Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Initiation of postpartum modern contraceptive methods: Evidence from Tanzania demographic and health survey

Background Postpartum contraceptive use is vital to improve maternal and child survival. It helps to have optimal child spacing, prevent unplanned pregnancies and associated adverse birth outcomes. However, postpartum contraceptive use in Tanzania remains low. Short median interval for resumption to sex after birth among African women has been associated with adverse maternal and child health wellbeing. This study aimed to assess optimal time to contraceptive use and predictors of time to contraceptive use after birth among women of reproductive age in Tanzania. Methods A cross section study using the TDHS 2015–16 data was used. A total of 3775 postpartum women were analyzed. Information on pregnancy, births and contraceptive use were recorded over the previous 5 years with the focus on most recent birth from the contraceptive calendar. Data analysis was performed using Stata 14.0. Analysis accounted for complex survey design. Time to modern contraceptive use after birth was computed using Kaplan Meier estimate. Adjusted time ratios with 95% CI were estimated using Weibull accelerated failure time models. Results A total weighted sample of 3775 women was analyzed. The median time to contraceptive use after birth was 7(IQR: 4–13) months, while for resumption to sex afterbirth was 2(IQR: 1–5) months. Factors such as never been married (TR: 1.63; 95%CI: 1.26–2.11) and breastfeeding (TR: 5.50; 95%CI: 4.12–7.35) were associated with longer time to postpartum contraceptive use. Belonging to richest wealth quintile (TR: 0.73; 95%CI: 0.54–0.99) and adopting long acting methods (TR: 0.70; 95%CI: 0.60–0.82) increased women’s likelihood of having shorter time to postpartum contraceptive use. Conclusion There was a time lag of five months from resumption of sex and initiation of postpartum contraception use. The interceptive measures to facilitate timely availing methods of women’s choice and promotion of utilization of maternal health care services may reduce delays in postpartum contraceptive use.
Analysis of cytokine levels, T regulatory cells and serotonin content in patients with depression

Alterations in peripheral serotonin concentrations and an imbalanced immune system have been reported in patients with depression. Cytokines and T regulatory (Treg) cells may play an important role in the development of depression. This study investigates the levels of cytokines and Treg cells, as well as the concentration of serotonin (5‐HT) in the blood of 89 patients suffering from depression and 89 healthy participants between two acquisitions. We investigated the state of health before (T1) and after (T2) psychological and pharmacological therapy. Both cytokine (IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐α, and INF‐γ) and 5‐HT levels in the blood were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. The levels of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells were determined by flow cytometric analysis. Patients with depression showed significantly higher serum levels of IL‐6 and INF‐γ, no altered serum levels of IL‐10 and TNF‐α, and decreased platelet and serum 5‐HT levels compared with healthy participants at the first acquisition. In addition, the symptoms of depression and anxiety, the TNF‐α level, and the amount of CD4+CD25+ cells in the blood were decreased from the first to the second acquisition. Further, a correlation between IL‐6 and platelet 5‐HT has been observed in patients. An imbalance of the immune system in patients with depression and an association of the serotonergic system and cytokines were observed. These results indicate that the development of depression might be related to several interacting proteins, including cytokines and 5‐HT, and the treatment affects imbalances of these factors.
Spring understory herbs flower later in intensively managed forests.

Many organisms respond to anthropogenic environmental change through shifts in their phenology. In plants, flowering is largely driven by temperature, and therefore affected by climate change. However, on smaller scales climatic conditions are also influenced by other factors, including habitat structure. A group of plants with a particularly distinct phenology are the understorey herbs in temperate European forests. In these forests, management alters tree species composition (often replacing deciduous with coniferous species) and homogenizes stand structure, and as a consequence changes light conditions and microclimate. Forest management should thus also affect the phenology of understorey herbs. To test this, we recorded the flowering phenology of 16 early-flowering herbs on 100 forest plots varying in management intensity, from near-natural to intensely managed forests, in Central and Southern Germany. We found that in forest stands with a high management intensity, such as Norway spruce plantations, the plants flowered on average about two weeks later than in unmanaged forests. This was largely because management also affected microclimate (e.g. spring temperatures of 5.9 °C in managed coniferous, 6.7 in managed deciduous and 7.0 °C in unmanaged deciduous plots), which in turn affected phenology, with plants flowering later on colder and moister forest stands (+4.5 days per -1°C and 2.7 days per 10 % humidity increase). Among forest characteristics, the percentage of conifers had the greatest influence on microclimate, but also the age, overall crown projection area, structural complexity and spatial distribution of the forest stands. Our study demonstrates that forest management alters plant phenology, with potential far-reaching consequences for the ecology and evolution of understorey communities. More generally, our study suggests that besides climate change other drivers of environmental change, too, can influence the phenology of organisms.
Spectral effect of streetlamps on urban trees: A simulated study on tissue water, nitrogen, and carbohydrate contents in maple and oak

Streetlamps enforce night lighting on urban forest trees, but scarce information is available concerning the ecophysiological performance of street trees under these conditions. In this study, maple (Acer truncatum Bunge) and oak (Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb.) seedlings were cultured with simulated exposure to streetlamp spectra in white (red/green/blue, 7.7:1.0:2.2) and red plus blue (RB; red/green/blue, 4.6:0.0:1.0) lights with photosynthetic photon flux rate of 80 μmol m-2 s-1 in a 18-h photoperiod. Nitrogen (N) was loaded through 15 weekly applications to an amount of 80 mg N plant-1 to mimic the mineral N deposition to landscape trees. Variables of biomass, carbohydrate accumulation, N and water contents were rarely found difference between the two LED-spectra treatments for both species. Compared to the un-lighted control, the RB spectrum lowered N concentration in oak seedlings and water content in maple seedlings. The white light spectrum resulted in an increase of starch concentration. Carbohydrate concentration had a positive relationship with biomass and N content across two species but a negative relationship with water content in maple seedlings. Overall, streetlamp-lights imposed effects on tree growth by a prolonged photoperiod instead of specific spectrum. Maple had a strong response of water uptake to streetlamp lighting at the cost of carbohydrate consumption, but oak had scarce demand of water-use for growth.
5‐Hydroxymethyl‐, 5‐Formyl‐ and 5‐Carboxydeoxycytidines as Oxidative Lesions and Epigenetic Marks

Abstract The four non‐canonical nucleotides in the human genome 5‐methyl‐, 5‐hydroxymethyl‐, 5‐formyl‐ and 5‐carboxydeoxycytidine (mdC, hmdC, fdC and cadC) form a second layer of epigenetic information that contributes to the regulation of gene expression. Formation of the oxidized nucleotides hmdC, fdC and cadC requires oxidation of mdC by ten‐eleven translocation (Tet) enzymes that require oxygen, Fe(II) and α‐ketoglutarate as cosubstrates. Although these oxidized forms of mdC are widespread in mammalian genomes, experimental evidence for their presence in fungi and plants is ambiguous. This vagueness is caused by the fact that these oxidized mdC derivatives are also formed as oxidative lesions, resulting in unclear basal levels that are likely to have no epigenetic function. Here, we report the xdC levels in the fungus Amanita muscaria in comparison to murine embryonic stem cells (mESCs), HEK cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to obtain information about the basal levels of hmdC, fdC and cadC as DNA lesions in the genome.
Trends in prostate cancer incidence and mortality to monitor control policies in a northeastern Brazilian state

Prostate cancer differently affects different regions of the world, displaying higher rates in more developed areas. After the implementation of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, several studies described rising rates globally, but it is possible that indolent lesions are being detected given the lack of changes in mortality data. The Brazilian government recommends against PSA screening in the male population regardless of age, but the Urology Society issued a report recommending that screening should start at 50 years old for certain men and for those aged ≥75 years with a life expectancy exceeding 10 years. In this study, we examined the incidence and mortality rates of invasive prostate cancer over time in the Sergipe state of Brazil. The databases of the Aracaju Cancer Registry and Mortality Information System were used to calculate age-standardized rates for all prostate tumors (International Classification of Diseases 10th edition: C61 and D07.5) in the following age ranges: 20–44, 45–54, and ≥65 years. We identified 3595 cases of cancer, 30 glandular intraepithelial high-grade lesions, and 3269 deaths. Using the Joinpoint Regression Program, we found that the incidence of prostate cancer dramatically increased over time until the mid-2000s for all age groups, after which the rates declined. Prostate cancer mortality rates increased until 2005, followed by a non-significant annual percent change of 22.0 in 2001–2005 and a stable rate thereafter. We noticed that the increases and decreases of the incidence rates of prostate cancer were associated with the screening recommendations. Meanwhile, the increased mortality rates did not appear to be associated with decreased PSA testing; instead, they were linked to the effects of age and improvements in identification of the cause of death. Thus, we do not believe a PSA screening program would benefit the population of this study.
Carnosine improves aging‐induced cognitive impairment and brain regional neurodegeneration in relation to the neuropathological alterations in the secondary structure of amyloid beta (Aβ)

Aging‐induced proteinopathies, including deterioration of amyloid beta (Aβ) conformation, are associated with reductions in endogenous levels of carnosine and cognitive impairments. Carnosine is a well‐known endogenous antioxidant, which counteracts aging‐induced Aβ plaque formation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exogenous carnosine treatments on aging‐induced changes (a) in the steady‐state level of endogenous carnosine and conformation of Aβ secondary structure in the different brain regions (cerebral cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, pons‐medulla, and cerebellum) and (b) cognitive function. Young (4 months) and aged (18 and 24 months) male albino Wistar rats were treated with carnosine (2.0 μg kg−1 day−1; i.t.) or equivalent volumes of vehicle (saline) for 21 consecutive days and were tested for cognition using 8‐arm radial maze test. Brains were processed to assess the conformational integrity of Aβ plaques using Raman spectroscopy and endogenous levels of carnosine were measured in the brain regions using HPLC. Results indicated that carnosine treatments improved the aging‐induced deficits in cognitive function and reduced the β‐sheets in the secondary structure of Aβ protein, as well as mitigating the reduction in the steady‐state levels of carnosine and spine density in the brain regions examined. These results thus, suggest that carnosine can attenuate the aging‐induced: (a) conformational changes in Aβ secondary structure by reducing the abundance of β‐sheets and reductions in carnosine content in the brain regions and (b) cognitive impairment.
The role of leisure crafting for emotional exhaustion in telework during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Background After the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, many employees transitioned from in-office work to telework to slow down the spread of the virus. Building on the Job Demands-Resources model, we examined day-level relationships between job demands, home demands and emotional exhaustion during telework. Moreover, we tested if leisure crafting (i.e., the proactive pursuit and enactment of leisure activities targeted at goal setting, socializing, growth and development) is negatively related to emotional exhaustion. We expected that proactive personality would be positively related to leisure crafting. Finally, emotional exhaustion was predicted to relate negatively to job performance. Methods We tested our assumptions using a daily diary study on seven consecutive days with 178 employees (964 observations in total). Results Multilevel path analysis supports the assumptions that daily job demands as well as daily home demands during telework are positively related to emotional exhaustion. As predicted, we found leisure crafting to be negatively related to emotional exhaustion, and proactive personality to be positively related to leisure crafting. Finally, emotional exhaustion was negatively related to job performance. Conclusions Overall, our study supports a health-promoting role of leisure crafting above the unfavorable relationships between job demands and home demands with emotional exhaustion.
Hearing the voices of children diagnosed with a life-threatening or life-limiting illness and their parents’ accounts in a palliative care setting: A qualitative study

Background: Exploring children’s experiences of a life-threatening or life-limiting diagnosis is essential in offering appropriate care for them. There have been few studies examining these and they are often from the parent’s perspective. Even if adults are frequently unwilling to share information with children, they become aware of their diagnosis and prognosis. The theory of awareness contexts provided a theoretical framework through which it can be understood what children knew about their condition. Aim: To advance the understanding of the experiences of children with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition. Design: A qualitative study using dyadic interviews and thematic analysis. Setting/participants: Ten children between 14 to 17 years old with a life-threatening or life-limiting illness who were supported by a palliative care service in Romania. Interviews were also undertaken with their mothers. Results: Interview data demonstrated that there was a gap in the child’s experience and understanding of their condition compared to their parents. The data produced six major themes: awareness of the illness, death and dying, the spiritual response to illness, the emotional response to illness, striving for normality and independence and coping strategies. The study showed that children can read subtle cues or they may talk with other children to learn about their illness when information is not openly available to them. Conclusions: Children in the study often know more about their condition than their parents realised. Using this understanding, healthcare professionals can advise parents and children about how to communicate with one another which would enable the children to give voice to their thoughts, emotions and experiences.
Water behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(vinylpyrrolidone) interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels

Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone were prepared by radical polymerization with 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone as a photoinitiator and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker. The IPN hydrogels were analyzed for the sorption behavior of water at 35°C and a relative humidity of 95% with a dynamic vapor sorption system, and water diffusion coefficients were calculated. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to quantitatively determine the amounts of freezing and nonfreezing water. The free-water contents in the IPN hydrogel samples PV51, PV31, and PV11 were 74.40, 64.03, and 60.48% in pure water, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 24–27, 2003
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis of wines

An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) procedure has been developed for the determination of major elements, such as Mg, Na, K, Ca and Fe, minor elements, such as Al, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, Br and Rb, and trace elements, such as Li, Ti, Ni, As, I, Ba, Pb, Sc, V, Co, Y, Zr, Mo, Sn, Cs, Ga, Nb, Pd, Cd, Sb, Hf, W, Hg, Tl, Th and U, in wines. The results obtained for Na, Mg, Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Rb and Cs were compared with those found by neutron activation analysis (NAA). Two ICP-MS calibration methodologies were used and results evaluated from spike recovery studies from which an average recovery of 102±20% was found for quantitative mode measurements. Multi-determination, using Be, Ge, In and Bi for the calibration of the ICP-MS sensitivity in the whole mass range and Rh as the internal standard, provided fast and accurate results, whereas the quantitative mode, using a series of external standard solutions, needs more time and consumes more reagent.
Phylogenetic and Mutational Analysis of Lassa Virus Strains Isolated in Nigeria: Proposal for an In Silico Study

Background In 2018, the total number of Lassa fever cases in Nigeria was significantly higher than that observed in previous years. Hence, studies had attempted to determine the underlying cause. However, reports using phylogenetic methods to analyze this finding ruled out the emergence of potentially more transmissible Lassa virus strains or an increase in human-to-human viral transmission as the cause underlying the increase in cases. Two years later, the situation seems even worse as the number of confirmed cases has reached an all-time high according to situational reports released by the Nigerian Center for Disease Control. Objective Considering the increasing trend of Lassa fever cases and related mortality, the major objective of this study is to map mutations within the genomes of Lassa virus isolates from 2018 and 2019 using the reference sequence available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information as a benchmark and compare them to the genomes of viruses isolated during 1969-2017. This study would also attempt to identify a viral marker gene for easier identification and grouping. Finally, the time-scaled evolution of Lassa virus in Nigeria will be reconstructed. Methods After collecting the sequence data of Lassa virus isolates, Bayesian phylogenetic trees, a sequence identity matrix, and a single nucleotide polymorphism matrix will be generated using BEAST (version 2.6.2), Base-By-Base, and DIVEIN (a web-based tool for variant calling), respectively. Results Mining and alignment of Lassa virus genome sequences have been completed, while mutational analysis and the reconstruction of time-scaled maximum clade credibility trees, congruence tests for inferred segments, and gene phylogeny analysis are ongoing. Conclusions The findings of this study would further the current knowledge of the evolutionary history of the Lassa virus in Nigeria and would document the mutations in Nigerian isolates from 1969 to 2019. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/23015
The role of loneliness in the development of depressive symptoms among partnered dementia caregivers: Evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging

Abstract Background Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among partnered dementia caregivers, but the mechanisms are unclear. This study examined the mediating role of loneliness in the association between dementia and other types of care on subsequent depressive symptoms. Methods Prospective data from partnered caregivers were drawn from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging. The sample consisted of 4,672 partnered adults aged 50–70 living in England and Wales, followed up between 2006–2007 and 2014–2015. Caregiving was assessed across waves 3 (2006–2007), 4 (2008–2009), and 5 (2010–2011), loneliness at wave 6 (2012–2013), and subsequent depressive symptoms at wave 7 (2014–15). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between caregiving for dementia and depressive symptoms compared to caregiving for other illnesses (e.g., diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), cancer, and stroke). Binary mediation analysis was used to estimate the indirect effects of caregiving on depressive symptoms via loneliness. Results Care for a partner with dementia was associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms at follow-up compared to those not caring for a partner at all (odds ratio [OR] = 2.6, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.4, 5.1). This association was partially mediated by loneliness (34%). Care for a partner with other conditions was also associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms compared to non-caregiving partners (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2, 2.5), but there was no evidence of an indirect pathway via loneliness. Conclusion Loneliness represents an important contributor to the relationship between dementia caregiving and subsequent depressive symptoms; therefore, interventions to reduce loneliness among partnered dementia caregivers should be considered.
Current concept of the surgery-first orthognathic approach

Traditional orthognathic surgery has long been performed after presurgical orthodontic treatment. Despite some concerns, the surgery-first orthognathic approach (SFOA) or surgery-first approach (SFA) without presurgical orthodontic treatment has gradually gained popularity. In recent years, several articles dealing with the concepts of the SFA have been published worldwide. However, the SFA has not yet been standardized, and many surgeons use slightly different protocols and concepts. This review article discusses the beginning and evolution of the SFA and its current concepts, including some opinions based on the authors’ clinical experiences over the last 15 years. According to recent investigations, the SFA could be applied effectively in several situations including class III malocclusion, class II malocclusion, and facial asymmetry. However, debate on the SFA continues and many issues remain to be resolved. This review article addresses the current issues regarding the SFOA, including its advantages and disadvantages, as well as its indications and contraindications. The authors summarize various aspects of the SFA and expect that this review article will help surgeons and orthodontists better understand the current status of the SFA.