Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interventions for Healthcare Provider Burnout: A Systematic Literature Review

Burnout, an occupational syndrome resulting from chronic stress and emotionally intense work demands, is highly prevalent among healthcare providers (HCPs). Burnout among HCPs is associated with negative consequences for provider health, patient care, and the healthcare system. There is a lack of clear guidelines on how to assist U.S.-based healthcare organizations develop interventions for HCP burnout, including effective intervention types and preferred metrics for quantifying burnout. To address this, this author conducted a systematic literature review. The literature review identified U.S.-based interventions for HCP burnout as well as measures used to assess burnout. The studies included in the literature review (N = 28) describe interventions that can be grouped into the following six categories: mindfulness-based interventions, workplace improvement interventions, positive reflection interventions, stress management interventions, interventions focused on coping with patient death, and other interventions that could not be grouped in any of the predominant categories. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was most used to assess burnout, but the Mini-Z survey, the Professional Quality of Life Survey, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, and intervention-specific scales were also used to quantify burnout. Analysis of the literature led to key recommendations for burnout intervention development and evaluation. These include implementing evidence-based interventions at both the individual and the organizational levels, testing for intervention acceptability, and assessing burnout with valid and reliable instruments. These guidelines may assist healthcare organizations implement their own evidence-based interventions and help reduce widespread burnout among their employees, thereby improving patient safety and quality of care.
BERT-CF: Contrastive Flows for MultiTask-BERT

Generating sentence-level embeddings that generalize across language understanding tasks remains a difficult task, given the shorter context of many sentences. BERT, an architecture for sentence encodings using masked language modeling with bidirectional Transformers, has spawned a variety of methods for robust representations under both unsupervised and supervised contexts (Devlin et al., 2019). Extensions of BERT have used contrastive learning (Gao et al., 2021), which aims to pull together similar sentences and push apart differing sentences, and generative flows (Li et al., 2020), which aim to project embeddings into a more symmetric space, to improve unsupervised semantic similarity. In BERT-CF, we aim to combine these into one pretraining schema, and evaluate in both the unsupervised and multitask supervised finetuning domains.
Abstract Measurement Theory.

The need for quantitative measurement represents a unifying bond that links all the physical, biological, and social sciences. Measurements of such disparate phenomena as subatomic masses, uncertainty, information, and human values share common features whose explication is central to the achievement of foundational work in any particular mathematical science as well as for the development of a coherent philosophy of science. This book presents a theory of measurement, one that is "abstract" in that it is concerned with highly general axiomatizations of empirical and qualitative settings and how these can be represented quantitatively. It was inspired by, and represents a generalization and extension of, the last major research work in this field, "Foundations of Measurement Vol. I," by Krantz, Luce, Suppes, and Tversky published in 1971. "Abstract Measurement Theory" presents an overview of the subject with a high degree of generality; it explores several new directions of development; and it introduces a number of significant recent results. One of its major new directions is the extension of measurement to non-Archimedean situations through the use of nonstandard analysis.Among the other topics discussed are the classification and axiomatization of the possible scale types that can occur in science, the theory of numerical representations for ordered relational structures, the generalization of extensive measurement to situations where concatenation operations need be neither associative nor commutative, and the measurement of "conjoint" ordered situations-ones that can be factored into separate, ordered components. Throughout the book, emphasis is placed on attaining a deeper and more exact understanding of the role of axiomatization in the theory of measurement.Louis Narens is Professor of Mathematical Social Science at the University of California, Irvine.
CAMBRIDGE WORKING PAPERS IN ECONOMICS JANEWAY INSTITUTE WORKING PAPERS Do consumption-based asset pricing models explain own-history predictability in stock market returns?

We show that three prominent consumption-based asset pricing models the Bansal-Yaron, Campbell-Cochrane and Cecchetti-Lam-Mark models cannot explain the own-history predictability properties of stock market returns. We show this by estimating these models with GMM, deriving ex-ante expected returns from them and then testing whether the difference between realised and expected returns is a martingale difference sequence, which it is not. Furthermore, semi-parametric tests of whether the models' state variables are consistent with the degree of own-history predictability in stock returns suggest that only the Campbell-Cochrane habit variable may be able to explain return predictability, although the evidence on this is mixed. Reference Details 2259 Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2226 Janeway Institute Working Paper Series Published 20 October 2022
Association between catastrophizing, postoperative pain, and injury severity in soldiers injured during the first year of the war in Ukraine

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the associ-ation between catastrophizing, postoperative pain, and in-jury severity following war-related injuries among soldiers injured during the first year of the war in Ukraine.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 135 patients with war-related injuries treated at the Center of Thermal Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery of the Vinnytsia re-gional University hospital in Ukraine between August 2022 and November 2022. Following surgical treatment, patients’ catastrophizing was assessed using the Ukrainian version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (UA-PCS) and correlated with the pain levels assessed with the numerical rating scale (NRS), and the scores obtained with Injury Severity Score (ISS) and the Combat Exposure Scale (CES). The poten-tial pre-existing traumatic events in a participant’s lifetime were assessed with The Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5). Results: Multiple regression analyses showed no significant association between the PCS total score and demographic variables of age, gender, marital status, education, duration of military service, or time from injury. Only 3.6% of the variance in the catastrophizing scores was accountable for the contribution of independent demographic variables. We found a moderate positive correlation between catastroph-izing scores (including all the subscales) with pain NRS, ISS, and CES scores. The pain NRS, ISS, and CES scores account for 43.4% of the variability of PCS scores. Previous traumat-ic events did not contribute to the catastrophizing scores.Conclusion: Our study describes a positive association be-tween catastrophizing, sustained injuries, combat expo-sure, and postoperative pain. Since our sample consists of injured soldiers that were young and healthy before suffering major war-related polytrauma, our study offers a unique perspective, different from all other previous studies in which catastrophizing was investigated in a ci-vilian population.
Reemergence of Acute ischemic Stroke hospitalizations in the United States from 2010 to 2020

Stroke hospitalization rates in the United States are unequally distributed across the population. Factors such as age, race, socioeconomic status, and sex are associated with different hospitalization rates for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to review the patterns in these rates from 2010 to 2020.The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to analyze patterns in AIS hospitalizations in the United States between 2010 and 2020 based on age, sex, race, region, stroke comorbidities, and income. The overall rate of AIS hospitalization increased from 230 to 254 per 100,000 individuals(+10.4%) between 2010 and 2020. Initially, the rates declined from 2010 to 2015(230 to 227 per 100,000); however, from 2016 to 2020, the AIS hospitalization rates(AIS-HR)increased(242 to 254 per 100,000). The rate of AIS hospitalization increased significantly for individuals aged 2544 years(2537 per 100,000, +48.0%)and 4565 years(171235 per 100,000, +37.4%). AIS hospitalization rates remained relatively stable for individuals aged6584 years(669688 per 100,000, +3.7%)and declined for those over 85 years(20051756 per 100,000, -12.4%). Among sex comparisons, AIS hospitalization rates were stable in women(241250 per 100,000, +3.7%)and increased in men (270308 per 100,000, +14.1%). In terms of race, Blacks had the highest age-adjusted yearly hospitalization rate (437), followed by Whites (215) and Hispanics (207) per 100,000 in 2020. There was a stepwise increase in AIS hospitalization rates based on the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), with White, Black, and Hispanic populations having AIS hospitalization rates of CCI 0 and 1 (533, 434, and 233), CCI 2 (2197, 2555, and 2125), and CCI 3 (5283, 5724, and 4767) per 100,000, respectively.Although the overall AIS hospitalization rate increased between 2010 and 2020, there was an initial decline until 2015, followed by a resurgence. This resurgence in AIS hospitalization rates was driven by greater underlying comorbidities, with disproportionate increases observed in Black and Hispanic populations. Further population analyses and cohort studies are required to confirm our findings.
All That Glitters in cfDNA Analysis Is Not Gold or Its Utility Is Completely Established Due to Graft Damage: A Critical Review in the Field of Transplantation

In kidney transplantation, a biopsy is currently the gold standard for monitoring the transplanted organ. However, this is far from an ideal screening method given its invasive nature and the discomfort it can cause the patient. Large-scale studies in renal transplantation show that approximately 1% of biopsies generate major complications, with a risk of macroscopic hematuria greater than 3.5%. It would not be until 2011 that a method to detect donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) employing digital PCR was devised based on analyzing the differences in SNPs between the donor and recipient. In addition, since the initial validation studies were carried out at the specific moments in which rejection was suspected, there is still not a good understanding of how dd-cfDNA levels naturally evolve post-transplant. In addition, various factors, both in the recipient and the donor, can influence dd-cfDNA levels and cause increases in the levels of dd-cfDNA themselves without suspicion of rejection. All that glitters in this technology is not gold; therefore, in this article, we discuss the current state of clinical studies, the benefits, and disadvantages.
The Relevance of the Expected Value of the Proportion of Arabian Genes in Genetic Evaluations for Eventing Competitions

Simple Summary The relevance of the expected value of the proportion of Arabian genes (EV%AG) in different horse breeds participating in the eventing discipline, and the way this factor should be included in equine genetic evaluations for eventing, have not been studied in depth in the current literature. A total of 1089 horses participating in eventing competitions (8862 participation records) were used for this study. The significance of the EV%AG in the different scores obtained was studied, and was found to be significant for the three exercises that make up the discipline of eventing (dressage, show jumping and cross-country). Five genetic models were computed to study the importance of the EV%AG in the pedigree of 10,375 horses. The best-fitted models following the DIC criterion were those including age as covariate, sex, breed, level, EV%AG and event as systematic effects, rider, animal and residual as random effects and variance heterogeneity, concluding that the best way to model the EV%AG effect seems to be by considering the variance heterogeneity. Dressage and show jumping heritability ranged from 0.10 in approach C to 0.21 in D. The estimated heritability for the cross-country trait oscillated less, between 0.07 and 0.01 in approach D. Abstract The Arabian horse is a generally reliable sport horse, and continues to be a remarkable endurance horse, so the relevance of the expected value of the proportion of Arabian genes (EV%AG) in horses participating in eventing could be a relevant factor. A total of 1089 horses participating in eventing (8866 records) were used. A GLM revealed that the EV%AG was significant in dressage, show jumping and cross-country. A BLUP genetic evaluation was computed with five genetic models (without the EV%AG (0) using as a covariate (A), as a fixed effect (B), with variance heterogeneity, and in genetic groups without (C) and with (D)). Dressage heritability ranged from 0.103 to 0.210, show jumping ranged from 0.117 to 0.203 and cross-country ranged from 0.070 to 0.099. The lowest DIC value was used as a criterion of fitness. The best fits (those which included variance heterogeneity) showed fewer than two points of difference in DIC values. The highest average estimated breeding value in dressage, show jumping and cross-country was found for horses with an expected value of the proportion of Arabian genes of 0%, ≥1% to <25%, and 100%, respectively. Therefore, the best way to model the EV%AG effect seems to be by considering the variance heterogeneity.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis for the Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections in Children: Guideline and Recommendations from the Emilia-Romagna Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections (UTI-Ped-ER) Study Group

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) represents one of the most common infectious diseases and a major cause of antibiotic prescription in children. To prevent recurrent infections and long-term complications, low-dose continuous antibiotic prophylaxis (CAP) has been used. However, the efficacy of CAP is controversial. The aim of this document was to develop updated guidelines on the efficacy and safety of CAP to prevent pediatric UTIs. Methods: A panel of experts on pediatric infectious diseases, pediatric nephrology, pediatric urology, and primary care was asked clinical questions concerning the role of CAP in preventing UTIs in children. Overall, 15 clinical questions were addressed, and the search strategy included accessing electronic databases and a manual search of gray literature published in the last 25 years. After data extraction and narrative synthesis of results, recommendations were developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) methodology. Results: The use of CAP is not recommended in children with a previous UTI, with recurrent UTIs, with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) of any grade, with isolated hydronephrosis, and with neurogenic bladder. CAP is suggested in children with significant obstructive uropathies until surgical correction. Close surveillance based on early diagnosis of UTI episodes and prompt antibiotic therapy is proposed for conditions in which CAP is not recommended. Conclusions: Our systematic review shows that CAP plays a limited role in preventing recurrences of UTI in children and has no effect on its complications. On the other hand, the emergence of new antimicrobial resistances is a proven risk.
Emergent Inflammatory Markers and Echocardiographic Indices in Patients with Bronchial Asthma

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, characterized by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress of the airways. Several inflammatory pathways including activation of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) have been described in the course of the disease. DJ-1 is a redox-sensitive protein with multifaceted roles in mast cell homeostasis and an emerging role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Moreover, cardiac function abnormalities have been described via echocardiography in patients with asthma. The main aim of this study was to investigate the plasma levels of RAGE, its ligands and DJ-1 in asthmatic patients pre- and post-treatment along with echocardiographic indices of cardiovascular function. The study population was divided into two groups. Group A included 13 patients with newly diagnosed bronchial asthma who were free of treatment for at least two weeks and Group B included 12 patients without asthma. An echocardiography examination was performed on all patients. The plasma levels of RAGE, its ligands (AGEs, S100A12, S100B, S100A8/A9), the interleukins (IL-6, IL-1β) and DJ-1 were measured. No differences were noted among the two groups for baseline characteristics and echocardiographic indices of cardiac function. In Group A, 31% suffered from mild asthma, 54% from moderate asthma and 15% from severe asthma. Plasma levels of IL-6, AGEs and AGE/RAGE ratio were increased and those of S100A12 and DJ-1 were decreased in asthmatics. Pharmacotherapy with corticosteroids/β2-agonists decreased IL-6, and AGEs, and increased DJ-1. In search of novel approaches in diagnosing and treating patients with asthma, S100A12, ratio AGE/sRAGE, and DJ-1 in addition to IL-6 may prove to be useful tools.
Gold Nanoparticles Inhibit Extravasation of Canine Osteosarcoma Cells in the Ex Ovo Chicken Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane Model

Canine osteosarcoma (OS) is an aggressive bone tumor with high metastatic potential and poor prognosis, mainly due to metastatic disease. Nanomedicine-based agents can be used to improve both primary and metastatic tumor treatment. Recently, gold nanoparticles were shown to inhibit different stages of the metastatic cascade in various human cancers. Here, we assessed the potential inhibitory effect of the glutathione-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au-GSH NPs) on canine OS cells extravasation, utilizing the ex ovo chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. The calculation of cells extravasation rates was performed using wide-field fluorescent microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy and Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy revealed Au-GSH NPs absorption by OS cells. We demonstrated that Au-GSH NPs are non-toxic and significantly inhibit canine OS cells extravasation rates, regardless of their aggressiveness phenotype. The results indicate that Au-GSH NPs can act as a possible anti metastatic agent for OS treatment. Furthermore, the implemented CAM model may be used as a valuable preclinical platform in veterinary medicine, such as testing anti-metastatic agents.
Associations between Diet and Changes in Pain Levels among Young Women with Premenstrual Syndrome—A Preliminary Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between PMS (premenstrual syndrome)-related pain among young women following a particular type of diet during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was compared to the period before the pandemic. Furthermore, we aimed to determine whether the increase in the intensification of pain was correlated to their age, body weight, height and BMI, and whether there are differences in PMS-related pain between women who differ in their diet. A total of 181 young female Caucasian patients who met the criteria for PMS were involved in the study. Patients were divided according to the kind of diet they had followed during the last 12 months before the first medical evaluation. The rise in pain score was evaluated according to the Visual Analog Scale before and during the pandemic. Women following a non-vegetarian (“basic”) diet had a significantly higher body weight in comparison to those on a vegetarian diet. Furthermore, a significant difference was noted between the level of intensification of pain before and during the pandemic in women applying a basic diet, a vegetarian and an elimination diet. Before the pandemic, women from all groups felt weaker pain than during the pandemic. No significant difference in the intensification of pain during the pandemic was shown between women with various diets, nor was there a correlation between intensification of pain and the girl’s age, BMI, their body weight and also height for any of the diets applied.
Rapid Unconscious Acquisition of Conditioned Fear with Low-Spatial-Frequency but Emotionally Neutral Stimuli

It has long been proposed that emotionally “prepared” (i.e., fear-related) stimuli are privileged in the unconscious acquisition of conditioned fear. However, as fear processing is suggested to highly depend on the coarse, low-spatial-frequency (LSF) components of the fear-related stimuli, it is plausible that LSF may play a unique role in the unconscious fear conditioning even with emotionally neutral stimuli. Here, we provided empirical evidence that, following classical fear conditioning, an invisible, emotionally neutral conditioned stimulus (CS+) with LSF, but not with high spatial frequency (HSF), can rapidly elicit stronger skin conductance responses (SCRs) and larger pupil diameters than its CS− counterpart. In comparison, consciously perceived emotionally neutral CS+ with LSF and HSF elicited comparable SCRs. Taken together, these results support that the unconscious fear conditioning does not necessarily entail emotionally prepared stimuli but prioritizes LSF information processing and highlight the crucial distinctions between the unconscious and the conscious fear learning. These findings not only coincide with the postulation that a rapid, spatial-frequency-dependent subcortical route is engaged in unconscious fear processing but also suggest the existence of multiple routes for conscious fear processing.
UAS™—A Urine Preservative for Oncology Applications

Simple Summary In the field of cancer, body fluids such as urine are gaining interest for non-invasive cancer detection and screening. To enable home collection, sample shipment, and sample storage at ambient temperatures, the addition of preservatives is critical. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a recently developed preservative, UAS™, for the preservation of urinary analytes in oncology applications. We demonstrated that UAS™ preserves host cell integrity and cell-free DNA and prevents bacterial overgrowth under conditions encountered with remote collections. Additionally, UAS™ is compatible with commercially available urinary analyte isolation kits. The preservative facilitates urine collection in the comfort and privacy of the patient’s home, making cancer screening programs more accessible and lowering the burden on healthcare workers. Abstract Liquid biopsy is a revolutionary tool that is gaining momentum in the field of cancer research. As a body fluid, urine can be used in non-invasive diagnostics for various types of cancer. We investigated the performance of UAS™ as a preservative for urinary analytes. Firstly, the need for urine preservation was investigated using urine samples from healthy volunteers. Secondly, the performance of UAS™ was assessed for cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and host cell integrity during storage at room temperature (RT) and after freeze-thaw cycling. Finally, UAS™ was used in a clinical setting on samples from breast and prostate cancer patients. In the absence of a preservative, urinary cfDNA was degraded, and bacterial overgrowth occurred at RT. In urine samples stored in UAS™, no microbial growth was seen, and cfDNA and cellular integrity were maintained for up to 14 days at RT. After freeze-thaw cycling, the preservation of host cell integrity and cfDNA showed significant improvements when using UAS™ compared to unpreserved urine samples. Additionally, UAS™ was found to be compatible with several commercially available isolation methods.