Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulsed field ablation prevents chronic atrial fibrotic changes and restrictive mechanics after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

Abstract Aims Pulsed field ablation (PFA), a non-thermal ablative modality, may show different effects on the myocardial tissue compared to thermal ablation. Thus, this study aimed to compare the left atrial (LA) structural and mechanical characteristics after PFA vs. thermal ablation. Methods and results Cardiac magnetic resonance was performed pre-ablation, acutely (<3 h), and 3 months post-ablation in 41 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing pulmonary vein (PV) isolation with PFA (n = 18) or thermal ablation (n = 23, 16 radiofrequency ablations, 7 cryoablations). Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), T2-weighted, and cine images were analysed. In the acute stage, LGE volume was 60% larger after PFA vs. thermal ablation (P < 0.001), and oedema on T2 imaging was 20% smaller (P = 0.002). Tissue changes were more homogeneous after PFA than after thermal ablation, with no sign of microvascular damage or intramural haemorrhage. In the chronic stage, the majority of acute LGE had disappeared after PFA, whereas most LGE persisted after thermal ablation. The maximum strain on PV antra, the LA expansion index, and LA active emptying fraction declined acutely after both PFA and thermal ablation but recovered at the chronic stage only with PFA. Conclusion Pulsed field ablation induces large acute LGE without microvascular damage or intramural haemorrhage. Most LGE lesions disappear in the chronic stage, suggesting a specific reparative process involving less chronic fibrosis. This process may contribute to a preserved tissue compliance and LA reservoir and booster pump functions.
Longitudinal patterns in fear of cancer progression in patients with rare, advanced cancers undergoing comprehensive tumour genomic profiling

Fear of cancer progression (FCP) impacts quality of life and is a prevalent unmet need in patients diagnosed with advanced cancer, particularly as treatment options are reduced. We aimed to identify longitudinal patterns in FCP over 6 months in patients with advanced cancer receiving comprehensive tumour genomic profiling (CTGP) results, and their correlates.
Therapeutic alliance in psychological therapy for PTSD: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Therapeutic alliance is a key element of successful therapy. Despite being particularly relevant in people with PTSD, due to fear, mistrust, and avoidance, there has not yet been a comprehensive systematic review of therapeutic alliance in this population. This review explored (a) variables which may predict alliance, and (b) whether alliance predicts PTSD outcomes. METHOD Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the review identified 34 eligible studies. Studies were subjected to a quality assessment. Predictors of alliance were considered in a narrative synthesis. Twelve studies were entered into a meta-analysis of the association between therapeutic alliance and PTSD outcomes. RESULTS There was some evidence for individual variables including attachment, coping styles and psychophysiological variables predicting the alliance. Therapy variables did not predict alliance. The therapeutic alliance was found to significantly predict PTSD outcomes, with an aggregated effect size of r=-. 34, across both in-person and remote therapies. LIMITATIONS Included studies were restricted to peer-reviewed, English language studies. Quality of included studies was mostly rated weak to moderate, primarily reflecting issues with selection bias in this area of research. CONCLUSIONS This is the first review to demonstrate that therapeutic alliance is a consistent predictor of PTSD outcomes, in both in-person and remote therapies, and the effect appears at least as strong as in other populations. This is of relevance to clinicians working with traumatised populations. The review identified a need for further research to determine variables predicting alliance in therapy for PTSD.
Effects of biochar on ammonia volatilisation and soil properties of vegetable-planting red soil in a laboratory

To explore the effects of biochar( B treatment) or biochar combined with urea( BN treatment) on cumulative NH3volatilization,soil chemical properties and soil enzymatic activities,a laboratory simulation experiment was conducted by vegetable- planting acidic red soil. The results showed that,comparing with no biochar and urea treatment( CK) the cumulative NH3volatilization with B treatment increased significantly,then the cumulative NH3volatilization with BN treatment was increased even more. The value of soil pH,EC,CEC,soil urase activity and protease activity with B treatment increased comparing with CK treatment,however no difference was observed between B and BN treatment,expect soil CEC value. The NH3volatilization was positively correlated with the soil pH,EC,urase activity and soil CEC,while not significantly associated with the protease activity. It is necessary to consider how to minimize N loss through NH3volatilization in acidic soil when applying biochar.
An empirical model for wind-generated ocean noise.

An empirical model for wind-generated underwater noise is presented that was developed using an extensive dataset of acoustic field recordings and a global wind model. These data encompass more than one hundred years of recording-time and capture high wind events, and were collected both on shallow continental shelves and in open ocean deep-water settings. The model aims to explicitly separate noise generated by wind-related sources from noise produced by anthropogenic sources. Two key wind-related sound-generating mechanisms considered are: surface wave and turbulence interactions, and bubble and bubble cloud oscillations. The model for wind-generated noise shows small frequency dependence (5 dB/decade) at low frequencies (10-100 Hz), and larger frequency dependence (∼15 dB/decade) at higher frequencies (400 Hz-20 kHz). The relationship between noise level and wind speed is linear for low wind speeds (<3.3 m/s) and increases to a higher power law (two or three) at higher wind speeds, suggesting a transition between surface wave/turbulence and bubble source mechanisms. At the highest wind speeds (>15 m/s), noise levels begin to decrease at high frequencies (>10 kHz), likely due to interaction between bubbles and screening of noise radiation in the presence of high-density bubble clouds.
The Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale—Subtle Version: Using an Adapted Measure to Understand the Declining Rates of Rape Myth Acceptance

Research in recent years has shown decreased rates of rape myth acceptance. This decrease may be due to an actual decline in attitudes, but it may also be fully or in part because such attitudes have become socially undesirable to acknowledge. However, most of the current measures of rape myth acceptance are not sensitive to this issue. The purpose of the current study was to examine this issue by adapting the psychometrically sound items from the most established rape myth acceptance measure (the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale, IRMA) and combining those with additional items that may seem less problematic to endorse. Results showed that the revised measure (IRMA-S) elicited higher levels of rape myth acceptance than the original when both were administered to all participants, regardless of the order of administration. This suggests that the decrease may in fact be due more to measurement issues than real declines in rape myth acceptance. However, this difference was very small practically, amounting to the difference between some agreement and some disagreement on a single item. Previous research has found that the measurement method employed in this study has been successful when utilizing other items, so it may be that the IRMA-S was not sensitive enough to detect real-world differences, or that having both measures included in a single administration, even with filler measures between them, affected responses to the IRMA-S. Despite not conclusively resolving that main question, this study moves this important area of research forward in several ways, including adding to the literature on rape myth acceptance results from a more diverse sample than previous ones and providing findings on the impact of different facets of social desirability, as well as pointing the way toward continued research on measurement of rape myth acceptance.
Implementing post-diagnostic support for people living with dementia in England: a qualitative study of barriers and strategies used to address these in practice

Abstract Background inequalities and gaps in post-diagnostic support (PDS) for people with dementia persist despite a policy focus on dementia in England and Wales. Understanding and overcoming the factors contributing to these inequalities is vital to improve care for people living with dementia (PLWD) and their families. Objective to explore common barriers to the delivery of PDS in England and Wales and describe successful strategies to address them, drawing on examples from current practice. Design qualitative semi-structured interviews, focus groups and observation. Settings Phase 1: interviewees were drawn from multiple sectors across England and Wales, including NHS clinical commissioning groups and social care. Phase 2: six case study sites based in different sectors (primary care, secondary mental health and third sector) in England. Participants Phase 1: 61 professionals, including commissioners and service managers. Phase 2: 68 professionals, including frontline staff and those working in related services; 17 PLWD; 31 carers. Results barriers to implementing PDS in dementia were an unsupportive infrastructure, limited proactive review and limited capacity and capability particularly in primary care. Strategies used successfully in practice to address these challenges included creating opportunities for service development, improving joint working, supporting non-specialists and developing ongoing, holistic review and care planning. Conclusion a range of practical strategies have been identified to address many of the common barriers to PDS in dementia. To achieve policy goals of a task-shifted and task-shared approach to PDS, widespread use of these strategies is recommended.
Exposure-enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy for adolescents with binge eating: An initial case series

Binge eating (BE) often develops during adolescence and is associated with deleterious psychological and physical consequences. Current treatments for adolescents achieve suboptimal results, likely due to failure to adequately address fear of weight gain (FOWG) which maintains BE. Thus, exposure treatment (the most powerful intervention for fear) may be a promising approach. However, exposure treatment has only minimally tested in adults with BE and never tested in adolescents. Thus, the current study is the first to evaluate a 4-session exposure module within a 12-session standard cognitive behavioral therapy for adolescents with BE. We recruited adolescents with BE (N = 5) and examined treatment feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects on FOWG and eating pathology. Overall, the 4-session exposure module was feasible and acceptable and showed preliminary evidence that it could reduce FOWG. However, several participants did not endorse significant fears of weight gain; rather, these participants reported that fears of deprivation or social judgment were more related to their BE. Future research should test higher doses of exposure and further examine the role of fear of deprivation/social judgment. Finally, future iterations of this treatment could include more parent involvement or test exposure in combination with treatments other than cognitive behavioral therapy, such as family-based treatment.
Potential application of lactic acid bacteria in the biopreservation of red grape from mycotoxigenic fungi.

BACKGROUND Filamentous fungi are the main contamination agent in the viticultural sector. Use of synthetic fungicides is the regular answer to these contaminations. Nevertheless, due to several problems associated with the use of synthetic compounds the industry demands new and safer methods. In the present work, the biopreservation potential of four lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains was studied against the principal grape contaminant fungi. RESULTS Agar diffusion test evidenced that all four culture-free supernatant (CFS) had antifungal properties against all tested fungi. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) test values evidenced that media fermented by the Lactobacillus plantarum E3 and Lactobacillus plantarum E4 strains showed the highest antifungal activity, resulting in an MFC from 6.3 to 100 g L-1 . Analysis of CFS evidenced the presence of different antifungal compounds, such as lactic acid, phenyllactic acid and pyrazines. In tests on red grapes, an average reduction of 1.32 Log10 of the spores per gram of fruit was achieved by all CFS in grapes inoculated with Aspergillus ochraceous and by 0.94 Log10 for L. plantarum E3 CFS against Botrytis cinerea. CONCLUSION The antifungal activity of the fermented CFS by L. plantarum E3 reduced the growth of B. cinerea and A. ochraceous in grapes, which are the main contaminant and main productor of ochratoxin A in these crops, respectively. Therefore, based on the results obtained in this work use of the strain L. plantarum E3 can be an interesting option for the biopreservation of grapes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
In-feed organic and inorganic manganese supplementation on broiler performance and physiological responses

Objective A trial was conducted to investigate the effects of supplemental levels of Mn provided by organic and inorganic trace mineral supplements on growth, tissue mineralization, mineral balance, and antioxidant status of growing broiler chicks. Methods A total of 500 male chicks (8-d-old) were used in 10-day feeding trial, with 10 treatments and 10 replicates of 5 chicks per treatment. A 2×5 factorial design was used where supplemental Mn levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg Mn/kg diet) were provided as MnSO4·H2O or MnPro. When Mn was supplied as MnPro, supplements of zinc, copper, iron, and selenium were supplied as organic minerals, whereas in MnSO4·H2O supplemented diets, inorganic salts were used as sources of other trace minerals. Performance data were fitted to a linear-broken line regression model to estimate the optimal supplemental Mn levels. Results Manganese supplementation improved body weight, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with chicks fed diets not supplemented with Mn. Manganese in liver, breast muscle, and tibia were greatest at 50, 75, and 100 mg supplemental Mn/kg diet, respectively. Higher activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (total-SOD) were found in both liver and breast muscle of chicks fed diets supplemented with inorganic minerals. In chicks fed MnSO4·H2O, ADG, FCR, Mn balance, and concentration in liver were optimized at 59.8, 74.3, 20.6, and 43.1 mg supplemental Mn/kg diet, respectively. In MnPro fed chicks, ADG, FCR, Mn balance, and concentration in liver and breast were optimized at 20.6, 38.0, 16.6, 33.5, and 62.3 mg supplemental Mn/kg, respectively. Conclusion Lower levels of organic Mn were required by growing chicks for performance optimization compared to inorganic Mn. Based on the FCR, the ideal supplemental levels of organic and inorganic Mn in chick feeds were 38.0 and 74.3 mg Mn/kg diet, respectively.
Reduction in Acute Stroke Admissions during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from a National Stroke Registry

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic overwhelmed health-care systems worldwide, and medical care for other acute diseases was negatively impacted. We aimed to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on admission rates and in-hospital care for acute stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in Israel, shortly after the start of the pandemic. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study, based on data reported to the Israeli National Stroke Registry from 7 tertiary hospitals. All hospital admissions for acute stroke or TIA that occurred between January 1 and April 30, 2020 were included. Data were stratified into 2 periods according to the timing of COVID-19 restrictions as follows: (1) “pre-pandemic” – January 1 to March 7, 2020 and (2) “pandemic” – March 8 to April 30, 2020. We compared the weekly counts of hospitalizations between the 2 periods. We further investigated changes in demographic characteristics and in some key parameters of stroke care, including the percentage of reperfusion therapies performed, time from hospital arrival to brain imaging and to thrombolysis, length of hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality. Results: 2,260 cases were included: 1,469 in the pre-COVID-19 period and 791 in the COVID-19 period. Hospital admissions significantly declined between the 2 periods, by 48% for TIA (rate ratio [RR] = 0.52; 95% CI 0.43–0.64) and by 29% for stroke (RR = 0.71; 95% CI 0.64–0.78). No significant changes were detected in demographic characteristics and in most parameters of stroke management. While the percentage of reperfusion therapies performed remained unchanged, the absolute number of patients treated with reperfusion therapies seemed to decrease. Higher in-hospital mortality was observed only for hemorrhagic stroke. Conclusion: The marked decrease in admissions for acute stroke and TIA, occurring at a time of a relatively low burden of COVID-19, is of great concern. Public awareness campaigns are needed as patients reluctant to seek urgent stroke care are deprived of lifesaving procedures and secondary prevention treatments.
In Vitro Effects of Propofol on Cytotoxic, Apoptotic and PI3K-Akt Signaling Pathway Genes on Brain Cancer Cells.

AIM It was aimed to determine the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of propofol on glioma cells. BACKGROUND Propofol [2,6-diisopropylphenol] is a commonly used intravenous anesthetic. Propofol is known to have a mechanism of action on the PI3K-AKT pathway. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effect of propofol on the proliferation and apoptosis of human glioma cells, as well as to investigate changes in expression levels of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway genes. MATERIALS-METHODS The cytotoxic effect of propofol on the U-87 MG cell line was determined by WST-1 method. Annexin V-FITC and Mitoprobe JC-1 assay were used to measure apoptosis by flow cytometry. Expression levels of genes in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway were investigated by qRT-PCR. RESULTS We have shown that propofol-induced apoptosis in U-87 MG cells by 17.1-fold compared to untreated control. Furthermore, significant differences were found in the expression levels of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway genes. CONCLUSION As a result of our study, it was found that propofol caused differences in expression levels of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway genes, and it was suggested that these differences might be related to apoptosis induction.
Neutrophil–T cell crosstalk in inflammatory bowel disease

Neutrophils are the most abundant leucocytes in human blood, promptly recruited to the site of tissue injury, where they orchestrate inflammation and tissue repair. The multifaceted functions of neutrophils have been more appreciated during the recent decade, and these cells are now recognized as sophisticated and essential players in infection, cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Consequently, our understanding of the role of neutrophils in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), their immune responses and their ability to shape adaptive immunity in the gut have been recognized. Here, current knowledge on neutrophil responses in IBD and their capacity to influence T cells are summarized with an emphasis on the role of these cells in human disease.
Career Adaptability

This cross-sectional quantitative study explored career adaptability and career intentions in newly licensed nurses working in acute care hospitals throughout North Carolina. Data were analyzed from 277 registered nurses completing an online study instrument. Findings demonstrate a relationship between levels of career adaptability and career intentions, offering career adaptability as a new measurement to explore newly licensed nurses’ desire to pursue career and educational change and expand transition programs to include developing career trajectories within organizations.
Do cerebral motivational asymmetries mediate the relationship between handedness and personality?

ABSTRACT Handedness has long been tied to personality, but detailed explanations for the association are lacking. Importantly for purposes of theory development, measures of approach and withdrawal associated with Big Five personality traits have also been traced back to activity in brain areas that relate to handedness. Specifically, increased right-hemisphere frontal activity appears to be linked to both withdrawal motivation and left/inconsistent-handedness, while increased left-hemisphere frontal activity is associated with approach motivation and right/consistent-handedness. Cerebral motivational asymmetries therefore present one plausible mechanism by which approach and withdrawal motivation could mediate the relationship between handedness and personality. We tested this possibility in a large online study (N = 499) in which participants completed multiple survey measures. Results indicated that approach/withdrawal motivation partially accounts for relationships between handedness and personality.
Illusory Body Ownership Affects the Cortical Response to Vicarious Somatosensation

Abstract Fundamental human feelings such as body ownership (“this” body is “my” body) and vicariousness (first-person-like experience of events occurring to others) are based on multisensory integration. Behavioral links between body ownership and vicariousness have been shown, but the neural underpinnings remain largely unexplored. To fill this gap, we investigated the neural effects of altered body ownership on vicarious somatosensation. While recording functional brain imaging data, first, we altered participants’ body ownership by robotically delivering tactile stimulations (“tactile” stroking) in synchrony or not with videos of a virtual hand being brushed (“visual” stroking). Then, we manipulated vicarious somatosensation by showing videos of the virtual hand being touched by a syringe’s plunger (touch) or needle (pain). Only after the alteration of body ownership (synchronous visuo-tactile stroking) and specifically during late epochs of vicarious somatosensation, vicarious pain was associated with lower activation in premotor and anterior cingulate cortices with respect to vicarious touch. At the methodological level, the present study highlights the importance of the neural response’s temporal evolution. At the theoretical level, it shows that the higher-level (cognitive) impact of a lower-level (sensory) body-related processing (visuo-tactile) is not limited to body ownership but also extends to other psychological body-related domains, such as vicarious somatosensation.