Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of Pannexin 1 ATP-Permeable Channels in the Regulation of Signaling Pathways during Skeletal Muscle Unloading

Skeletal muscle unloading results in atrophy. We hypothesized that pannexin 1 ATP-permeable channel (PANX1) is involved in the response of muscle to unloading. We tested this hypothesis by blocking PANX1, which regulates efflux of ATP from the cytoplasm. Rats were divided into six groups (eight rats each): non-treated control for 1 and 3 days of the experiments (1C and 3C, respectively), 1 and 3 days of hindlimb suspension (HS) with placebo (1H and 3H, respectively), and 1 and 3 days of HS with PANX1 inhibitor probenecid (PRB; 1HP and 3HP, respectively). When compared with 3C group there was a significant increase in ATP in soleus muscle of 3H and 3HP groups (32 and 51%, respectively, p < 0.05). When compared with 3H group, 3HP group had: (1) lower mRNA expression of E3 ligases MuRF1 and MAFbx (by 50 and 38% respectively, p < 0.05) and MYOG (by 34%, p < 0.05); (2) higher phosphorylation of p70S6k and p90RSK (by 51 and 35% respectively, p < 0.05); (3) lower levels of phosphorylated eEF2 (by 157%, p < 0.05); (4) higher level of phosphorylated GSK3β (by 189%, p < 0.05). In conclusion, PANX1 ATP-permeable channels are involved in the regulation of muscle atrophic processes by modulating expression of E3 ligases, and protein translation and elongation processes during unloading.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Disorders. A Critical Review

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of the worldwide population. Citizens suffer the social, economic, physiological, and psychological effects of this pandemic. Primary sources, scientific articles, and secondary bibliographic indexes, databases, and web pages were used for a consensus critical review. The method was a narrative review of the available literature to summarize the existing literature addressing mental health concerns and stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The main search engines used in the present research were PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar. We found the pandemic has had a direct impact on psychopathologies such as anxiety, increasing its ratios, and depression. Other syndromes such as burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder have increased with the pandemic, showing a larger incidence among medical personnel. Moreover, eating disorders and violence have also increased. Public authorities must prepare healthcare systems for increasing incidences of mental pathologies. Mental health apps are one of the tools that can be used to reach the general population.
Mortality, Risk Factors and Risk Assessment after Periprosthetic Femoral Fractures—A Retrospective Cohort Study

Periprosthetic femoral fracture (PFF) is a devastating complication. Here, the authors aimed to determine the influence of the timing of surgery as a risk factor for mortality and poor postoperative outcome in patients suffering from PFF. A retrospective descriptive analysis of patients treated for PFF between January 2010 and March 2018 was performed. In addition to patient and treatment characteristics, we assessed mortality rates and postoperative functional outcome by using the Harris Hip and WOMAC score. One-year mortality after PFF was 10.7%. Delayed surgery after 48 h did not negatively influence mortality after PFF. The postoperative hospital stay did not influence the mortality rate, nor did it correlate with medical scores of comorbidities, general health or functionalities. Cementation of stem correlated negatively with the WOMAC score. Deceased patients had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, while American society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) scores did not show a significant difference. There were no differences between ORIF and revision arthroplasty. In conclusion, delayed surgery after 48 h does not negatively influence mortality after PFF. The CCI seems to be a suitable tool to assess patients’ risk for increased mortality after PFF, while the usually used ASA score is not able to achieve a relevant risk assessment.
Allochthonous resources are less important for faunal communities on highly productive, small tropical islands

Abstract Ecosystems are interconnected by energy fluxes that provide resources for the inhabiting organisms along the transition zone. Especially where in situ resources are scarce, ecosystems can become highly dependent on external resources. The dependency on external input becomes less pronounced in systems with elevated in situ production, where only consumer species close to the site of external input remain subsidized, whereas species distant to the input site rely on the in situ production of the ecosystem. It is largely unclear though if this pattern is consistent over different consumer species and trophic levels in one ecosystem, and whether consumer species that occur both proximate to and at a distance from the input site differ in their dependency on external resource inputs between sites. Using stable isotope analysis, we investigated the dependency on external marine input for common ground‐associated consumer taxa on small tropical islands with high in situ production. We show that marine input is only relevant for strict beach‐dwelling taxa, while the terrestrial vegetation is the main carbon source for inland‐dwelling taxa. Consumer species that occurred both close (beach) and distant (inland) to the site of marine input showed similar proportions of marine input in their diets. This supports earlier findings that the relevance of external resources becomes limited to species close to the input site in systems with sufficient in situ production. However, it also indicates that the relevance of external input is also species‐dependent, as consumers occurring close and distant to the input site depended equally strong or weak on marine input.
Sex Differences in Salivary Free Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels in Elderly Outpatients

Objective Many studies have explored serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1; however, only a few studies have investigated its presence in the saliva. Therefore, this study examined sex-based differences in salivary-free insulin-like growth factor-1 (fIGF-1), salivary growth hormone (GH), serum IGF-1 levels, and serum GH levels in older adults aged ≥60 years. The participants were further divided into <75 years and ≥75 years and examined the differences in the levels of the biomarkers mentioned above based on their sex. Design The participants were 80 regular outpatients (40 men and 40 women) with various diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. We randomly selected them based on the disease being treated. Men and women were divided into two groups according to age (aged <75 years or ≥75 years) for statistical analysis, including Student's t-test and Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficient tests. Results The analysis of sex differences in salivary fIGF-1 levels in patients aged <75 years showed significantly higher levels in women than in men. Correlation analyses of salivary fIGF-1 levels with salivary GH, serum IGF-1, and serum GH revealed a significant positive correlation of salivary fIGF-1 levels with serum IGF-1 and GH levels in men aged <75 years. In women aged ≥75 years, serum GH levels revealed a significant positive correlation with salivary GH levels and age. Conclusions The results suggested a higher possibility of the local synthesis of oral IGF-1 in women aged <75 years than in men aged <75 years.
Effect of the presence of an aquarium in the waiting area on the stress, anxiety and mood of adult dental patients: A controlled clinical trial

Background Interaction with fish is known to reduce stress and anxiety in humans. Objective This trial evaluated the effect of an aquarium present in a geriatric dental clinic waiting-area (WA) on blood pressure (BP), heart-rate (HR), anxiety, and mood of waiting patients. Methods Participants were recruited into three groups: control (CG): WA without aquarium; partially-stocked aquarium (PSA): aquarium without fish; fully-stocked aquarium (FSA): aquarium with fish. BP and HR of the participants were recorded upon arrival and after 20-minutes of waiting, along with anxiety [State trait anxiety inventory (STAI-6)] and mood [Feeling scale (FS), Felt arousal scale (FAS)] scores. A purpose-built questionnaire evaluated the subjective assessment of the participants’ experience in the WA. ANOVA with repeated measures and nonparametric tests were used for statistical analysis (p<0.05). Results 392 patients (mean age: 65.07±16.9y) completed this trial. There was an effect of time on the BP [systolic: F(1, 120) = 44.82, p<0.001; diastolic: F(1, 120) = 25.10, p<0.001] and HR [F(1, 120) = 40.94, p<0.001]. No effect of groups on BP [systolic: F(1, 120) = 1.01, p = 0.32; diastolic: F(1, 120) = 0.01, p = 0.92] was revealed, but a decrease of HR [F(1, 120) = 21.59, p<0.001]. No effect of time*group on BP [systolic: F(1, 120) = 0.89, p = 0.35; diastolic: F(1, 120) = 0.31, p = 0.58], or HR [F(1, 120) = 1.04, p-0.31]. WA groups had no effects on the participants’ anxiety [H(2) = 2.76, p = 0.25], or mood [FS: H(2) = 2.28, p = 0.32; FAS: H(2) = 1.54, p = 0.46]. Patients rated FSA higher than others [H(2) = 20.98, p<0.001). Conclusions There was no influence of the presence of an aquarium on the patients’ blood pressure, heart rate, anxiety, or mood.
Would Organizational Climate and Job Stress Affect Wellness? An Empirical Study on the Hospitality Industry in Taiwan during COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitality employees face a tremendous amount of job stress due to the decline in revenue and close contact with people. This study has three aims: first, to analyse the status quo of organizational-climate job stress on employee wellness in the hospitality industry during COVID-19; second, to discuss the correlation between organizational-climate job stress and employee wellness in the hospitality industry; and third, to analyze the associations between of personal background and organizational climate on job stress and wellness in the hospitality industry. This research uses a survey method to examine these issues. Participants were employees of franchise hotel branches in Taipei City, which yielded 295 effective sample sizes from five chain hotels. The personal background factor questionnaire, organizational climate questionnaire, job stress questionnaire, and wellness questionnaire served as the main research tools. In this study, Factor analysis, Pearson Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis were used for sample analysis. The results revealed a significant relationship between organizational-climate job stress with wellness. Personal background factors, organizational climate, and job stress would affect the wellness of employees. As a result, the present research provides empirical evidence for the impact of organizational climate and job stress on employee wellness in the hospitality industry in Taiwan during COVID-19. The study’s findings, as well as its theoretical and practical implications, are discussed. The main contribution of this study is that the results serve as a reference for hospitality business owners to design better organizational environments for their employees, plan human-resource-related strategies, and provide training for their employees during a pandemic.
How Do Air Quality Issues Caused by Particulate Matter Affect Consumers’ Emotional Response to Tourism Destinations and Willingness to Visit?

This study identifies the perceived risk factors of particulate matter (PM) and the effect of the perceived risk factors of PM on the relationship between tourists’ trust and aspiration regarding the tourist destination, the customer return on investment, and the willingness to visit a tourism destination. Accordingly, this study discussed the severity of PM, which plays a key role in causing air quality issues, and classified the factors for perceived risk of PM into physical, psychological, financial, functional, and time risks to verify its effect on consumers’ emotional response and willingness to visit. Data collection for empirical analysis took place in April 2021 for two weeks. A total of 285 significant data points were obtained on tourists with travel experience in the past year. The demographic characteristics were confirmed using SPSS 22.0 (IBM, New York, NY, USA) and AMOS 22.0 (IBM, New York, NY, USA), and the measurement and structural models were verified through a confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, respectively. The empirical analysis showed that the perceived risk of PM has a negative effect on trust in the tourism destination and desire for it, and the behavioral intention of customers. Furthermore, alternative attractiveness was found to play a significant moderating role. The results of this study proved the negative effect of PMs on tourism destinations and provided implications and insights to present a meaningful strategy for minimizing PMs’ perceived risk.
Convergent and Discriminant Validity of the Barthel Index and the EQ-5D-3L When Used on Older People in a Rehabilitation Setting

This study compares the empirical performance of a commonly used functional-status measure, the Barthel Index (BI), to that of a widely used generic preference-based instrument, the EuroQoL-5-Dimensions 3 Level (EQ-5D-3L), in older people. Data from older people receiving rehabilitation services were used to test the validity of the BI and EQ-5D-3L. Convergent validity was investigated using Spearman’s correlation, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), scatter plots, Krippendorff’s alpha and modified Bland-Altman plots. Discriminant validity was examined using Kruskal Wallis tests, ceiling effects and EFA. A total of 1690 participants were included in the analysis. The BI total and EQ-5D-3L utility scores showed moderate correlation (r = 0.51; Krippendorff’s alpha = 0.52). Kendall’s Tau-B correlations between BI items and EQ-5D-3L dimensions measuring the same construct were weak to moderate (0.05 ≤ absolute r ≤ 0.54). In the EFA, some BI items cross-loaded onto the same factors as EQ-5D-3L dimensions, suggesting that the instruments were interrelated. The BI, however, focuses more on physical functioning, while the EQ-5D-3L measures broader wellbeing concepts. Both instruments showed good discriminant validity and would therefore be equally valuable for measuring subgroup differences. Researchers should consider using the BI in rehabilitation to capture more physical functioning-specific constructs not measured by the EQ-5D-3L.
The Impact of Mobility Restriction Strategies in the Control of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Modelling the Relation between COVID-19 Health and Community Mobility Data

Background: Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), particularly mobility restrictions, are mainstay measures for the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. We evaluated the effects of Oman’s mobility restriction strategies to highlight their efficacy in controlling the pandemic. Methods: Accessible national data of daily admissions and deaths were collected from 1 April 2020 to 22 May 2021. Google Community Mobility Report (CMR) data were downloaded for the same period. Among six CMR categories, three were used and reduced to one index—the community mobility index (CMI). We used a generalised linear model with a negative binomial distribution combined with a non-linear distributed lag model to investigate the short-term effects of CMI on the number of admitted PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths, controlling for public holidays, day of the week, and Eid/Ramadan days. Results: We demonstrated the feasibility of using CMRs in the evaluation and monitoring of different NPIs, particularly those related to movement restriction. The best movement restriction strategy was a curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. (level 3 of CMI = 8), which had a total reduction of 35% (95% confidence interval (CI); 25–44%) in new COVID-19 admissions in the following two weeks, and a fatality reduction in the following four weeks by 52% (95% CI; 11–75%). Conclusion: Evening lockdown significantly affected the course of the pandemic in Oman which lines up with similar studies throughout the world.
Associations between Oral Hypofunction Tests, Age, and Sex

Oral function declines in older individuals due to disease and age-related changes, making them vulnerable to oral and physical frailty. Therefore, it is important to manage the decline in oral function in older outpatients. Oral hypofunction is diagnosed by seven tests related to oral function, oral hygiene, oral moisture, occlusal force, oral diadochokinesis, tongue pressure, masticatory function, and swallowing function. However, sex or age were not factored into the current reference values of these tests. We included subjects attending the dental hospital clinic for maintenance, and recorded and analyzed oral hypofunction and the factors associated with its diagnosis. Of the 134 outpatients (53 males and 81 females, mean age 75.2 ± 11.2 years), 63% were diagnosed with oral hypofunction. Oral hypofunction prevalence increased significantly with age, and significant variations were observed in all tests. Furthermore, oral hygiene and swallowing function were not associated with oral hypofunction diagnosis. All examined factors decreased with increasing age, even after adjusting sex, except for oral hygiene and moisture. Occlusal force and masticatory function were higher in men after adjusting age. This study suggested that older outpatients were likely to be diagnosed with oral hypofunction, and that the test reference value and their selection for oral hypofunction should be reconsidered.
Teens’ Social Media Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Time Series Examination of Posting and Emotion on Reddit

Research has rarely examined how the COVID-19 pandemic may affect teens’ social media engagement and psychological wellbeing, and even less research has compared the difference between teens with and without mental health concerns. We collected and analyzed weekly data from January to December 2020 from teens in four Reddit communities (subreddits), including teens in r/Teenagers and teens who participated in three mental health subreddits (r/Depression, r/Anxiety, and r/SuicideWatch). The results showed that teens’ weekly subreddit participation, posting/commenting frequency, and emotion expression were related to significant pandemic events. Teen Redditors on r/Teenagers had a higher posting/commenting frequency but lower negative emotion than teen Redditors on the three mental health subreddits. When comparing posts/comments on r/Teenagers, teens who ever visited one of the three mental health subreddits posted/commented twice as frequently as teens who did not, but their emotion expression was similar. The results from the Interrupted Time Series Analysis (ITSA) indicated that both teens with and without mental health concerns reversed the trend in posting frequency and negative emotion from declining to increasing right after the pandemic outbreak, and teens with mental health concerns had a more rapidly increasing trend in posting/commenting. The findings suggest that teens’ social media engagement and emotion expression reflect the pandemic evolution. Teens with mental health concerns are more likely to reveal their emotions on specialized mental health subreddits rather than on the general r/Teenagers subreddit. In addition, the findings indicated that teens with mental health concerns had a strong social interaction desire that various barriers in the real world may inhibit. The findings call for more attention to understand the pandemic’s influence on teens by monitoring and analyzing social media data and offering adequate support to teens regarding their mental health wellbeing.
Emotional Labor, Burnout, Medical Error, and Turnover Intention among South Korean Nursing Staff in a University Hospital Setting

Nurses are vulnerable to mental health challenges, including burnout, as they are exposed to adverse job conditions such as high workload. The mental health of this population can relate not only to individual well-being but also to patient safety outcomes. Therefore, there is a need for a mental health improvement strategy that targets this population. This cross-sectional survey study investigates emotional labor, burnout, turnover intention, and medical error levels among 117 nursing staff members in a South Korean university hospital; it also analyzes correlations among outcomes and conduct correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis to determine relationships among these factors. The participants had moderate to high levels of emotional labor and burnout, and 23% had experienced medical errors within the last six months. Save for medical errors, all outcomes significantly and positively correlated with each other. These results can be used to improve the mental health outcomes of nurses working in the hospital and their consequences. Specifically, the job positions of nursing personnel may be a major consideration in such a strategy, and job-focused emotional labor and employee-focused emotional labor may be promising targets in ameliorating turnover intention and client-related burnout, respectively.
Human FoxP Transcription Factors as Tractable Models of the Evolution and Functional Outcomes of Three-Dimensional Domain Swapping

The association of two or more proteins to adopt a quaternary complex is one of the most widespread mechanisms by which protein function is modulated. In this scenario, three-dimensional domain swapping (3D-DS) constitutes one plausible pathway for the evolution of protein oligomerization that exploits readily available intramolecular contacts to be established in an intermolecular fashion. However, analysis of the oligomerization kinetics and thermodynamics of most extant 3D-DS proteins shows its dependence on protein unfolding, obscuring the elucidation of the emergence of 3D-DS during evolution, its occurrence under physiological conditions, and its biological relevance. Here, we describe the human FoxP subfamily of transcription factors as a feasible model to study the evolution of 3D-DS, due to their significantly faster dissociation and dimerization kinetics and lower dissociation constants in comparison to most 3D-DS models. Through the biophysical and functional characterization of FoxP proteins, relevant structural aspects highlighting the evolutionary adaptations of these proteins to enable efficient 3D-DS have been ascertained. Most biophysical studies on FoxP suggest that the dynamics of the polypeptide chain are crucial to decrease the energy barrier of 3D-DS, enabling its fast oligomerization under physiological conditions. Moreover, comparison of biophysical parameters between human FoxP proteins in the context of their minute sequence differences suggests differential evolutionary strategies to favor homoassociation and presages the possibility of heteroassociations, with direct impacts in their gene regulation function.