Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reliability and Validity of the Malay Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ-M) among Overweight and Obese Adults

The Mindful Eating Questionnaire is a reliable tool for the assessment of mindful eating behavior among the general population. This study aimed to determine the reliability and validity of The Malay Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ-M) in a sample of overweight and obese adults. This is a cross-sectional survey which involved 144 overweight and obese adults in a selected public university. After linguistic validation of the Malay version of the MEQ, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with varimax rotation was performed on the scale constructs. The psychometric properties of the MEQ were assessed through Cronbach’s alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis. The EFA of the MEQ produced a seven-dimensional model (58.8% of overall variances). The concurrent validity analysis between total MEQ scores and total Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) scores indicated a weak non-significant correlation (p = 0.679). The internal consistency reliability of the MEQ was reasonable (Cronbach’s α = 0.64). The agreement stability of the MEQ over eight weeks was poor (ICC = 0.10). In conclusion, the psychometric properties of the Malay-translated MEQ are acceptable through construct validity and internal consistency reliability tests. This instrument may be used for assessing mindful eating habits in the Malaysian population, especially among overweight and obese adults.
The Use of Insecticides to Manage the Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, LeConte: History, Field-Evolved Resistance, and Associated Mechanisms

Simple Summary The structure of agricultural enterprises in the western United States Corn Belt (large irrigated monocultures, continuous planting of maize, strong aerial pesticide application and livestock industries) has led to a tradition of extensive insecticide use over time to manage the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Dvv) a key insect pest of maize. Dvv damages maize roots, which can cause maize plant instability, reduced plant growth, and significant yield loss. Long-term insecticide use has contributed to Dvv becoming resistant to cyclodiene, organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid insecticides since the 1950s. This paper reviews the historical and current use of insecticides in Dvv management programs and Dvv adaptation to insecticide use. Currently, insecticides have a reduced role in Dvv management programs but are still used as complementary tactics with other management approaches. Past history suggests that the probability of selecting for resistance to any future Dvv control technology will be high if it is not used within an integrated pest management framework with other tactics. Abstract The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Dvv) is a significant insect pest of maize in the United States (U.S.). This paper reviews the history of insecticide use in Dvv management programs, Dvv adaptation to insecticides, i.e., field-evolved resistance and associated mechanisms of resistance, plus the current role of insecticides in the transgenic era. In the western U.S. Corn Belt where continuous maize is commonly grown in large irrigated monocultures, broadcast-applied soil or foliar insecticides have been extensively used over time to manage annual densities of Dvv and other secondary insect pests. This has contributed to the sequential occurrence of Dvv resistance evolution to cyclodiene, organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid insecticides since the 1950s. Mechanisms of resistance are complex, but both oxidative and hydrolytic metabolism contribute to organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid resistance facilitating cross-resistance between insecticide classes. History shows that Dvv insecticide resistance can evolve quickly and may persist in field populations even in the absence of selection. This suggests minimal fitness costs associated with Dvv resistance. In the transgenic era, insecticides function primarily as complementary tools with other Dvv management tactics to manage annual Dvv densities/crop injury and resistance over time.
E‐Learning Three‐Dimensional Anatomy of the Brainstem: Impact of Different Microscopy Techniques and Spatial Ability

Polarized light imaging (PLI) is a new method which quantifies and visualizes nerve fiber direction. In this study, the educational value of PLI sections of the human brainstem were compared to histological sections stained with Luxol fast blue (LFB) using e‐learning modules. Mental Rotations Test (MRT) was used to assess the spatial ability. Pre‐intervention, post‐intervention, and long‐term (1 week) anatomical tests were provided to assess the baseline knowledge and retention. One‐on‐one electronic interviews after the last test were carried out to understand the students’ perceptions of the intervention. Thirty‐eight medical students, (19 female and 19 males, mean age 21.5 ± SD 2.4; median age: 21.0 years) participated with a mean MRT score of 13.2 ± 5.2 points and a mean pre‐intervention knowledge test score of 49.9 ± 11.8%. A significant improvement in both, post‐intervention and long‐term test scores occurred after learning with either PLI or LFB e‐learning module on brainstem anatomy (both P < 0.001). No difference was observed between groups in post‐intervention test scores and long‐term test scores (P = 0.913 and P = 0.403, respectively). A higher MRT‐score was significantly correlated with a higher post‐intervention test score (rk = 0.321; P < 0.05, respectively), but there was not a significant association between the MRT‐ and the long‐term scores (rk = −0.078; P = 0.509). Interviews (n = 10) revealed three major topics: Learning (brainstem) anatomy by use of e‐learning modules; The “need” of technological background information when studying brainstem sections; and Mnemonics when studying brainstem anatomy. Future studies should assess the cognitive burden of cross‐sectional learning methods with PLI and/or LFB sections and their effects on knowledge retention.
Isoprene and β-caryophyllene confer plant resistance via different plant internal signaling pathways.

Isoprene and other terpenoids are important biogenic volatile organic compounds in terms of atmospheric chemistry. Isoprene can aid plant performance under abiotic stresses, but the fundamental biological reasons for the high emissions are not completely understood. Here, we provide evidence of a previously unrecognized ecological function for isoprene and for the sesquiterpene, ß-caryophyllene. We show that isoprene and ß-caryophyllene act as core components of plant signaling networks, inducing resistance against microbial pathogens in neighboring plants. We challenged Arabidopsis thaliana with Pseudomonas syringae, after exposure to pure volatile terpenoids or to volatile emissions of transformed poplar or Arabidopsis plants. The data suggests that isoprene induces a defense response in receiver plants that is similar to that elicited by monoterpenes and depended on salicylic acid (SA) signaling. In contrast, the sesquiterpene, ß-caryophyllene, induced resistance via jasmonic acid (JA)-signaling. The experiments in an open environment show that natural biological emissions are enough to induce resistance in neighboring Arabidopsis. Our results show that both isoprene and ß-caryophyllene function as allelochemical components in complex plant signaling networks. Knowledge of this system may be used to boost plant immunity against microbial pathogens in various crop management schemes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Investigating the Role of Psychological, Social, Religious and Ethical Determinants on Consumers’ Purchase Intention and Consumption of Convenience Food

Despite impressive market growth, increasing demand and economic importance of convenience food in emerging economies such as India, comprehensive research regarding the role of psychological and social determinants on convenience food choice is lacking. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the influence of convenience orientation, social status, moral attitude, mood, spiritual concern, religious beliefs and ethical values on purchase intention and consumption of convenience food. The non-probability purposive sampling method was adopted for recruitment of participants. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data from 501 consumers. The descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were carried out to analyse the data. The factor loading, Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability, average variance extracted, and correlations demonstrated good internal consistency and reliability of scale items as well as convergent and discriminant validity of the constructs. The model fit indices revealed that measurement and structural models fitted well with data. The path analysis of the structural model demonstrated that convenience orientation (β = 0.789 ***, t = 32.462), moral attitude (β = 0.594 ***, t = 20.984), mood (β = 0.586 ***, t = 18.683), spiritual concern (β = 0.145 ***, t = 3.23), religious beliefs (β = 0.451 ***, t = 14.787) and ethical values (β = 0.497 ***, t = 16.678) were positively related with purchase intention and consumption of convenience food (*** Significant at p ≤ 0.01). The path analysis of structural model also indicated that social status was not linked with purchase intention and consumption of convenience food. The convenience orientation was the key determinant influencing purchase intention and consumption of convenience food.
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor deficiency aggravates effects of fructose‐enriched diet on lipid metabolism in the mouse liver

Dietary fructose can disturb hepatic lipid metabolism in a way that leads to lipid accumulation and steatosis, which is often accompanied with low‐grade inflammation. The macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine with important role not only in the regulation of inflammation, but also in the modulation of energy metabolism in the liver. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of Mif deficiency in fructose‐induced disturbances of hepatic lipid metabolism and ectopic lipid accumulation. Wild type (WT) and Mif deficient (MIF−/−) C57Bl/6J mice were used to analyze the effects of 9‐week 20% fructose‐enriched diet on hepatic lipid metabolism (both lipogenesis and β‐oxidation) and histology, inflammatory status and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling. The results showed fructose‐induced elevation of lipogenic genes (fatty acid synthase (Fas) and stearoyl‐CoA desaturase‐1 (Scd1) and transcriptional lipogenic regulators (liver X receptor (LXR), sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c), and carbohydrate response element‐binding protein (ChREBP)). However, microvesicular fatty changes, accompanied with enhanced inflammation, were observable only in fructose‐fed Mif deficient animals, and were most likely result of GR activation and facilitated uptake and decreased β‐oxidation of FFA, as evidenced by elevated protein level of fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) and decreased carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1) level. In conclusion, the results show that Mif deficiency aggravates the effects of energy‐rich fructose diet on hepatic lipid accumulation, most likely through enhanced inflammation and activation of GR signaling pathway.
Early Intervention for the Treatment of Acute Laryngeal Injury After Intubation.

Importance Patients with laryngeal injury after endotracheal intubation often present long after initial injury with mature fibrosis compromising cricoarytenoid joint mobility and glottic function. Objective To compare functional outcomes between early and late intervention for intubation-related laryngeal injury. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study involved 29 patients with laryngeal injury resulting from endotracheal intubation who were evaluated at a tertiary care center between May 1, 2014, and June 1, 2018. Ten patients with intubation injury to the posterior glottis who received early treatment (median, 34.7 days to presentation; interquartile range [IQR], 1.5-44.8 days) were compared with 19 patients presenting with posterior glottic stenosis who received late treatment (median, 341.9 days to presentation; IQR, 132.7-376.3 days). Statistical analysis was performed from May 1 to July 1, 2019. Exposures Early intervention, defined as a procedure performed 45 days or less after intubation, and late treatment, defined as an intervention performed greater than 45 days after intubation. Main Outcomes and Measures Patient-specific and intervention-specific covariates were compared between the 2 groups, absolute differences with 95% CIs were calculated, and time to tracheostomy decannulation was compared using log-rank testing. Results The 2 groups had similar demographic characteristics and a similar burden of comorbid disease. Ten patients who received early intervention (7 women [70%]; median age, 59.7 years [range, 31-72 years]; median, 34.7 days to presentation [IQR, 1.5-44.8 days]) were compared with 19 patients who received late intervention (11 women [58%]; median age, 53.8 years [range, 34-73 years]; median, 288.8 days to presentation [IQR, 132.7-376.3 days]). Nine of 10 patients (90%) who received early intervention and 11 of 19 patients (58%) who received late interventions were decannulated at last follow-up (absolute difference, 32%; 95% CI, -3% to 68%). Patients who received early treatment required fewer total interventions than patients with mature lesions (mean, 2.2 vs 11.5; absolute difference, 9.3; 95% CI, 6.4-12.1). In addition, none of the patients who received early treatment required an open procedure, whereas 17 patients (90%) with mature lesions required open procedures to pursue decannulation. Conclusions and Relevance This study suggests that early intervention for patients with postintubation laryngeal injury was associated with a decreased duration of tracheostomy dependence, a higher rate of decannulation, and fewer surgical procedures compared with late intervention. Patients who underwent early intervention also avoided open reconstruction. These findings may bear relevance to the management of patients requiring extended durations of endotracheal intubation during recovery for critical illness related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
Postoperative Outcomes of Lung Separation With Double-Lumen Tubes and Bronchial Blockers.

BACKGROUND The choice between a double-lumen tube (DLT) and a bronchial blocker (BB) for lung isolation remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine if the features of these lung isolation devices affect postoperative pulmonary outcomes. METHODS We retrospectively identified claims by patients who underwent surgery under lung isolation in 2000-2012 in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. After matching for age, sex, and year of surgery, 1,898 patients were enrolled in a BB group and 5,694 in a DLT group. The risks of readmission in the first postoperative year with pulmonary complications, in-hospital death, and one-year mortality were estimated using conditional logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Patients in the BB group had higher risks of readmission with pulmonary infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-1.74) or respiratory failure (aOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.09-1.76) in the first postoperative year as well as in-hospital death (aOR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.40-2.94) and one-year mortality (aOR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.60-2.35) than those in the DLT group after adjustment for the types of the surgeries, hospital accreditation level, underlying comorbidity, and a potentially difficult airway. Patients in the BB group had longer median (interquartile range) stays in the intensive care unit (1 [0-4] vs. 1 [0-3] days, P ＜ 0.001) and in hospital (16 [10-26] vs. 13 [8-22] days, P ＜ 0.001). CONCLUSION Patients undergoing thoracic surgery are more likely to experience postoperative pulmonary complications if a BB than a DLT is used.
Drug survival in the treatment of generalized pustular psoriasis: A retrospective multicenter study

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare, potentially life‐threatening inflammatory skin disease. Our aim was to assess patient and disease characteristics and analyze drug survival rates in the treatment of GPP in a real‐life setting. In this retrospective study, 201 treatment series of 86 patients with GPP treated at five University Medical Centers were analyzed. Overall, excellent response was reached in 41.3% of all treatment courses, partial response in 31.4%, and nonresponse in 27.3%. Biological treatment was significantly more effective than non‐biological therapies (excellent response: 47.4% vs 35.9%; P = .02). Overall, the median drug survival was 14.0 months (biologicals: 36.0 months vs nonbiologicals: 6.0 months; P < .001). The crude probability of survival was highest for secukinumab (hazard ratio [HR] of drug discontinuation compared with acitretin: 0.22), followed by ixekizumab and ustekinumab (HR: 0.38 each), adalimumab (HR: 0.59), etanercept (HR: 0.62), infliximab (HR: 0.69), cyclosporine (HR: 1.00), acitretin (reference for HR), fumaric acid esters (HR: 1.06), methotrexate (HR: 1.26), and apremilast (HR: 3.44); no drug discontinuation with guselkumab. Our results reveal high efficacy and drug survival, particularly for IL‐17 and IL‐(12)/23 antagonists. Thus, these biologics may be considered early in the therapeutic algorithm of GPP.
An indirect method to monitor the fraction of people ever infected with COVID-19: An application to the United States

The number of COVID-19 infections is key for accurately monitoring the pandemics. However, due to differential testing policies, asymptomatic individuals and limited large-scale testing availability, it is challenging to detect all cases. Seroprevalence studies aim to address this gap by retrospectively assessing the number of infections, but they can be expensive and time-intensive, limiting their use to specific population subgroups. In this paper, we propose a complementary approach that combines estimated (1) infection fatality rates (IFR) using a Bayesian melding SEIR model with (2) reported case-fatality rates (CFR) in order to indirectly estimate the fraction of people ever infected (from the total population) and detected (from the ever infected). We apply the technique to the U.S. due to their remarkable regional diversity and because they count with almost a quarter of all global confirmed cases and deaths. We obtain that the IFR varies from 1.25% (0.39–2.16%, 90% CI) in Florida, the most aged population, to 0.69% in Utah (0.21–1.30%, 90% CI), the youngest population. By September 8, 2020, we estimate that at least five states have already a fraction of people ever infected between 10% and 20% (New Jersey, New York, Massachussets, Connecticut, and District of Columbia). The state with the highest estimated fraction of people ever infected is New Jersey with 17.3% (10.0, 55.8, 90% CI). Moreover, our results indicate that with a probability of 90 percent the fraction of detected people among the ever infected since the beginning of the epidemic has been less than 50% in 15 out of the 20 states analyzed in this paper. Our approach can be a valuable tool that complements seroprevalence studies and indicates how efficient have testing policies been since the beginning of the outbreak.
Reorganization of brain structural networks in aging: A longitudinal study

Normal aging is characterized by structural and functional changes in the brain contributing to cognitive decline. Structural connectivity (SC) describes the anatomical backbone linking distinct functional subunits of the brain and disruption of this communication is thought to be one of the potential contributors for the age‐related deterioration observed in cognition. Several studies already explored brain network's reorganization during aging, but most focused on average connectivity of the whole‐brain or in specific networks, such as the resting‐state networks. Here, we aimed to characterize longitudinal changes of white matter (WM) structural brain networks, through the identification of sub‐networks with significantly altered connectivity along time. Then, we tested associations between longitudinal changes in network connectivity and cognition. We also assessed longitudinal changes in topological properties of the networks. For this, older adults were evaluated at two timepoints, with a mean interval time of 52.8 months (SD = 7.24). WM structural networks were derived from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, and cognitive status from neurocognitive testing. Our results show age‐related changes in brain SC, characterized by both decreases and increases in connectivity weight. Interestingly, decreases occur in intra‐hemispheric connections formed mainly by association fibers, while increases occur mostly in inter‐hemispheric connections and involve association, commissural, and projection fibers, supporting the last‐in‐first‐out hypothesis. Regarding topology, two hubs were lost, alongside with a decrease in connector‐hub inter‐modular connectivity, reflecting reduced integration. Simultaneously, there was an increase in the number of provincial hubs, suggesting increased segregation. Overall, these results confirm that aging triggers a reorganization of the brain structural network.
Combining laser interferometry and plasma spectroscopy for spatially resolved high-sensitivity plasma density measurements in discharge capillaries.

Precise characterization and tailoring of the spatial and temporal evolution of plasma density within plasma sources are critical for realizing high-quality accelerated beams in plasma wakefield accelerators. The simultaneous use of two independent diagnostics allowed the temporally and spatially resolved detection of plasma density with unprecedented sensitivity and enabled the characterization of the plasma temperature in discharge capillaries for times later than 0.5 µs after the initiation of the discharge, at which point the plasma is at local thermodynamic equilibrium. A common-path two-color laser interferometer for obtaining the average plasma density with a sensitivity of 2 × 1015 cm-2 was developed together with a plasma emission spectrometer for analyzing spectral line broadening profiles with a resolution of 5 × 1015 cm-3. Both diagnostics show good agreement when applying the spectral line broadening analysis methodology of Gigosos and Cardeñoso in the temperature range of 0.5 eV-5.0 eV. For plasma with densities of 0.5-2.5 × 1017 cm-3, temperatures of 1 eV-7 eV were indirectly measured by combining the diagnostic information. Measured longitudinally resolved plasma density profiles exhibit a clear temporal evolution from an initial flat-top to a Gaussian-like shape in the first microseconds as material is ejected out from the capillary. These measurements pave the way for highly detailed parameter tuning in plasma sources for particle accelerators and beam optics.
Open‐label study with the monoamine stabilizer (‐)‐OSU6162 in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the safety and tolerability of the monoaminergic stabilizer (‐)‐OSU6162 in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). In addition, a potential therapeutic effect of (‐)‐OSU6162 in ME/CFS was evaluated by means of observer‐rated scales and self‐assessment rating scales.