Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Open Research Online Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for gender minority adolescents: Analysis of the real-world implementation of SPARX in New Zealand

Objective: SPARX is a form of computerized cognitive behavioural therapy in serious game format funded via the Ministry of Health to be freely available in New Zealand. At registration users identify themselves as male, female, transgender or intersex. We aimed to establish whether adolescent transgender users of SPARX, compared to adolescent male and female users, were more likely to have high mental health needs at baseline and were more likely to complete SPARX. We also sought to determine changes in transgender adolescents’ depressive symptoms after using SPARX. Methods: Quantitative analysis of 5 years of usage data from the nation-wide delivery of SPARX in New Zealand. Results: There were 9079 adolescents who completed the registration process and used SPARX, 2.3% ( n = 207) identified as transgender. The majority of transgender registrants (69.0%) completing a baseline Patient Health Questionnaire – modified for Adolescents were categorized as having high mental health needs, significantly more so than male and female registrants ( p < 0.001). Over half of all SPARX registrants completed the first module of the program, with subsequently lower proportions of transgender registrants completing Module 4 ( p = 0.005) and Module 7 (i.e. the last module, p = 0.048). Of those registrants completing a baseline and subsequent Patient Health Questionnaire – modified for Adolescents, both male ( n = 247) and female ( n = 630) registrants, on average, had improvements in their scores (2.68 and 3.15, respectively), whereas transgender registrants ( n = 14) did not (−0.43) ( p = 0.048). Conclusion: This is the first study describing the impact of an e-therapy on transgender young people. The analysis of data from this free self-help intervention suggests that transgender adolescents seeking treatment for depression have particularly high mental health needs, and an existing well tested tool may be less effective for them than it is for others. Taken together the results appear to suggest targeted efforts may be required for transgender adolescents.
Recurrent skin ulcer cross-repair and sensory reconstruction in a WRN gene mutational patient

A 37-year-old man complained of a refractory posterior malleolar ulceration on his left ankle. He was diagnosed with Werner syndrome according to the progeroid clinical features and genetic testing. To approach the ulceration, a free flow-through right anterolateral thigh perforator flap with anterolateral thigh cutaneous nerve was harvested. One year later, he was readmitted due to a new ulceration on his right ankle. We harvested the left anterolateral thigh perforator flap with anterolateral thigh cutaneous nerve to reconstruct the defect. After one more year of follow-up, there was no recurrence of ulcers, and the sensation of the flap recovered partially after 6 months. We conclude that free flow-through anterolateral thigh perforator flap is a feasible choice for the repair of foot ulcers in Werner syndrome.
The Effect of Female Economic Empowerment Interventions on the Risk of Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Women’s economic empowerment is an essential component of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Not only is it an end in itself but it has further been promoted for its potential to create positive externalities, including the reduction of intimate partner violence (IPV). However, the link between economic empowerment and the risk of IPV remains theoretically ambiguous. Marital dependency theory predicts that women with more financial resources hold higher bargaining power and are in a better position to leave potentially abusive relationships. Conversely, Resource theory posits that an increase in women’s financial resources may clash with traditional gender roles, which may prompt their partner to reassert their status through violent means. In light of this debate, we conducted a meta-analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials assessing the impact of economic empowerment interventions on IPV. Based on a total sample size of 44,772 participants and robust variance estimation, our meta-analysis shows that women’s economic empowerment was associated with a significant reduction in the pooled measure of emotional, sexual, and physical IPV. We further documented tentative evidence suggesting that these effects may be amplified when additional gender sensitization training is included in such programs. Despite the overall positive effects, some included studies reported increases in IPV, primarily in the form of partners exerting controlling behavior and dominance over financial resources. Our results therefore emphasize a need to prioritize women’s safety in the process of designing economic empowerment programs and to closely monitor the potential risk of conflict and violence within beneficiaries’ households.
Feasibility of Onchocerciasis Elimination Using a “Test-and-not-treat” Strategy in Loa loa Co-endemic Areas

Abstract Background Mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin is the main strategy for onchocerciasis elimination. Ivermectin is generally safe, but is associated with serious adverse events in individuals with high Loa loa microfilarial densities (MFD). Therefore, ivermectin MDA is not recommended in areas where onchocerciasis is hypo-endemic and L loa is co-endemic. To eliminate onchocerciasis in those areas, a test-and-not-treat (TaNT) strategy has been proposed. We investigated whether onchocerciasis elimination can be achieved using TaNT and the required duration. Methods We used the individual-based model ONCHOSIM to predict the impact of TaNT on onchocerciasis microfilarial (mf) prevalence. We simulated precontrol mf prevalence levels from 2% to 40%. The impact of TaNT was simulated under varying levels of participation, systematic nonparticipation, and exclusion from ivermectin resulting from high L loa MFD. For each scenario, we assessed the time to elimination, defined as bringing onchocerciasis mf prevalence below 1.4%. Results In areas with 30% to 40% precontrol mf prevalence, the model predicted that it would take between 14 and 16 years to bring the mf prevalence below 1.4% using conventional MDA, assuming 65% participation. TaNT would increase the time to elimination by up to 1.5 years, depending on the level of systematic nonparticipation and the exclusion rate. At lower exclusion rates (≤2.5%), the delay would be less than 6 months. Conclusions Our model predicts that onchocerciasis can be eliminated using TaNT in L loa co-endemic areas. The required treatment duration using TaNT would be only slightly longer than in areas with conventional MDA, provided that participation is good.
Anti‐Inflammatory, Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibition Activities in Correlation with Mycochemical Profile of Selected Indigenous Ganoderma spp. from Balkan Region (Serbia)

The aim of this research work was to study the bioactivity potentials (antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and enzyme inhibitory) of ethanol (EtOH), water (H2O) and chloroform (CHCl3) extracts of G. applanatum, G. lucidum, G. pfeifferi and G. resinaceum as well as their mycochemical profile: the total content of phenolics (TP) and sugars (TS) and LC/MS/MS detection of phenolics.
Association of PARP1-specific polymorphisms and haplotypes with non-small cell lung cancer subtypes

Objective The carcinogenesis role of PARP1 in lung cancer is still not clear. Analysis at allelic levels cannot fully explain the function of PARP1 on lung cancer. Our study aims to further explore the relation between PARP1 haplotypes and lung cancer. Materials and methods DNA and RNA were extracted from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor and adjacent normal fresh frozen tissue. Five PARP1-SNPs were genotyped and PARP1-specific SNPs were imputed using IMPUTE and SHAPEIT software. The SNPs were subjected to allelic, haplotype and SNP-SNP interaction analyses. Correlation between SNPs and mRNA/protein expressions were performed. Results SNP imputation inferred the ungenotyped SNPs and increased the power for association analysis. Tumor tissue samples are more likely to carry rs1805414 (OR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.12–3.06; P-value: 0.017) and rs1805404 (OR = 2.74; 95%CI 1.19–6.32; P-value: 0.015) compared to normal tissues. Our study is the first study to show that haplotypes comprising of 5 SNPs on PARP1 (rs1136410, rs3219073, rs1805414, rs1805404, rs1805415) is able to differentiate the NSCLC tumor from normal tissues. Interaction between rs3219073, rs1805415, and rs1805414 were significantly associated with the NSCLC tumor with OR ranging from 3.61–6.75; 95%CI from 1.82 to 19.9; P-value<0.001. Conclusion PARP1 haplotypes may serve as a better predictor in lung cancer development and prognosis compared to single alleles.
Dentists’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Awareness of Infection Control Measures during COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

As antiviral vaccines are still pending for the COVID-19 disease, improving dentists’ knowledge and prevention measures is important. This study aimed to assess dentists’ knowledge, attitude, and perception of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia during the early outbreak period. In addition, infection control measures for dental setting were also assessed. Online questionnaire was distributed to dentists in different regions of Saudi Arabia when COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia was at its beginning. The questionnaire was assessing demographic variables, knowledge, attitude, risk perception, and preparedness towards COVID-19. Questions regarding infection control measures were also included. The correct incubation period of the virus was recognized by 43% of participants. Fever, cough, and shortness of breath were the mostly recognized symptoms for COVID-19 (98.9%, 95.5%, and 93.3% respectively). Participants in age groups ≥60, 50–59, and 20–29 years old were more likely to perceive COVID-19 as a very dangerous disease compared to 30–39 and 40–49 age groups. Dentists in Saudi Arabia showed satisfactory knowledge and positive attitude towards COVID-19. Improving dentists’ level of knowledge could be achieved through increasing their accessibility to materials provided by dental health care authorities, which specifies the best and safest approaches for dealing with patients during and after the outbreak.
Long-term effects of orchard soil management on tree vigor and extractable soil nutrients

Bisbee Delicious apple trees on M.26 (Malus domestica Borkh.) rootstock were planted in 1982 on a neutral pH, loamy-sand soil and were subjected to five soil management-fertilizer regimes until 1989. Orchard floor vegetation control with herbicides was required to maximize tree growth. Annual application of P at 50 kg ha−1 and K at 100 kg ha−1 from 1984 to 1989 increased extractable soil P and K to the 40-cm depth but did not appear to increase tree vigor. Orchard floor vegetation maintained extractable soil Ca and Mg levels compared to vegetation control treatments. Key words: Orchard floor vegetation management, extractable soil P, K, Ca and Mg
Reaction Mechanism for the Formation of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) During Coke Oxidation in Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Units

Fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) units in refineries process heavy feedstock obtained from crude oil distillation. While cracking feed, catalysts get deactivated due to coke deposition. During catalyst regeneration by burning coke in air, nitrogen oxides (NOx) are formed. The increase in nitrogen content in feed over time has resulted in increased NOx emissions. To predict NOx concentration in flue gas, a reliable model for FCC regenerators is needed that requires comprehensive understanding and accurate kinetics for NOx formation. Based on the nitrogen-containing functional groups on coke, model molecules are selected to study reactions between coke-bound nitrogen and O2 to form NO and NO2 using density functional theory. The reaction kinetics for the proposed pathways are evaluated using transition state theory. It is observed that the addition of O2 on coke is favored only when the free radical is present on the carbon atom instead of nitrogen atom. Thus, NOx formation during coke oxidation does not result from the direct attack by O2 on N atoms of coke, but from the transfer of an O atom to N from a neighboring site. The low activation energies required for NO formation indicate that it is more likely to form than NO2 during coke oxidation. The favorable pathways for NOx formation that can be used in FCC models are identified.
A structural and functional analysis of Nna1 in Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd) mice

The axotomy‐inducible enzyme Nna1 defines a subfamily of M14 metallocarboxypeptidases, and its mutation underlies the Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd) mouse. However, the relationship among its catalytic activity, substrate specificities, and the critical processes of neurodegeneration/axon regeneration is incompletely understood. Here we used a transgenic rescue strategy targeting expression of modified forms of Nna1 to Purkinje cells in pcd mice to determine structure‐activity relationships for neuronal survival and in parallel characterized the enzymatic properties of purified recombinant Nna1. The Nna1 subfamily uniquely shares conserved substrate‐determining residues with aspartoacylase that, when mutated, cause Canavan disease. Homologous mutations (D1007E and R1078E) inactivate Nna1 in vivo, as does mutation of its catalytic glutamate (E1094A), which implies that metabolism of acidic substrates is essential for neuronal survival. Consistent with reports that Nna1 is a tubulin glutamylase, recombinant Nna1—but not the catalytic mutants—removes glutamate from tubulin. Recombinant Nna1 metabolizes synthetic substrates with 2 or more C‐terminal glutamate (but not aspartate) residues (Vmax for 3 glutamates is ~7‐fold higher than 2 glutamates although KM is similar). Catalysis is not ATP/GTP dependent, and mutating the ATP/GTP binding site of Nna1 has no effect in vivo. Nna1 is a monomeric enzyme essential for neuronal survival through hydrolysis of polyglutamate‐containing substrates. —Wu, H. ‐Y. , Wang, T. , Li, L. , Correia, K. , Morgan, J. I. A structural and functional analysis of Nna1 in Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd) mice. FASEB J. 26, 4468–4480 (2012). www.fasebj. org
DETECTION OF BLAOXA-10 AND BLASHV GENES FROM KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE ISOLATED FROM IRAQI UTI PATIENTS BY REAL TIME-PCR AND CONVENTIONAL PCR

Enterobacteriaceae is generating extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) which leads to resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. K. pneumoniae is, member of the family of Enterobacteriaceae, considered as one of the most widely recognized causative agents of urinary tract infection (UTI). The detection of β-lactamase in K. pneumoniae is rarely reported in Iraq. The study's objective was, therefore, to detect the genes of blaSHV and blaOXA-10 from K. pneumoniae by conventional PCR and real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Urine samples were collected from patients severing UTI infections and cultured on MacConkey and UTI agar. Molecular detection of K. pneumoniae isolates was determined by conventional PCR and RT-PCR. The analysis of RT-PCR was made by collecting the value of melting temperature. Among the 19 strains of K. pneumoniae, 15 were found to carry blaSHV gene and 16 were found to carry blaOXA-10 gene by conventional PCR. In respect to RT-PCR, all the strains were detected to have blaSHV and blaOXA-10. Melting curve of blaSHV was 80.08, while, 88.08 was the melting curve of blaOXA10. The study revealed the presence of ESBL genes in clinical strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from Iraqi clinical subjects. The detection of these genes was highly sensitive by RT-PCR than conventional PCR.
On the indicator‐based approach to assess ozone sensitivities and emissions features

Previous model studies suggested that ambient measurements of key chemical species and ratios of species could be used to assess the sensitivities of ozone formation to reductions in precursor emissions. Threshold values of these indicator species and ratios, delineating the transition between VOG and NOx sensitivity, were proposed. Subsequently, measurement studies have assumed the universality of these threshold criteria and have compared local observed indicators with previously established criteria to assess ozone sensitivities. In this study the concept of indicator species is extended to combinations of observable species that are consistently associated with different site characteristics (e.g., ozone sensitivities and emissions features). The results of SARMAP Air Quality Model (SAQM) simulations in the San Joaquin Valley, California, are used to investigate the applicability of indicators to assess ozone sensitivities and emissions features. The use of three indicator ratios (O3/(NOy-NOx), HCHO/NO2 and H2O2/HNO3) along with SAQM-derived threshold criteria is found to be effective for identifying VOC- or NOx-sensitive regimes. NOy and (NOy-NOx)NOy are found to be useful in describing emission features and threshold criteria are derived by SAQM prediction. SAQM-derived threshold criteria for assessing ozone sensitivities are found to differ from threshold criteria proposed by previous studies using different models and under different conditions. Such differences suggest that threshold criteria are likely to be dependent on locations and environmental conditions, including emission patterns and rates. Therefore local observed indicator species and ratios can be used to determine ozone sensitivities only if appropriate threshold criteria have been derived for the local conditions.
Uranium removal by sulfate reducing biofilms in the presence of carbonates

Hexavalent uranium [U(VI)] was immobilized in biofilms composed of the sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20. The biofilms were grown in two flat-plate, continuous-flow reactors using lactate as the electron donor and sulfate as the electron acceptor. The growth medium contained uranium U(VI) and the pH was maintained constant using bicarbonate buffer. The reactors were operated for 5 months, and during that time biofilm activity and uranium removal were evaluated. The efficiency of uranium removal strongly depended on the concentration of uranium in the influent, and was estimated to be 30.4% in the reactor supplied with 3 mg/L of U(VI) and 73.9% in the reactor supplied with 30 mg/L of U(VI). TEM and SAED analysis showed that uranium in both reactors accumulated mostly on microbial cell membranes and in the periplasmic space. The deposits had amorphous or poor nanocrystalline structures.
Case Study: Ozonation and distribution system biostability

Biodegradable organic matter that is not removed during water treatment can lead to the proliferation of bacteria within the distribution system. This, in turn, can deteriorate water quality, accelerate corrosion rates of pipes, and potentially increase the incidence of bacteriological diseases. The main objective of this project was to collect and analyze full‐scale system data on short‐term and long‐term responses to the implementation of ozonation with respect to its impact on bacterial regrowth potential as quantified by assimilable organic carbon (AOC) and biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC). A major observation made during the sampling period was that ozonation caused a significant increase in the AOC concentration of the distribution system (more than 200% in the short term and more than 100% in the long term). Use of ozone also caused a significant increase in the bacterial counts within the distribution system for both the long and short terms. In contrast, ozonation affected BDOC and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations only slightly compared with its impact on AOC concentrations. However, this may be because of the source water, which had low DOC and BDOC concentrations (1.2 and 0.11 mg/L, respectively).
Heterochromatin formation in bistable chromatin domains controls the epigenetic repression of clonally variant Plasmodium falciparum genes linked to erythrocyte invasion

Clonally variant gene expression is a common survival strategy used by many pathogens, including the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Among the genes that show variant expression in this parasite are several members of small gene families linked to erythrocyte invasion, including the clag and eba families. The active or repressed state of these genes is clonally transmitted by epigenetic mechanisms. Here we characterized the promoters of clag3.1, clag3.2 and eba‐140, and compared nuclease accessibility and post‐translational histone modifications between their active and repressed states. Activity of these promoters in an episomal context is similar between parasite subclones characterized by different patterns of expression of the endogenous genes. Variant expression is controlled by the euchromatic or heterochromatic state of bistable chromatin domains. Repression is mediated by H3K9me3‐based heterochromatin, whereas the active state is characterized by H3K9ac. These marks are maintained throughout the asexual blood cycle to transmit the epigenetic memory. Furthermore, eba‐140 is organized in two distinct chromatin domains, probably separated by a barrier insulator located within its ORF. The 5′ chromatin domain controls expression of the gene, whereas the 3′ domain shares the chromatin conformation with the upstream region of the neighbouring phista family gene, which also shows variant expression.