Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Therapists’ perspectives on fall prevention in spinal cord injury rehabilitation: a qualitative study

Abstract Purpose Therapists play a key role in delivering fall prevention/management education to individuals with spinal cord injury/disease, yet their perspectives on this topic remain understudied. Here, we described the perspectives of physical and occupational therapists who routinely provided rehabilitation to patients with spinal cord injury/disease on: (1) how fall risk was assessed, (2) what fall prevention education, interventions or strategies were provided, and (3) opportunities to improve fall risk assessment and the delivery of fall prevention education, strategies and interventions. Materials and methods Twenty-one therapists completed an individual interview or focus group that was analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis. Results Four main themes were identified: (1) policy and procedures impact practice (i.e., policy and procedures positively and negatively impact practice), (2) assessing and managing fall risk/falls in patients with spinal cord injury/disease (i.e., discipline-specific roles in fall risk assessments and fall management processes in rehabilitation), (3) fall prevention and management education (i.e., helicopter therapists and challenges with fall prevention and management education), (4) building insight into fall risk and management (e.g., building insight into fall risk for patients and therapists). Conclusions This study revealed opportunities to improve the delivery of fall prevention education and training to individuals with spinal cord injury/disease. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Fall prevention education should be initiated in spinal cord injury rehabilitation and then reinforced in community rehabilitation. Barriers and challenges faced by therapists when delivering fall prevention and management education/training in spinal cord injury rehabilitation include their perceptions of a patient’s readiness to receive fall prevention education, short length of stay in rehabilitation, organization’s expectations of zero falls and a lack of spinal cord injury-specific fall prevention resources. Therapists who work in spinal cord injury rehabilitation may benefit from information about fall risk factors encountered by individuals with spinal cord injury/disease in the community.
MRI topography of lesions related to internuclear ophthalmoplegia in patients with multiple sclerosis or ischemic stroke

Internuclear ophthalmoplegia is a dysfunction of conjugate eye movements, caused by lesions affecting the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF). Multiple sclerosis (MS) and ischemic stroke represent the most common pathophysiologies. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows for localizing lesions affecting the MLF, comprehensive comparative studies exploring potential different spatial characteristics of lesions affecting the MLF are missing until now.
Restless leg syndrome in patients with chronic kidney disease: a hospital-based study from Upper Egypt

Abstract Objectives Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common cause of restless leg syndrome (RLS). RLS is under-recognized, misdiagnosed and undertreated disorder in our locality. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of RLS due to CKD and its predictors. Methods This cross-sectional study included 520 patients [male = 200; female = 320; age: 48.45 ± 3.63yrs; uremia duration: 6.44 ± 1.65yrs; CKD5D = 400; CKD3D = 120). RLS diagnosis was done by clinical interviewing according to International RLS Study Group criteria. All underwent detailed biochemical testing and iron and ferritin levels’ measurements. Insomnia, depression and anxiety severities were assessed using insomnia sleep index (ISI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STAI-AD) scales. Results RLS was found in 22.31% [ESKD = 26%, CKD3D = 10%]. Insomnia, depression and anxiety were found in 76.15%, 91.15% and 44.23%, respectively. Insomnia was correlated with depression (r = 0.488, p = 0.001) and anxiety (r = 0.360, p = 0.006) but not RLS. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that ESKD (OR = 3.8, 95%CI = 2.5–8.5, p = 0.001), inadequate dialysis (OR = 4.6, 95%CI = 3.5–8.6, p = 0.001), hyperparathyroidism (OR = 5.1, 95%CI 3.2–13.7, p = 0.0001) and peripheral neuropathy (OR = 5.6, 95%CI = 3.8–12.8, p = 0.0001) were independently associated with RLS. Conclusion The prevalence of RLS with CKD is 22.31%. It is 2.6 times more frequent and severe with ESKD compared to CKD3D. It seems that RLS may occur early with CKD and becomes worse with progressive kidney impairment. Also, insomnia, depression and anxiety are common with CKD, however, their severities were not correlated with RLS. Predictors for RLS were ESKD, inadequacy of dialysis, hyperparathyroidism and peripheral neuropathy.
Loss of the abasic site sensor HMCES is synthetic lethal with the activity of the APOBEC3A cytosine deaminase in cancer cells

Analysis of cancer mutagenic signatures provides information about the origin of mutations and can inform the use of clinical therapies, including immunotherapy. In particular, APOBEC3A (A3A) has emerged as a major driver of mutagenesis in cancer cells, and its expression results in DNA damage and susceptibility to treatment with inhibitors of the ATR and CHK1 checkpoint kinases. Here, we report the implementation of CRISPR/Cas-9 genetic screening to identify susceptibilities of multiple A3A-expressing lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cell lines. We identify HMCES, a protein recently linked to the protection of abasic sites, as a central protein for the tolerance of A3A expression. HMCES depletion results in synthetic lethality with A3A expression preferentially in a TP53-mutant background. Analysis of previous screening data reveals a strong association between A3A mutational signatures and sensitivity to HMCES loss and indicates that HMCES is specialized in protecting against a narrow spectrum of DNA damaging agents in addition to A3A. We experimentally show that both HMCES disruption and A3A expression increase susceptibility of cancer cells to ionizing radiation (IR), oxidative stress, and ATR inhibition, strategies that are often applied in tumor therapies. Overall, our results suggest that HMCES is an attractive target for selective treatment of A3A-expressing tumors.
The list experiment: An approach to measuring stigmatized behaviours related to sex-selective abortion

Vietnam reports one of the highest levels of abortion globally and an increasingly skewed sex ratio at birth. Abortion and related stigmatized behaviours are notoriously difficult to measure, yet understanding women’s ability and willingness to engage in sex selection is of interest to demographers and policymakers alike. We piloted the list experiment, an indirect questioning method, to estimate the prevalence of prenatal sex determination and sex-selective abortion. Respondents reported the total number of items they had engaged in from a list, reducing non-response and incentives to under-report. Among 900 women sampled at two hospitals in Hanoi, we estimated a high prevalence of prenatal sex determination. We found a low prevalence of sex-selective abortion, but higher prevalence among specific parity and children’s sex composition subgroups. Responses to knowledge and attitudinal questions underscored women’s perceived stigma around sex-selective abortion, suggesting the list experiment is a potentially useful tool for studying son preference.
Performance of Fitbit Charge 3 against polysomnography in measuring sleep in adolescent boys and girls

ABSTRACT We evaluated the performance of Fitbit Charge 3™ (FC3), a multi-sensor commercial sleep-tracker, for measuring sleep in adolescents against gold-standard laboratory polysomnography (PSG). Single-night PSG and FC3 sleep outcomes were compared in thirty-nine adolescents (22 girls; 16–19 years), 12 of whom presented with clinical/subclinical DSM-5 insomnia symptoms (7 girls). Discrepancy analysis, Bland–Altman plots, and epoch-by-epoch analyses were used to evaluate FC3 performance. The influence of several factors potentially affecting FC3 performance (e.g., sex, age, body mass index, firmware version, and magnitude of heart rate changes between consecutive PSG epochs) was also tested. In the sample of healthy adolescents, FC3 systematically underestimated PSG total sleep time by about 11 min and sleep efficiency by 2.5%, and overestimated wake after sleep onset by 9 min. Proportional biases were detected for “light” and “deep” sleep duration, resulting in significant underestimation of these parameters for those participants having longer PSG N1+ N2 and N3 durations, respectively. No significant systematic bias was detected for sleep efficiency and sleep onset latency. Epoch-by-epoch analysis showed sleep-stage sensitivity (average proportion of PSG epochs correctly classified by the device for a given sleep stage) of 68% for wake, 78% for “light” sleep, 59% for “deep” sleep, and 69% for rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in healthy sleepers. Similar results were found in the sample of adolescents with insomnia symptoms. Body mass index was positively associated with FC3-PSG discrepancies in wake after sleep onset (R2 = .16, p = .048). The magnitude of the heart rate acceleration/deceleration between consecutive PSG epochs was an important factor affecting FC3 classifications of sleep stages. Our results are in line with a general trend in the literature, suggesting better performance for the recently introduced multi-sensor devices compared to motion-only devices, although further developments are needed to improve accuracy in sleep stage classification and wake detection. Further insight is needed to determine factors potentially affecting device performance, such as accuracy and reliability (consistency of performance over time), in different samples and conditions.
Weekly Adalimumab, an Effective Alternative for Refractory Uveitis in Children

BACKGROUND Chronic uveitis in children, if inadequately treated, can cause cataracts, glaucoma, and ultimately vision loss. Topical steroids used to control inflammation can also cause complications including cataracts and glaucoma. Adalimumab, a subcutaneous human monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), has been shown to effectively reduce uveitis flares in adult cohorts and to reduce uveitis flares and topical steroid requirement in uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Although adalimumab has been studied and approved for use at every 2 weeks (Q2week) dosing only, many rheumatologists increase the frequency to weekly (Q1 week) dosing if uveitis remains uncontrolled on a Q2 week regimen. The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Consensus Treatment Plan for uveitis also includes adalimumab Q1 week as a treatment option. However, the efficacy of Q1 week dosing of adalimumab in children has not been evaluated formally. We conducted a single-center review to assess the effectiveness of adalimumab Q1 week in treating uveitis refractory to adalimumab Q2 weeks, compared with patients switched to infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal anti–TNF-α antibody administered intravenously, as reference.
Accuracy of documented administration times for intravenous antimicrobial drugs and impact on dosing decisions

Accurate documentation of medication administration time is imperative for many therapeutic decisions, including dosing of intravenous antimicrobials. The objectives were to determine (1) the discrepancy between actual and documented administration times for antimicrobial infusions and (2) whether day of the week, time of day, nurse‐to‐patient ratio and drug impacted accuracy of documented administration times.
Distributed Leadership as a predictor of employee engagement, job satisfaction, and turnover intention in UK Nursing Staff.

AIM This study aimed to investigate how distributed leadership via the Shared Governance programme influences employee engagement, empowerment, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions among direct care nursing staff in a large UK hospital. BACKGROUND Increasing turnover rates and shortages of healthcare staff in the UK has called for interventions to improve employee engagement and job satisfaction. METHODS 116 direct care nursing staff were sampled in a mixed methods explanatory sequential design. A maximum variance sample of 15 participants were subsequently interviewed to gain a deeper understanding of the motivations and attitudes that influenced employee outcomes through distributed leadership. RESULTS Higher levels of distributed leadership predicted increased employee engagement and job satisfaction, and lower turnover intentions. Staff also felt more empowered and committed to the organisation despite some challenges experienced in implementing the Shared Governance programme. CONCLUSION Distributed leadership was found to be beneficial in promoting employee engagement and empowerment, increasing job satisfaction and organisational commitment, and reducing turnover intention in the UK healthcare setting. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT By encouraging the practice of distributed leadership at work, healthcare staff can become more engaged and empowered, leading to higher rates of job retention, job satisfaction, and organisational commitment.
Electrochemical analysis of lithiated graphite anodes

Theoretical calculations are compared with well-controlled experiments conducted on a porous, graphite-based, lithiated-carbon electrode. The interpretation of the electrode behavior is facilitated by the use of a reference electrode in a cell that maintains a substantially uniform current distribution. A solvent-casting procedure for constructing graphite anodes, employing a hydrocarbon [poly(ethylene + propylene + norborene)] binder is implemented. Nonlinear diffusion of lithium intercalate within the host carbon particles is considered; previously published concentration-dependent diffusion-coefficient data are employed for the lithium intercalate species. Other important resistances result from ionic diffusion and migration within the solvent phase, interfacial reaction at the surface of the carbon particles, and electron transport within the solid phase. Calculations are used to assess the impact of particle shape and the nature of the carbon precursor. The overall analysis indicates that interfacial resistance plays a dominant role in limiting the available capacity at high rates of current passage.
Reduction of metal oxides by mechanical alloying

The chemical reduction of metal oxides by mechanical alloying with a strong reducing element has been investigated. Using x‐ray diffraction to follow the reaction it was found that the mechanical alloying of CuO and Ca using toluene as a processing lubricant resulted in the formation of Cu. The mechanical alloying of CuO and ZnO together with Ca resulted in the formation of β’ brass.
A mechanistic overview of spinal cord injury, oxidative DNA damage repair and neuroprotective therapies

Abstract Despite substantial development in medical treatment strategies scientists are struggling to find a cure against spinal cord injury (SCI) which causes long term disability and paralysis. The prime rationale behind it is the enlargement of primary lesion due to an initial trauma to the spinal cord which spreads to the neighbouring spinal tissues It begins from the time of traumatic event happened and extends to hours and even days. It further causes series of biological and functional alterations such as inflammation, excitotoxicity and ischemia, and promotes secondary lesion to the cord which worsens the life of individuals affected by SCI. Oxidative DNA damage is a stern consequence of oxidative stress linked with secondary injury causes oxidative base alterations and strand breaks, which provokes cell death in neurons. It is implausible to stop primary damage however it is credible to halt the secondary lesion and improve the quality of the patient’s life to some extent. Therefore it is crucial to understand the hidden perspectives of cell and molecular biology affecting the pathophysiology of SCI. Thus the focus of the review is to connect the missing links and shed light on the oxidative DNA damages and the functional repair mechanisms, as a consequence of the injury in neurons. The review will also probe the significance of neuroprotective strategies in the present scenario. HIGHLIGHTS Spinal cord injury, a pernicious condition, causes excitotoxicity and ischemia, ultimately leading to cell death. Oxidative DNA damage is a consequence of oxidative stress linked with secondary injury, provoking cell death in neurons. Base excision repair (BER) is one of the major repair pathways that plays a crucial role in repairing oxidative DNA damages. Neuroprotective therapies curbing SCI and boosting BER include the usage of pharmacological drugs and other approaches.
Experiences, emotional responses, and coping skills of nursing students as auxiliary health workers during the peak COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative study

Abstract The COVID‐19 crisis in Spain has exacerbated the shortage of nursing staff to respond to increasing healthcare demands. For this reason, nursing students were requested to collaborate voluntarily as auxiliary health staff. This emergency has led to mental health problems in health professionals, hence the relevance of coping techniques. The objectives of this study were to explore the experiences and emotional responses of final‐year nursing students who volunteered to carry out healthcare relief tasks during the peak of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and to identify the coping strategies they adopted to deal with this situation. A qualitative study was conducted in the constructivist paradigm. Purposive sampling was used, and twenty‐two students participated in semi‐structured interviews, which were then content‐analysed. The study is reported using the COREQ checklist. Five themes emerged in the ‘Experiences and emotional response’ dimension (context, patients, emotions and feelings, risk of contagion, and personal satisfaction), and three themes emerged in the ‘Coping strategies’ dimension strategies in the work environment, in daily life and personal life. Although the students expressed negative emotions due to the highly complex context and lack of professional experience, they evaluated the experience positively in terms of learning and usefulness. Most notably, the students employed adaptive coping strategies to deal with the pandemic.
Emerging concepts on bradykinesia in non‐parkinsonian conditions

Bradykinesia is one of the cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, clinical and experimental studies indicate that bradykinesia may also be observed in various neurological diseases not primarily characterized by parkinsonism. These conditions include hyperkinetic movement disorders, such as dystonia, chorea, and essential tremor. Bradykinesia may also be observed in patients with neurological conditions that are not seen as "movement disorders," including those characterized by the involvement of the cerebellum and corticospinal system, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and psychiatric disorders.
The Health Behavior Model of Personality in the Context of a Public Health Crisis

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. ABSTRACT Objective The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended behavioral measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing and wearing masks. Although many individuals comply with these recommendations, compliance has been far from universal. Identifying predictors of compliance is crucial for improving health behavior messaging and thereby reducing disease spread and fatalities. Methods We report preregistered analyses from a longitudinal study that investigated personality predictors of compliance with behavioral recommendations in diverse US adults across five waves from March to August 2020 (n = 596) and cross-sectionally in August 2020 (n = 405). Results Agreeableness—characterized by compassion—was the most consistent predictor of compliance, above and beyond other traits, and sociodemographic predictors (sample A, β = 0.25; sample B, β = 0.12). The effect of agreeableness was robust across two diverse samples and sensitivity analyses. In addition, openness, conscientiousness, and extraversion were also associated with greater compliance, but effects were less consistent across sensitivity analyses and were smaller in sample A. Conclusions Individuals who are less agreeable are at higher risk for noncompliance with behavioral mandates, suggesting that health messaging can be meaningfully improved with approaches that address these individuals in particular. These findings highlight the strong theoretical and practical utility of testing long-standing psychological theories during real-world crises.
A p53-like transcription factor, BbTFO1, contributes to virulence and oxidative and thermal stress tolerances in the insect pathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana

The p53-like transcription factor (TF) NDT80 plays a vital role in the regulation of pathogenic mechanisms and meiosis in certain fungi. However, the effects of NDT80 on entomopathogenic fungi are still unknown. In this paper, the NDT80 orthologue BbTFO1 was examined in Beauveria bassiana, a filamentous entomopathogenic fungus, to explore the role of an NDT80-like protein for fungal pest control potential. Disruption of BbTFO1 resulted in impaired resistance to oxidative stress (OS) in a growth assay under OS and a 50% minimum inhibitory concentration experiment. Intriguingly, the oxidation resistance changes were accompanied by transcriptional repression of the two key antioxidant enzyme genes cat2 and cat5. ΔBbTFO1 also displayed defective conidial germination, virulence and heat resistance. The specific supplementation of BbTFO1 reversed these phenotypic changes. As revealed by this work, BbTFO1 can affect the transcription of catalase genes and play vital roles in the maintenance of phenotypes associated with the biological control ability of B. bassiana.
The Intervening Role of Conversational Frequency and Valence in a School-Based Health Intervention

ABSTRACT School-based health interventions are potentially an effective method to communicate health messages to adolescents. Unfortunately, effectiveness of such interventions is limited. Research in other contexts has shown that interpersonal communication can influence the effectiveness of health programs, but this has not been thoroughly tested for school-based health interventions. Therefore, our study investigated interpersonal communication (i.e., conversational valence and frequency) in a school-based intervention context. We used a three-wave randomized-controlled trial with 1056 students to study three aims. The first aim was to investigate the influence of a health intervention on conversational frequency and valence about drinking, snacking, and exercising. Our second aim was to investigate the influence of conversational frequency and valence on (predictors of) drinking, snacking, and exercising. Our third aim was to investigate whether the health intervention indirectly influenced the program outcomes through conversational frequency and valence. Findings showed that conversational frequency and valence were related to (predictors of) the three behaviors. Additionally, findings showed that the intervention did not influence conversational frequency and valence. Accordingly, findings showed no indirect influence of the intervention on program outcomes through conversational frequency and valence. Our findings show the potential of interpersonal communication for health behaviors and predictors; however, they also stress the importance of a health intervention to properly influence interpersonal communication. If health interventions can successfully influence interpersonal communication, intervention effectiveness can be improved.