 weeks of age improves neurodevelopmental outcomes in HIV-infected (HIV+) infants, but the impact of even earlier initiation is not yet described. Objectives We assessed the early neurodevelopment of HIV+ infants who started ART within 21 days of life. Method Participants were enrolled from the public sector birth HIV-diagnosis programme. Inclusion criteria included the following: birth weight > 2000 g, infant commencing ART < 6 weeks and no infant cytomegalovirus disease. Antiretroviral therapy included Zidovudine/Lamivudine/Nevirapine for the first 2 weeks, the latter then replaced by Lopinavir/Ritonavir. Once body weight > 3 kg and gestational age > 44 weeks, Abacavir replaced Zidovudine. The Griffiths mental development scales (GMDS) were administered at 10–12 months. Results Of 29 infants assessed, 23 (79%) were girls. Mean birth weight was 3002 ± 501 g. Twenty-four mothers (83%) received ART during pregnancy. Seven (24%) infants were diagnosed HIV+ within 48 h of birth. Median [interquartile range] viral load (VL) at diagnosis was 3904 [259–16 922] copies/mL, age starting ART was 6.0 [3–10] days and age at VL suppression was 19.1 [15–36] weeks. At the GMDS assessment, nine (31%) participants had detectable VL and 26 (90%) had World Health Organization (WHO) clinical stage I disease. The GMDS was performed at a mean age of 11.5 ± 0.8 months. Mean quotients were within the average range: Global Griffiths score was 103.6 ± 10.9 and mean quotients on the subscales ranged from lowest 95.9 ± 13.4 for locomotor to highest 112.8 ± 11.3 for hearing-and-language. Conclusion Preliminary findings in this small group suggest that early neurodevelopmental scores are within the normal range in infants with perinatal HIV infection who started ART at a median of 6 days.