Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Making all the right moves: Clinician-led development and pilot of an evaluative toolkit for a community-based school readiness group program

Introduction Children often present to occupational therapy with delays in pre-school occupations, with underlying skill deficits. If unaddressed, deficits may affect adjustment to school, jeopardising educational progress. Although evidence supports group-based interventions, evaluation can be time-intensive and expensive. We developed and piloted an evaluative toolkit to measure and report outcomes for short school readiness groups. Method We sought measures that were inexpensive, reliable and responsive to change in key domains. Skills and pre-school occupations were measured in children [n = 58; mean = 5 years] before and after our school starters group program. Parents rated their children’s skills, school readiness and level of school-related anxiety. Results Our resource-efficient, multi-measure, skills-based evaluative toolkit reliably recorded changes in children’s performance in our school readiness program. Measures were adapted for groups. Children demonstrated improvements in skills important for successful school transition pre-post program; including static and dynamic balance, pencil grasp/control, pre-writing/drawing skills and name writing. Parents’ confidence in their child’s readiness for school increased, while school-related-anxiety decreased. Conclusion The evaluative toolkit proved responsive to change and showed excellent inter-rater reliability. Measures were practicable for groups, easy to administer and score, and engaged parents in their child’s progress. In our six-session School Starters group, important pre-school skills were improved in participating children.
International trade policy uncertainty spillover on stock market: Evidence from fragile five economies

Trade policy uncertainty (TPU) and its impact on the global economy have captured much attention of the policymakers in the last decade. This paper contributes to building an emerging literature strand by investigating TPU spillovers of United States, China, and Japan on stock returns and volatilities of fragile economies, namely, Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico South Africa, and Turkey. This study confirms the existence of spillover effects employing Diebold and Yilmaz’s (2012) methodology. The results show that USA and China are net shock transmitter of TPU, while Japan is a net receiver. Chinese TPU has the largest influence among the three countries followed by USA and Japan. This study also employs vector autoregression (VAR)-DCC-GARCH and VAR-ADCC-GARCH to capture the spillover effects on stock returns and volatility. We find that TPU of USA, China, and Japan transmits shocks that drive stock market returns of fragile economies. However, the sign of the spillover effects is country specific and depends on a country’s TPU. Similar evidence was found for volatility spillover. In few cases, TPU of USA, China, and Japan stabilizes the stock market returns volatility. Hence, TPU has heterogeneous effects on stock market in Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico South Africa, and Turkey.
Multi-Phase, Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography-Based Radiomic Prognostic Marker of Non-Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Simple Summary Patients with PDA lesions with high attenuation values had longer OS in the RPC and BRPC/LAPC groups and were more likely to undergo a surgical resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. These results indicate that intra-tumoral contrast enhancement on CT is an independent prognostic factor in patients with non-metastatic PDA. Abstract Background/Aim: This study investigated the predictive ability of intra-tumor enhancement on computed tomography (CT) for the outcomes of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Methods: Multi-phase, contrast-enhanced CT (including unenhanced, pancreatic parenchymal phase (PPP) and portal venous phase (PVP)) images of patients diagnosed with non-metastatic PDA were analyzed to investigate prognostic factors. Results: Two hundred ninety-eight patients with PDA (159 with resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC) and 139 with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC)/locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC)) were included. The attenuation values of PDA during the PPP (94.5 vs. 60.7 HU; p <0.001) and PVP (101.5 vs. 75.5 HU; p <0.001) were higher in patients with RPC than in those with BRPC/LAPC. Well-enhanced PDA during the PPP was associated with longer overall survival in the RPC group (27.9 vs. 15.4 months; p <0.001) and the BRPC/LAPC group (22.7 vs. 13.6 months; p = 0.024). Patients with BRPC/LAPC who underwent neoadjuvant treatment and had well-enhanced PDA during the PPP were more likely to undergo resection. Although tumor size was also an independent prognostic factor, it was not correlated with intra-tumoral enhancement during the PPP. Conclusions: Intra-tumoral contrast enhancement on CT is an independent prognostic factor in patients with non-metastatic PDA.
Boredom and Distress Tolerance on Problematic Internet Use Among Public University Students

The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to increased psychological distress. To cope with this distress and boredom, individuals spend more time on the internet, especially university students who are at a greater risk for problematic Internet use (PIU). Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between boredom, distress tolerance, and problematic internet use. This study employed a qualitative approach using a survey. A self-administered questionnaire was designed to collect data. This study involved 363 participants among public university students. Three instruments used to measure the research variables are the Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS), Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), and the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ). Descriptive analysis and Pearson Correlation tests were conducted using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The findings showed that boredom is significantly correlated with problematic internet use. However, there was no significant correlation between distress tolerance and problematic internet use.
Assessment of the Quality of Life of Patients with Mycobacterial Pulmonary Diseases

Introduction: Mycobacteria pulmonary diseases are chronic illnesses with various impacts on patients’ health status, and wellbeing. These diseases currently represent a global health issue due to increasing burdens and the lack of new development on therapeutic options. Policies based on the quality of life may help to improve the management of this chronic respiratory disease; this study was designed to assess the quality of life of patients treated for the pulmonary mycobacterial disease. Materials and Methods: Participants diagnosed with a mycobacterial pulmonary disease were selected from the University Clinical Research Centers’ (UCRC) 2019 mycobacterial cohort database. A telephone interview was conducted using the Medical Outcome Study Short Form (SF-36) which has 36 items evaluating physical and mental wellbeing. Scores range from 0 - 100, with higher scores indicating greater Health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 23.0 and the Fisher test was used to compare percentages. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A hemoglobin was 11.8 ± 2.2 g/dl. The mean SF-36 score was 75.1 ± 16.6, and impairment was mainly related to mental problems in 59.6%. The mean total score was significantly lower with age more than 42 years than age less than 42 years. But HIV positive and BMI less than 18.5 do not lead to a significant change of mean total score. Conclusion: Patients with mycobacterial pulmonary diseases have more psychological problems than physical ones. Hence the importance of psychological support in their management to improve their quality of life. A large sample size with a deep interview component would be necessary to address limitations in this design.
The influence of L1 prosody on Bulgarian-accented German and English

The present study investigates L2 prosodic realizations in the readings of two groups of Bulgarian informants: (a) with L2 German, and (b) with L2 English. Each of the two groups consisted of ten female learners, who read the fable “The North Wind and the Sun” in their L1 and in the respective L2. We also recorded two groups of female native speakers of the target languages as controls. The following durational parameters were obtained: mean accented syllable duration, accented vs. unaccented syllable duration ratio, and speaking rate. With respect to F0 parameters, mean, median, minimum, maximum, span in semitones, and standard deviations per IP were measured. Additionally, we calculated the number of accented and unaccented syllables, IPs and pauses in each reading. Statistical analyses show that the two groups differ in their use of F0. Both groups use higher standard deviation and level in their L2, whereas the ‘German group’ use higher pitch span as well. The number of accented syllables, IPs and pauses is also higher in L2. Regarding duration, both groups use slower articulation rate. The ratio between accented and unaccented syllables is lower in L2 for the ‘English group’. We also provide original data on speaking rate in Bulgarian from an information theoretical perspective.
Intersexuality in a natural population of the terrestrial isopod Porcellioscaber

﻿Abstract Intersex phenotypes are rarely observed in natural isopod populations and their expression is typically associated with infection of Wolbachia, a reproductive parasite that manipulates arthropod reproduction. During an intensive sampling effort of a natural population of the isopod Porcellioscaber, an adult individual was isolated that expressed both male and female traits. The intersex individual exhibited clearly developed external male genitalia and carried multiple eggs in its brood pouch. No Wolbachia infection could be identified in this individual, a result that needs to be approached with caution due to suboptimal DNA preservation for diagnostic PCR assays. Wolbachia were, however, detected in two adult females of the same population, and appear closely related to isolates that infect other terrestrial isopod species. This is the first demonstration that intersex phenotypes can arise under natural conditions in P.scaber.
Land cover classification of resources survey remote sensing images based on segmentation model

Land type survey is an important task of land resources survey and the basis of scientific management of land resources. With the increasingly prominent problems of population, resources, and environment, there is an urgent need for a fast and accurate classification method of large-scale land use and land cover based on remote sensing data. Traditional machine learning classification methods based on pixel classification achieved sufficient results and are widely used, such as maximum likelihood classification and random forests method. However, with the development of the novel technology of deep learning, in practical application, for multi-classified land resources, how to use the fast and effective classification method of low and medium resolution RS images needs further research. This paper takes the land resource classification of the Tonghe medium resolution RS dataset of the third land survey in China as an example to screen and compare traditional machine learning classification methods and semantic segmentation models FC-DenseNet56, GCN, BiSeNet, U-Net, DeepLabV3, AdapNet, and PSPNet, which aim to select the optimal feature extraction model. The results show that the classification accuracy of the U-Net model can reach 93.62%, which is more accurate and effective than traditional machine learning methods and other semantic segmentation models. It is suitable for multi-classification tasks of land cover resources in low and medium resolution RS images and shows a superior effect in practical application. Besides, the conclusion of this study can provide a demonstration for large-scale land cover resources investigation using low and medium resolution RS images.
Associations of Complete Blood Count Parameters with Disease-Free Survival in Right- and Left-Sided Colorectal Cancer Patients

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Some complete blood count (CBC) parameters are found to be associated with CRC prognosis. In this study, ninety-seven pretreated CRC patients were included, and the patients were divided into two groups: left-sided and right-sided, depending on the anatomical location of the tumor. Based on clinicopathologic features including tumor budding, disease stages, and tumor anatomical location, levels of CBC parameters were compared, and disease-free survivals (DFS) were determined. There were differences between patients with different tumor budding scores for only three parameters, including red cell distribution width (RDW), numbers of platelets, and mean platelet volume (MPV). Furthermore, numbers of WBCs, monocytes, and MPV in CRC patients with early disease stages were higher than those with advanced stages. However, levels of eosinophil in CRC patients with advanced stages were higher than those with early stages. Depending on the tumor anatomical location, we observed that numbers of red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hgb), and hematocrit (Hct) in CRC patients with left-sided tumors were higher than those with right-sided tumors. We found that low levels of MPV were associated with shorter DFS. However, high levels of eosinophils were associated with shorter DFS in all CRC patients. When patients were divided based on the tumor anatomical location, higher levels of MPV, MCHC, and Hgb were associated with better DFS in the left-sided but not right-sided CRC patients. However, left-sided, but not right-sided, CRC patients with high levels of eosinophil and RDW had shorter DFS. Furthermore, right-sided, but not left-sided, CRC patients with high levels of platelets tended to have a shorter DFS. Our data show that MPV and eosinophils could serve as potential prognostic biomarkers in pre-treatment CRC patients, regardless of the tumor anatomical location. Additionally, lower levels of MPV, MCHC, and Hgb, and high levels of eosinophils and RDW could be negative predictive biomarkers in left-sided CRC patients.
Alcohol and Nicotine Use among Adolescents: An Observational Study in a Sicilian Cohort of High School Students

In recent years, the mode of alcoholic intake known as binge drinking (BD) has become a common practice, especially among adolescents who, due to socio-environmental motives, tend to reach a rapid state of drunkenness. This drunkeness leads to alterations in brain areas responsible for executive functions and cognitive processes, as well as to the genesis of factors that predispose to lasting addiction. Likewise, nicotine leads to a comparable degree of addiction. On this basis, the aim of this research was to evaluate, on a cohort of 349 high school students (15–17 years old) in the province of Palermo, the following: (I) the drinking model of alcoholic beverages; (II) the use of nicotine and the degree of dependence; (III) the correlation between the consumption of alcoholic beverages and the use of nicotine. We employed the AUDIT-C test and the Fagerström test, two valid and standard instruments, in order to assess alcohol and nicotine use, respectively. Statistical analysis of the data showed that male and female students consumed alcohol prominently in a BD mode (77.2%, audit score (AS) 3.497, confidence interval (CI) 3.206–3.788; 69.6%, AS 2.793, CI 2.412–3.274) and nicotine (41.5%, Fagerström score (FS) 3.882, CI 3.519–4.245; 28%, FS 3.286, CI 2.547–4.024). Furthermore, a positive correlation between alcohol consumption and nicotine use was found for male (r = 0.6798, p < 0.0001) and female (r = 0.6572, p < 0.0001) students. This study provided further insights into the use of legal substances of abuse in adolescents, evidencing the obvious need for the promotion of specific school educational programs aimed at the wellbeing of youth populations.
The Effects of Attention on the Syllable-Induced Prepulse Inhibition of the Startle Reflex and Cortical EEG Responses against Energetic or Informational Masking in Humans

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is the reduction in the acoustic startle reflex (ASR) when the startling stimulus (pulse) is preceded by a weaker, non-starting stimulus. This can be enhanced by facilitating selective attention to the prepulse against a noise-masking background. On the other hand, the facilitation of selective attention to a target speech can release the target speech from masking, particularly from speech informational masking. It is not clear whether attentional regulation also affects PPI in this kind of auditory masking. This study used a speech syllable as the prepulse to examine whether the masker type and perceptual spatial attention can affect the PPI or the scalp EEG responses to the prepulse in healthy younger-adult humans, and whether the ERPs evoked by the prepulse can predict the PPI intensity of the ASR. The results showed that the speech masker produced a larger masking effect than the noise masker, and the perceptual spatial separation facilitated selective attention to the prepulse, enhancing both the N1 component of the prepulse syllable and the PPI of the ASR, particularly when the masker was speech. In addition, there was no significant correlation between the PPI and ERPs under any of the conditions, but the perceptual separation-induced PPI enhancement and ERP N1P2 peak-to-peak amplitude enhancement were correlated under the speech-masking condition. Thus, the attention-mediated PPI is useful for differentiating noise energetic masking and speech informational masking, and the perceptual separation-induced release of the prepulse from informational masking is more associated with attention-mediated early cortical unmasking processing than with energetic masking. However, the processes for the PPI of the ASR and the cortical responses to the prepulse are mediated by different neural mechanisms.
The Dashui Subduction Complex in the Eastern Tianshan‐Beishan Orogen (NW China): Long‐Lasting Subduction‐Accretion Terminated by Unique Mid‐Triassic Strike‐Slip Juxtaposition of Arcs in the Southern Altaids

Comprehensive studies of the tectonic nature and the formation age of the Dashui complex in the Eastern Tianshan‐Beishan Orogen may address and help to better understand the complicated accretionary tectonics of the southern Altaids. Based on our detailed geological mapping, structural analysis, and understanding of new geochemistry and detrital zircon U‐Pb dating of critical samples, the Dashui complex can be subdivided into one mélange (Central Zone) and two units of forearc basin and slope basin (Northern and Southern Zones). The Northern Zone is composed of debris flows and turbidites. The Central Zone has a “block‐in‐matrix” structure, and the blocks of basalts have E‐MORB or N‐MORB geochemical signatures. The Southern Zone is characterized by debris flows. Therefore, we name these rocks Dashui subduction complex. Detrital zircons from the three zones show a major single age peak at ca. 460–420 Ma and a minor age peak at ca. 280–260 Ma, and the maximum depositional ages from north to south are: 264, 244 and 246 Ma, respectively, indicate that the Dashui subduction complex developed independently within an overall intra‐oceanic arc until ca. 244 Ma, and there must have been a large‐scale tectonic separation between the Central Tianshan Arc to the north and the Shuangyingshan Arc to the south. The structural geometry and kinematics of the Dashui complex and adjacent areas indicate that this complex likely experienced syn‐subduction thrusting and strike‐slip deformation. In particular, the late Xingxingxia strike‐slip faulting finally juxtaposed the Central Tianshan, Mazongshan, and Shuangyingshan arcs.
The Relationship between Exercise Self-Efficacy, Intention, and Structural Barriers for Physical Activity after a Cancer Diagnosis

Simple Summary Despite numerous benefits of physical activity for cancer patients, the majority is insufficiently active. Previous research has shown that structural barriers negatively affect patients’ physical activity behavior. Identifying underlying mechanisms could help to develop effective strategies that alleviate those barriers and increase physical activity levels. In the current survey study, we investigated whether cancer patients’ self-efficacy, i.e., their confidence in their ability, and their intention to exercise mediated the relationship between structural barriers and physical activity. The results revealed a negative relation between structural barriers and patients’ self-efficacy. Lower self-efficacy, in turn, decreased patients’ intention and their likelihood to engage in physical activity. This mediating effect especially applied to those individuals who were sufficiently active before the diagnosis. Thus, the findings suggest that interventions directly addressing the perception of structural barriers or patients’ self-efficacy in dealing with these barriers might be effective in improving the physical activity levels of cancer patients. Abstract Previous research has shown that structural barriers negatively influence the physical activity (PA) behavior of cancer patients, but underlying mechanisms are unclear. The aim of the current study was to explore the potential mediating role of social-cognitive factors, namely PA self-efficacy and PA intention in this context. A total of 856 cancer patients completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic and medical characteristics, pre- and post-diagnosis PA, PA self-efficacy, PA intention, and PA impediment by structural barriers. A serial mediation model was used to test whether the association between structural barriers and post-diagnosis PA was mediated by PA self-efficacy and/or PA intention, in the overall sample and in subsamples defined by individuals’ pre-diagnosis PA. The results confirmed that structural barriers were not directly (95%CI [−0.45; 0.10]) but indirectly associated with post-diagnosis PA. Higher impediment by structural barriers decreased the likelihood of sufficient post-diagnosis PA via lower PA self-efficacy (95%CI [−0.25; −0.06]) and via the serial pathway of lower PA self-efficacy and lower PA intention (95%CI [−0.19; −0.05]). Investigating differences in these mediations by pre-diagnosis PA yielded significance only among previously active cancer patients. Both structural barriers and PA self-efficacy might hence be relevant target points for interventions aiming to improve PA behavior, especially among pre-diagnosis active cancer patients.
Different Methods and Formulations of Drugs and Vaccines for Nasal Administration

Nasal drug delivery is advantageous when compared with other routes of drug delivery as it avoids the hepatic first-pass effect, blood–brain barrier penetration, and compliance issues with parenteral administration. However, nasal administration also has some limitations, such as its low bioavailability due to metabolism on the mucosal surface, and irreversible damage to the nasal mucosa due to the ingredients added into the formula. Moreover, the method of nasal administration is not applicable to all drugs. The current review presents the nasal anatomy and mucosal environment for the nasal delivery of vaccines and drugs, as well as presents various methods for enhancing nasal absorption, and different drug carriers and delivery devices to improve nasal drug delivery. It also presents future prospects on the nasal drug delivery of vaccines and drugs.