Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between mindfulness, meaning in life and post-traumatic growth among Nigerian cancer patients

ABSTRACT Understanding the psychosocial factors that predict recovery and promote growth from trauma is critical to effective management of oncology patients. Although previous studies have shown that mindfulness and meaning in life could be predictors of post-traumatic growth (PTG), no study to date has explored the combined role of mindfulness and meaning in life in the development of PTG among cancer patients. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 957 cancer patients (46.8% male, 53.2% female) who completed relevant self-report measures. Results showed that the presence of meaning in life mediated the relationship between mindfulness and PTG. However, the mediation effect of search for meaning in life was not significant. These findings indicate that the presence of meaning in life is an essential mechanism of mindfulness in facilitating PTG. Therefore, psychosocial interventions geared towards promoting PTG should consider mindfulness as a potential effective component in improving cancer patients’ ability to find meaning in life and possibly promote recovery.
Molecular Identification of Mid to Final Stage Slipper Lobster Phyllosoma Larvae of the Genus Chelarctus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Scyllaridae) Collected in the Pacific with Descriptions of Their Larval Morphology.

Morphological descriptions of phyllosoma larvae are essential for correct species identification and investigating the spatiotemporal distribution and recruitment process of spiny and slipper lobsters. Species identification of the phyllosoma larvae in the Scyllarinae subfamily is particularly difficult because of the morphological similarities among species and the scarcity of morphological information describing correct species identity. We extracted mid-to final-stage (V to VIII) phyllosoma larvae (n = 12) belonging to the subfamily Scyllarinae from several plankton samples collected in the Pacific and then performed molecular species identification using mitochondrial DNA COI and 16S rDNA sequence analyses. Three larvae collected around the Ryukyu Archipelago were identified as Chelarctus aureus (stage VI to VIII), and four collected around the Ryukyu Archipelago and Ogasawara Islands were identified as C. virgosus (V to VIII). One larva (V) collected in the central South Pacific was determined to be a subspecies of C. crosnieri. DNA barcodes could not be made for the remaining four larvae (V to VIII) collected around the Ryukyu Archipelago (designated by ? Chelarctus sp-1). Based on the morphological characteristics of the C. virgosus phyllosoma described in this study and the adult distributions reported to date, C. cultrifer phyllosomas previously reported in Japanese and Taiwanese waters are likely to be C. virgosus. This paper also presents a set of diagnostic morphological characteristics that can be used to discriminate among these four species of Chelarctus and from other genera in the subfamily Scyllarinae.
Adolescent development of multiscale structural wiring and functional interactions in the human connectome

Significance The current study charted longitudinal adolescent brain development in 199 typically developing youth based on an advanced in vivo model of corticocortical wiring. Our findings revealed that the structural wiring of multiple cortical networks continues to mature during adolescence, and findings were observed in both sensory as well as higher-order transmodal systems. Using task-free functional MRI in the same subjects, we could furthermore show ongoing and correlated changes in functional network architecture, particularly an increased differentiation between sensory and default mode networks. By showing coordinated development of structural and functional brain networks, our findings provide insights into human brain maturation from childhood to adulthood.
A study of the factors affecting driving risk perception using the Bivariate Ordered Probit model

Abstract This paper aims to examine the key factors influencing driving risk perception in Iran. We conducted separate surveys for two groups of Iranian drivers, namely passenger car drivers and truck drivers. In order to assess driving risk perception, respondents were asked what they think about their Probability of Having a Road Accident (PHRA) and if they eventually have an accident as a driver, what they think about the Probability of it being Fatal or causing Severe Injury (PFSI). A Bivariate Ordered Probit model, which considers the possible correlation between PHRA and PFSI, was developed to explain the observed driving risk perception using type of vehicle, driving experience, socio-demographic information, and driving behaviour. According to the results, vehicle type, vehicle age, driving experience, sleep quality, at-fault accidents over the past three years, vehicles safety-related equipment, and education level have significant effects on driving risk perception (p-value < 0.05). In addition, this paper compares the driving risk perception of truck and passenger car drivers. The results show that truck drivers have a higher perception of PHRA and PFSI compared with passenger car drivers (p-value < 0.05). The results may convince policy-makers to consider the characteristics of the two categories of drivers when designing regulations.
Genetic Evidence for Multiple Invasions of Coptotermes formosanus (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) in California

Abstract New infestations of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), were discovered in southern California, namely in Rancho Santa Fe and La Mesa (San Diego County) and Highland Park (Los Angeles County) in 2021. We investigated whether these new infestations were related to the previous infestations in La Mesa (2018) and Canyon Lake, Riverside County (2020). We used two mitochondrial genes (COI and COII) and seven polymorphic microsatellite markers to infer the genetic relationship between southern California colonies and their breeding systems. The samples collected from seven localities belonged to five colonies (inter-colony distances ranged from ∼160 m to 185 km, with an average of 97 km). Of these five colonies, two were simple families, and three were extended families. Structure analyses of microsatellite genotypes grouped the termite samples into three distinct genetic clusters, suggesting at least three independent introduction events in southern California.
Implications of COVID-19 labour market shock for child and household hungers in South Africa: Do social protection programs protect?’

Background Recent studies have confirmed that the COVID-19 lockdown has caused massive job losses. However, the impact of this loss on food security is not well-understood. Moreover, a paucity of evidence exists regarding social protection grants’ countervailing effects against such shocks. This study examined the effects of job loss (labour income loss) on child and household hungers (our two measures food insecurity) during COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. It also ascertained whether these effect were offset by alternative social grant programs to document the protective role of the latter. Data and methods We used South Africa’s National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) and the Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (CRAM) data. These data cover a nationally representative sample of 7073 individuals. We employed a probit model to estimate the effect of job loss and receipts of various social grants on child and households’ hungers. We also estimated the double-selection logit model to account for the model’s uncertainty surrounding the variable selection and treatment-effects estimation using lasso (Telasso) for causal inference of our analysis. Results Our analyses showed that households exposed to a labour market shock during the pandemic experienced a significant increase in our measures of food insecurity (child and household hungers). Specifically, we found that compared with households containing employed respondents, households with respondents who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 lockdown were 5.4% more likely to report child hunger and 2.6% more likely to report household hunger in the past seven days A receipt of child support grant reduces the likelihood of reporting child hunger and household hunger by 21.7%and 16.9% respectively among these households. A receipt of old age pension grant reduces the likelihood of reporting household hunger by 24% with no significant effect on child hunger. Conclusion The COVID-19 lockdown resulted in unprecedent job losses with significant implications for food insecurity. Job loss due to COVID-19 lockdown significantly increased food insecurity in South Africa. Receipts of social grants effectively offset this adverse effect. The protective effect of the social grant is heterogenous across its alternative programs (child support grant and old age pension grant) and food insecurity, suggesting the differences in the size of transfers and motivations for sending these transfers.
Higher susceptibility to 6 Hz corneal kindling and lower responsiveness to antiseizure drugs in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease

Epileptic spikes and seizures seem present early in the disease process of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it is unclear how soluble and insoluble amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau proteins affect seizure development in vivo. We aim to contribute to this field by assessing the vulnerability to 6 Hz corneal kindling of young female mice from two well‐characterized transgenic AD models and by testing their responsiveness to selected antiseizure drugs (ASDs).
Validation of the German version of the STarT-MSK-Tool: A cohort study with patients from physiotherapy clinics

Background The STarT-MSK-Tool is an adaptation of the well established STarT-Back-Tool, used to risk-stratify patients with a wider range of musculoskeletal presentations. Objective To formally translate and cross-culturally adapt the Keele STarT-MSK risk stratification tool into German (STarT-MSKG) and to establish its reliability and validity. Methods A formal, multi-step, forward and backward translation approach was used. To assess validity patients aged ≥18 years, with acute, subacute or chronic musculoskeletal presentations in the lumbar spine, hip, knee, shoulder, or neck were included. The prospective cohort was used with initial data collected electronically at the point-of-consultation. Retest and 6-month follow-up questionnaires were sent by email. Test-retest reliability, construct validity, discriminative ability, predictive ability and floor or ceiling effects were analysed using intraclass correlation coefficient, and comparisons with a reference standard (Orebro-Musculoskeletal-Pain-Questionnaire: OMPQ) using correlations, ROC-curves and regression models. Results The participants’ (n = 287) mean age was 47 (SD = 15.8) years, 51% were female, with 48.8% at low, 43.6% at medium, and 7.7% at high risk. With ICC = 0.75 (95% CI 0.69; 0.81) test-retest-reliability was good. Construct validity was good with correlations for the STarT-MSKG-Tool against the OMPQ-Tool of rs = 0.74 (95% CI 0.68, 0.79). The ability of the tool [comparison OMPQ] to predict 6-month pain and disability was acceptable with AUC = 0.77 (95% CI 0.71, 0.83) [OMPQ = 0.74] and 0.76 (95% CI 0.69, 0.82) [OMPQ = 0.72] respectively. However, the explained variance (linear/logistic regression) for predicting 6-month pain (21% [OMPQ = 17%]/logistic = 29%) and disability (linear = 20%:[OMPQ = 19%]/logistic = 26%), whilst being comparable to the existing OMPQ reference standard, fell short of the a priori target of ≥30%. Conclusions The German version of the STarT-MSK-Tool is a valid instrument for use across multiple musculoskeletal conditions and is availabe for use in clinical practice. Comparison with the OMPQ suggests it is a good alternative.
Determination of Knockdown Resistance (kdr) Allele Frequencies (T929I mutation) in Head Louse Populations from Mexico, Canada, and Peru

The head louse Pediculus humanus capitis (De Geer) is a hematophagous ectoparasite that inhabits the human scalp. The infestations are asymptomatic; however, skin irritation from scratching occasionally may cause secondary bacterial infections. The present study determined the presence and frequency of the knockdown resistance (kdr) mutation T929I in 245 head lice collected from Mexico, Peru, and Canada. Head lice were collected manually using a comb in the private head lice control clinic. Allele mutation at T9291 was present in 100% of the total sampled populations (245 lice) examined. In addition, 4.89% of the lice were homozygous susceptible, whereas 6.93% heterozygous and 88.16% homozygous were resistant, respectively. This represents the second report in Mexico and Quebec and fist in Lima.
Italian Dementia-Friendly Hospital Trial (IDENTITÀ): efficacy of a dementia care intervention for hospital staff

Abstract Objectives This study investigated the short-term impact and the retention of a dementia care intervention for healthcare staff working in an Italian acute hospital setting. Additionally, we identified the predictors of improvement across the intervention. Method Sixty-two healthcare staff from an Italian public hospital participated in a dementia care intervention consisting of 5 modules delivered in a 5-hour training program focusing on dementia management, knowledge, and care. A pre-test/post-test and six-months follow-up design was used to evaluate participants’ changes in knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in dementia. Results The intervention significantly improved healthcare staff’s dementia knowledge and confidence immediately after the end of the intervention. No significant changes were observed from post-test to follow-up, indicating retention of these outcomes over six months. Regarding attitude to dementia, we found an immediate improvement only in the Recognition of Personhood scale. Looking at the predictors of improvement, healthcare staff with lower levels of knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in dementia at pre-test were those who improved more following the intervention. Conclusion These findings provide further evidence that dementia care interventions are suitable initiatives to promote knowledge and skills required to manage the needs of people with dementia in an acute hospital setting.
Bone marrow adiposity in diabetes and clinical interventions

Purpose of review This study aims to review bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) changes in people with diabetes, contributing factors, and interventions. Recent findings In type 1 diabetes (T1D), BMAT levels are similar to healthy controls, although few studies have been performed. In type 2 diabetes (T2D), both BMAT content and composition appear altered, and recent bone histomorphometry data suggests increased BMAT is both through adipocyte hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Position emission tomography scanning suggests BMAT is a major source of basal glucose uptake. BMAT is responsive to metabolic interventions. Summary BMAT is a unique fat depot that is influenced by metabolic factors and proposed to negatively affect the skeleton. BMAT alterations are more consistently seen in T2D compared to T1D. Interventions such as thiazolidinedione treatment may increase BMAT, whereas metformin treatment, weight loss, and exercise may decrease BMAT. Further understanding of the role of BMAT will provide insight into the pathogenesis of diabetic bone disease and could lead to targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies.
Available online at: EVALUATION OF FOOT CARE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING JAZAN DIABETIC CENTRE, JAZAN, KSA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the most challenging health problems in developing and developed world. It impacts all aspects of the body, including the feet. It usually starts with a small ulcer and progresses to a lethal gangrene, which may eventually require amputation and may end up with septicemia or death. Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge and practices regarding foot care among people with diabetes attending Jazan diabetic center and determine the Wrong behavior, as well as stress upon the importance of such knowledge and practices in decreasing morbidity associated with diabetic foot disease. Design: Diabetic Center Based descriptive, Cross-sectional Study. Setting: Diabetic Center, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Method: Direct questionnaire on 132 participants who meets the inclusion criteria using 9.5% proportion of DM among population with 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error under WHO software for sample size determination. Main outcome measures: Good level of knowledge about foot care, with one third of young respondents found to have good practice of foot care. Results: The results showed most of respondent had better level of knowledge about foot care as compared to prior studies. Despite good knowledge about foot care, only one third were found to have good practice of foot care, young respondents in their second and third decades significantly had better level of practice compared to those aged sixty or older. Conclusions: We found three-quarter of people with DM are knowledgeable about foot care, but one third of them well practiced foot care; these were associated with older age and poor economic status. Findings highlights gaps in practice of foot care and necessitate devoting rigorous efforts in educating diabetic patients about the importance of foot care through educational programs and routine counseling to minimize the odds of developing diabetic foot and associated problems. Limitations: This study has some limitations, the cross-sectional nature of the study; we couldn’t assess the difference in clinical outcomes in relation to knowledge and practice levels. Also, the sample was not representative of all geographical zones of Jazan region so the findings may not be enough to apply on all population.
OPTO_A_303087 119..128

1Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 2Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 3Health Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada; 4University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; 5Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Introduction: Eye care in many countries is provided by optometrists, ophthalmologists, primary care providers (PCPs, including family physicians and pediatricians) and emergency department (ED) physicians. In the province of Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, optometric services are not government-insured, while services provided by other eye care providers are government-insured. Clinics of optometrists, PCPs and ED physicians are widely distributed across the island. Clinics of ophthalmologists however are concentrated in the capital city Charlottetown. Purpose: To investigate if more patients visited government-insured PCPs and EDs for eye care when local optometric services are government-uninsured and government-insured ophthalmologists are potentially distant. Methods: From PEI physician billing database, we identified all patients with an ocular diagnosis from 2010–2012 using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD9) codes. The utilization of government-insured PCPs and EDs in five geographical regions was assessed utilizing patients’ residential postal code. Of the five regions, Prince was the region farthest from the capital Charlottetown. Results: Compared to utilization of government-insured PCPs for ocular diagnoses in Charlottetown (13.5% in 2010, 95% confidence interval [CI] 12.9–14.0%), the utilization in Prince (22.4% in 2010, 95% CI 21.7–23.1%) was nearly double (p<0.05). The utilization of ED physicians for ocular diagnoses was similarly double in Prince (8.8%, 95% CI 8.3–9.3%) versus Charlottetown (4.1%, 95% CI 3.8–4.5%). The utilization of ophthalmologists however was significantly lower in Prince (43%, 95% CI 41.4–42.9%) versus Charlottetown (56.3%, 95% CI 55.6–57.1%). Similar trends remained throughout 2010–2012. Conclusion: When optometric services are government-uninsured and government-insured ophthalmologist services are geographically distant, ocular patients utilized PCPs and ED physicians more frequently. Due to different levels of training and available equipment for eye examinations among PCPs, ED physicians and optometrists, the quality of eye care and cost-effectiveness of increased use of PCPs and ED physicians for ocular management warrant further investigation. Trial Registration: Not applicable.
Preoperative Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection Increases the Risk of a Dural Tear During Minimally Invasive Lumbar Discectomy

Background Preoperative lumbar epidural steroid injections (LESI) are known to be a risk factor for intraoperative dural tears in traditional spine surgery. However, whether the same holds true after minimally invasive surgery is debatable. The authors decided to investigate the incidence of complications in patients undergoing minimally invasive lumbar discectomy after a preoperative LESI. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on patients ages 21 to 65 years who underwent minimally invasive lumbar discectomy over 3 years between November 2017 and October 2020. These were classified into 2 groups based on the administration of an LESI within a year of surgery. Those receiving LESI were further subdivided on the basis of the proximity of the injection to the surgery. The complications encountered during and up to 6 months after the surgery were recorded. Various demographic variables were also noted. Results A total of 315 patients were included in the study, of which 129 were in the LESI group and 186 were in the non-LESI group. The overall complication rate was 13.65%, with 17.83% in the LESI group and 10.75% in the non-LESI group (P = 0.07). Patients receiving an LESI were 2.49 times more likely to suffer from intraoperative dural tears compared to the other group (95% CI: 1.00–6.20, P = 0.049). This was more prevalent in those who were administered an LESI within 3 months of the surgery (OR: 3.24, 95% CI: 1.12–9.40, P = 0.03). However, the rates of other complications including infections were comparable. Conclusions A history of LESI within 3 months of the surgery is a risk factor of intraoperative dural tears. However, other complications, including infections, are not affected by a preoperative LESI. Clinical Relevance A history of an LESI within 3 months of a proposed minimally invasive discectomy should make the surgeon extra-cautious of the risk of a dural tear. Level of Evidence 3.