Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extent of male involvement and associated factors in antenatal care service utilization in Bench Sheko zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study

Background In many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), men are the key decision-makers and chief providers, often determining women's access to economic resources and maternal health services. Despite the important role of men in maternal healthcare, the involvement of male partners in maternal and child health in LMIC, including Ethiopia, is low. Objectives This study aims to assess the extent of male involvement and associated factors in antenatal care (ANC) service utilization in the Bench Sheko zone, Southwest, Ethiopia. Methods A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in the Bench Sheko zone from February to May 2021. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select study participants. Variables with p-values <0.25 in binary logistic regression were selected as candidates for multiple logistic regression to determine independent factors associated with male involvement adjusting for sociodemographic, health service, personal, environmental, and knowledge-related factors. Results A total of 816 men took part in the study, with a 98.2% response rate. The prevalence of male involvement in ANC utilization was 38.2%. In multivariate analyses, residence (urban), age (25–34), education (diploma and above), income (≥2,500 Ethiopian Birr, ETB), and high knowledge of the advantages of ANC were shown to be positively associated with male involvement in ANC utilization. Conclusion Male involvement in ANC utilization was low. Considering the importance of male involvement in maternal healthcare, we advocate for policies and strategies that can improve knowledge of the advantages of ANC among men and can enhance their engagement in maternal care. Special attention should be given to younger partners and those partners who live in rural areas.
Frontotemporal phase lag index correlates with seizure severity in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

Objectives To find the brain network indicators correlated with the seizure severity in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) by graph theory analysis. Methods We enrolled 151 patients with TLE and 36 age- and sex-matched controls with video-EEG monitoring. The 90-s interictal EEG data were acquired. We adopted a network analyzing pipeline based on graph theory to quantify and localize their functional networks, including weighted classical network, minimum spanning tree, community structure, and LORETA. The seizure severities were evaluated using the seizure frequency, drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), and VA-2 scores. Results Our network analysis pipeline showed ipsilateral frontotemporal activation in patients with TLE. The frontotemporal phase lag index (PLI) values increased in the theta band (4–7 Hz), which were elevated in patients with higher seizure severities (P < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the VA-2 scores were independently correlated with frontotemporal PLI values in the theta band (β = 0.259, P = 0.001) and age of onset (β = −0.215, P = 0.007). Significance This study illustrated that the frontotemporal PLI in the theta band independently correlated with seizure severity in patients with TLE. Our network analysis provided an accessible approach to guide the treatment strategy in routine clinical practice.
Correlating the morphology of Anacardium occidentale L. fruits from 30 orchards with their physicochemical and nutritional properties

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is a cross-pollinating plant whose fruit consists of two parts, the nut, and the apple. This study aimed to carry out agro-morphological characteristics of cashew fruits to establish relationships with their physicochemical and nutritional properties. Thirty (30) cashew accessions fruits were sampled in different regions of Burkina Faso. The length, width, thickness, weight, yield, kernel output ratio (KOR), proximate composition, specific minerals, phenolic compounds, and anti-nutritional factors were assessed. Evaluations were made using standard methods. The results showed significant variations in agro-morphological, physicochemical and nutritional traits depending on the accessions and the organ. Also, the ratio of apple mass versus nut one was about 12.24 ± 1.24. Kernels are an important source of proteins, fat, total phenolic compounds, and flavonoids, with average contents of 22.84 ± 1.25 g/100 g, 51.65 ± 2.54 g/100 g, 9.78 ± 2.15 mg GAE/g, and 6.24 ± 12.15 mg QE/g, respectively. As for the apples, they contained substantial quantities of Potassium, Phosphorus, Chlorine, and Magnesium with contents of 611.24 ± 14.5 mg/100 g, 418.24 ± 16.47 mg/100 g, 332.24 ± 10.54 mg/100 g, and 224.95 ± 13.15 mg/100 g, respectively. Statistical analyses showed that mineral and phytate contents were positively correlated to cashew apples while phenolic compounds and tannins were strongly correlated with walnuts. Principal component analyses showed three groups of accessions based on apples and kernels characteristics. These data showed a direct relationship between cashew physicochemical, nutritional potentials, kernels, and apples’ agro-morphological characteristics. These data constitute an important basis for the identification of cashew accessions with high nutritional and economic potential.
The effect of intergenerational rearing on young children’s self-control: The intervention effect of sports games

Objective To investigate the effect of different rearing arrangements on children’s self-control and verify the promoting effect sports games might have on children’s self-control in intergenerational rearing. Methods A total of 72 intergenerational rearing children and 66 non-intergenerational rearing children were included in Experiment 1, in which the delay-of-gratification task was used to examine the differences in self-control among children with different rearing arrangements. In experiment 2, 70 intergenerational rearing children were included as subjects, and sports games were used to improve their self-control. Results The results of experiment 1 showed that compared with non-intergenerational rearing children, the self-control ability of intergenerational rearing children was poor. In experiment 2, it was found that after the intervention with sports games, the self-control ability of the children in the intergenerational rearing group was effectively improved. Conclusion Although intergenerational rearing arrangements have a certain negative impact on the self-control ability of children, the sports game intervention can be used to effectively develop the self-control ability of intergenerational rearing children.
Tangent space alignment: Transfer learning for Brain-Computer Interface

Statistical variability of electroencephalography (EEG) between subjects and between sessions is a common problem faced in the field of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). Such variability prevents the usage of pre-trained machine learning models and requires the use of a calibration for every new session. This paper presents a new transfer learning (TL) method that deals with this variability. This method aims to reduce calibration time and even improve accuracy of BCI systems by aligning EEG data from one subject to the other in the tangent space of the positive definite matrices Riemannian manifold. We tested the method on 18 BCI databases comprising a total of 349 subjects pertaining to three BCI paradigms, namely, event related potentials (ERP), motor imagery (MI), and steady state visually evoked potentials (SSVEP). We employ a support vector classifier for feature classification. The results demonstrate a significant improvement of classification accuracy, as compared to a classical training-test pipeline, in the case of the ERP paradigm, whereas for both the MI and SSVEP paradigm no deterioration of performance is observed. A global 2.7% accuracy improvement is obtained compared to a previously published Riemannian method, Riemannian Procrustes Analysis (RPA). Interestingly, tangent space alignment has an intrinsic ability to deal with transfer learning for sets of data that have different number of channels, naturally applying to inter-dataset transfer learning.
Metagenomic-based surveillance systems for antibiotic resistance in non-clinical settings

The success of antibiotics as a therapeutic agent has led to their ineffectiveness. The continuous use and misuse in clinical and non-clinical areas have led to the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and its genetic determinants. This is a multi-dimensional problem that has now become a global health crisis. Antibiotic resistance research has primarily focused on the clinical healthcare sectors while overlooking the non-clinical sectors. The increasing antibiotic usage in the environment – including animals, plants, soil, and water – are drivers of antibiotic resistance and function as a transmission route for antibiotic resistant pathogens and is a source for resistance genes. These natural compartments are interconnected with each other and humans, allowing the spread of antibiotic resistance via horizontal gene transfer between commensal and pathogenic bacteria. Identifying and understanding genetic exchange within and between natural compartments can provide insight into the transmission, dissemination, and emergence mechanisms. The development of high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies has made antibiotic resistance research more accessible and feasible. In particular, the combination of metagenomics and powerful bioinformatic tools and platforms have facilitated the identification of microbial communities and has allowed access to genomic data by bypassing the need for isolating and culturing microorganisms. This review aimed to reflect on the different sequencing techniques, metagenomic approaches, and bioinformatics tools and pipelines with their respective advantages and limitations for antibiotic resistance research. These approaches can provide insight into resistance mechanisms, the microbial population, emerging pathogens, resistance genes, and their dissemination. This information can influence policies, develop preventative measures and alleviate the burden caused by antibiotic resistance.
A Dynamic Method for Gap Filling in Daily Temperature Datasets

AbstractA regression-based approach for temperature data reconstruction has been used to fill the gaps in the series of automatic temperature records obtained from the meteorological network of Veneto Region (northeastern Italy). The method presented is characterized by a dynamic selection of the reconstructing stations and of the coupling period that can precede or follow the missing data. Each gap is considered as a specific case, identifying the best set of stations and the period that minimizes the estimated reconstruction error for the gap, thus permitting a potentially better adaptation to time-dependent factors affecting the relationships between stations. The best sampling size is determined through an inference procedure, permitting a highly specific selection of the parameters used to fill each gap in the time series. With a proper selection of the parameters, the average errors of reconstruction are close to 0 and those corresponding to the 95th percentile are typically around 0.1°C. In compari.
The safety and efficacy of esketamine in comparison to dexmedetomidine during drug-induced sleep endoscopy in children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome: A randomized, controlled and prospective clinical trial

Background and Purpose: Data and high-quality studies of anesthetic methods for children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) who undergo drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) are limited. Research on pediatric DISE using esketamine has never been reported before. To test the safety and efficacy of esketamine during DISE in children with OSAHS, we compare esketamine (Group K) with dexmedetomidine (Group D) in this study. Methods: 100 children with ASA Ⅰ∼Ⅱ grade, prepared for an elective adenotonsillectomy under general anesthesia, were enrolled in this study and randomized into two groups. Midazolam 0.1 mg/kg was administered intravenously for both groups. In Group D a 1 μg/kg bolus of dexmedetomidine was given over 10 min followed by the infusion rate 1 μg/kg/hr to the end of DISE. Group K received a 1.0 mg/kg IV bolus of esketamine over 10 s followed by the infusion rate 1 mg/kg/hr to the end of DISE. Results: Group K had a higher percentage of success than Group D (p = 0.008). The onset time of Group K was shorter than that of Group D (p = 0.000). The University of Michigan Sedation Scale (UMSS) score of Group K was higher than that of Group D (p = 0.005). The risk of adverse effects (AEs) was lower in Group K (p = 0.000). In Group D, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and heart rate (HR) all decreased, while in Group K, SBP, DBP, and HR hardly changed. Conclusion: Esketamine in comparison to dexmedetomidine provides more effective and safer depth of anesthesia for OSAHS pediatric DISE by ensuring short onset time, deep sedation, and few AEs. Clinical Trial Registration: ClincalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04877639
Adolescent pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa – a cause for concern

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Genetic and phenotypic differences between sexes in congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH): Large cohort analysis from a single tertiary centre

Background Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a condition with a strong genetic background, caused by a deficient production, secretion, or action of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Published data on CHH cohorts indicate a male predominance, although this is not supported by our current understandings. Aims In order to unravel the possible causes or contributors to such epidemiological sex difference, the aim of our study is to investigate differences in genetic background and clinical presentation between males and females in a large cohort of CHH patients. Materials and methods We enrolled 338 CHH patients with absent or arrested pubertal development, referred to our Center from 01/2016. Data collection included clinical assessment at diagnosis and genetic analysis performed by next generation sequencing (NGS), employing a custom panel of 28 candidate genes. Results Among 338 patients 94 were female (F) and 244 male (M), with a ratio of 1:2.6. We found that 36.09% (122/338) of patients harbored potentially pathogenic rare genetic variants (RVs) with no significant differences between sexes; on the other hand, a significantly higher frequency of oligogenicity was observed in females (F 9,57% 9/94 vs M 3,69% 9/244, P = 0.034). The prevalence of non-reproductive phenotypic features was significantly higher (P = 0.01) in males (53/228, 23.2%) than in females (10/93, 10.8%): in particular, kidney abnormalities affected only male patients and midline defects had a significantly higher prevalence in males (P = 0.010). Finally, BMI SDS was -0.04 ± 1.09 in females and 0.69 ± 1.51 in males, with a statistically significant difference between groups (P = <0.001). Conclusion Our data confirm the male predominance in CHH and identify some differences with regard to the clinical presentation between males and females that could indicate a variable expression of genetic rare variants and a dimorphic modulation of phenotype according to metabolic/behavioral factors, which will need to be substantiated and investigated by further studies.
How to help your depressed friend? The effects of interactive health narratives on cognitive and transformative learning

Using narratives is an important communication strategy in mental health campaigns to empower readers to adequately help people suffering from depression. These narratives could be enhanced by giving readers agency to make choices on behalf of the main character that noticeably affect the narrative. Yet, few studies have explored the effects of these choices. This study investigated the effects of agency in an interactive digital narrative (IDN) about depression on cognitive and transformative learning. In two experimental, between-subjects design studies, the learning outcomes of a traditional (without agency) and interactive version (with agency) of a narrative about depression were compared. The mediating roles of identification, transportation and intrinsic motivation were also considered. In experiment 1 (N = 216), no effects of agency on cognitive learning, intrinsic motivation, identification or transportation were found. After better embedding learning content and increasing the choices' meaningfulness in the narrative of experiment 2 (N = 155), agency positively affected transformative learning but not cognitive learning. The effect on transformative learning was mediated by identification with the character. These results suggest that agency in educational narratives about depression increases identification with caretakers and reflection on how to approach people with depression sensibly. Implications of these results are discussed.
Causal association of sleep disturbances and low back pain: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Background Previous observational studies have shown that low back pain (LBP) often coexists with sleep disturbances, however, the causal relationship remains unclear. In the present study, the causal relationship between sleep disturbances and LBP was investigated and the importance of sleep improvement in the comprehensive management of LBP was emphasized. Methods Genetic variants were extracted as instrumental variables (IVs) from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) of insomnia, sleep duration, short sleep duration, long sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness. Information regarding genetic variants in LBP was selected from a GWAS dataset and included 13,178 cases and 164,682 controls. MR-Egger, weighted median, inverse-variance weighted (IVW), penalized weighted median, and maximum likelihood (ML) were applied to assess the causal effects. Cochran’s Q test and MR-Egger intercept were performed to estimate the heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy, respectively. Outliers were identified and eliminated based on MR-PRESSO analysis to reduce the effect of horizontal pleiotropy on the results. Removing each genetic variant using the leave-one-out analysis can help evaluate the stability of results. Finally, the reverse causal inference involving five sleep traits was implemented. Results A causal relationship was observed between insomnia-LBP (OR = 1.954, 95% CI: 1.119–3.411), LBP-daytime sleepiness (OR = 1.011, 95% CI: 1.004–1.017), and LBP-insomnia (OR = 1.015, 95% CI: 1.004–1.026), however, the results of bidirectional MR analysis between other sleep traits and LBP were negative. The results of most heterogeneity tests were stable and specific evidence was not found to support the disturbance of horizontal multiplicity. Only one outlier was identified based on MR-PRESSO analysis. Conclusion The main results of our research showed a potential bidirectional causal association of genetically predicted insomnia with LBP. Sleep improvement may be important in comprehensive management of LBP.
Effects of habitat loss on migratory shorebird community structure at stopover sites: A case study in the Yellow River Delta, China

Coastal wetlands in China provide important stopover sites for migratory shorebird species. The loss of natural wetlands caused by land reclamation over the past few decades poses a major threat to shorebird populations. Although habitat loss at key stopover sites has been shown to lead to reductions in shorebird populations, the effects of habitat loss at specific stopover sites on shorebird populations remain unclear. Here, we used shorebird diversity indices and landscape metrics to elucidate the long-term (19952020) effects of habitat change on shorebird community structure in the Yellow River Delta, which is an important stopover site for shorebirds along the Yellow Sea coast. The results showed that the habitat area, largest patch index, mean patch area, and the aggregation index decreased over 25 years. By contrast, the number of patches and patch density increased over the same period. The richness, Shannon-Wiener index, Pielou index, and Simpson index of the shorebird community increased from 1995 to 2020, while abundance of shorebird declined by 90.14%. Declines in the abundance of species were more pronounced in larger-bodied ones than in smaller-bodied species (T=1.156, df=42, p=0.02). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the decline in the abundance of threatened species and non-threatened species (T=-0.483, df=42, p=0.632) and coastal specialist species and generalist/inland specialist species (T=-1.197, df=42, p=0.239). The decrease in mean patch area significantly contributed to the reduction in abundance of shorebirds (N=6, p=0.01), and its effects were more pronounced on larger-bodied ones than on smaller-bodied species (T=-2.113, df=42, p=0.04). These results suggest that habitat loss in the Yellow River Delta has contributed to declines in shorebird populations and that larger-bodied ones are more sensitive to habitat change than smaller-bodied species. Existing wetlands are in urgent need of conservation, and further land reclamation in this region should be avoided. In addition, the development of conservation plans for coastal wetlands requires consideration of variation in the responses of different functional groups to habitat change.
Association between handgrip strength and metabolic syndrome: A meta-analysis and systematic review

Background Although muscle strength has been reported to be associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), the association is still controversial. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to identify the association between handgrip strength (HGS) and MetS. Methods Original research studies involving HGS and MetS from database inception to 20 May 2022 were selected from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang databases, and Chinese Biomedical Document Service System. The odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of MetS for HGS were calculated using a random-effects model. A dose–response analysis was performed. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were also conducted. Results Thirty effect sizes (reported in 19 articles) with a total of 43,396 participants were included in this meta-analysis. All studies were considered to be of moderate-to-good quality. An inverse association between HGS (low vs. high) with MetS was shown (OR: 2.59, 95% CI: 2.06−3.25). Subgroup analyses demonstrated the pooled ORs of relative HGS (HGS/weight), relative HGS (HGS/BMI), and absolute HGS were 2.97 (95% CI: 2.37−3.71), 2.47 (95% CI: 1.08−5.63), and 1.34 (95% CI: 1.06−1.68), respectively. Dose–response analysis revealed a significant linear dose–response relationship between relative HGS (HGS/weight) and MetS in observational studies (0.1 HGS/weight: OR, 0.68; 95% CI: 0.62−0.75). Univariate meta-regression analysis indicated that country status, measuring tools of HGS, components of MetS, and diagnosed criteria of MetS explained 16.7%, 26.2%, 30.1%, and 42.3% of the tau-squared in the meta-regression, respectively. Conclusion The results of the current meta-analysis indicated that lower HGS is associated with a higher risk of MetS. A linear dose–response association between lower relative HGS (HGS/weight) and increased prevalence of MetS was found. Accordingly, a lower HGS is a significant predictor of MetS. Systematic review registration [https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/PROSPERO/], identifier [CRD42021276730].