Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why Full, Partial, or Approximate Measurement Invariance Are Not a Prerequisite for Meaningful and Valid Group Comparisons

Abstract It is frequently stated in the literature that measurement invariance is a prerequisite for the comparison of group means or standard deviations of the latent variable in factor models. This article argues that measurement invariance is not necessary for meaningful and valid comparisons across groups. There is unavoidable ambiguity in how researchers can define comparisons if measurement invariance is violated. Moreover, there is no support for preferring the partial invariance approach over competing approaches, such as invariance alignment, robust linking, or Bayesian approximate invariance. Furthermore, we also argue why an intentionally misspecified multiple-group factor model with invariant item parameters can be justified if measurement invariance is violated.
Impact of artificial waterholes on temporal partitioning in a carnivore guild: a comparison of activity patterns at artificial waterholes to roads and trails

Temporal partitioning in large carnivores have previously been found to be one of the main factors enabling co-existence. While activity patterns have been investigated separately at artificial waterholes and e.g., game trails, simultaneous comparative analyses of activity patterns at artificial waterholes and game trails have not been attempted. In this study, camera trap data from Maremani Nature Reserve was used to investigate whether temporal partitioning existed in a carnivore guild of four species (spotted hyena, leopard, brown hyena and African wild dog). Specifically, we investigated temporal partitioning at artificial waterholes and on roads and trails an average of 1,412 m away from an artificial waterhole. Activity patterns for the same species at artificial waterholes and roads/game trails were also compared. We found no significant differences in temporal activity between species at artificial waterholes. Temporal partitioning on game trails and roads was only found between spotted hyena (nocturnal) and African wild dog (crepuscular). Between nocturnal species (spotted hyena and leopard) no temporal partitioning was exhibited. Only African wild dog exhibited significantly different activity patterns at waterholes and roads/game trails. This indicates artificial waterholes may be a location for conflict in a carnivore guild. Our study highlights the impact of anthropogenic landscape changes and management decisions on the temporal axis of carnivores. More data on activity patterns at natural water sources such as ephemeral pans are needed to properly assess the effect of artificial waterholes on temporal partitioning in a carnivore guild.
What the Lactate Shuttle Means for Sports Nutrition

The discovery of the lactate shuttle (LS) mechanism may have two opposite perceptions, It may mean very little, because the body normally and inexorably uses the LS mechanism. On the contrary, one may support the viewpoint that understanding the LS mechanism offers immense opportunities for understanding nutrition and metabolism in general, as well as in a sports nutrition supplementation setting. In fact, regardless of the specific form of the carbohydrate (CHO) nutrient taken, the bodily CHO energy flux is from a hexose sugar glucose or glucose polymer (glycogen and starches) to lactate with subsequent somatic tissue oxidation or storage as liver glycogen. In fact, because oxygen and lactate flow together through the circulation to sites of utilization, the bodily carbon energy flow is essentially the lactate disposal rate. Consequently, one can consume glucose or glucose polymers in various forms (glycogen, maltodextrin, potato, corn starch, and fructose or high-fructose corn syrup), and the intestinal wall, liver, integument, and active and inactive muscles make lactate which is the chief energy fuel for red skeletal muscle, heart, brain, erythrocytes, and kidneys. Therefore, if one wants to hasten the delivery of CHO energy delivery, instead of providing CHO foods, supplementation with lactate nutrient compounds can augment body energy flow.
The impact of rapid antigen detection test (RADT) for group A streptococcus on the antibiotic prescription: an observational study from a primary care setting in Lisbon

Introduction: Acute pharyngitis is a common diagnosis in primary care. Although viruses are the most common aetiology, antibiotic therapy is frequently prescribed. The inappropriate antibiotic prescription should be avoided to prevent antibiotic resistance. Many national and international guidelines recommend testing for group A streptococcus (GAS) before antibiotic treatment when clinical presentation suggests GAS infection. Aim: This study aims to describe the feasibility of the implementation of the rapid antigen detection test (RADT) in a primary care setting and its impact on antibiotic prescription. Secondary goals include the evaluation of possible associations between symptoms and RADT results. Methods: From October 2019 to March 2020, patients presenting with acute pharyngitis at USF do Parque were eligible. A questionnaire was applied to divide the individuals into four different groups (clearly viral, probably viral, diagnostic doubt, and probably bacterial), and to assess the previous intention to prescribe antibiotics. We applied 136 questionnaires and performed 133 RADT. Nursing staff classified the specimen collection process and result from interpretation according to its difficulty. The proportion of antibiotics avoided was estimated as the number of times physicians changed their intended antibiotic prescription following a negative RADT result. Results: Among the tests performed, 97.7% were easy to interpret. Without RADT, 45 patients were going to be prescribed an antibiotic. After the test result, 27 antibiotic prescriptions were avoided. Tonsil hypertrophy, palatal petechiae, and fever increased the odds of a positive RADT result. Cough was associated with a negative RADT result. Conclusions: This study showed that RADT is easy to implement and contributed to appropriate antibiotic prescription. Tonsil hypertrophy, palatal petechiae, and fever were significantly associated with a positive RADT result, and cough was associated with a negative RADT result. Primary care centers would benefit from having RADT available when there is strong suspicion or doubt of bacterial pharyngitis.
Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy Following Bile Duct Ligation in Rats—A Matter of Time?

Cirrhotic patients often suffer from cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM). Previous animal models of CCM were inconsistent concerning the time and mechanism of injury; thus, the temporal dynamics and cardiac vulnerability were studied in more detail. Rats underwent bile duct ligation (BDL) and a second surgery 28 days later. Cardiac function was assessed by conductance catheter and echocardiography. Histology, gene expression, and serum parameters were analyzed. A chronotropic incompetence (Pd31 < 0.001) and impaired contractility at rest and a reduced contractile reserve (Pd31 = 0.03, Pdob-d31 < 0.001) were seen 31 days after BDL with increased creatine (Pd35, Pd42, and Pd56 < 0.05) and transaminases (Pd31 < 0.001). A total of 56 days after BDL, myocardial fibrosis was seen (Pd56 < 0.001) accompanied by macrophage infiltration (CD68: Pgroup < 0.001) and systemic inflammation (TNFα: Pgroup < 0.001, white blood cell count: Pgroup < 0.001). Myocardial expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) was increased after 31 (Pd31 < 0.001) and decreased after 42 (Pd42 < 0.001) and 56 days (Pd56 < 0.001). Caspase-3 expression was increased 31 and 56 days after BDL (Pd31 = 0.005; Pd56 = 0.005). Structural changes in the myocardium were seen after 8 weeks. After the second surgery (second hit), transient myocardial insufficiency with secondary organ dysfunction was seen, characterized by reduced contractility and contractile reserve.
Beyond Undetectable: Modeling the Clinical Benefit of Improved Antiretroviral Adherence in Persons With Human Immunodeficiency Virus With Virologic Suppression

Abstract Background Incomplete antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence has been linked to deleterious immunologic, inflammatory, and clinical consequences, even among virally suppressed (<50 copies/mL) persons with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH). The impact of improving adherence in the risk of severe non-AIDS events (SNAEs) and death in this population is unknown. Methods We estimated the reduction in the risk of SNAEs or death resulting from an increase in ART adherence by (1) applying existing data on the association between adherence with high residual inflammation/coagulopathy in virally suppressed PWH, and (2) using a Cox proportional hazards model derived from changes in plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) and D-dimer from 3 randomized clinical trials. Comparatively, assuming 100% ART adherence in a PWH who achieves viral suppression, we estimated the number of persons in whom a decrease in adherence to <100% would need to be observed for an additional SNAE or death event to occur during 3- and 5-year follow-up. Results Increasing ART adherence to 100% in PWH who are suppressed on ART despite imperfect adherence translated into a 6%–37% reduction in the risk of SNAEs or death. Comparatively, based on an anticipated 12% increase in IL-6, 254 and 165 PWH would need to decrease their adherence from 100% to <100% for an additional event to occur over 3- and 5-year follow-up, respectively. Conclusions Modest gains in ART adherence could have clinical benefits beyond virologic suppression. Increasing ART adherence (eg, via an intervention or switch to long-acting ART) in PWH who remain virally suppressed despite incomplete adherence should be evaluated.
Longitudinal diffusion and volumetric kinetics of head and neck cancer magnetic resonance on a 1.5T MR-Linear accelerator hybrid system: A prospective R-IDEAL Stage 2a imaging biomarker characterization/ pre-qualification study

Objectives: We aim to characterize the serial quantitative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) changes of the target disease volume using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) acquired weekly during radiation therapy (RT) on a 1.5T MRLinac and correlate these changes with tumor response and oncologic outcomes for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients as part of a programmatic RIDEAL biomarker characterization effort. Methods Thirty patients with pathologically confirmed HNSCC who received curative intent RT at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, were included in this prospective study. Baseline and weekly Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were obtained, and various ADC parameters (mean, 5th, 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th, 90th and 95th percentile) were extracted from the target regions of interest (ROIs). Baseline and weekly ADC parameters were correlated with response during RT, locoregional control, and the development of recurrence using the Mann Whitney U test. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the weekly ADC versus baseline values. Weekly volumetric changes (Delta volume) for each ROI were correlated with Delta ADC using Spearmans Rho test. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) was performed to identify the optimal Delta ADC threshold associated with different oncologic outcomes. Results: There was an overall significant rise in all ADC parameters during different time points of RT compared to baseline values for both gross primary disease volume (GTVP) and gross nodal disease volumes (GTVN). The increased ADC values for GTVP were statistically significant only for primary tumors achieving complete remission (CR) during RT. RPA identified GTVP Delta ADC 5th percentile >13% at the 3rd week of RT as the most significant parameter associated with CR for primary tumor during RT (p <0.001). Baseline ADC parameters for GTVP and GTVN did not significantly correlate with response to RT or other oncologic outcomes. There was a significant decrease in residual volume of both GTVP and GTVN throughout the course of RT. Additionally, a significant negative correlation between mean Delta ADC and Delta volume for GTVP at the 3rd and 4th week of RT was detected (r = - 0.39, p = 0.044 and r = - 0.45, p = 0.019, respectively). Conclusion: Assessment of ADC kinetics at regular intervals throughout RT seems to be correlated with RT response. Further studies with larger cohorts and multiinstitutional data are needed for validation of Delta ADC as a model for prediction of response to RT. Keywords: DWI, ADC, MRLinac, Head and neck cancer, oncologic outcomes, diffusion
DRUM-PD/HD: The Impact of a Pilot Group Drum-Based Music Therapy Intervention on Quality of Life and Motor Symptoms in Parkinson Disease and Huntington Disease

Rhythm-based therapeutic interventions have widely been used in patients with neurologic disorders to address motor and quality of life outcomes. Although group drumming has been explored in several pilot studies of patients with Parkinson disease (PD) and Huntington disease (HD), caregiver burden and their quality-of-life outcomes have received less attention. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the impact of group drumming on quality of life and motor symptoms in PD and HD patients as well as their caregivers. A total of 17 participants (PD = 6, caregivers of PD = 6, HD = 3, caregivers of HD = 2) attended the 60-minute drum-based group music therapy intervention twice a week for 12 weeks. Participants were assigned to two drumming intervention groups based on their diagnosis:1) patients diagnosed with PD and their study partners, 2) patients diagnosed with HD and their study partners. In group drumming sessions, both patients and caregiver participants utilized a variety of percussion instruments based on their personal preferences or physical abilities to facilitate movement skills and group cohesion. They were asked to complete questionnaires about quality of life and motor functioning at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 18 weeks (6 weeks post-intervention completion). Caregivers burden scores were also collected at these time points. Furthermore, all participants completed simple exit interview questionnaires in their follow-up visit. The PD participants and their caregivers showed an opposite trend in social role satisfaction. From baseline to 6 weeks, there were significant differences in social role satisfaction between PD participants and PD caregivers where PD participants reported a decrease in social satisfaction (Mean = -2.30, Standard Deviation = 1.64) while PD caregivers experienced an increase (M = 3.80, SD = 3.08), p = . 02. In contrast, a different pattern was shown from 12 weeks to 18 weeks, where PD participants showed an increase in social satisfaction (M = 2.53, SD = 1.29), while PD caregivers demonstrated a decrease in social satisfaction (M = -2.10, SD = 3.35), p =. 03. Drumming in a group setting may serve as an effective tool to enhance movement and promote social cohesion through rhythmic auditory-motor entrainment, thereby supporting quality of life in PD; further studies in HD are indicated as well.
The Rest-frame Submillimeter Spectrum of High-redshift, Dusty, Star-forming Galaxies from the SPT-SZ Survey

We present the average rest-frame spectrum of the final catalog of dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) selected from the South Pole Telescope's SPT-SZ survey and measured with Band 3 of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. This work builds on the previous average rest-frame spectrum, given in Spilker et al. (2014) for the first 22 sources, and is comprised of a total of 78 sources, normalized by their respective apparent dust masses. The spectrum spans 1.9 < z < 6.9 and covers rest-frame frequencies of 240–800 GHz. Combining this data with low-J CO observations from the Australia Telescope Compact Array, we detect multiple bright line features from 12CO, [C i], and H2O, as well as fainter molecular transitions from 13CO, HCN, HCO+, HNC, CN, H2O+, and CH. We use these detections, along with limits from other molecules, to characterize the typical properties of the interstellar medium (ISM) for these high-redshift DSFGs. We are able to divide the large sample into subsets in order to explore how the average spectrum changes with various galaxy properties, such as effective dust temperature. We find that systems with hotter dust temperatures exhibit differences in the bright 12CO emission lines, and contain either warmer and more excited dense gas tracers or larger dense gas reservoirs. These observations will serve as a reference point to studies of the ISM in distant luminous DSFGs (L IR > 1012 L ⊙), and will inform studies of chemical evolution before the peak epoch of star formation at z = 2–3.
Stable condensate of singlet pairs in spinor Bose gases

Bose Einstein condensates of spin-1 atoms are known to exist in two different phases, both having spontaneously broken spin-rotation symmetry, a ferromagnetic and a polar condensate. Here we show that in two spatial dimensions it is possible to achieve a quantum phase transition from a polar condensate into a singlet phase symmetric under rotations in spin space. This can be done by using particle density as a tuning parameter. Starting from the polar phase at high density the system can be tuned into a strong-coupling intermediate-density point where the phase transition into a symmetric phase takes place. By further reducing the particle density the symmetric phase can be continuously deformed into a Bose-Einstein condensate of singlet atomic pairs. We calculate the region of the parameter space where such a molecular phase is stable against collapse.
Neuronal damage and inflammatory biomarkers are associated with the affective and chronic fatigue-like symptoms due to end-stage renal disease.

Background. Many biochemical, immunological, and neuropsychiatric changes are associated with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Neuronal damage biomarkers such as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light chain (NFL), S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule-1 (IBA1), and myelin basic protein (MBP) are among the less-studied biomarkers of ESRD. Aim. We examined the associations between these neuro-axis biomarkers, inflammatory biomarkers, e.g., C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL-6), IL-10, and zinc, copper, and neuropsychiatric symptoms due to ERSD. Methods. ELISA techniques were used to measure serum levels of neuronal damage biomarkers in 70 ESRD patients, and 46 healthy controls. Results. ESRD patients have higher scores of depression, anxiety, fatigue, and physiosomatic symptoms than healthy controls. Aberrations in kidney function tests and the number of dialysis interventions are associated with the severity of depression, anxiety, fibro-fatigue and physiosomatic symptoms, peripheral inflammation, nestin, and NFL. Serum levels of neuronal damage biomarkers (NFL, MBP, and nestin), CRP, and interleukin (IL)-10 are elevated, and serum zinc is decreased in ESRD patients as compared with controls. The neuronal damage biomarkers NFL, nestin, S100B and MBP are associated with the severity of one or more neuropsychiatric symptom domains. Around 50% of the variance in the neuropsychiatric symptoms is explained by NFL, nestin, S00B, copper, and an inflammatory index. Conclusions. The severity of renal dysfunction and/or the number of dialysis interventions may induce peripheral inflammation and, consequently, neurotoxicity to intermediate filament proteins, astrocytes, and the blood-brain barrier, leading to the neuropsychiatric symptoms of ESRD.
Changing Trends in Mechanical Circulatory Support Utilization and Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for Acute Coronary Syndrome Complicated with Cardiogenic Shock: Insights from a Nationwide Registry in Japan

Background: Temporal trends in the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) complicated with cardiogenic shock (CS) after the revision of the guideline recommendations for intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use and the approval of the Impella require further investigation as their impact remains uncertain. Methods: Using the Japanese Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (J-PCI) registry database from 2019 to 2021 (734,379 patients from 1,190 hospitals), we extracted 24,516 patients undergoing PCI for ACS complicated with CS. Of those, 12,171 patients (49.6%) used mechanical circulatory support (MCS) during the procedure. The patients were stratified into three groups: (i) IABP alone, (ii) Impella, and (iii) venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO); the VA-ECMO group was further stratified into (iiia) VA-ECMO alone, (iiib) VA-ECMO in combination with the IABP, and (iiic) VA-ECMO in combination with the Impella (ECPella). The quarterly prevalence and outcomes were reported. Results: During the study period, there were notable changes in the prevalence of different MCS modalities and their associated outcomes. The use of an IABP alone and VA-ECMO decreased significantly from 63.5% and 34.4% in the first quarter of 2019 to 58.3% and 33.0% in the fourth quarter of 2021, respectively (P for trend = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). Among the subset of patients who required VA-ECMO (n = 4,245), the use of VA-ECMO in combination with the IABP decreased significantly from 78.7% to 67.3%, whereas the use of ECPella increased significantly from 4.2% to 17.0% (P for trend <0.001 for both). There was no significant change in the use of VA-ECMO alone. In-hospital mortality decreased significantly over time in both the overall population of patients requiring MCS and those requiring VA-ECMO (P for trend = 0.004 and <0.001, respectively). Conclusions: In conclusion, our study revealed significant changes in the use of different MCS modalities and associated outcomes in ACS complicated with CS, highlighting the evolving patterns of MCS utilization during the study period.
Natural frequency analyses of segmented Timoshenko–Euler beams using the Rayleigh–Ritz method

This paper proposes part by part usage of Timoshenko and Euler–Bernoulli beam theories for obtaining natural frequencies of the non-uniform beam that has partially thick and thin beam vibration characteristics. The paper also presents convergence tests to determine proper function among the simple admissible shape functions taken into consideration. By doing so, closer approximation of the Rayleigh–Ritz method is achieved. The method is applied using a simple computation technique. In the analyses of the Timoshenko beams, an additional function is employed to identify shear deformation and rotational inertia effects. Modified angular displacement functions are defined to improve convergence capability of the method. Furthermore, optimal numbers of lateral and angular displacement terms are investigated for suggested function couple of the Timoshenko beams. Efficiencies of part by part modelling and advantages of novel approaches suggested for the Rayleigh–Ritz approximation are introduced by the comparative studies performed on tapered, stepped and continuously segmented beams under some classical end conditions. All of the computational outcomes for the beams with rectangular cross-section are validated by the results given in current literature and also those obtained by the finite element analyses.