Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological Status of Healthcare Workers during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE To assess the levels of health anxiety and Beck depression according to demographic variables among a sample of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional, analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Firat University and Medical Park Hosspital, Elazığ, Turkey, from March to April 2020. METHODOLOGY A total of 270 healthcare workers (100 males and 170 females) filled out health anxiety ınventory (HAI), Beck depression ınventory (BDI), questionnaires. Evaluations of HAI and BDI were conducted according to demographic variables ( age, gender, marital status, jop, life style, smoking habits, sistemic disease). RESULTS Female healthcare workers had higher HAI and BDI scores than male (p <0.001, p <0.001). Young healthcare workers had higher HAI scores than aged healthcare workers (p=0.021) Healthcare workers with more knowledge about COVID-19 had lower HAI and BDI in (p=0.021, p=0.019). There is statistical significant differences in HAI and BDI scores in marital status (p = 0.022, p=0.002). The HAI and BDI scores of participants, who had close contact, were significantly higher than those who had no contact (p = 0.009 p=0.028). There were significant correlations between the two scales (p <0.05). CONCLUSION During the COVID-19 pandemic, psychological support should be provided to all healthcare workers and working conditions should be corrected to relieve the anxiety and worry. Key Words: COVID-19, Healthcare workers, Health anxiety, Beck depress.
Incidence of White Mold and Yield of Upright Bean Grown in Different Planting Patterns

The commercial dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) production system in Alberta requires irrigation and the viny cultivars currently used in this production system are prone to outbreaks of white mold caused by Sclerotinia sderotiorum (Lib.) de Bary. The use of beans with an upright growth habit has potential for alleviating the disease problem, but the narrow profile of the upright beans may warrant a different planting pattern to achieve high yield. A study was undertaken to determine the effect of between- and within-row spacings on the occurrence of white mold and seed yield of upright beans. An experimental navy bean composite with upright growth habit, and a susceptible control Red Mexican, UI 37, were evaluated using three between-row (BR) and three within-row (WR) spacings in presence or absence of white mold during a 2-year period. The BR and WR spacings had no effect (P > 0. 05) on disease occurrence in the inoculated upright composite or in the viny control. Regardless of BR and WR spacings, the upright composite had less (P < 0. 01) disease than the control in both years. In general, large differences (P < 0. 05) were found between the upright composite and control spacing treatments in the presence or absence of white mold. BR spacing had a significant effect on seed yield, but WR spacing did not. In most cases, increasing plant density by reducing BR spacings resulted in higher seed yields. These findings suggest that producers may gain in seed yield without increasing risks for white mold occurrence by changing from viny to upright beans and planting in narrower rows.
Perceived Job Insecurity and Depressive Symptoms among Italian Dentists: The Moderating Role of Fear of COVID-19

Containment measures adopted to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have produced a general perception of job insecurity. Dentists have been highly affected by such measures, as they represent an easy source of contagion. As perceived job insecurity is associated with psychological distress and Italian dentists have been highly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in terms of potential financial loss and the risk of being infected, this study aimed at assessing whether the fear of COVID-19 moderated the effect of perceived job insecurity on depressive symptoms. This cross-sectional online study has included 735 Italian dentists recruited during the lockdown and ranging in age from 27 to 70 years old (495 men and 240 women). A quantile regression model with an inference based on the median and with an interaction term between the fear of COVID-19 and perceived job insecurity has been used to estimate the hypothesized associations. The results indicated that both perceived job insecurity and fear of COVID-19 were positively associated with depressive symptoms, and that the effect of perceived job insecurity on depressive symptoms was weaker among those with a low fear of COVID-19. The findings may inform public health policies for dentists in relation to reducing the risk of developing negative mental health outcomes.
Atherosclerotic Pre-Conditioning Affects the Paracrine Role of Circulating Angiogenic Cells Ex-Vivo

In atherosclerosis, circulating angiogenic cells (CAC), also known as early endothelial progenitor cells (eEPC), are thought to participate mainly in a paracrine fashion by promoting the recruitment of other cell populations such as late EPC, or endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFC), to the injured areas. There, ECFC replace the damaged endothelium, promoting neovascularization. However, despite their regenerative role, the number and function of EPC are severely affected under pathological conditions, being essential to further understand how these cells react to such environments in order to implement their use in regenerative cell therapies. Herein, we evaluated the effect of direct incubation ex vivo of healthy CAC with the secretome of atherosclerotic arteries. By using a quantitative proteomics approach, 194 altered proteins were identified in the secretome of pre-conditioned CAC, many of them related to inhibition of angiogenesis (e.g., endostatin, thrombospondin-1, fibulins) and cell migration. Functional assays corroborated that healthy CAC released factors enhanced ECFC angiogenesis, but, after atherosclerotic pre-conditioning, the secretome of pre-stimulated CAC negatively affected ECFC migration, as well as their ability to form tubules on a basement membrane matrix assay. Overall, we have shown here, for the first time, the effect of atherosclerotic factors over the paracrine role of CAC ex vivo. The increased release of angiogenic inhibitors by CAC in response to atherosclerotic factors induced an angiogenic switch, by blocking ECFC ability to form tubules in response to pre-conditioned CAC. Thus, we confirmed here that the angiogenic role of CAC is highly affected by the atherosclerotic environment.
ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE AEROTERRESTRIAL GREEN ALGA KLEBSORMIDIUM CRENULATUM (CHAROPHYCEAE, STREPTOPHYTA) ISOLATED FROM AN ALPINE SOIL CRUST WITH AN EMPHASIS ON DESICCATION STRESS 1

Aeroterrestrial filamentous green algae of the genus Klebsormidium (Klebsormidiales, Streptophyta) are typical components of biological soil crusts, which occur worldwide in arid and semiarid habitats including alpine regions. In the present study, Klebsormidium crenulatum (Kütz.) Lokhorst was isolated from an alpine soil crust above the timberline of the Austrian Alps. Growth responses, photosynthetic performance, and desiccation tolerance were measured under controlled laboratory conditions. K. crenulatum exhibited optimal growth and the highest photosynthetic efficiency under relatively low photon fluence densities (30 and 21.9 μmol photons · m−2 · s−1, respectively), indicating low‐light requirements. It grew in a narrow range of salinities between 1.2 and 15 practical salinity units (psu), pointing to a pronounced stenohaline response pattern. Increasing temperatures from 5°C to 40°C led to different effects on photosynthetic oxygen evolution and respiratory oxygen consumption in K. crenulatum. While at low temperatures (5°C–10°C) photosynthesis was relatively high, respiration was not detectable or was at a very low level. Conversely, at the highest temperature of 40°C, photosynthesis was inhibited, and respiration unaffected, indicating strong differences in temperature sensitivity between both physiological processes. K. crenulatum was capable of photosynthesizing efficiently for up to 2.5 h under desiccation, followed by a decrease to 15% of the initial value after 3 h. Complete recovery took place within 2 h after rehydration. All ecophysiological data explain the widespread abundance of K. crenulatum in soil crusts of the alpine regions of the European Alps.
Short Communication: Metabolism and Excretion of Benzphetamine: Sources of Error in Reporting Results

Benzphetamine (Didrex | ) is prescribed as an anorectic to be taken in 25or 50-mg doses, one to three times per day (1). It is a central nervous system stimulant similar in structure and action to amphetamine (1) and, therefore, subject to occasional abuse. Benzphetamine is a weak base and as such, very little is excreted unchanged in the urine (2). Studies have shown that it is extensively metabolized to amphetamine and methamphetamine in rats (2,3). An effort was made to determine the extent of metabolism of benzphetamine into amphetamine and methamphetamine in man. A patient (male, 29 years old, 210 lbs.) with no history of amphetamine, methampbetamine, or benzphetamine use ingested 20 mg of benzphetamine. Twelve urine specimens taken at intervals during the following 44 hours were analyzed for amphetamine, methamphetamine, and benzphetamine by a combination of enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique and gas-liquid chromatography (4). The minimum detectable levels using 40 ml of urine sample for each amphetamine and methamphetamine were 0.05 mg/l and for benzphetamine 0.15 rag/1. Table I shows that even from this low dosage of benzphetamine, detectable levels of both amphetamine and methamphetamine were produced for at least 22 hours. Urine testing results for a single oral dose of 20 mg of benzphetamine would thus be indistinguishable from results obtained following ingestion of metbamphetamine and amphetamine together or methamphetamine alone (which metabolizes to amphetamine), since detectable levels of benzphetamine itself are not excreted. A urine sample from a chronic benzphetamine user, however, was found to contain trace amounts of unchanged benzphetamine. The small quantities excreted and its relatively long gas chromatographic retention time--20 minutes on a 1.8-m x 2-ram i.d. glass column packed with 10% Apiezon L-10% KOH run at 200~ compared to about 1 minute for methamphetamine under the same conditions (4)--make the detection of even chronic benzphetamine use difficult. Thus, it is generally not possible to distinguish the use of benzphetamine from the use of methamphetamine or both amphetamine and methamphetamine based on only urine results.
A Simulation Model for Decomposition in Grasslands

A model has been developed to simulate the dynamics of decomposers and substrates in grasslands. Substrates represented are humic material, feces, and dead plant and animal remains. Except for humic material, substrates are further divided into a rapidly and a slowly decomposing fraction. The proportion of rapidly decomposing material in a substrate is predicted from its initial nitrogen content. The belowground portion of the system is divided into layers because temperature and soil water, the most important driving variables for the model, vary with depth. Decomposition rates are predicted from temperature, water tension, and inorganic nitrogen concentration.
Annual variability in survival of sea‐ranched Baltic salmon, Salmo salar L: significance of smolt size and marine conditions

Carlin tagging data for 1980–1991 were used to examine the influence of smolt size and feeding conditions on the post-smolt survival of ranched River Neva salmon, (Salmo salar L.), in the the Gulf of Finland, which is the native feeding area of the stock, and in the Bothnian Sea, where the stock has been introduced. Because of better feeding conditions, the survival rates were higher and less variable in the Gulf of Finland than in the Bothnian Sea. In the Bothnian Sea, the annual variability in survival decreased and the mean value increased with increasing smolt size from the smallest (14–16 cm) to the largest (28–30 cm) size classes. The survival was positively correlated with growth rates, food resources and sea-surface temperatures. This suggests that in the Bothnian Sea the annual variability in survival is mainly because variable marine conditions affect growth rates, and, thus, the vulnerability of the post-smolts to size-dependent predation. In the Gulf of Finland, the survival advantage of large initial size and rapid growth was counteracted by size-selective post-smolt mortality from fishing. The increase in the survival rate with increasing smolt size levelled off at 22 cm, and the correlations between survival, growth and the indices of feeding conditions were mostly insignificant. For large smolts, some negative correlations were recorded, suggesting that the relative significance of mortality from fishing may even exceed that of size-dependent natural mortality. The implications of the results for management are discussed.
Giant Extensional Strain of Magnetoactive Elastomeric Cylinders in Uniform Magnetic Fields

Elongations of magnetoactive elastomers (MAEs) under ascending–descending uniform magnetic fields were studied experimentally using a laboratory apparatus specifically designed to measure large extensional strains (up to 20%) in compliant MAEs. In the literature, such a phenomenon is usually denoted as giant magnetostriction. The synthesized cylindrical MAE samples were based on polydimethylsiloxane matrices filled with micrometer-sized particles of carbonyl iron. The impact of both the macroscopic shape factor of the samples and their magneto-mechanical characteristics were evaluated. For this purpose, the aspect ratio of the MAE cylindrical samples, the concentration of magnetic particles in MAEs and the effective shear modulus were systematically varied. It was shown that the magnetically induced elongation of MAE cylinders in the maximum magnetic field of about 400 kA/m, applied along the cylinder axis, grew with the increasing aspect ratio. The effect of the sample composition is discussed in terms of magnetic filler rearrangements in magnetic fields and the observed experimental tendencies are rationalized by simple theoretical estimates. The obtained results can be used for the design of new smart materials with magnetic-field-controlled deformation properties, e.g., for soft robotics.
Entomological Investigations, Seasonal Fluctuations and Impact of Bioclimate Factors of Phlebotomines Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of an Emerging Focus of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Aichoun, Central Morocco

Leishmaniasis diseases are endemic in Morocco. An entomological survey was conducted in Aichoun locality for 1 year from September 2013 to August 2014. The objective of this study was to investigate the sand fly fauna, mainly the species composition and the monthly species prevalence in accordance with bioclimate factors. Sand flies were collected twice a month, using sticky traps and CDC light traps. During a one-year study, 4472 specimens of sand fly were caught (72.56% male/22.44% female) that were composed of seven species divided into two genera: Phlebotomus (99.46%) and Sergentomyia (0.53%). Ph. sergenti was the most prevalent species (46.64%), followed by Ph. perniciosus (38.19%), Ph. longicuspis (9.32%), Ph. papatasi (5.23%), and Ph. ariasi (0.06%). The genus Sergentomyia was even less frequent. The population dynamics showed a bimodal trend with two peaks: the first one in October (12.03% of specimens) and the second in June (27.92% of specimens). The study of the effects of climatic factors in the study area showed a link between the dynamics of sand flies and the variation of these parameters (temperature and relative humidity). During the period between November and March, the sand flies were absent. The highest prevalence of sand flies was recorded in June when the temperature and relative humidity values reached, respectively, 25.8°C and 42%. The minimum number of specimens was collected in September with an average temperature of 23.19°C and relative humidity of 57.4%. Statistical analysis with principal component analysis has shown a strong positive correlation between temperature parameters and the seasonal distribution of sand flies. The climatic factor of relative humidity has been judged of being negatively correlated. The wind speed does not have any impact on the relative abundance of all species. Within this context, the results will be useful for the development of a monitoring program to better manage the operations and evaluate their effectiveness.
Mechanisms of JAK-STAT signaling pathway mediated by CXCL8 gene silencing on epithelial-mesenchymal transition of human cutaneous melanoma cells

Effect of CXCL8 gene silencing-mediated JAK-STAT signaling pathway on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human cutaneous melanoma cells was explored. Eighty patients with cutaneous melanoma were enrolled in the study. Cells were transfected accordingly and divided into five groups: The blank group (human cutaneous melanoma cells), NC group (human cutaneous melanoma cells + blank vector plasmid transfection), CXCL8 siRNA group (human cutaneous melanoma cells + CXCL8 silent expression vector plasmid transfection), AG490 group (human cutaneous melanoma cells + JAK-STAT signal pathway inhibitor transfection), CXCL8 siRNA + AG490 group (human cutaneous melanoma cells + JAK-STAT signaling pathway inhibitor + CXCL8 silent expression vector plasmid transfection). The expression levels of CXCL8, JAK2, STAT3, epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), neurotrophic cadherin (N-cadherin) and vimentin in tissues and cells were detected by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. CCK-8 and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis. Compared with adjacent normal tissues, the expression of E-cadherin in human cutaneous melanoma tissues was significantly decreased, whereas the expression of CXCL8, JAK2, STAT3, vimentin and N-cadherin was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, CXCL8 siRNA group and CXCL8 siRNA + AG490 group had significantly lower expression of CXCL8 (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the expression levels of JAK2, STAT3, vimentin and N-cadherin in CXCL8 siRNA group, AG490 group and CXCL8 siRNA + AG490 group were decreased, the expression of E-cadherin was increased, the cell proliferation ability was decreased and apoptosis was increased (P<0.05). Compared with CXCL8 siRNA group, the expression of JAK2, STAT3, vimentin and N-cadherin in CXCL8 siRNA + AG490 group were significantly decreased, the expression of E-cadherin was significantly increased, cell proliferation ability was decreased and apoptosis was increased (P<0.05). In conclusion, CXCL8 gene expression silencing may inhibit EMT and cell proliferation while promoting cell apoptosis of human cutaneous melanoma cells by inhibiting the activation of JAK-STAT signaling pathway.
Latitudinal gradient in the ovary weight of bluegill Lepomis macrochirus in Lake Biwa, Japan

The local difference in the ovary weight of bluegill Lepomis macrochirus was investigated in Lake Biwa, Japan. Fish samples were collected from four sites in May 2010 before the onset of spawning. Analytical results indicated that the ovary weights decreased significantly with latitude. The ratios of ovary weight to the body weight of fish collected at the lowest-latitude site frequently exceeded 10%, whereas those at the highest-latitude site were always below 5.79%. A latitudinal decrease in the ovary weight was obviously responsible for the higher body weights of fish in the south basin of the lake than those in the north basin, since the ovary-removed body weights of fish tended to increase with latitude. As the water temperature of Lake Biwa normally starts to increase in spring from lower latitudes, the latitudinal gradient in the ovary weight of bluegill appeared to be owing to the difference in the local temperature. Results of this study suggest that bluegill can adjust their reproductive activity by sensitively responding to the local temperature condition. This attribute can be regarded as one of the strategies of the bluegill to optimise the adaptive success to various environments, probably contributing to the rapid expansion of the fish after introduction to the lake.
COMPARATIVE IN VITRO ACTIVITY OF MEBATIC AGAINST CLINICAL ISOLATES

Article History: Received 5, April, 2015 Received in revised form 12, April, 2015 Accepted 6, May, 2015 Published online 28, May, 2015 Study was aimed to explore the in vitro effect of ofloxacin and ornidazole (Mebatic) combination as compared with other drugs on aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The study was done from March 2014 to March 2015 in the Department of Microbiology, Venus Medicine Research Centre, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. A total of 1059 clinical samples were collected in a sterile container for aerobic and anaerobic culture. Identification of bacteria was done by microscopy and biochemical reaction. The antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed by cup plate method.
Psoriasis and Dementia: A Cross-sectional Study of 121,801 Patients

Data regarding the association between psoriasis and dementia are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate this association in the database of Clalit Health Services, Israel. A comparative analysis for the association between psoriasis, dementia and its risk factors was performed for the entire study population and in the subgroup of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. The study included 121,801 patients with psoriasis, of whom 16,947 were diagnosed with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, and 121,802 controls. Psoriasis was associated with a lower prevalence of dementia relative to control subjects (1.6% vs 1.8%; odds ratio (OR) 0.85; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.80–0.91; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis adjusting for demographic variables, cardiovascular-related risk factors, and healthcare utilization demonstrated a significant inverse association between psoriasis and dementia in the entire study population (adjusted OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.76–0.96; p = 0.009), but not in the subgroup of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis (adjusted OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.81–1.02; p = 0.113). In conclusion, these data support the hypothesis that psoriasis is inversely associated with dementia.
Linking reductionist science and holistic policy using systematic reviews: unpacking environmental policy questions to construct an evidence-based framework.

Summary 1. There is a mismatch between broad holistic questions typically posed in policy formation and narrow reductionist questions that are susceptible to scientific method. This inhibits the two-way flow of information at the science-policy interface and weakens the impact of applied ecology on environmental policy. 2. We investigate the approaches to building policy in the health services as a model to help establish a framework in applied ecology and environmental management by which reductionist science can underpin decision making at the policy level. 3. A comparison of policy documents in the health and environmental sectors reveals many similarities in identifying approaches and specific interventions that might achieve policy objectives. The difference is that in the health services, information on the effectiveness of potential interventions is far more readily available through the collaborative process of systematic review. 4.Synthesis and applications. Decision makers are increasingly looking to produce policies that are shaped by evidence through evidence-based policy making. The approach that we outline here provides a framework for structuring systematic reviews to deliver the evidence on key policy issues in a way that will see a faster return and provide better use of the systematic review methodology in environmental management.