Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cerebral structural alterations in the patients undergoing postherpetic neuralgia: A VBM–MRI study

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the changes in gray matter (GM) volume and density in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Using voxel‐based morphometry (VBM), the differences in cerebral GM volume and concentration between 25 PHN patients and 25 healthy controls with similar gender ratios, ages, and education were compared. Meanwhile, correlation analysis was performed between the value of GM volume/concentration in the brain areas with discrepancy and the visual analog scale (VAS) score/lesion duration. The global GM volume in PHN patients was lower than that of healthy controls, while the total volume of cerebrospinal fluid in PHN patients was higher than that of healthy controls. In PHN patients, the GM volume decreased in the striatum, cerebellum, precentral gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and so forth; the GM concentration decreased in the striatum, insula, middle and posterior cingulate, and superior temporal gyrus. There was a negative correlation between GM concentration in the right parahippocampal gyrus and the VAS in patients with PHN. In PHN patients, GM volume and density in the brain regions involved in nociceptive sensation, pain perception, and integration decreased significantly. The interaction between chronic pain of PHN and alteration of the cerebral structure may contribute to the occurrence and development of PHN.
What Predicts First– and Second–Language Difficulties? Testing Language and Executive Functioning Skills as Correlates

This study examined the co–occurrence of word reading difficulty in Chinese (L1) and English as a second language (L2) and tested language and executive functioning (EF) skills as correlates. Thirty–nine poor readers in Chinese (PC), 39 poor readers in English (PE), and 26 poor readers of both languages (PB) were compared to 39 average readers who served as controls (C). The co–occurrence rate of L1–L2 difficulty was 40%. Moreover, PC, PE, and PB performed less well than C on all language and EF skills; PB performed less well than PC, PE, and C on L1 and L2 phonological awareness, L2 morphological awareness, rapid naming, and EF. Findings highlight the role of language and EF skills in L1 and L2 reading development.
Correlation between Physical Activity and Psychological Distress in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis with Comorbidities: A Cross-Sectional Study

Comorbidities cause psychological distress to patients on hemodialysis and cause their physical function to deteriorate. This study aims to examine whether physical patterns are associated with anxiety, depression and fatigue among patients with and without comorbidities who are on hemodialysis. To this end, a cross-sectional survey was administered to 120 patients on hemodialysis. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory—Second Edition, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Brief Fatigue Inventory—Taiwan Version. An independent sample t test and generalized linear model analyses were conducted. The results revealed that patients with comorbidities exhibited more severe levels of depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and fatigue (p = 0.010) than patients without comorbidities. Additionally, patients on hemodialysis with a high physical activity level (≥600 metabolic equivalent of task per min/week) exhibited less depression (B = −4.03; p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI] = −6.04, −2.03) and anxiety (B = −2.64; p = 0.002; 95% CI = −4.27, −1.00) severity than those with a low physical activity level; those who engaged in weekly physical activities exhibited less fatigue severity (B = −1.17; p = 0.001; 95% CI = −1.84, −0.49) and fatigue interference (B = −0.61; p = 0.015; 95% CI = −1.10, −0.12). For patients on hemodialysis, having comorbidities was correlated with more severe levels of depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Weekly moderate-intensity physical activities were revealed to be correlated with less severity levels of depression, anxiety, and fatigue. The study findings aid the development of interventions for promoting physical activity among patients on hemodialysis to prevent the exacerbation of complications caused by comorbidities and psychological distress.
Language Learning Strategy Used among Secondary School ESL Students

The role of English as a Second Language in Malaysia has prompted ESL learners to explore multi techniques and strategies in learning. However, popular strategies applied by secondary students in Malaysia are not much known. Hence, this study aims to identify the language learning strategies employed by successful language learners among secondary school students in Malaysia. This research employs a survey research design that encompasses the strategy inventory for Language Learning (SILL) It includes the six strategies proposed by (Oxford, 1989). About 38 secondary school students from different states were selected through a purposive sampling technique to answer the survey for the data collection. For the finding, it is revealed that the secondary school students use metacognitive strategies the most, followed by cognitive and memory strategies, which are considered the least used among learning learners. As a result, even though all the three strategies are being employed in their language learning process, it appears that the metacognitive strategy is the one that stands out the most thus confirming its interrelations with successful language learners. Therefore, the language learners strategies practised among secondary school varies from metacognitive as the most preferable one, followed by cognitive, and lastly memory strategies hence reflecting their proficiency level as good language learners.
The association between sedentary behavior and low back pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies

Background Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal problem globally. While spending a longer time in sedentary behaviors is linked to several health problems; the quantitative association between different amounts of sedentary time and LBP is still unknown. This study aims to systematically review studies that examined the association between sedentary behavior and LBP development and LBP-related outcomes. Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis retrieved journal articles published from inception to March 2020 and were obtained by searching bibliographical databases. We included longitudinal study designs, including adult (aged ≥18) individuals with nonspecific LBP, and reporting estimates of the association between sedentary behavior and LBP development and LBP-related outcomes (i.e., pain intensity and disability). Results Sixteen longitudinal studies with 100,002 participants were included in this review (eight studies included in quantitative syntheses with 83,111 participants). The results of meta-analyses showed that a sedentary time of 3–<6 (Odds ratio (OR) 0.95, 95% CI [0.85–1.07]), 6–8 (OR 0.95, 95% CI [0.88–1.02]), and >8 (OR 0.92, 95% CI [0.85–1.00]) hours per day (h/d) was not associated with LBP development. A sedentary time of ≥3 h/d was associated with poor LBP-related disability (OR 1.24, 95% CI [1.02–1.51]), but not with pain intensity. Conclusion A meta-analyses of longitudinal studies indicated that sedentary behavior of different durations was not associated with LBP development. However, the results showed that sedentary behavior ≥3 h/d was associated with worse LBP-related disability. These conclusions are tentative as the evidence was derived from mostly fair-quality studies using subjective measures of sedentary behavior. Systematic review registration PROSPERO (registration number CRD42018107078).
Seagrass restoration using seed ball burial in northern China

As seagrass bed restoration by seeding becomes more common, it is necessary to develop a simple and reliable method to improve the efficiency of seed‐based restoration. In this study, we describe a novel method using seed ball burial for eelgrass restoration. Using this method, seeds were wrapped in a wet mud ball, which represented a transplant unit, and the balls were then buried in the sediment. Three experiments (proof of concept study, main study, and large‐scale restoration) were conducted to test this method at three degraded sites (Rizhao, Qingdao, and Tangshan) with different environmental conditions. The density of seedlings and seedling shoots was 54 and 110 per m2, respectively, in Rizhao, a site with coarser sediment and higher temperatures. Seedling survival in Qingdao reached 46.67 ± 9.46%. Relatively low seedling survival (26.67 ± 7.03%) in Tangshan was induced by local waves and currents. Seedling survival was also low (ca. 15% in April and 2% in July) at the large‐scale restoration site , reflecting a mismatch between the environment at this site and the seed ball restoration method. In conclusion, our study provides evidence of the effectiveness of a novel seagrass seed planting method referred to as seed balls.
COVID-19 and Lung Cancer: A Comprehensive Overview from Outbreak to Recovery

Lung cancer patients have been associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection, pulmonary complications, and worse survival outcomes compared to the general population. The world’s leading professional organizations provided new recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of lung cancer patients during the pandemic as a guide for prioritizing cancer care issues. Telemedicine was preferred for non-urgent consultations, and screening programs were temporarily suspended, leading to possible diagnostic delays along with an estimated increase in cause-specific mortality. A vaccine campaign has recently emerged as the main weapon to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, inverting this negative trend. This work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology and immune-pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients, highlighting the most relevant changes in the clinical management of lung cancer patients during the pandemic.
Contributions of Microelectrochemical Scanning Techniques for the Efficient Detection of Localized Corrosion Processes at the Cut Edges of Polymer-Coated Galvanized Steel

Spatially resolved information on corrosion reactions operating at the cut edges of coated metals can be obtained using microelectrochemical scanning techniques using a suitable selection of operation modes and scanning probes. The scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) provides current density maps with a spatial resolution of the order of the dimensions of the sample, which allows the temporal evolution of the corrosion reactions to be followed over time. This leads to the identification and localization of cathodic and anodic sites, although the technique lacks chemical specificity for the unequivocal identification of the reactive species. The application of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was previously limited to image cathodic reaction sites, either due to oxygen consumption in the amperometric operation or by the alkalinisation of the electrolyte in potentiometric operation. However, it is shown that anodic sites can be effectively monitored using an ion-selective microelectrode (ISME) as a probe. The ISME probes detected differences in the local concentrations of Zn2+ and OH− ions from the cut edges of a complete coil coating system compared to the same system after the polymeric layers were removed. In this way, it has been shown that the inhibitor loading in the polymer layers effectively contributes to reducing the corrosion rates at the cut edge, thus helping to extend the useful life of the sacrificial galvanized layer bonded directly to the steel matrix. Additionally, these two probe configurations can be integrated into a multi-electrode tip for potentiometric operation to simultaneously monitor localized changes in pH values and metal ion dissolution in a single scan. Spatial and temporal distributions were further investigated using different rastering procedures, and the potential of constructing pseudomaps for 2D-imaging is described.
Impact of climate and management on radial growth dynamics of two coexisting Mediterranean Quercus species in south Albania

In the context of changing climate conditions, it is crucial to understand how trees maintain resistance and resilience to and recover from drought stress and management-related disturbances, and how management (intensive/extensive) modulates tree growth responses to climate. Dendrochronological methods were used to examine radial growth rates, to reconstruct disturbance history and to evaluate growth resistance and resilience to and recovery from disturbance events identified by pointer year analysis in two coexisting Quercus species (Q. macrolepis Kotschy and Q. trojana Webb). Moreover, a dendro-ecological approach was used to quantify climate–growth relationships, including a drought index, the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI). Q. trojana/Q. macrolepis showed major/moderate growth releases and moderate growth suppression. Q. trojana demonstrated statistically lower growth recovery than Q. macrolepis. The climatic drivers of radial growth in Q. macrolepis were May, June, September precipitation, July temperatures and the SPI accumulated since the previous year (up to 18 months); whereas Q. trojana responded significantly to May and June precipitation, July temperatures and the SPI at mid-time scales (< 8 months). Under intensive management, both species were more responsive to precipitation, temperature and short to mid-time scale SPI than during the extensive management period where they showed loss of sensitivity to spring–summer precipitation, temperature and SPI. These results are relevant to understand species vulnerability to climate and management/ human-related disturbances, and the effects of intensive/extensive management in modulating climate (drought)–growth relationships in Q. macrolepis and Q. trojana trees.
Vitamin D3 alleviates cigarette smoke extract-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and fibrogenesis by upregulating CC16 expression in bronchial epithelial cells

Vitamin D3 supplementation has been previously reported to inhibit the occurrence and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibrogenesis have been associated with the development of COPD. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential effects and mechanism of vitamin D3 in an in vitro model of cigarette smoke (CS)-induced EMT and fibrosis, with specific focus on the role of club cell protein 16 (CC16). CS extract (CSE) at different concentrations (5, 10 and 20%) was used to treat 16-HBE cells to induce EMT and fibrogenesis following which they were treated with vitamin D3. Subsequently, the 20% CSE group was selected for further experiments, where 16-HBE cells were divided into the following five groups: The control group; the CSE group; the low-dose vitamin D3 group (250 nM); the medium-dose vitamin D3 group (500 nM); and the high-dose vitamin D3 group (1,000 nM). Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression levels of the EMT-related proteins E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Slug and α-SMA, fibrogenesis-related proteins collagen Ⅳ and fibronectin 1, proteins involved in the TGF-β1/SMAD3 signaling pathway and CC16. Immunofluorescence was used to measure the protein expression levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and collagen Ⅳ. Specific CC16 knockdown was performed using short hairpin RNA transfection to investigate the role of CC16. The results of the present study found that vitamin D3 could increase the protein expression level of CC16 to inhibit the activation of the TGF-β1/SMAD3 signaling pathway; thereby reducing the 20% increase in CSE-induced EMT- and fibrogenesis-related protein expression levels. Following CC16 knockdown, the inhibitory effects of vitamin D3 on EMT- and fibrogenesis-related protein expression were partially reversed. To conclude, these results suggest that vitamin D3 can inhibit the protein expression levels of EMT- and fibrogenesis-related proteins induced by CSE, at least partially through the function of CC16. These findings are expected to provide novel theoretical foundations and ideas for the pathogenesis and treatment of COPD.
Detection of Neutralizing Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Post-Vaccination in Health Care Workers of a Large Tertiary Hospital in Spain by Using a Rapid Test LFIC and sVNT-ELISA

The presence of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 represent a surrogate marker of immunologic protection in populations at high risk of infection such as healthcare workers caring for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. As recommended by CDC and the European CDC, the use of rapid diagnostic tests during population-based evaluations offers an opportunity to identify individuals with serologic evidence of natural infection or who have undergone vaccination. We carried out a cross-sectional study to assess the presence of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among medical providers at an intensive care unit of a large referral hospital in Alicante, Spain. In addition, we tested for the presence of neutralizing antibodies compared to serum of uninfected individuals from a Biobank. We were also interested in evaluating the use of a rapid lateral flow immunochromatography (LFIC) test against a surrogate ELISA viral neutralization test (sVNT). This rapid test demonstrated a specificity of 1.000 95% CI (0.91–1.00) and the sensitivity of 0.987 95% CI (0.93–1.00). The negative predictive value was 95%. After six months, this rapid test demonstrated that those immunized with two doses of BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, maintained optimal levels of neutralizing antibodies. We concluded that all Health Care Workers develop NAbs and the use of this rapid immunochromatographic test represents a potential tool to be used in population-based studies to detect serological antibody responses to vaccination. Vaccination policies could benefit from this tool to assess additional doses of vaccine or boosters among high-risk populations.
Calculated Informality in Governing (Non)return: An Evolutionary Governance Perspective

ABSTRACT Afghans’ protracted displacement is a geopolitical legacy from the Cold War. Although Pakistan’s return policymaking has foreseen the complete voluntary return of Afghans since the end of the Cold War, then as now, about three million Afghans reside in Pakistan. This article advances the notion of calculated informality to dissolve this seeming contradiction. Pakistan’s policymakers have excelled in calculated informality by successfully navigating the domestic and geopolitical arena over time based on practices of deregulation and ambiguity. Methodologically, the article applies Evolutionary Governance Theory (EGT) to reconstruct Pakistan’s return governance path based on the analysis of legal documents, previous research and secondary literature. EGT reveals the dependencies and layering at work in return governance and points out how the geopolitical positionality of Pakistan has determined its return policymaking. The structured interconnectedness of path-, goal- and interdependencies illustrates rigidities of the governance path and why opacity and ambiguity in return governance persist.
Acute and Subacute Toxicity Assessment of Andrographolide-2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin Complex via Oral and Inhalation Route of Administration in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Objective Acute and subacute toxicity analysis of AND-2-HyP-β-CYD complex was conducted in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats following oral and inhalation routes of administration. Methods and Results Single dose acute toxicity was carried out at 2000 mg/kg of AND-2-HyP-β-CYD complex, while the doses of 200, 400, and 666 mg/kg were administered, over a period of 28 days under repeated dose oral toxicity study. Hence, LD50 (lethal dose) was found to be >2000 mg/kg in addition to NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) of 666 mg/kg. Correspondingly, single dose acute inhalation toxicity of AND-2-HyP-β-CYD complex was carried out at 5 mg/L/4 h/day and subacute inhalation toxicity at 0.5, 1, and 1.66 mg/L/4 h/day over a period of 28 days. The NOAEL and LOAEL (lowest observed adverse effect level) were estimated to be 0.5 mg/L/4 h/day and 1 mg/L/4 h/day, respectively. Conclusion The findings of the present study would further be useful in assessing and utilizing the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of AND-2-HyP-β-CYD complex.
Training preferences and attitudes among loggers in northern New England

Focus groups and a mail survey of loggers were conducted to determine the education preferences and attitudes among loggers in in the northern New England region. Overall, safety, equipment maintenance, and communications and business skills were cited as high priority training topics by approximately two-thirds or more of logger respondents. Training in chain saw filing and the use of computers were given a relatively low priority. Most loggers indicated that they generally used techniques learned in safety training, and that logger certification was good for the logging industry. However, most respondents preferred on-the-job training over formal training programs. For several survey questions, significant differences in responses were detected 1) between logging business owners and logging employees; 2) among loggers who owned a conventional, mechanized business vs. a small-scale logging business; and 3) among loggers who were from Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont. Results will help guide and inform logger training and certification programs in the region.
Immunization status of children aged 12-23 months in Jonglei State, South Sudan: a cross-sectional epidemiologic study

Introduction the immunization program focuses on reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with vaccine-preventable diseases. The purpose of the study was to determine the state of immunization coverage of children aged 12-23 months in Jonglei State, South Sudan, and to identify the factors that contribute to the low immunization coverage. Methods a cross-sectional epidemiologic study was carried out between June and September 2020 using a predefined questionnaire based on the standard World Health Organization (WHO) Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) protocol. A total of 385 women, 35 from 11 counties each of the Jonglei state who resided in the area for a minimum of 12 months, were randomly selected and individually interviewed. The immunization status of the child was verified either by health card or health card plus history recalls. Obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis. Results only 17.7% and 27.5% of children were fully immunized as validated by health card and health card plus recall history, respectively. The most common reason for no immunization and partial immunization was a far distance of the health facility (24.9%) followed by lack of knowledge (23.1%). Based on the multivariate regression analysis of data verified by health card plus history recalls, age group of 25-29 years (OR=4.467 95% CI=1.112-1.795, p=0.000) and no knowledge of immunization (OR=1.578, 95% CI=1.438-4.579, p=0.000) significantly increased the odds of children being fully immunized, while Murle ethnic group(OR=0.083, 95% CI=0.008-0.849, p=0.036), delivery assistance by skilled birth attendance (OR=0.001, 95% CI=0.000-0.006, p=0.000) significantly decreased the odds of children being fully immunized. Conclusion effective health education and easy access to health facilities and their utilization may significantly improve immunization in Jonglei, South Sudan.