Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Individual heterogeneity as a pitfall in population estimates based on non-invasive genetic sampling: a review and recommendations

Abstract In recent years, much progress has been made in non-invasive genetic methods for various purposes including population estimation. Previous research focused on optimising laboratory protocols and assessing genotyping errors. However, an important source of bias in population estimates still remains in the field sampling methods. The probability of animals being sampled can vary according to sex, age, social status or home-range location. In this article, we present relevant literature reviewed to provide an overview of the occurrence of individual heterogeneity (IH) in the field, and how it can be minimised, e.g. by adaptation of sampling design. We surveyed 38 articles describing non-invasive population estimation for 12 mammal and two bird species. The majority of these studies discussed IH as a potential problem. The detectability of IH via goodness-of-fit testing depended on the average capture probability reported in the studies. Field tests for assessing variation in sampling probabilities or validating estimations were carried out in only 11 of the 38 studies. The results of these tests point out that IH is a widespread problem in non-invasive population estimation, which deserves closer attention not only in the development of laboratory protocols but also concerning the sampled species' characteristics and the field methods. IH can be reduced in the field by carefully adapting the sampling design to the characteristics of the studied population. If this is not reasonable, it may be better to switch to a different sampling strategy.
A Novel Simulated-Use Test for Determining the Efficacy of Insecticides Against Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Abstract The common bed bug Cimex lectularius L. has undergone a worldwide expansion in recent years, due to increased opportunities for dispersal and development of insecticide resistance. For successful control, efficacy testing of products against bed bugs and determination of insecticide resistance under practical conditions are of outstanding importance. A new test system mimicking the practical use situation of residual insecticides was developed and evaluated. Bed bugs were attracted by CO2 and heat to cross surfaces treated with alpha-cypermethrin and bendiocarb. In contrast to the complete efficacy of alpha-cypermethrin (less than 1% surviving bed bugs [with one exception of 5%]), only 45.3, 46, and 29% of insecticide-susceptible bed bugs showed lethal damage 7 d after contact with freshly bendiocarb-treated wallpaper or insecticide aged for 1 or 2 wk. Results show that the efficacy of different insecticides can be assessed with this new test system. Moreover, susceptibility to deltamethrin of five bed bug field strains, collected from infested apartments in Berlin, Germany, was determined in a filter paper contact bioassay. Resistance ratios (RRs) ranged between 4.3 and 20.7. In the novel simulated-use test, efficacy of alpha-cypermethrin was tested against the bed bug strain with the highest RR. In contrast to the insecticide-susceptible laboratory strain, alpha-cypermethrin was not effective against the field strain, where 26–50% of the bed bugs survived and even laid eggs. These results provide evidence for the presence of practically relevant pyrethroid resistance in bed bugs in Germany.
A Comparative Study of Eyelid Parameters in Involutional Entropion

A comparative study of eyelid parameters reported to be important in involutional entropion was made. Males and females aged 65 years with normal eyelids, acute involutional entropion (history <6 weeks), and chronic involutional entropion (history 6 weeks) were entered into the study. Significant findings were increased vertical laxity in each entropion group and increased horizontal laxity in the chronic entropion group. The upper eyelid action had an essential role in the turning in of affected lower eyelids. The degree of pretarsal overriding in the lower eyelid was not a significant differentiating feature when the groups were compared. The findings of this comparative study provide the basis for suggesting the pathophysiology of involutional entropion.
Paid Caregiver Communication With Homebound Older Adults, Their Families, and the Health Care Team.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Although paid caregivers (e.g., home health aides and home care workers) provide essential care for homebound older adults with serious illness in their homes, little is known about how and to whom paid caregivers communicate about the health needs they encounter. This study explored how paid caregivers (i) communicate when older adults experience symptoms or clinical changes and (ii) interact with the health care team. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted separate one-on-one, semi-structured interviews (n = 30) lasting 40-60 min with homebound older adults (or their proxies if they had cognitive impairment) and their paid caregivers (provided they had worked with the older adult for ≥8 hr per week for ≥6 months). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded. RESULTS Thematic analysis identified four themes: (i) older adults or their families were the gatekeepers to paid caregiver communication with the health care team; (ii) communication between older adults, their families, and paid caregivers was enhanced when close relationships were present; (iii) paid caregivers responded to health care team inquiries but rarely communicated proactively; and (4) most older adults, families, and paid caregivers were satisfied with existing paid caregiver communication with the health care team. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS Rather than discuss concerns with the health care team, paid caregivers communicated directly with older adults or their families about the health needs they encounter. Understanding how communication occurs in the home is the first step to maximizing the potentially positive impact of paid caregivers on the health of older adults living at home.
Quantitative Analysis of Retinal Microvascular Changes after Conbercept Therapy in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Purpose: To quantitatively evaluate microvascular changes in eyes with macular oedema due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) before and after intravitreal conbercept injection and the correlation of such changes with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and retinal thickness. Methods: Twenty-eight eyes of 28 patients treated with a single intravitreal injection of conbercept for macular oedema due to BRVO were included in this study. The automatically measured values of the vessel density in the superficial (SCP) and deep retinal capillary plexus (DCP), the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, the FAZ perimeter, the vessel density within a 300 μm wide ring surrounding the FAZ (FD-300), the acircularity index (AI), the choriocapillaris flow area and the retinal thickness were obtained via OCTA before and at 1 month after initial injection and compared with those of age- and sex- matched healthy subjects. Results: In BRVO eyes, the vascular density in the SCP and DCP, the FD-300 and the flow area of choriocapillaris were significantly lower than those in healthy eyes, while the AI and the retinal thickness were significantly increased. After treatment, the retinal thickness in eyes with BRVO was significantly decreased in all quadrants, and the mean BCVA dramatically increased from 20/162 to 20/78 (p = 0.0017). The mean flow area of choriocapillaris significantly improved after treatment. Moreover, negative correlations between the logMAR BCVA and the whole vascular density in the SCP and DCP as well as the flow area of choriocapillaris were observed. Conclusion: OCTA enables non-invasive, layer-specific and quantitative assessment of microvascular changes in eyes with BRVO before and after treatment, and it can be used as a valuable imaging tool for the evaluation of the follow-up in BRVO patients.
Clinical relevancy and determinants of potential drug–drug interactions in chronic kidney disease patients: results from a retrospective analysis

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) alters the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic responses of various renally excreted drugs and increases the risk of drug-related problems, such as drug–drug interactions. Objectives To assess the pattern, determinants, and clinical relevancy of potential drug–drug interactions (pDDIs) in CKD patients. Materials and methods This study retrospectively reviewed medical charts of all CKD patients admitted in the nephrology unit of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan from January 2013 to December 2014. The Micromedex Drug-Reax® system was used to screen patient profiles for pDDIs, and IBM SPSS version 20 was used to carry out statistical analysis. Results We evaluated 209 medical charts and found pDDIs in nearly 78.5% CKD patients. Overall, 541 pDDIs were observed, of which, nearly 60.8% patients had moderate, 41.1% had minor, 27.8% had major, and 13.4% had contraindicated interactions. Among those interactions, 49.4% had good evidence, 44.0% had fair, 6.3% had excellent evidence, and 35.5% interactions had delayed onset of action. The potential adverse outcomes of pDDIs included postural hypotension, QT prolongation, ceftriaxone–calcium precipitation, cardiac arrhythmias, and reduction in therapeutic effectiveness. The occurrence of pDDIs was found strongly associated with the age of <60 years, number of prescribed medicines ≥5, hypertension, and the lengthy hospitalization of patients. Conclusion The occurrence of pDDIs was high in CKD patients. It was observed that CKD patients with an older age, higher number of prescribed medicines, lengthy hospitalization, and hypertension were at a higher risk of pDDIs.
Brief Report: Sex Differences in Substance Use, Mental Health, and Impaired Driving Among Rural DUI Offenders.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Studies have documented sex differences among driving under the influence (DUI) offenders, but none have examined rural DUI offenders. METHODS Rural DUI offenders (83 males and 34 females) self-reported past year and lifetime substance use, mental health problems, and impaired driving history. RESULTS Substance use and impaired driving histories were similar, but significant disparities in mental health problems for female DUI offenders were found. CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE This initial examination of sex differences among rural DUI offenders suggests additional research is needed to better understand their substance use and mental health problems and whether different treatment approaches are needed. (Am J Addict 2017:1-4).
Prevalence of genital and oropharyngeal chlamydia and gonorrhoea among female sex workers in Melbourne, Australia, 2015–2017: need for oropharyngeal testing

Objective The Victorian legislation requires sex workers to have quarterly screening for genital chlamydia and gonorrhoea, but screening for oropharyngeal infection is not mandatory in Victoria, Australia. In 2017, oropharyngeal screening for gonorrhoea and chlamydia was added as part of the routine quarterly screening for sex workers attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC). The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of oropharyngeal gonorrhoea and chlamydia among female sex workers (FSW). Methods We included females who (1) self-identified as sex workers or were attended MSHC for a sex work certificate and (2) had tested for any STI or HIV, between March 2015 and December 2017. The prevalence of HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea was calculated. Results There were 8538 FSW consultations among 2780 individuals during the study period. There was a twofold increase in genital gonorrhoea (from 0.5% (95% CI 0.3% to 0.9%) to 1.1% (95% CI 0.8% to 1.5%); ptrend=0.047) and a 1.5-fold increase in genital chlamydia (from 2.2% (95% CI 1.6% to 2.8%) to 3.2% (95% CI 2.6% to 3.8%); ptrend=0.031) during the period. Overall, the prevalence of HIV (0.2% (95% CI 0.1% to 0.3%)) and syphilis (0.1% (95% CI 0.0% to 0.2%)) remained low and did not change over time. In 2017, the prevalence of oropharyngeal gonorrhoea was 2.0% (95% CI 1.6% to 2.6%) and oropharyngeal chlamydia was 2.1% (95% CI 1.6% to 2.7%). Among FSW who were tested positive for gonorrhoea and chlamydia, 55% (n=41) and 34% (n=45) only tested positive in the oropharynx but not genital for gonorrhoea and chlamydia, respectively. Conclusion The prevalence of oropharyngeal gonorrhoea and chlamydia is similar to the prevalence at genital sites and is often independent of genital infection. It is important to test the oropharynx and genital site for chlamydia and gonorrhoea among FSW.
Risk of malignancy associated with cytomorphology subtypes in the salivary gland neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential (SUMP) category in the Milan System: A bi‐institutional study

Salivary gland neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential (SUMP) is a diagnostic category in the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology. The objective of this study was to assess the risk of neoplasm (RON) and the risk of malignancy (ROM) in SUMP cases by evaluating them based on their prominent cytomorphology.
Exercise prevents the adverse effects of maternal obesity on placental vascularization and fetal growth

Maternal exercise improves the metabolic health of maternal mice challenged with a high‐fat diet. Exercise intervention of obese mothers prevents fetal overgrowth. Exercise intervention reverses impaired placental vascularization in obese mice. Maternal exercise activates placental AMP‐activated protein kinase, which was inhibited as a result of maternal obesity.
Diametrically opposed associations between academic achievement and social anxiety among university students with and without autism spectrum disorder

Research findings indicate that anxiety, social anxiety in particular, is the most common experience reported by individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) attending postsecondary education. Among students without ASD, higher levels of social anxiety have been postulated to correlate with impaired academic achievement; restriction of one's social network because of anxiety is thought to lead to reduction of access to resources important for learning such as social/emotional support and collaborative learning. However, despite growing interest in the outcomes of young students with ASD, no research has studied the associations between academic achievement and anxiety among students with ASD. This study examined the association between social anxiety and grade point average (GPA) among university students: 55 diagnosed with ASD, 31 without ASD but high levels of social anxiety, and 25 without ASD and with low levels of social anxiety (controls). GPAs were significantly lower for the ASD group than for the two non‐ASD groups. Among students without ASD, a negative correlation between social anxiety and grades was observed whereas the reverse pattern was found for the ASD group, meaning that for students with ASD, higher levels of social anxiety were associated with higher grades. Additionally, in a regression analysis, ASD diagnosis, social anxiety, and the interaction of group × social anxiety significantly predicted GPA. Possible explanations for this finding, as well as implications for interventions among this population of high‐functioning students with ASD, are discussed. Autism Res 2019, 12: 1376–1385. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Financial Toxicity After Cancer in a Setting With Universal Health Coverage: A Call for Urgent Action.

BACKGROUND Financial toxicity negatively affects the well-being of cancer survivors. We examined the incidence, cost drivers, and factors associated with financial toxicity after cancer in an upper-middle-income country with universal health coverage. METHODS Through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Costs in Oncology study, 1,294 newly diagnosed patients with cancer (Ministry of Health [MOH] hospitals [n = 577], a public university hospital [n = 642], private hospitals [n = 75]) were observed in Malaysia. Cost diaries and questionnaires were used to measure incidence of financial toxicity, encompassing financial catastrophe (FC; out-of-pocket costs ≥ 30% of annual household income), medical impoverishment (decrease in household income from above the national poverty line to below that line after subtraction of cancer-related costs), and economic hardship (inability to make necessary household payments). Predictors of financial toxicity were determined using multivariable analyses. RESULTS One fifth of patients had private health insurance. Incidence of FC at 1 year was 51% (MOH hospitals, 33%; public university hospital, 65%; private hospitals, 72%). Thirty-three percent of households were impoverished at 1 year. Economic hardship was reported by 47% of families. Risk of FC attributed to conventional medical care alone was 18% (MOH hospitals, 5%; public university hospital, 24%; private hospitals, 67%). Inclusion of expenditures on nonmedical goods and services inflated the risk of financial toxicity in public hospitals. Low-income status, type of hospital, and lack of health insurance were strong predictors of FC. CONCLUSION Patients with cancer may not be fully protected against financial hardships, even in settings with universal health coverage. Nonmedical costs also contribute as important drivers of financial toxicity in these settings.
Reconsidering the Moralization of Health: Practices Versus Concepts, and What We Can Learn from Evidence-based Research

Abstract: This article aims to do two things. First, it argues that moralization of health occurs not only at the practical level of individual healthcare choices and health states, but also at the conceptual level of health itself. This is most evident in cases where the concept of health is presumed to possess the property of “overridingness” when compared to competing values and norms, that is, when it is treated as taking precedence over other values and norms it may come into conflict with. Second, the article makes a case for being critically skeptical of specific deployments of the concept of health when it has been moralized in this way. In such cases, what typically results is that some other personal value/norm, or set of values/norms, held by the individual is treated as intrinsically at odds with the concept of health, which is presumed, uncritically, to be superior, often because it is taken to be free-standing and self-justifying. Yet, a growing body of evidence-based research suggests that the role played by dimensions of personal meaningfulness in the quality of individuals’ overall health is quite underappreciated. It is useful to think of these dimensions of personal meaning and significance as representing the individual’s values. Thus, taking these data more seriously ought to lead to a reevaluation of the moralization of health at the conceptual level. In the first place, it is not obvious that if the concept of health runs afoul of other values/norms held by an individual, the latter should automatically yield. In the second place, they suggest that other values/norms held by an individual are not necessarily intrinsically opposed to the concept of health, but in fact may go a good distance in support of it.
Regulation of Cdc42 and its effectors in epithelial morphogenesis

ABSTRACT Cdc42 – a member of the small Rho GTPase family – regulates cell polarity across organisms from yeast to humans. It is an essential regulator of polarized morphogenesis in epithelial cells, through coordination of apical membrane morphogenesis, lumen formation and junction maturation. In parallel, work in yeast and Caenorhabditis elegans has provided important clues as to how this molecular switch can generate and regulate polarity through localized activation or inhibition, and cytoskeleton regulation. Recent studies have revealed how important and complex these regulations can be during epithelial morphogenesis. This complexity is mirrored by the fact that Cdc42 can exert its function through many effector proteins. In epithelial cells, these include atypical PKC (aPKC, also known as PKC-3), the P21-activated kinase (PAK) family, myotonic dystrophy-related Cdc42 binding kinase beta (MRCKβ, also known as CDC42BPB) and neural Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASp, also known as WASL). Here, we review how the spatial regulation of Cdc42 promotes polarity and polarized morphogenesis of the plasma membrane, with a focus on the epithelial cell type. Summary: We review how spatial regulation of the small GTPase Cdc42 promotes polarity and polarized morphogenesis of the plasma membrane, with a focus on the epithelial cell type.
Cannabis use is associated with increased risk of cigarette smoking initiation, persistence, and relapse among adults in the US.

INTRODUCTION Despite increasing use of cannabis, it is unclear how cannabis use is related to cigarette transitions. This study examined cannabis use and smoking initiation, persistence, and relapse over one year among a nationally representative sample of United States (US) adults. METHODS Data were from US adults (18+) who completed two waves of longitudinal data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study (Wave 1, 2013-2014; Wave 2, 2014-2015; n=26,341). Logistic regression models were used to calculate the risk of Wave 2 incident smoking among Wave 1 never smokers, smoking cessation among Wave 1 smokers, and smoking relapse among Wave 1 former smokers by Wave 1 cannabis use. Analyses were adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, and education. RESULTS Among Wave 1 never smokers, cannabis use was associated with increased odds of initiation of non-daily (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=5.50, 95% confidence limits (CL)= 4.02-7.55) and daily cigarette smoking (AOR=6.70, 95% CL=4.75-9.46) one year later. Among Wave 1 daily smokers, cannabis use was associated with reduced odds of smoking cessation (AOR=0.36, 95% CL=0.20-0.65). Among Wave 1 former smokers, cannabis use was associated with increased odds of relapse to daily and non-daily cigarette smoking (daily AOR=1.90, 95% CL=1.11-3.26; non-daily AOR=2.33, 95% CL=1.61-3.39). CONCLUSIONS Cannabis use was associated with increased cigarette smoking initiation, decreased smoking cessation, and increased smoking relapse among adults in the US. Increased public education about the relationship between cannabis use and cigarette smoking transitions may be needed as cannabis use becomes more common among US adults. IMPLICATIONS As cannabis use increases in the US and other countries, an evaluation of the relationships of cannabis use to other health-related behaviors (e.g., cigarette smoking) is needed to understand the population-level impact of legalization. Little is known about associations between cannabis use and cigarette smoking transitions (1) using recent longitudinal data, (2) among adults, and (3) examining transitions other than smoking initiation (e.g., smoking relapse). Our results suggest that among US adults, cannabis use was associated with increased cigarette smoking initiation among never smokers, decreased cigarette smoking cessation among current smokers, and increased cigarette smoking relapse among former smokers.