Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and Implementation of a Distant-Learning Clinical Research Mentorship Program: The Accra-Toronto Collaboration

PURPOSE For many oncology training programs in low- and middle-income countries, dedicated time for research education and mentorship of trainees is limited. Here, we report a 1-year–long collaboration between a cancer center in Canada and one in Ghana with the aim of imparting clinical research skills and mentoring the research of radiation oncology residents. METHODS On the basis of a needs assessment conducted in Ghana, we designed a curriculum consisting of 13 weekly seminars delivered via videoconference, followed by a 1-year–long mentorship program to support research projects. The primary outcome was the feasibility of the program from seminars to manuscript preparation. We used multiple secondary outcomes to capture the learning experience with study-specific questionnaires. We evaluated critical thinking ability using the Berlin questionnaire. Funding was made available for research and travel to international conferences. RESULTS Five Ghanaian trainees submitted research proposals. Nine Canadian faculty members delivered the seminars and two served as methodology mentors, and two Ghanaian faculty acted as local supervisors. Feedback questionnaires from all participants showed that they agreed strongly that they would recommend the sessions to another resident (75%), that the objectives were clear (71%), and that the topics were useful for their training (73%). At the end of the program, two Ghanaian trainees finalized their manuscripts and one was published. CONCLUSION Here, we report on the implementation of a mentorship program focused on research methods and evidence-based medicine in sub-Saharan Africa. The program was successful in the drafting and publication of abstracts and manuscripts by local trainees.
Success of assisted reproductive technology treatment and couple relationship: A pilot study on the role of romantic attachment

Infertility is a deeply distressing experience, which can threaten important personal and martial goals, frequently affecting the psychophysical health. A supportive relationship and a secure romantic attachment appear to reduce infertility stress, as well as play a relevant role in the success of assisted reproductive technology treatments. The principal aim of the study is to investigate the predictive effect of romantic attachment, couple characteristics, quality of life and age on assisted reproductive technology outcome. A total of 88 infertile women, enrolled in an assisted reproductive technology Centre of Rome, completed the Experience in Close Relationship-Revised, the Couple Relationship Inventory, the Fertility Quality of Life and a socio-demographic questionnaire. The participants completed the questionnaires at the beginning of the medical treatment. Data analyses showed significant associations among Experience in Close Relationship-Revised dimensions, Couple Relationship Inventory and Fertility Quality of Life Scales. Assisted reproductive technology outcome was negatively correlated to Experience in Close Relationship-Revised Avoidance and positively related to Couple Relationship Inventory Dependence. A multi-variable logistic regression revealed that Experience in Close Relationship-Revised Avoidance decreased the probability of pregnancy. The present findings partially confirmed the study hypotheses since several associations among couple characteristics, attachment anxiety and avoidance dimensions, infertility-related quality of life in infertile women were found. Furthermore, according to a definition of Avoidance, assisted reproductive technology positive outcome appears to be associated to lower levels of fear of dependence and interpersonal intimacy, and to a low need both for self-reliance and for reluctance to self-disclose within the romantic relationship. Further investigations are needed both to confirm this preliminary finding and for promoting focused therapeutic interventions for couples facing assisted reproductive technology.
TEMPORAL VARIATION IN FORAGING BEHAVIOUR OF PATELLA GRANULARIS (PATELLOGASTROPODA) AND SIPHONARIA CONCINNA (BASOMMATOPHORA) ON A SOUTH AFRICAN SHORE

Foraging activity of two mid- to low- shore species of limpet, Patella granulans (Prosobranchia) and Siphonaria concinna (Pulmonata) from an exposed shore on the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa was monitored. In both species, activity was compared during spring and neap tides and, in P. granulans between summer and winter. Rhythms of activity of the two species were similar, with foraging excursions being mainly associated with nocturnal low tide times, although some P. granularis foraged during daytime low tides. It is suggested that foraging excursions in P. granularis are triggered by wave action. Both species foraged further on spring tides than on neap tides and this is suggested to be a result of the limited time limpets have to forage. P. granularis was also found to forage further during summer when compared to winter and the possibility that seasonal micro-algal productivity influences foraging distances in limpets is discussed. The foraging activity of both species could be divided into 3 distinct phases, a relatively rapid outward phase, a much slower foraging phase and a rapid homeward phase. Whether or not these limpets graze throughout an excursion is not known. S. concinna was found to home to a fixed scar, although during the experiment some scar-swapping occurred. P. granularis did not home to a fixed scar but possessed a 'home range' (approx. 5 cm2) to which it returned after each excursion. Patella granularis was found to move randomly during foraging, whilst S. concinna foraged in a nonrandom direction . which took individuals upshore. No tidal-influen ce is thought to be present in this case and the possibility of a learning component in the foraging behaviour of certain limpet species in relation to the return to optimal feeding patches is discussed.
Semantic feature effect in verbal short-term memory

ABSTRACT The present study explored the influences of semantic features in immediate serial recall in order to further examine the involvement of semantic knowledge in short-term memory. The number of semantic features (NoF) was found to have a positive effect on short-term recall where high NoF words were remembered better than low NoF words (Experiment 1). This effect was replicated in a second experiment and was found to persist even after controlling for a potential confound (number of distinguishing features). It was further found that having more distinctive features facilitated recall performance of words whose representation was semantically poorer (Experiment 3). These results provide additional evidence of semantic influences in short-term memory and demonstrate that the organisation of semantic knowledge is reflected in short-term memory performance.
Relationship between serum potassium level and survival outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest using CAPTURES database of Korea: Does hypokalemia have good neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest?

BACKGROUND Sudden cardiac arrest is a major cause of death worldwide. Serum potassium level is an initial laboratory test that serves as part of an electrolyte panel easily obtainable by most emergency departments (EDs). OBJECTIVES To evaluate the relationship between serum potassium level and the survival outcome for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS We used the Cardiac Arrest Pursuit Trial with Unique Registration and Epidemiological Surveillance (CAPTURES) database, which made up the OHCA cohort of 27 EDs in Korea from January to December 2014. The inclusion criteria were all OHCA patients in the cohort who had received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the hospital. The patients were excluded if they were transferred from another hospital, had a pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), or if the potassium level and clinical outcome data were missing or not captured. The main parameter was serum potassium level on ED arrival. According to the serum potassium level, the patients were divided into a hypokalemia group (K+ < 3.5 mEq/L), a normokalemia group (K+ = 3.5-5.4 mEq/L) and a hyperkalemia group (K+ ≥ 5.5 mEq/L). The primary outcome was neurologically favorable survival discharge. RESULTS Among the 1,616 patients in the CAPTURES cohort, 913 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 46 patients (5.9%) were assigned to the hypokalemia group, 370 patients (40.5%) were assigned to the normokalemia group and 497 patients (54.4%) were assigned to the hyperkalemia group. The hypokalemia group has a significantly higher percentage of good neurological outcomes (26.1%). There was a significant positive correlation with neurologically favorable survival (odds ratio (OR) = 4.45; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.67-11.91) and a significant positive correlation with survival discharge (OR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.05-4.82). CONCLUSIONS In OHCA patients, serum potassium level measured in the hospital showed a significant association with survival outcome. Hypokalemia had a significant association with good neurological outcome and survival discharge.
Shared and distinct functional networks for empathy and pain processing: a systematic review and meta-analysis of fMRI studies

Abstract Background Empathy for pain is a complex phenomenon incorporating sensory, cognitive and affective processes. Functional neuroimaging studies indicate a rich network of brain activations for empathic processing. However, previous research focused on core activations in bilateral anterior insula (AI) and anterior cingulate/anterior midcingulate cortex (ACC/aMCC) which are also typically present during nociceptive (pain) processing. Theoretical understanding of empathy would benefit from empirical investigation of shared and contrasting brain activations for empathic and nociceptive processing. Method Thirty-nine empathy for observed pain studies (1112 participants; 527 foci) were selected by systematic review. Coordinate based meta-analysis (activation likelihood estimation) was performed and novel contrast analyses compared neurobiological processing of empathy with a comprehensive meta-analysis of 180 studies of nociceptive processing (Tanasescu et al., 2016). Results Conjunction analysis indicated overlapping activations for empathy and nociception in AI, aMCC, somatosensory and inferior frontal regions. Contrast analysis revealed increased likelihood of activation for empathy, relative to nociception, in bilateral supramarginal, inferior frontal and occipitotemporal regions. Nociception preferentially activated bilateral posterior insula, somatosensory cortex and aMCC. Conclusion Our findings support the likelihood of shared and distinct neural networks for empathic, relative to nociceptive, processing. This offers succinct empirical support for recent tiered or modular theoretical accounts of empathy.
Genetic polymorphism in β-lactoglobulin gene of some sheep breeds in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and its influence on milk composition

β-Lactoglobulin (β-Lg) is one of the most important proteins in mammals’ milk. It plays a crucial role in milk quality. The polymorphism of β-Lg gene can be used as a marker system . To analyze the genotype distribution of β-Lg gene in some sheep breeds reared in Taif region of Saudi Arabia and its influence on milk composition, sixty (60) animals belonging to four sheep breeds named Noami, Sawakni, Harry and Nagdi, were utilized. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) test was performed and genetic polymorphism was detected by the digestion of a 452 bp PCR fragment of exon II of β-Lg gene with the endonuclease Rsa I. The results revealed that Noami and Sawakni breeds belong to β-Lg -A genotype while Harry and Nagdi belong to genotype β-Lg -B. Sequence analysis of a 340 bp fragment in the promoter region of β-Lg showed polymorphism among the examined breeds. Analysis of milk composition in the different breeds indicated that the total protein content of milk was the highest in Noami breed followed by Sawakni, Nagdi and Harry. Concerning milk total fat and total solids contents, Harry breed was the highest, while no significant difference was evident among different breeds in lactose or non-fat solid contents. These results indicate the feasibility of PCR-RFLP test for differentiating sheep breeds and the existence of a significant relationship between β-Lg -A genotype and total milk protein content while no clear association between β-Lg genotypes and other milk content was proved.
THE EFFECT OF AGE ON THE BREEDING BIOLOGY OF THE KITTTWAKE RISSA TRIDACTYLA

Summary 1. From 1954 to 1956 inclusive, the biology of individual marked Kittiwakes was studied at North Shields, Northumberland. 2. It was concluded that older Kittiwakes reacted to the breeding stimulus earlier, more intensively and with greater success than younger breeding birds. 3. Birds with previous breeding experience returned to the colony before birds breeding for the first time and these before non-breeders. 4. Before breeding started, birds which had bred previously spent more of their time at the colony than those about to breed for the first time. 5. Birds breeding for at least the second time laid the first egg 7·5 days earlier than those breeding for the first time. 6. Breeding started one day later for every four days the return to the colony was postponed. 7. Older breeding birds showed greater nest-site tenacity, laid larger clutches and had greater breeding success than younger birds. 8. The chicks in broods of two (but not of one) increased in weight more rapidly where the parents had previous experience. 9. Breeding Kittiwakes showed strong colony tenacity, but 24% of the marked non-breeding birds were subsequently seen in other colonies. 10. Over half the birds retained the same mate as in the previous year.
Alleviation of dormancy in annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) seeds by hydration and after-ripening

Abstract The effect of hydration (priming) treatment on dormancy release in annual ryegrass seeds from two populations was investigated. Hydration duration, number, and timing with respect to after-ripening were compared in an experiment involving 15 treatment regimens for 12 wk. Seeds were hydrated at 100% relative humidity for 0, 2, or 10 d at Weeks 1, 6, or 12 of after-ripening. Dormancy status was assessed after each hydration treatment by measuring seed germination at 12-hourly alternating 25/15 C (light/dark) periods using seeds directly from the hydration treatment and seeds subjected to 4 d postpriming desiccation. Seeds exposed to one or more hydration events during the 12 wk were less dormant than seeds that remained dry throughout after-ripening. The longer hydration of 10 d promoted greater dormancy loss than either a 2-d hydration or no hydration. For the seed lot that was most dormant at the start of the experiment, two or three rather than one hydration event or a hydration event earlier rather than later during after-ripening promoted greater dormancy release. These effects were not significant for the less-dormant seed lot. For both seed lots, the effect of a single hydration for 2 d at Week 1 or 6 of after-ripening was not manifested until the test at Week 12 of the experiment, suggesting that the hydration events alter the rate of dormancy release during subsequent after-ripening. A hydrothermal priming time model, usually used for modeling the effect of priming on germination rate of nondormant seeds, was successfully applied to dormancy release resulting from the hydration treatments. Nomenclature: Annual ryegrass, Lolium rigidum Gaud.
Feasibility of Free Flap Reconstruction Following Salvage Robotic-Assisted Resection of Recurrent and Residual Oropharyngeal Cancer in 3 Patients

Introduction: Human papilloma virus (HPV)–positive oropharyngeal cancer carries a good prognosis when managed with primary chemoradiotherapy. However, the dramatically increasing rate of this disease means more patients are now developing recurrence, with surgery remaining the mainstay of treatment. Despite this, there is no agreed technique for excision of recurrent oropharyngeal cancer. Objective: We describe the transoral robotic technique employed by our head and neck multidisciplinary team (MDT) in the management of patients with recurrent HPV positive oropharyngeal cancer and assess their symptom severity using quality of life and swallowing questionnaires. Method: Three (2 males:1 female, mean age 60.7 years) patients with recurrent or residual p16 positive oropharyngeal cancer following radical chemoradiotherapy were identified. All patients underwent selective neck dissection, tracheostomy, and transoral robotic surgery (TORS)–assisted partial oropharyngeal resection with the resultant defect closed with a robotic assisted radial forearm free flap (RFFF). Patient quality of life, symptom severity, and swallowing were assessed pre- and postoperatively using the University of Washington Quality of Life score and MD Anderson Dysphagia Index (MDADI). Results: Histopathological examination revealed complete clearance of the primary lesion in all cases. Two patients made uneventful recoveries, while one patient developed a chest infection and tracheocutaneous fistula managed conservatively. Mean inpatient stay was 15 days (range 8-27). University of Washington Quality of Life and MDADI scores showed a mild improvement in symptoms following surgery. Conclusion: Surgical management of recurrent oropharyngeal cancer remains a technical challenge; however, MDT discussion and judicious use of TORS oropharyngeal resection and RFFF can result in good oncological and quality of life outcomes with acceptable postoperative complications and symptoms.
Influence of Weed Competition and Herbicides on Glyphosate-Resistant Soybean (Glycine max)1

Abstract: Field studies were conducted from 1997 to 1999 to evaluate the influence of weed competition and herbicides on glyphosate-resistant soybean at the Belleville Research Center at Belleville, IL. Season-long weed competition did not delay maturity or reduce soybean population. However, season-long weed competition reduced soybean height by 10% and grain yield by 68%. Competition from weeds 30 cm in height or less did not increase days to maturity or reduce plant population, height, or grain yield. Chlorimuron plus thifensulfuron caused 6% height reduction at 21 d after treatment. Despite the injury from herbicides, none increased days to maturity or reduced plant height, population, or grain yield of soybean. The soil-applied herbicides alachlor, imazaquin, and pendimethalin and the postemergence herbicides acifluorfen, bentazon, chlorimuron, imazethapyr, and thifensulfuron did not reduce yield of glyphosate-resistant soybean. Nomenclature: Acifluorfen; alachlor; bentazon; chlorimuron; glyphosate; imazaquin; imazethapyr; pendimethalin; thifensulfuron; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Asgrow 4401 RR’. Additional index words: Herbicide injury, soil-applied herbicides, preemergence, postemergence. Abbreviations: DAT, days after treatment; POST, postemergence; PRE, preemergence; UAN, urea ammonium nitrate.
Remaining kidney volume indexed to weight as a strong predictor of estimated glomerular filtration rate at 1 year and mid‐term renal function after living‐donor nephrectomy ‐ a retrospective observational study

The donors’ estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after living nephrectomy has been a concern, particularly in donors with smaller kindeys. Therefore, we developed this retrospective observational study in 195 donors to determine the ability remaining kidney volume indexed to weight (RKV/W) to predict eGFR at 1 year through multivariate linear regression and to explore this relationship between annual eGFR change from 1 to 4 years postdonation evaluated by a linear mixed model. Comparing RKV/W tertiles (T1, T2, T3), RKV/W was a good predictor of 1‐year eGFR which was significantly better in T3 donors. Gender, predonation eGFR, and RKV/W were independent predictors of eGFR at 1‐year. In a subgroup with predonation eGFR < 90mL/min/1.73 m2, a significant prediction of eGFR < 60mL/min/1.73 m2 was detected in males with RKV/W ≤ 2.51cm3/kg. Annual eGFR (ml/min/year) change from 1 to 4 years was + 0.77. RKV/W divided by tertiles (T1–T3) was the only significant predictor: T2 and T3 donors had an annual eGFR improvement opposing to T1. RKV/W was a good predictor of eGFR at 1 year, independently from predonation eGFR. A higher RKV/W was associated with improved eGFR at 1 year. A decline in eGFR on the four years after surgery was only noticeable in donors with RKV/W ≤ 2.13cm3/kg.
Volatile leaf oil diversity in the narrow range endemic Eucalyptus argutifolia (Myrtaceae) and its widespread congener Eucalyptus obtusiflora

Variation in the qualitative composition of volatile leaf oil was examined in the rare Eucalyptus argutifolia and its widespread congener Eucalyptus obtusiflora. The results revealed that, consistent with the pattern seen with allozymes, E. argutifolia had less variation within populations than E. obtusiflora. Total leaf oil diversity was also significantly lower in the rare species. As found with allozymes, most leaf oil diversity was within populations, but there was also a significant proportion of the variation between populations (25.2% and 27.3% for E. argutifolia and E. obtusiflora, respectively). There were significant associations between phenotypic distance based on leaf oils and geographical distance and between phenotypic and genetic distance across all populations, but these associations were not evident within species. Factors leading to reduced variation in E. argutifolia appear to affect all types of variation, but the relationships between different types of variation within the species are less apparent. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 96, 738–745.
The Impact of Disease in the American White Pelican in North America

Abstract Records of reported die-offs of the American White Pelican (Pelicanus erythrorhynchos) held by the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center from 1978 through 2003 indicate that type C botulism (caused by Clostridium botulinum) was the major cause of mortality. In 1996, over 15,000 birds, including 8,500 American White Pelicans, were estimated to have died from type C botulism at the Salton Sea in California. This was the largest documented die-off of any pelican species and was estimated to represent 15-20% of the western metapopulation. This event was also notable in that it was the first time that fish, specifically Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), were implicated as the source of type C botulinum toxin for birds. Type C botulism has recurred in both North American species of pelicans at the Salton Sea every year since, although the magnitude of mortality is much lower. West Nile virus caused mortality in both adult and immature American White Pelicans, but may have a more significant impact on nestlings. Emaciation and mortality is common in pelican nesting colonies. Further clarification of the cause of nestling mortality and the ability to differentiate background mortality from mortality due to infectious disease agents such as West Nile virus and Newcastle disease virus would be important in determining the impact of disease in pelicans. Although definitive conclusions cannot be drawn, the number of die-offs and the estimated losses of American White Pelicans appears to have increased along with declines in number in western U.S.