Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lockdown and No Lockdown: How Norwegian and Swedish Elite Athletes Managed Preparations for Tokyo 2020 and Mental Health Challenges in the Shadow of COVID-19

The present study explored Norwegian and Swedish Olympic aspirants' perceived challenges for the preparations of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (OG) and risk and protective factors for mental health. The focus for this study was the timespan between the declaration of the postponement of Tokyo 2020 and the final months before the Games. A secondary purpose was to explore experiences of both elite athletes affected by lockdown (i.e., Norwegian athletes) and elite athletes not affected by lockdown in their home country (i.e., Swedish athletes). Twelve elite athletes (Norwegian: n = 6; Swedish: n = 6; Women: n = 6; Men: n = 6) with a mean age of 28.25 (SD = 3.60) participated. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between April and June 2021. Seven athletes had qualified and five were still trying to qualify. Eight of the interviewed athletes had previous experiences with OG participation. Template analysis revealed two main themes: (a) challenges and risk-factors for mental health and (b) protective factors. The pandemic exposed athletes to several psychological strains like uncertainty and difficulties with planning and preparations for the OG and personal and social challenges (i.e., worry about physical health and risk of overtraining, social contacts, identity, and life issues). Protective factors included perceived benefits of increased recovery and time for quality training. The athletes used several coping strategies and self-care behaviors (e.g., focus on the controllable, playfulness, putting sports in perspective, daily routines, short-term goals, working or studying for personal development) and they tapped into various internal and external psychosocial resources perceived as protective for mental health, personal growth, resiliency, and adjustment to the pandemic. The holistic perspectives used contribute to an increased understanding of elite sport athletes' mental health needs in stressful and unforeseen situations such as a pandemic.
A review of burnout in college English teachers in China

College English teachers’ job burnout has become prominent in the field of education. Using China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, this review research on burnout of college English language teachers in China from 2006 to 2021. The review demonstrates key research areas including teacher burnout severity and influencing variables related to teacher burnout. Individual factors, such as age, gender, marital status, educational background, professional title, and years of teaching experience are associated with burnout rates. University type and level, teaching-related role overload, scientific research stress induced by promotion, limited job autonomy, a stern hierarchical organizational system, and opaque operating rules are influencing factors discussed. Possible ways to reduce burnout across micro, meso, and macro-levels, along with practical implications and limitations are discussed.
Persistently High Incidences of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense Sleeping Sickness With Contrasting Focus-Dependent Clinical Phenotypes in Malawi

Background Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) has caused social–economic burden in remote rural communities mostly in sub-Saharan Africa for over a century. The World Health Organization had targeted the year 2020 for the elimination of HAT caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, which is mainly endemic in Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia. Significant progress has been made in reducing reported HAT cases in some countries. Area-specific updated epidemiological and clinical data may facilitate in understanding the progress of such efforts as well as the development of new intervention strategies. Methods We analyzed HAT prevalence and demographics from epidemiological surveys carried out from 2012 to 2020 obtained from the Ministry of Health, Malawi. In addition, we analyzed blood samples and clinical profiles of HAT patients surveyed between 2016 and 2020 from Rumphi and Nkhotakota districts. From the blood samples, parasite observations and speciation were carried out, whereas disease staging and severity were ascertained from the clinical profiles. Results Malawi reported 315 HAT cases from 2012 to 2020. The majority of HAT cases were men (70.2%), and the mean age was 29.9 ± 15.3 with all HAT fatalities resulting from stage 2 disease. Clinical symptoms were not significantly associated with disease outcome; however, swollen lymph nodes (p = 0.004), weight loss (p = 0.010), headache (p = 0.019), and sleep disturbance (p = 0.032) were significantly associated with the HAT stage of patients. About 50% of all HAT patients were reported within 2 years from 2019 to 2020, suggesting a HAT outbreak in Malawi. Conclusion This study has highlighted the current epidemiological insights of the rHAT trend in Malawi. We have shown that rHAT clinical phenotypes in Malawi are focus-dependent and that there has been a steady increase in rHAT cases compared to all countries with incidences of rHAT. We have also highlighted an outbreak of rHAT that occurred in Malawi from 2019 to 2020 with almost 50% of the total rHAT cases that we have presented in this study reported within 2 years of the outbreak. These should call for a review of Malawi’s rHAT control and elimination strategies. A One-Health approach with the inclusion of key stakeholders such as the department of parks and wildlife may also be considered.
Me too! A case study of gendered victimization and feminist development in a Swedish peer support organization for people with experiences of criminalization and substance abuse

Even if peer support is commonly defined as horizontal in contrast to the more hierarchical relationship between client and professional, peer support is not free from power dynamics. This article considers feminist organizing in the context of peer support for people with experiences of criminalization and substance abuse and addresses questions of (un)equal peer support, sexual victimization, (re)integration, and organizational change in the #MeToo era. Drawing on qualitative interviews with support organization representatives and discussion material from a study circle and a men’s group, this article analyses one organization’s framing of, and responses to, allegations of sexual victimization of female members, and their ongoing work toward increased equality. The study shows that a number of measures have been taken in the organization in order to give voice to women whose lives are affected by crime, imprisonment, violence, and drug abuse. Interview participants put strong emphasis on the need to counteract what is described as a “macho culture” embedded in the peer support organization (PESO), which is seen as repeating structures of masculinity and power from the previous criminal lifestyle as well as reproducing specific gendered vulnerabilities. The organization’s patriarchal structure is understood as connected to a culture of silence that has allowed for sexism and marginalization of female members to continue. The women’s lived experiences of trauma within peer support practices and their struggles to redefine the foundations of their organization emphasizes the lived gendered emotionality of peer support, and uncovers how power structures can be challenged by putting the gendered lived experiences of women with a history of criminalization and substance abuse in the center of ex-offender peer support.
Quercetin, a flavonoid, combats rotavirus infection by deactivating rotavirus-induced pro-survival NF-κB pathway

Rotavirus (RV) is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis and watery diarrhea in children under 5 years accounting for high morbidity and mortality in countries with poor socioeconomic status. Although vaccination against RV has been implemented in more than 100 countries, the efficacy of vaccine has been challenged in low-income settings. The lack of any FDA-approved drug against RV is an additional concern regarding the treatment associated with rotavirus-induced infantile death. With the purpose for the discovery of anti-RV therapeutics, we assessed anti-rotaviral potential of quercetin, a well-characterized antioxidant flavonoid. In vitro study revealed that quercetin treatment resulted in diminished production of RV-SA11 (simian strain) viral particles in a concentration-dependent manner as estimated by the plaque assay. Consistent with this result, Western blot analysis also revealed reduced synthesis of viral protein in quercetin-treated RV-SA11-infected MA104 cells compared to vehicle (DMSO) treated controls. Not surprisingly, infection of other RV strains A5-13 (bovine strain) and Wa (Human strain) was also found to be abridged in the presence of quercetin compared to DMSO. The IC50 of quercetin against three RV strains ranges between 2.79 and 4.36 Mm, and S.I. index is greater than 45. Concurrent to the in vitro results, in vivo study in mice model also demonstrated reduced expression of viral proteins and viral titer in the small intestine of quercetin-treated infected mice compared to vehicle-treated infected mice. Furthermore, the result suggested anti-rotaviral activity of quercetin to be interferon-independent. Mechanistic study revealed that the antiviral action of quercetin is co-related with the inhibition of RV-induced early activation of NF-κB pathway. Overall, this study delineates the strong anti-RV potential of quercetin and also proposes it as future therapeutics against rotaviral diarrhea.
The Omicron variant of concern: The genomics, diagnostics, and clinical characteristics in children

Since WHO announced the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, SARS-CoV-2 has undergone several mutations, with the most recent variant first identified in South Africa in November 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC B.1.1.529) named by WHO as Omicron. To date, it has undergone more mutations compared to previous SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly, in the S gene that encodes the spike protein, which can cause S gene target failure in some PCR kits. Since its discovery, the Omicron variant has caused a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases worldwide and was responsible for a record of 15 million new COVID-19 cases reported globally in a single week, although this may be an underestimate. Since January 2022, Omicron subvariants with variable genetic characteristics, BA.1, BA.1. 1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2. 12.2 have been identified, with several countries reporting BA.1. 1 was the major subvariant (27.42%), followed by BA.2 (25.19%). At the begining of May 2022, BA.2. 12.1 mostly (42%) was detected in the United States. Like adults, the clinical manifestations of the Omicron variant in children are similar to the previous variants consisting of fever, cough, vomiting, breathing difficulties, and diarrhea, with some reports on croup-like symptoms and seizures. Though it presents apparently milder disease than the Delta variant, it is significantly more contagious and has caused more hospitalizations, especially in unvaccinated children younger than 5 years and unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated adults. However, there is insufficient evidence yet to distinguish the Omicron variant from the other variants based solely on the clinical manifestations, therefore, this review presents a brief literature review of the most current evidence and data related to Omicron.
Sexually dimorphic transcriptional programs of early-phase response in regenerating peripheral nerves

The convergence of transcriptional and epigenetic changes in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) reshapes the spatiotemporal gene expression landscape in response to nerve transection. The control of these molecular programs exhibits sexually dimorphic characteristics that remain not sufficiently characterized. In the present study, we recorded genome-wide and sex-dependent early-phase transcriptional changes in regenerating (proximal) sciatic nerve 24 h after axotomy. Male nerves exhibited more extensive transcriptional changes with male-dominant upregulation of cytoskeletal binding and structural protein genes. Regulation of mRNAs encoding ion and ionotropic neurotransmitter channels displayed prominent sexual dimorphism consistent with sex-specific mRNA axonal transport in an early-phase regenerative response. Protein kinases and axonal transport genes showed sexually dimorphic regulation. Genes encoding components of synaptic vesicles were at high baseline expression in females and showed post-injury induction selectively in males. Predictive bioinformatic analyses established patterns of sexually dimorphic regulation of neurotrophic and immune genes, including activation of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor Gfra1 receptor and immune checkpoint cyclin D1 (Ccnd1) potentially linked to X-chromosome encoded tissue inhibitor of matrix metallo proteinases 1 (Timp1). Regulatory networks involving Olig1, Pou3f3/Oct6, Myrf, and Myt1l transcription factors were linked to sex-dependent reprogramming in regenerating nerves. Differential expression patterns of non-coding RNAs motivate a model of sexually dimorphic nerve regenerative responses to injury determined by epigenetic factors. Combined with our findings in the corresponding dorsal root ganglia (DRG), unique early-phase sex-specific molecular triggers could enrich the mechanistic understanding of peripheral neuropathies.
Long-term follow-up of early stage HER2-positive breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab: A population-based real world multicenter cohort study

Introduction Since its introduction in standard of care, trastuzumab has revolutionized the treatment of patients with early and late stages of HER2-positive breast cancer. While the initial clinical trials were convincing and lead to major changes in practice, more knowledge on the long-term outcome and tolerability is needed. The present study was designed to assess the survival, prognostic factors and relapse patterns after the implementation of trastuzumab in a real-world cohort. Methods All cases of HER2-positive breast cancer diagnosed between 2006 and 2014 in the Southeast Healthcare Region of Sweden were retrospectively identified. Medical records were thoroughly reviewed with regard to clinicopathological parameters, treatments, relapse pattern and adverse events. Results 643 patients were identified and 599 were eligible for analysis. Breast cancer specific survival, distant recurrence free survival and local recurrence free survival were 93.4%, 89.7% and 98.0% for trastuzumab treated patients and 87.4%, 81.6% and 87.4% in patients not treated with trastuzumab, respectively. ER status, nodal status and trastuzumab treatment were all independent prognostic factors in multivariable analysis. No new safety concerns were discovered. Conclusion The real-world outcome of trastuzumab-treated patients with early HER2-positive breast cancer is similar to what has been previously reported in long-term follow up of prospective clinical trials. ER status, nodal status and trastuzumab treatment are independent prognostic factors for breast cancer specific mortality rate, distant recurrence rate and locoregional recurrence rate in HER2-positive patients in the trastuzumab era.
The role of the industrial psychologist in managing the psychological impact of COVID-19 in the workplace

Recently, the world experienced dramatic changes due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working remotely led to employees feeling isolated and experiencing fatigue and depression. The responsibility of addressing the psychological wellbeing of employees lies with industrial psychology practitioners. They support line management by counseling employees experiencing social and psychological problems. The objective of the present study was to explore the role of the industrial psychology practitioner in managing the psychological impact of COVID-19 on employees. Using a homogeneous sampling technique, a qualitative research design was employed based on social constructivism. Semi-structured interviews and a qualitative survey were utilized to gather the data from industrial psychology practitioners (n = 22) registered as psychologists and interns. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Most participants believed that the onset of COVID-19 led to accelerated change in the workplace. The findings suggest that an industrial psychology practitioner’s role in the changing world of work enables organizations to be prepared for the changes by providing multi-level interventions. Recommendations are made to organizations to implement interventions to facilitate support for employees in their attempt to deal with the psychological impact of COVID-19 on employees.
INDIA: GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND CHEMISTRY OF KIMBERLITE CLAN ROCKS IN THE DHARWAR CRATON.

Diamonds were first discovered in India some 4 millennia ago. “Can’t be cut through by any material, mineral, metals or any other thing, not capable of scratching it, diamond can only be cut by diamond”. And so began an ancient industry of cutting and polishing made known to the western world by Marco Polo in the 13C and more fully by the peripatetic Jean Baptiste Tavernier in the 17C at the height of India’s diamond trade. Thousands of miners were reported along the banks of the Krishna River, SE Andra Pradesh, and it was here that many historically famous diamonds (Great Mogal – 900cts; Nissam – 440cts: Regent – 410cts; Orloff – 195cts; Darya-I-Noor – 195cts; Shah – 95cts), as well as many infamous stones (Hope – 112cts; Koh-I-Nor – 793cts), were recovered. The primary source of these exotic gems, however, has never been found, possibly because of complex geological settings and structural features, or because the host rocks are neither traditional kimberlites nor classic olivine lamproites; hence, the term, kimberlite clan rock (KCR), is employed. This contribution provides an overview of the distribution of KCRs in southern India, and supported by geochemical data provides an interesting and tantalizing picture of diamond potential in the province.
Association of Fetuin-A with Incident Diabetes in Community-Living Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study

: Background - The liver secreted protein fetuin-A induces peripheral insulin resistance in vitro . In a pilot study, we observed that higher fetuin-A levels were associated with diabetes in older persons. However, this finding has not been confirmed in large cohorts. We sought to confirm the association of fetuin-A with incident diabetes in older persons, and to determine if the association differs by age, sex, and race, and among persons with CVD. Methods and Results - Among 3,710 community-living individuals aged (cid:149) 65 years without diabetes at baseline, serum fetuin-A was measured in serum collected in 1992-93. Participants were followed for 10.6 years (median) for incident diabetes. Cox regression models evaluated the association of fetuin-A with incident diabetes. Interaction terms evaluated heterogeneity by age, sex, race, and CVD. Mean age was 75years, 60% were female, 15% were black, and 16% had CVD. Mean fetuin-A concentrations were 0.47 ± 0.10 g/L. During follow-up, 305 incident diabetes cases occurred. Each 0.10g/L (SD) greater fetuin-A was associated with 19% higher risk of diabetes (HR 1.19; 95%CI 1.06-1.33) after adjusting for demographics, life-style factors, albumin, kidney function, and CVD. Further adjustment for potential mediators (body mass index, waist circumference, hypertension, lipids, and CRP) moderately attenuated the association (HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.00-1.28). Results were similar by sex, race, and CVD status, but were stronger in persons <75 years old (P-interaction 0.01). Conclusions - Higher fetuin-A is associated with incident diabetes in older persons, irrespective of sex, race, or prevalent CVD status. The association may be attenuated in those aged (cid:149) 75 years.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN POST TREATMENT EXISTENCE OF HCV/ RNA POSITIVE STRAND AND/OR NEGATIVE STRAND IN THE PBMNCS AND HCV RELAPSE By

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been found to infect peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), using them as a reservoir, which might contribute to development of resistance to treatment. The study evaluated the predictive value of existence of HCV RNA in PBMCs of chronic hepatitis C patients and its association with HCV seroconversion following the completion of therapy with direct antiviral agents (DAAs). Methods: 58 Egyptian patients were included with chronic HCV infection who achieved negative serum HCV RNA after completion of therapy with DAAs. HCV RNA in PBMCs and serum was investigated at the end of treatment and 12 weeks later. At the end of treatment patients were subdivided into three groups. GA: included 23 patients with negative (positive & negative strands of HCV RNA) in PBMCs. GB: included 24 patients with positive (positive strand) of HCV RNA in PBMNCs. GC: included 11 patients with positive (positive & negative strands of HCV RNA) in PBMCs. The results showed that 16 relapsers out of 58 patients (27.59 %). GA only one patient out of 23 (4.3 %) failed to achieve SVR, so the absence of HCV RNA in PBMNCs is associated with high SVR rate (95.7%). GB 10/24 patients failed to achieve SVR, so the presence of HCV RNA positive strand in PBMNCs is associated with high relapse rate (41.7 %), GC 5/11 patients failed to achieve SVR, where the presence of HCV RNA (negative replicative and positive genomic strands) in PBMNCs is associated with higher rate of relapse (45.45%).
Identiﬁcation of the Cleavage Domain within Glycoprotein G of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2

: Glycoprotein G (gG) from herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively) functions as a viral chemokine binding protein (vCKBP). Soluble recombinant forms of gG of HSV-1 and HSV-2 (SgG1 and SgG2, respectively) enhance chemokine-mediated leukocyte migration, in contrast to most known vCKBPs, including those from animal alpha-herpesviruses. Furthermore, both proteins bind to nerve growth factor (NGF), but only SgG2 enhances NGF-dependent neurite outgrowth. The basis and implications of this functional di ﬀ erence between the two proteins are still unknown. While gG1 and gG2 are positional homologues in the genome, they share very limited sequence homology. In fact, US4 , the open reading frame encoding gG is the most divergent genetic locus between these viruses. Full-length gG1 and gG2 are type I transmembrane proteins located on the plasma membrane of infected cells and at the viral envelope. However, gG2 is larger than gG1 and is cleaved during protein maturation, secreting the N-terminal domain to the supernatant of infected cells, whereas gG1 is not. The enzyme involved in gG2 cleavage and the functional relevance of gG2 cleavage and secretion are unknown. We aim to identify the gG2 sequence required for cleavage to determine its functional role in future experiments. Our results prove the existence of at least two cleavage motifs in gG2 within the amino acid region 314-343. Transfer of this sequence to a fusion protein results in cleavage. Finally, we show that propeptide convertases like furin are responsible for gG2 cleavage.