Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Goals-of-Care Consultations Are Associated with Lower Costs and Less Acute Care Use among Propensity-Matched Cohorts of African Americans and Whites with Serious Illness.

Background: African Americans receive more aggressive end-of-life care than Whites. Little is known about how palliative care consultation to discuss goals-of-care ("PCC") is associated with acute care utilization and costs by race. Objective: To compare future acute care costs and utilization between propensity-matched cohorts of African Americans with and without PCC, and Whites with and without PCC. Design: Secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort study. Setting/Subjects: Thirty-five thousand one hundred and fifty-four African Americans and Whites age 18+ admitted for conditions other than childbirth or rehabilitation, who were not hospitalized at the end of the study, and did not die during index hospitalization (hospitalization during which the first PCC occurred). Measurements: Accumulated mean acute care costs and utilization (30-day readmissions, future hospital days, future intensive care unit [ICU] admission, future number of ICU days) after discharge from index hospitalization. Results: No significant difference between African Americans with or without PCC in mean future acute care costs ($11,651 vs. $15,050, p = 0.09), 30-day readmissions (p = 0.58), future hospital days (p = 0.34), future ICU admission (p = 0.25), or future ICU days (p = 0.30). There were significant differences between Whites with PCC and those without PCC in mean future acute care costs ($8,095 vs. $16,799, p < 0.001), 30-day readmissions (10.2% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.0001), and future days hospitalized (3.7 vs. 6.3 days, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: PCC decreases future acute care costs and utilization in Whites and, directionally but not significantly, in African Americans. Research is needed to explain why utilization and cost disparities persist among African Americans despite PCC.
Modeling Impact of Word of Mouth and E-Government on Online Social Presence during COVID-19 Outbreak: A Multi-Mediation Approach

Although social presence plays an essential role under general conditions, its role becomes significant for societal protection during the quarantine period in epidemic outbreak. In this study, we attempted to identify the role of E-government and COVID-19 word of mouth in terms of their direct impact on online social presence during the outbreak as well as their impacts mediated by epidemic protection and attitudes toward epidemic outbreaks. For this purpose, a unique multi-mediation model is proposed to provide a new direction for research in the field of epidemic outbreaks and their control. Through random sampling, an online survey was conducted and data from 683participants were analyzed. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships between the variables of interest. The study results revealed that the roles of E-government and COVID-19 word of mouth are positively related to online social presence during the outbreak. Epidemic protection and attitude toward epidemic outbreak were found to positively moderate the impact of the role of E-government and COVID-19 word of mouth on online social presence during the outbreak. The key findings of this study have both practical and academic implications.
Social participation of patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND The effect multiple sclerosis (MS) has on the social functioning and integration of patients has been recently considered as an important factor of the disease. OBJECTIVES To assess social participation of MS patients with regard to demographic and disease-related variables. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study comprised 201 MS patients: 140 women, 61 men, aged 24-69 years. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) was applied to assess the aspects of social functioning and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was applied to evaluate the level of depression. Disease duration, degree of disability in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), most disabling symptoms and type of treatment were determined. WHODAS 2.0 scores (total and within particular domains) and their relationships with age, gender, disease-related variables and level of depression were analyzed. RESULTS The results of WHODAS 2.0 for 27.4% of patients exceeded the 90th percentile compared to the population norms (with the highest scores for "getting around" and "participation in society" domains). The results of BDI and WHODAS 2.0 were strongly correlated (p < 0.001; β = 0.73) and mobility impairment was related to both of them (p < 0.001; β = -0.12 and 0.25, respectively). Other disabling symptoms were associated with scores in domains "understanding and communicating", "getting around" and "participation in society". CONCLUSIONS Social participation of the MS patients is affected by the impact of disease and associated with depression. Particular symptoms of neurological deficit (motor and visual impairment, fatigue) influence social functioning more than general disease-related variables.
Pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of olaparib and temozolomide for recurrent glioblastoma: results of the phase I OPARATIC trial

Abstract Background The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor olaparib potentiated radiation and temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy in preclinical glioblastoma models but brain penetration was poor. Clinically, PARP inhibitors exacerbate the hematological side effects of TMZ. The OPARATIC trial was conducted to measure penetration of recurrent glioblastoma by olaparib and assess the safety and tolerability of its combination with TMZ. Methods Preclinical pharmacokinetic studies evaluated olaparib tissue distribution in rats and tumor-bearing mice. Adult patients with recurrent glioblastoma received various doses and schedules of olaparib and low-dose TMZ in a 3 + 3 design. Suitable patients received olaparib prior to neurosurgical resection; olaparib concentrations in plasma, tumor core and tumor margin specimens were measured by mass spectrometry. A dose expansion cohort tested tolerability and efficacy of the recommended phase II dose (RP2D). Radiosensitizing effects of olaparib were measured by clonogenic survival in glioblastoma cell lines. Results Olaparib was a substrate for multidrug resistance protein 1 and showed no brain penetration in rats but was detected in orthotopic glioblastoma xenografts. Clinically, olaparib was detected in 71/71 tumor core specimens (27 patients; median, 496 nM) and 21/21 tumor margin specimens (9 patients; median, 512.3 nM). Olaparib exacerbated TMZ-related hematological toxicity, necessitating intermittent dosing. RP2D was olaparib 150 mg (3 days/week) with TMZ 75 mg/m2 daily for 42 days. Fourteen (36%) of 39 evaluable patients were progression free at 6 months. Olaparib radiosensitized 6 glioblastoma cell lines at clinically relevant concentrations of 100 and 500 nM. Conclusion Olaparib reliably penetrates recurrent glioblastoma at radiosensitizing concentrations, supporting further clinical development and highlighting the need for better preclinical models.
Probiotics with ameliorating effects on the severity of skin inflammation in psoriasis: Evidence from experimental and clinical studies

Experimental and clinical studies have confirmed safety and the medical benefits of probiotics as immunomodulatory medications. Recent advances have emphasized the critical effect of gastrointestinal bacteria in the pathology of inflammatory disorders, even, outside the gut. Probiotics have shown promising results for curing skin‐influencing inflammatory disorders through modulating the immune response by manipulating the gut microbiome. Psoriasis is a complex inflammatory skin disease, which exhibits a microbiome distinct from the normal skin. In the present review, we considered the impact of gastrointestinal microbiota on the psoriasis pathogenesis, and through literature survey, attempted to explore probiotic species utilized for psoriasis treatment.
Suicidality Among Transgender Youth: Elucidating the Role of Interpersonal Risk Factors

Data indicate that 82% of transgender individuals have considered killing themselves and 40% have attempted suicide, with suicidality highest among transgender youth. Using minority stress theory and the interpersonal theory of suicide, this study aims to better understand suicide risk among transgender youth. The present study examines the influence of intervenable risk factors: interpersonal and environmental microaggressions, internalized self-stigma, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and protective factors: school belonging, family support, and peer support on both lifetime suicide attempts and past 6-month suicidality in a sample of transgender youth (n = 372). SPSS 22 was utilized to examine the impact of the independent variables on both suicidality and lifetime suicide attempt through two separate logistic regressions. Fifty six percent of youth reported a previous suicide attempt and 86% reported suicidality. Logistic regressions indicated that models for both lifetime suicide attempts and suicidality were significant. Interpersonal microaggressions, made a unique, statistically significant contribution to lifetime suicide attempts and emotional neglect by family approached significance. School belonging, emotional neglect by family, and internalized self-stigma made a unique, statistically significant contribution to past 6-month suicidality. Results have significant practice and policy implications. Findings offer guidance for practitioners working with parents and caregivers of trans youth, as well as, for the creation of practices which foster interpersonal belonging for transgender youth.
PRP8A and PRP8B spliceosome subunits act coordinately to control pollen tube attraction in Arabidopsis thaliana

ABSTRACT Precise guided pollen tube growth by the female gametophyte is a prerequisite for successful sexual reproduction in flowering plants. Cysteine-rich proteins (CRPs) secreted from the embryo sac are known pollen tube attractants perceived by pollen tube receptor-like kinases. How pre-mRNA splicing facilitates this cell-to-cell communication is not understood. Here, we report a novel function of Pre-mRNA PROCESSING factor 8 paralogs, PRP8A and PRP8B, as regulators of pollen tube attraction. Double mutant prp8a prp8b ovules cannot attract pollen tubes, and prp8a prp8b pollen tubes fail to sense the ovule's attraction signals. Only 3% of ovule-expressed genes were misregulated in prp8a prp8b. Combination of RNA sequencing and the MYB98/LURE1.2-YFP reporter revealed that the expression of MYB98, LUREs and 49 other CRPs were downregulated, suggesting loss of synergid cell fate. Differential exon usage and intron retention analysis revealed autoregulation of PPR8A/PRP8B splicing. In vivo, PRP8A co-immunoprecipitates with splicing enhancer AtSF3A1, suggesting involvement of PRP8A in 3′-splice site selection. Our data hint that the PRP8A/PRP8B module exhibits spliceosome autoregulation to facilitate pollen tube attraction via transcriptional regulation of MYB98, CRPs and LURE pollen tube attractants. Summary: PRP8A/PRP8B splicing factors exhibit spliceosome autoregulation, which is necessary for successful fertilization in Arabidopsis.
Winter habitat use of greater sage‐grouse relative to activity levels at natural gas well pads

Energy development in western North America has been shown to negatively influence greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations. No effective methods of reducing on-site impacts of energy development to greater sage-grouse are known. We investigated greater sage-grouse use of wintering habitats relative to distances to infrastructure, densities of infrastructure, and activity levels associated with infrastructure of a natural gas field over 5 years in southwestern Wyoming. We compared year-long drilling locations, locations of conventional well pads, locations of well pads with off-site condensate and produced water gathering systems (LGS), and plowed main haul roads to the number of and time associated with greater sage-grouse visits to continually monitored, distinct patches of habitat. Liquid gathering systems reduced human activity levels at producing well pads approximately 53%. We used data loggers to monitor distinct patches of habitat throughout the 2005–2006 to 2009–2010 winters and used the number of times and the amount of time individuals from a sample of greater sage-grouse (n1⁄4 236) were detected at data logger stations to model frequency and time of occurrence as functions of anthropogenic and habitat variables. Greater sage-grouse avoided suitable winter habitats in areas with high well pad densities regardless of differences in activity levels associated with well pads. Our results further suggested that greater sagegrouse avoidance of conventional well pads was stronger than LGS well pads. We found relatively consistent positive relationships between distance to infrastructure with high levels of human activity and average hours greater sage-grouse spent in an area. Greater sage-grouse avoidance of natural gas field infrastructure during the winter may be explained mechanistically as movements of individuals from areas close to high levels of activity—movements that may occur at the time human activity is experienced—followed by a lack of movement back into these areas. Minimizing the densities of well pads may reduce on-site impacts of energy development on wintering greater sage-grouse. Our study, additionally, indicated that reducing anthropogenic activity levels associated with energy developments may reduce the temporal scale of indirect greater sage-grouse winter habitat loss. 2015 The Wildlife Society.
The effect of lifelong endurance exercise on cardiovascular structure and exercise function in women

The beneficial effects of sustained or lifelong (>25 years) endurance exercise on cardiovascular structure and exercise function have been largely established in men. The current findings indicate that committed (≥4 weekly exercise sessions) lifelong exercise results in substantial benefits in exercise capacity ( V̇O2max ), cardiovascular function at submaximal and maximal exercise, left ventricular mass and compliance, and blood volume compared to similarly aged or even younger (middle‐age) untrained women. Endurance exercise training should be considered a key strategy to prevent cardiovascular disease with ageing in women as well as men.
Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Leaves of Paramignya trimera (Oliv.) Guillaum and Limnocitrus littoralis (Miq.) Swingle

The present study aimed to determine the bioactivities of essential oils extracted from the leaves of Paramignya trimera and Limnocitrus littoralis, including cytotoxicity, antiviral, antibacterial, antimycotic, and antitrichomonas effects. Herein, it was indicated that P. trimera and L. littoralis oils showed no cytotoxicity on normal cells, namely MT-4, BHK-21, MDBK, and Vero-76. P. trimera oil (i) exhibited the strongest inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC and MLC values of 2% (v/v); (ii) showed MIC and MLC values of 8% (v/v) in Candida parapsilosis; and (iii) in the remaining strains, showed MIC and MLC values greater than or equal to 16% (v/v). On the other hand, L. littoralis oil (i) displayed the strongest inhibition against Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis with 2% (v/v) of MIC and MLC; and (ii) in the remaining strains, possessed MIC and MLC greater than or equal to 16% (v/v). In addition, antitrichomonas activities of the oils were undertaken, showing IC50, IC90, MLC values, respectively, at 0.016%, 0.03%, and 0.06% (v/v) from P. trimera, and 0.03%, 0.06%, 0.12% (v/v) from L. littoralis, after 48 h of incubation. The oils were completely ineffective against ssRNA+ (HIV-1, YFV, BVDV, Sb-1, CV-B4), ssRNA- (RSV, VSV), dsRNA (Reo-1), and dsDNA (HSV-1, VV) viruses. This is the first report describing the cytotoxicity, antiviral, antibacterial, antimycotic, and antitrichomonas activities of the essential oils of P. trimera and L. littoralis.
LUCS: a high-resolution nucleic acid sequencing tool for accurate long-read analysis of individual DNA molecules

Nucleic acid sequence analyses are fundamental to all aspects of biological research, spanning aging, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and cancer, as well as microbial and viral evolution. Over the past several years, significant improvements in DNA sequencing, including consensus sequence analysis, have proven invaluable for high-throughput studies. However, all current DNA sequencing platforms have limited utility for studies of complex mixtures or of individual long molecules, the latter of which is crucial to understanding evolution and consequences of single nucleotide variants and their combinations. Here we report a new technology termed LUCS (Long-molecule UMI-driven Consensus Sequencing), in which reads from third-generation sequencing are aggregated by unique molecular identifiers (UMIs) specific for each individual DNA molecule. This enables in-silico reconstruction of highly accurate consensus reads of each DNA molecule independent of other molecules in the sample. Additionally, use of two UMIs enables detection of artificial recombinants (chimeras). As proof of concept, we show that application of LUCS to assessment of mitochondrial genomes in complex mixtures from single cells was associated with an error rate of 1X10-4 errors/nucleotide. Thus, LUCS represents a major step forward in DNA sequencing that offers high-throughput capacity and high-accuracy reads in studies of long DNA templates and nucleotide variants in heterogenous samples.
Evidence for Altered Metabolism of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate in the Corpus Callosum of Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract The disturbed integrity of myelin and white matter, along with dysregulation of the lipid metabolism, may be involved in schizophrenia pathophysiology. Considering the crucial role of sphingolipids in neurodevelopment, particularly in oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination, we examined the role of sphingolipid dynamics in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We performed targeted mass spectrometry-based analysis of sphingolipids from the cortical area and corpus callosum of postmortem brain samples from patients with schizophrenia and controls. We observed lower sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) levels, specifically in the corpus callosum of patients with schizophrenia, but not in major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, when compared with the controls. Patient data and animal studies showed that antipsychotic intake did not contribute to the lowered S1P levels. We also found that lowered S1P levels in the corpus callosum of patients with schizophrenia may stem from the upregulation of genes for S1P-degrading enzymes; higher expression of genes for S1P receptors suggested a potential compensatory mechanism for the lowered S1P levels. A higher ratio of the sum of sphingosine and ceramide to S1P, which can induce apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest, was also observed in the samples of patients with schizophrenia than in controls. These results suggest that an altered S1P metabolism may underlie the deficits in oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin formation, leading to the structural and molecular abnormalities of white matter reported in schizophrenia. Our findings may pave the way toward a novel therapeutic strategy.
Force control during submaximal isometric contractions is associated with walking performance in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience progressive declines in movement capabilities, especially walking performance. The purpose of our study was to compare the amount of variance in walking performance that could be explained by the functional capabilities of lower leg muscles in persons with MS and a sex- and age-matched control group. Participants performed two walking tests (6-min walk and 25-ft walk), strength tests for the plantar flexor and dorsiflexor muscles, and steady submaximal (10% and 20% maximum) isometric contractions. High-density electromyography (EMG) was recorded during the steady contractions and the signals were decomposed to identify the discharge times of concurrently active motor units. There were significant differences between the two groups in the force fluctuations during the steady contractions (force steadiness), the strength of the plantar flexor and dorsiflexor muscles, and the discharge characteristics during the steady contractions. Performance on the two walking tests by the MS group was moderately associated with force steadiness of the plantar flexor and dorsiflexor muscles; worse force steadiness was associated with poorer walking performance. In contrast, the performance of the control group was associated with muscle strength (25-ft test) and force steadiness of the dorsiflexors and variance in common input of motor units to the plantar flexors (6-min test). These findings indicate that a reduction in the ability to maintain a steady force during submaximal isometric contractions is moderately associated with walking performance of persons with MS.
Apply the SERVQUAL Instrument to Measure Service Quality for the Adaptation of ICT Technologies: A Case Study of Nursing Homes in Taiwan

The adoption of information and communication technology by elderly care organizations is an inevitable trend. Most empirical studies on e-Health service quality have focused predominantly on the general population rather than on the elderly. Thus, the generalizations are rather problematic. In addition, in the planning stage, pre-implementation analysis is considered critical but seldom performed. In this research, an instrument to evaluate the e-Health service quality in nursing homes was developed based on the SERVQUAL model. Furthermore, a pre-implementation analysis combining the SERVQUAL questionnaire and importance performance analysis was performed. Dissatisfactory factors were identified as follows. Regarding the physical environment quality, the residents expressed that the nursing homes did not provide well-maintained rooms and that the temperature in the rooms was unsuitable. Regarding the outcome quality, the elderly residents replied that the medical treatments and doctor visits were not well scheduled. Regarding the interaction quality, the residents indicated that the staff did not solve their problems sincerely or clearly understand their needs. Health care informatics (HCI) such as an electronic shift system (ESS) and electronic health records (EHR) are proposed to eliminate these problems. Given current resource limitations, our instrument and methodology proposed in this research could be extremely meaningful in practical application.