Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between internalized stigma and psychological resilience in bipolar disorder.

INTRODUCTION Internalized stigma is known to be high in bipolar disorder (BD). Concepts such as self-compassion and psychological resilience have recently begun to be studied as protective factors for BD. The aim of the current study was to examine the relationships between internalized stigma, self-compassion and resilience among individuals with BD. METHOD One hundred and thirty-two male and female (18-65 years of age) participants with a DSM 5 diagnosis of BD (BD- I & BD- II) were included. The remission criteria (YMRS< 5 and HDRS< 7) was evaluated using clinician-administered measures and all participants were found to be remitted. Correlation and mediation analyses were performed. Participants completed the Internalized Stigma in Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA). RESULTS Significant correlations were found between internalized stigma, sub-dimensions of self-compassion (self-kindness, self-judgement, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and over-identification), and resilience in the expected directions like negative correlations between internalized stigma and positive dimensions of self-compassion (self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness). Self-judgement and self-kindness mediated the relationship between internalized stigma and psychological resilience. CONCLUSIONS The findings of the study shed light on which dimensions of self-compassion might be more beneficial to work with in order to increase resilience when working with internalized stigma in BD. This strengths-based investigation would be valuable to enrich psycho-social interventions for the prevention of relapse in BD.
Recovery of protein synthesis to assay DNA repair activity in transcribed genes in living cells and tissues

Abstract Transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) is an important DNA repair mechanism that protects against the negative effects of transcription-blocking DNA lesions. Hereditary TC-NER deficiencies cause pleiotropic and often severe neurodegenerative and progeroid symptoms. While multiple assays have been developed to determine TC-NER activity for clinical and research purposes, monitoring TC-NER is hampered by the low frequency of repair events occurring in transcribed DNA. ’Recovery of RNA Synthesis’ is widely used as indirect TC-NER assay based on the notion that lesion-blocked transcription only resumes after successful TC-NER. Here, we show that measuring novel synthesis of a protein after its compound-induced degradation prior to DNA damage induction is an equally effective but more versatile manner to indirectly monitor DNA repair activity in transcribed genes. This ‘Recovery of Protein Synthesis’ (RPS) assay can be adapted to various degradable proteins and readouts, including imaging and immunoblotting. Moreover, RPS allows real-time monitoring of TC-NER activity in various living cells types and even in differentiated tissues of living organisms. To illustrate its utility, we show that DNA repair in transcribed genes declines in aging muscle tissue of C. elegans. Therefore, the RPS assay constitutes an important novel clinical and research tool to investigate transcription-coupled DNA repair.
Development of a Naturalness Preference Scale

Objective Naturalness preference can influence important health decisions. However, the literature lacks a reliable way to measure individual differences in naturalness preferences. We fill this gap by designing and validating a scale to measure individual differences in naturalness preference. Methods We conducted 3 studies among Amazon Mechanical Turk participants. In study 1 (N = 451), we created scale items through an iterative process that measured naturalness preference in hypothesized domains. We conducted exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify items that assess the naturalness preference construct. In study 2 (N = 448), we conducted confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and tests of criterion, discriminant, convergent, and incremental validity. In study 3 (N = 607), we confirmed test-retest reliability of the scale and performed additional validity tests. Results EFA revealed 3 correlated factors consistent with naturalness preference in medicine, food, and household products. The CFA confirmed the 3-factor structure and led to the decision to drop reverse-coded items. The finalized Naturalness Preference Scale (NPS) consists of 20 items and 3 subscales: NPS-medicine, NPS-food, and NPS-household products. The NPS demonstrated good test-retest reliability, and subscales had good validity in their respective domains. The NPS-medicine subscale was predictive of the uptake of a hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine (r = −0.45) and belief in unproven natural COVID remedies and treatments (r = 0.29). Conclusions The NPS will allow researchers to better assess individual differences in naturalness preference and how they influence decision making and health behaviors. Highlights This research created and validated a scale to measure individual differences in naturalness preference in 3 domains: medicine, food, and household products. This study confirms that the strength of the naturalness preference differs in different domains. An important and timely finding is that higher scores in the naturalness preference medical subscale are associated with belief in COVID-19 misinformation and reluctance toward COVID-19 vaccination.
Statistical Estimation in High Dimension, Sparsity and Oracle Inequalities

We treat two subjects. The first subject is about statistical learning in high-dimension, that is when the number of paramaters to estimate is larger than the sample size. In this context, the generally adopted assumption is that the number of true parameters is much smaller than the number of potential paramaters. This assumption is called the ``\emph{sparsity assumption}''. We study the statistical properties of two types of procedures: the penalized risk minimization procedures with a $l_{1}$ penalty term on the set of potential parameters and the exponential weights procedures. The second subject is about the study of two aggregation procedures in a density estimation problem. We establish oracle inequalities for the $L^{\pi}$ norm, $1\leqslant \pi \leqslant \infty$. Next, we exploit these results to build minimax rate adaptive estimators of the density.
Perceptions and Attitudes Toward the Use of Wearable Technology in the Dance Studio Environment

Introduction: Wearable technology (WT) has become common place in sport. Increased affordability has allowed WT to reach the wrists and bodies of grassroots and community athletes. While WT is commonly used by sport populations to monitor training load, the use of WT among dancers and dance teachers is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the perspectives of dancers, dance teachers, and dance parents on using WT in the dance studio environment. Methods: Dancers (aged 14+), dance teachers (aged 18+), and dance parents (with a child <18 years registered in a dance program) were recruited from local dance studios (including those offering vocational programs and/or professional training opportunities), and dance retail stores. Participants provided informed consent/assent and completed a one-time online survey about their attitudes, self-efficacy, motivations, barriers, and current practices of using WT in the studio. Results: Sixty-seven participants (19 dancers, 32 dance teachers, and 16 dance parents) completed the survey. Attitudes toward using WT were similar across all groups (mean score range = 34-38/45). Thirteen dancers (68%), 29 teachers (91%), and 7 dance parents reporting on behalf of their children (47%) were permitted to use WT in the studio. Smartwatches were the most common WT used in the studio by dancers (7/9) and teachers (13/17), while dance parents reported that their children primarily used wristband activity trackers (3/4). Among all groups, the primary reason for using WT was to track personalized training data, with calories, total duration, and heart rate being the most important perceived metrics for improving dancing. Conclusion: Across all groups, attitudes toward WT were modest. Prevalence of WT use in the dance studio varied, with wrist-based gadgets being the most common. As WT research continues in dance populations, it will be important for future studies to consider studio permissions as well as participants’ existing WT use practices.
Disseminated and penile mpox with histopathologic correlation: Two separate case reports

The 2022–2023 mpox outbreak is a global worldwide concern, especially since the virus was previously mainly localized regionally in Central and West Africa. The infection is typically self‐limiting and transmitted by close contact/exposure with infected material. Recent cases have been known to present atypically without prodromal symptoms and initially with skin lesions. The histopathology of mpox lesions is rarely reported. Here, we present two middle‐aged males presenting initially with painless skin lesions confirmed for mpox by nucleic acid amplification assay. Skin biopsies of the lesion were available for clinicopathologic correlation. Histopathology demonstrated ulceration with viral cytopathologic changes.
The pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic modelling framework as a tool to predict drug resistance evolution

Pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PKPD) models, which describe how drug concentrations change over time and how that affects pathogen growth, have proven highly valuable in designing optimal drug treatments aimed at bacterial eradication. However, the fast rise of antimicrobial resistance calls for increased focus on an additional treatment optimization criterion: avoidance of resistance evolution. We demonstrate here how coupling PKPD and population genetics models can be used to determine treatment regimens that minimize the potential for antimicrobial resistance evolution. Importantly, the resulting modelling framework enables the assessment of resistance evolution in response to dynamic selection pressures, including changes in antimicrobial concentration and the emergence of adaptive phenotypes. Using antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides as an example, we discuss the empirical evidence and intuition behind individual model parameters. We further suggest several extensions of this framework that allow a more comprehensive and realistic prediction of bacterial escape from antimicrobials through various phenotypic and genetic mechanisms.
Histologic Examination of Vocal Fold Mucosal Wave and Vibration

Despite gross anatomic and histologic differences between human and canine vocal folds, similar wave patterns have been described yet not fully characterized. We reconstructed vocal fold (VF) vibration in a canine hemilarynx and performed histologic examination of the same vocal fold. We demonstrate comparable wave patterns while exploring the importance of certain anatomic architectures.
N III Bowen Lines and Fluorescence Mechanism in the Symbiotic Star AG Peg

We have investigated the intensities and full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the high dispersion spectroscopic N III emission lines of AG Peg, observed with the Hamilton Echelle Spectrograph (HES) in three different epochs at Mt. Hamilton’s Lick Observatory. The earlier theoretical Bowen line study assumed the continuum fluorescence effect, presenting a large discrepancy with the present data. Hence, we analyzed the observed N III lines assuming line fluorescence as the only suitable source: (1) The O III and N III resonance line profiles near λ 374 were decomposed, using the Gaussian function, and the contributions from various O III line components were determined. (2) Based on the theoretical resonant N III intensities, the expected N III Bowen intensities were obtained to fit the observed values. Our study shows that the incoming line photon number ratio must be considered to balance at each N III Bowen line level in the ultraviolet radiation according to the observed lines in the optical zone. We also found that the average FWHM of the N III Bowen lines was about 5 km·s-1 greater than that of the O III Bowen lines, perhaps due to the inherently different kinematic characteristics of their emission zones.
A blinded, placebo‐controlled study on the clinical effects of vitamin E supplementation in dogs with osteoarthritis

Abstract Background Vitamin E has a positive effect in the management of osteoarthritis in humans, and in a previous study of dogs. It has been suggested to decrease C‐reactive protein concentrations and liver enzyme activities in humans and animals. Objective To assess the effect of vitamin E supplementation on lameness, pain, pain medication requirement, clinical pathology variables, and quality of life in large‐breed dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. Animals Fifty‐seven client‐owned dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. Methods Dogs received either vitamin E or placebo for 90 days in a randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blinded, prospective clinical trial. Clinical lameness scores, pain medication requirements, and owner questionnaires were used to assess response to treatment every 30 days. Blood samples were collected at enrollment and at the end of the study period. Results Vitamin E administration did not improve pain, lameness, or quality of life as assessed by owners and veterinarians. Vitamin E supplementation did not decrease the requirement for rescue pain relief. No changes in clinical pathology variables were observed after 90 days of vitamin E supplementation. Body weight was negatively associated with the lameness scores and requirement for rescue pain relief. Conclusion Vitamin E supplementation did not have any observable positive effects in dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis.
Relevance of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale subitems for best revascularization therapy in minor stroke patients with large vessel occlusion: An observational multicentric study

The best management of acute ischemic stroke patients with a minor stroke and large vessel occlusion is still uncertain. Specific clinical and radiological data may help to select patients who would benefit from endovascular therapy (EVT). We aimed to evaluate the relevance of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) subitems for predicting the potential benefit of providing EVT after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT; “bridging treatment”) versus IVT alone.
A clinical and statistical study on enamel hypomineralization of the first permanent molar in the period of mixed dentition

Abstract Background: The first permanent molar (FPM) is the first tooth in the permanent dentition that emerges in the oral cavity, at around the age of six and behind the deciduous teeth, thus converting the primary dentition into a mixed dentition. Its early formation represents a risk factor for the onset of hard dental tissues disorders, the most common being the molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH). Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the hypomineralization type of developmental defects of enamel at FPM level during the mixed dentition stage, in a group of Romanian children. Patients, Materials and Methods: The research was conducted on 87 patients, 44 females and 43 males, divided into the following age groups: 5–6 years, 6–7 years, 7–8 years, 8–9 years, 9–10 years, 10–11 years, 11–12 years and older than 12 years. All children were examined in the dental office by a pediatric dentist. Results: Of the subjects, 40.2% presented hypomineralization lesions on the FPM. Among the affected children, 62.9% were girls and 37.1% were boys. Mild forms were the most prevalent, being found in 71.4% of the affected subjects. Moderate forms were present in 22.9% and severe forms in 5.7% of the affected children. MIH prevalence significantly decreased with increasing age. Only two children belonging to the group 8–9 years and 10–11 years, respectively, showed severe MIH lesions. Statistically significant differences were determined in what regards the distribution of MIH children according to the severity of the lesions in relation to age (p=0.007). Conclusions: Children 6- to 7-year-old have been the most affected by FPM hypomineralization, which indicates the need for early management of the disease, through a thorough diagnosis, and preventive and interceptive therapeutic approaches.
Impacts of cluster on network topology structure and epidemic spreading

Considering the infection heterogeneity of different types of edges (lines and edges in the triangle in a network), we formulate and analyze an novel SIS model with cluster based mean-field approach for a network. We mainly focus on how network clustering influences network structure and the disease spreading over the network. In networks with double poisson distributions, power law-poisson distribution, poisson-power law distributions and double power law distributions, we find that cluster is positive(the clustering coefficient is increasing on the expected number of triangles) when the average degree of lines is fixed and the moment of triangles is less than some threshold. Once the moment of triangles exceeds that threshold, cluster will become negative(the clustering coefficient is decreasing on the expected number of triangles). For the disease, clustering always increases the basic reproduction number of the disease in networks with whether positive cluster or negative cluster. It is different from existing results that cluster always promotes the disease spread in the homogeneous or heterogeneous network.
Gravitational lenses & conical feedhorns

The emphasis of this thesis is on cosmology experiments using a submillimetre continuum array receiver. Divided into two parts, the thesis initially explores an astrophysical model, followed by an experiment based on results of the model. The second part deals with some of the design considerations for SCUBA, the Submillimetre Common User Bolometer Array. The thesis touches on all aspects of a problem in astronomy: the theoretical modelling, an observational experiment, and the development of instrumentation. Part I deals with the astronomical question of gravitational lenses and the microwave background. Simulations of an anisotropic submillimetre background due to dusty primeval galaxies are presented, along with the observations that would result when gravitational lensing by clusters of galaxies is considered. The experiment was tried with the single pixel bolometer system on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and it measured an upper limit on CBR anisotropy of ∆T/T < 4.6× 10−3 (95% con dence) towards the cluster Cl 2244− 02 at the angular scale of 5′′. The small angular scale is due to the aid of the cluster lensing e ect. The second part looks at the extensive design considerations for the feedhorn antennas and the bolometer integrating cavities in SCUBA. Single mode optics optimizes aperture e ciency and this is usually achieved by having a length of waveguide, but analysis here shows that one can still have a single moded device without a waveguide. A lter drum furthers SCUBA's capabilities by allowing the detector arrays to operate at higher frequency wavebands, as well as the primary wavebands. At the higher frequencies the feedhorns are overmoded, which is a case investigated in this thesis. The SCUBA Project will have the horns fabricated by an outside contractor according to the speci cations derived in Part II. Gravitational Lenses and Conical Feedhorns iii In accordance with University of Edinburgh regulation 3.4. 7, I declare that this thesis has been composed by myself, and that it is my own work except where speci c reference to previous work has been clearly indicated. Stephen Avrum Torchinsky 22 July, 1991 iv S.A. Torchinsky, PhD. , University of Edinburgh 1991
Patterns and drivers of vector-borne microparasites in a classic metapopulation

Abstract Abstract Many organisms live in fragmented populations, which has profound consequences on the dynamics of associated parasites. Metapopulation theory offers a canonical framework for predicting the effects of fragmentation on spatiotemporal host–parasite dynamics. However, empirical studies of parasites in classical metapopulations remain rare, particularly for vector-borne parasites. Here, we quantify spatiotemporal patterns and possible drivers of infection probability for several ectoparasites (fleas, Ixodes trianguliceps and Ixodes ricinus) and vector-borne microparasites (Babesia microti, Bartonella spp., Hepatozoon spp.) in a classically functioning metapopulation of water vole hosts. Results suggest that the relative importance of vector or host dynamics on microparasite infection probabilities is related to parasite life-histories. Bartonella, a microparasite with a fast life-history, was positively associated with both host and vector abundances at several spatial and temporal scales. In contrast, B. microti, a tick-borne parasite with a slow life-history, was only associated with vector dynamics. Further, we provide evidence that life-history shaped parasite dynamics, including occupancy and colonization rates, in the metapopulation. Lastly, our findings were consistent with the hypothesis that landscape connectivity was determined by distance-based dispersal of the focal hosts. We provide essential empirical evidence that contributes to the development of a comprehensive theory of metapopulation processes of vector-borne parasites.
Factors associated with the functional balance among diabetes mellitus patients in Padang, Indonesia.

INTRODUCTION One of the common problems in patients with diabetes mellitus is a decrease in balance stability. A decrease in balance stability will result in functional limitations, an increased risk of falling and injury and a decrease in patient productivity. This study aimed to analyse the factors associated with functional balance in diabetes mellitus patients in Padang, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS This research design is crosssectional. The number of samples in this study was 132 diabetes mellitus patients. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to examine the factors associated with functional balance in diabates mellitus patients. RESULTS Factors associated with functional balance in diabetes mellitus patients were age. CONCLUSION This study highlights that age, gender and degree of neuropathy are significant factors associated with functional balance in diabetes mellitus patients. Nurses must enhance health education about prevention and risk factors that affect functional balance in diabetes mellitus patients.
Social Isolation and Loneliness in a Population Study of Cognitive Impairment: The MYHAT Study

In this study, we examined associations of social isolation and loneliness with cognitive impairment among older adults from a Rust Belt region in Southwest Pennsylvania. We used data from the population-based Monongahela-Youghiogheny Healthy Aging Team (MYHAT) study. We found that (a) 11 items combined into two reliable composites of social isolation and loneliness; (b) unique to this study, providing unpaid help to others was an indicator of reduced social isolation; (c) social isolation and loneliness were positively associated with cognitive impairment; and (d) these associations were appreciably attenuated by general health and physical functional status and depressive symptoms, respectively. We concluded that social isolation and loneliness are differentially associated with older adults’ cognitive health, and that their effects might operate through separate pathways. Approaches to address social isolation and loneliness should consider the community context and its implications for older adults’ cognitive health.