Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Care Delivery in Africa: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Oncology Providers in Africa

PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted cancer care globally. There are limited data of its impact in Africa. This study aims to characterize COVID-19 response strategies and impact of COVID-19 on cancer care and explore misconceptions in Africa. METHODS We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey of oncology providers in Africa between June and August 2020. Descriptive statistics and comparative analysis by income groups were performed. RESULTS One hundred twenty-two participants initiated the survey, of which 79 respondents from 18 African countries contributed data. Ninety-four percent (66 of 70) reported country mitigation and suppression strategies, similar across income groups. Unique strategies included courier service and drones for delivery of cancer medications (9 of 70 and 6 of 70, respectively). Most cancer centers remained open, but > 75% providers reported a decrease in patient volume. Not previously reported is the fear of infectivity leading to staff shortages and decrease in patient volumes. Approximately one third reported modifications of all cancer treatment modalities, resulting in treatment delays. A majority of participants reported ≤ 25 confirmed cases (44 of 68, 64%) and ≤ 5 deaths because of COVID-19 (26 of 45, 58%) among patients with cancer. Common misconceptions were that Africans were less susceptible to the virus (53 of 70, 75.7%) and decreased transmission of the virus in the African heat (44 of 70, 62.9%). CONCLUSION Few COVID-19 cases and deaths were reported among patients with cancer. However, disruptions and delays in cancer care because of the pandemic were noted. The pandemic has inspired tailored innovative solutions in clinical care delivery for patients with cancer, which may serve as a blueprint for expanding care and preparing for future pandemics. Ongoing public education should address COVID-19 misconceptions. The results may not be generalizable to the entire African continent because of the small sample size.
Working memory and lexical ambiguity resolution in Cantonese Chinese

The present study examined how working memory functions in the underlying mechanism of the lexical disambiguation process (in activation approach or in inhibition approach). We recruited sixty native Cantonese listeners to participate in two experimental tasks: (a) a Cantonese-version reading span task to measure their working memory (WM) capacity and (b) a standard cross-modal priming task to measure the lexical disambiguation time. The results revealed that (1) the underlying mechanism of the disambiguation process seemed favorable for an inhibition approach and (2) the frequency of the individual meanings of the ambiguous words and the numbers of their meanings might interact with the WM capacity during lexical access, particularly for the low-WM span group.
Measurement of the growth of cavities and of EHD instabilities during the negative-point breakdown of silicone fluids

The initiation and development of discharges from a point cathode have been studied as a function of fluid viscosity. Optical studies show that the initial stage involves the growth of a vapor cavity adjacent to the point electrode. The initial growth of cavities and their transition from a small, roughly spherical region to a multibranched geometry have been recorded for a range of fluid viscosities. All these measurements have been made with low-voltage pulses (9 to 12 kV) in relatively short gaps (0.6 mm). Plots of cavity size vs. time have been used to derive velocity-vs.-growth curves. These velocities are compared with values of instantaneous velocity derived from image smear, and a knowledge of the effective light flash duration. It is confirmed that cavity growth follows an inertia-limited model for fluid viscosities >
In Situ Prepared Solar Light‐Driven Flexible Actuated Carbon Cloth‐Based Nanorod Photocatalyst for Selective Radical–Radical Coupling to Vinyl Sulfides

A global challenge faced by light harvesting photocatalyst is how to promote the selective organic transformation, such as C‐S bond formation via radical–radical coupling under solar light. Here, we report a two‐dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D‐COFs), poly (perylene‐imide‐benzoquinone) nanorod through in situ condensation on flexible activated carbon cloth (PPIBNR‐FACC) to function as a light harvester material for highly selective radical–radical coupling to vinyl sulfides (i.e. C‐S bond activation). Such a structure supports charge transfer from PPIBNR to FACC, which is essential for the selective radical–radical coupling. Hence, organic transformation is attaining high yields and selectivity (˜99%) under solar light using in situ prepared PPIBNR‐FACC photocatalyst. The structural virtues of PPIBNR‐FACC will trigger the utmost investigations into designable and versatile 2D‐COFs for fine chemical synthesis.
Interferon Inducer IFI35 Regulates RIG-I-Mediated Innate Antiviral Response through Mutual Antagonism with Influenza Virus Protein NS1

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection poses a global health threat and is among the most common contagious pathogens to cause severe respiratory infections in humans and animals. ISGs play a key role in host defense against IAV infection. ABSTRACT Interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) create multiple lines of defense against viral infection. Here, we show that interferon-induced protein 35 (IFI35) inhibits swine (H3N2) influenza virus replication by directly interacting with the viral protein NS1. IFI35 binds more preferentially to the effector domain of NS1 (amino acids 128 to 207 [128-207aa]) than to the viral RNA sensor RIG-I. This promotes mutual antagonism between IFI35 and NS1 and frees RIG-I from IFI35-mediated K48-linked ubiquitination and degradation. However, IFI35 does not interact with the NS1 encoded by avian (H7N9) influenza virus, resulting in IFI35 playing an opposite virus-enabling role during highly pathogenic H7N9 virus infection. Notably, replacing the 128-207aa region of H7N9 NS1 with the corresponding region of H3N2 NS1 results in the chimeric NS1 acquiring the ability to bind to and mutually antagonize IFI35. IFI35-deficient mice accordingly exhibit more resistance to lethal H7N9 infection than exhibited by their wild-type control. Our data uncover a novel mechanism by which IFI35 regulates RIG-I-mediated antiviral immunity through mutual antagonism with influenza virus protein NS1. IMPORTANCE Influenza A virus (IAV) infection poses a global health threat and is among the most common contagious pathogens to cause severe respiratory infections in humans and animals. ISGs play a key role in host defense against IAV infection. In line with others, we show IFI35-mediated ubiquitination of RIG-I to be involved in innate immunity. Moreover, we define a novel role of IFI35 in regulating the type I interferon (IFN) pathway during IAV infection. We found that IFI35 regulates RIG-I-mediated antiviral signaling by interacting with IAV NS1. H3N2 NS1, but notably not H7N9 NS1, interacts with IFI35 and efficiently suppresses IFI35-dependent ubiquitination of RIG-I. IFI35 deficiency protected mice from H7N9 virus infection. Therefore, manipulation of IFI35-NS1 provides a new approach for the development of anti-IAV treatments.
Effect of Non-Swelling Layers on the Dissolution of Reduced-Charge Montmorillonite in Hydrochloric Acid

Abstract A series of reduced-charge montmorillonites (RCM), prepared from the same parent Li-montmorillonite (Jelšový Potok, Slovakia) by heating at various temperatures (105-210°C) for 24 h, was treated with 6 M HCl at 95°C for periods up to 30 h. Reaction solutions obtained were analysed for Al, Fe, Mg and Li and the solid reaction products were investigated by FTIR spectroscopy. Both analyses provided evidence that the extent of dissolution decreased with increased amounts of Li fixed within the montmorillonite structure, i.e. with increased heating temperature. Differences in the acid dissolution process were reflected in the structural changes which occurred within the RCM samples, due presumably to different positions of fixed Li. The ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EGME) surface areas, and XRD and HRTEM analyses of the RCM series revealed an increased amount of non-swelling layers in the samples prepared at higher temperatures, which caused a substantially slower decomposition of M7 and M8 in HCl. The [calculated XRD patterns of M6 and M7 confirmed the presence of 20% and 45% pyrophyllite-like layers, respectively, in these samples. Mixed-layer pyrophyllite-like-smectite and pyrophyllite-like crystals, containing only non-swelling layers, were found in sample MB. The results confirmed that the amount of swelling layers in RCM significantly affects their dissolution rate in HCl.
Should I study or should I go (to sleep)? The influence of test schedule on the sleep behavior of undergraduates and its association with performance

Sleep is crucial for college students’ well-being. Although recommended sleep duration is between 7–9 hours per day, many students do not sleep that much. Scholar demands are among the causes of observed sleep deprivation in youth. We explored the influence of having a school test on previous night sleep in first-year students and the association of sleep duration and test performance. We ran two surveys in freshman students of the Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay: 1) 97 students of the School of Sciences who took the test at the same time; and 2) 252 School of Psychology students who took the test in four successive shifts. More than 1/2 of the participants (survey #1) and almost 1/3 (survey #2) reported short regular sleep duration (< 7h). In both samples, the sleep duration of the night before the test was reduced with respect to regular nights (survey #1: 2.1 ± 0.2 h, p < 0.001; survey #2: between 1.7 ± 0.4 h and 3.6 ± 0.3 h, all p < 0.001), with more than 10% of the students who did not sleep at all. In survey 2, sleep duration increased in later shifts (F (3,248) = 4.6, p = 0.004). Using logit regressions, we confirmed that sleep duration was positively related to test scores in both samples (survey #1: exp B = 1.15, p < 0.001; pseudo-R2 = 0.38; survey #2: exp B = 1.03, p < 0.001; pseudo-R2 = 0.25). Delaying test start time may prevent the reduction in sleep duration, which may also improve school performance. In addition, educational policies should include information for students about the impact of sleep on learning and of the consequences of reduced sleep duration.
Starvation on First or Second Day of Adulthood Reverses Larval-Stage Decision to Migrate in Beet Webworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract A facultative commitment to adult migration in the larval stage can be modified again after adult emergence in some Lepidoptera when influenced by an appropriate environmental cue during a sensitive stage. This phenomenon is termed secondary regulation of migration. The sensitive stage in adult beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was determined experimentally by starvation of presumed migrant females reared from gregarious-phase larvae (induced by crowding at 10 larvae per 650-ml jar). When presumed migrant adults were starved for 24 h on either of the first 2 d after emergence, the preoviposition period was shortened. In contrast, preoviposition periods were not significantly shortened for migrants starved on day 3 or when starvation lasted for more than 1 d after emergence. Because the preoviposition period corresponds to the migratory period in beet webworm, the results suggest that the first 2 d of adult life in the beet webworm is the sensitive stage during which presumed migrants can be switched to residents by an appropriate environmental cue. During the sensitive stage or not, starvation did not influence lifetime fecundity, oviposition period, longevity, or hatching rate of eggs laid by the starvation-stressed moths. Starvation on the first day also increased tethered flight performance and accelerated both flight muscle and ovarian development. The results suggest that a pulse of starvation in the sensitive period may inhibit the expected migration by accelerating and compressing the cycle of migratory flight muscle development and degeneration, while accelerating ovarian development, which is normally suppressed until after migration.
Distribution of Eccentricity in Children Aged 6-12 Years

ABSTRACT Purpose To determine the distribution of eccentricity and its association with some biometric and demographic parameters Methods In this cross-sectional study, the target population was primary school children aged 6 to 12 years from Shahroud, northeast Iran. Scheimpflug imaging was done using the Pentacam. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to study the association between Eccentricity (ECC) and independent variables like age, sex, living place as well as biometric parameters. Results Of the 6624 selected students, 5620 participated in the study of whom 4968 were eligible for analysis in this study. About half (52.4%) of the students were boys. The mean ECC was 0.600 (95% CI: 0.597–0.602) in total, 0.597 (95% CI: 0.594–0.600) in boys and 0.603 (95% CI: 0.599–0.607) in girls. The mean ECC was 0.611 in 6-year-old and 0.588 in 12-year-old children. The mean ECC was 0.590 in rural and 0.601 in urban children. The mean ECC was 0.600, 0.604, and 0.604 in emmetropic, myopic, and hyperopic children, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that ECC decreased with age (Coefficient: −0.004; 95%CI: −0.006 to −0.003), was higher in urban areas (Coefficient: 0.008; 95%CI: 0.002 to 0.014), had a direct association with axial length, and had an indirect association with lens thickness, central corneal thickness, and anterior chamber depth. Conclusion The cornea had a prolate shape in children and eccentricity value decreased with age. The results of this study add to the existing knowledge and can be used in differentiating normal from abnormal corneal shapes in children.
Predictive Value of Direct Disk Diffusion Testing from Positive Blood Cultures in a Children’s Hospital and Its Utility in Antimicrobial Stewardship

Accurate and early susceptibility results could reduce overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics for empirical treatment of bacteremia. Direct disk diffusion testing (dDD) using nonstandardized inocula directly from blood cultures could facilitate earlier narrowing of antibiotics. ABSTRACT Accurate and early susceptibility results could reduce overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics for empirical treatment of bacteremia. Direct disk diffusion testing (dDD) using nonstandardized inocula directly from blood cultures could facilitate earlier narrowing of antibiotics. To determine the predictive value of dDD compared with standardized antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), we performed a retrospective cohort study of 582 blood cultures from 495 pediatric patients with bacteremia. Positive and negative predictive value (PPV: number of isolates susceptible by both dDD and AST divided by the total number of isolates susceptible by dDD; NPV: number of isolates not susceptible [either intermediate or resistant] by both dDD and AST divided by the total number of isolates not susceptible by dDD), sensitivity, specificity, and 95% confidence interval were calculated for each bacterium-antibiotic combination. We evaluated the Antibiotic Spectrum Index of prescribed antibiotics to assess change in antibiotic prescribing after availability of Gram stain, dDD, and AST results. dDD results were available a median of 21 h before AST results. dDD had PPVs of ≥96% for most organism-antibiotic pairs, including 100% (CI 96 to 100%) for Staphylococcus aureus with oxacillin and 99% (CI 93 to 100%) for Enterobacterales with ceftriaxone. NPVs of dDD were variable and frequently lower than the PPV. Very major errors and major errors occurred in 31/5,454 (0.6%) and 231/5,454 (4.2%) organism-antibiotic combinations, respectively. Antibiotics were narrowed in 30% of cases after a dDD result and a further 25% of cases after AST result. dDD is highly predictive of susceptibility for many common organism-antibiotic combinations and provides actionable information one day earlier than standard susceptibility approaches. dDD has the potential to facilitate earlier deescalation to narrow-spectrum antibiotic treatment.
Electrical Cardiometry and Cardiac Biomarkers in 24-h and 48-h Ultramarathoners

Abstract Our study aimed to (i) utilize novel electrical cardiometry and observe acute changes in cardiac biomarkers among 24-h and 48-h ultra-marathoners, and (ii) examine whether alterations in cardiac responses were associated with the average running speed of these participants. Twenty-four 24-h and sixteen 48-h ultra-marathoners were recruited. Electrical cardiometry in the 2 groups showed significant post-race drops in systolic pressure (24-h: p=0.001; 48-h: p=0.016) and rapid increases in heart rate (24-h, p=0.004; 48-h, p=0.001). Cardiac output increased in 48-h runners (p=0.012) and stroke volume decreased in 24-h runners (p=0.009) at post-test. Six of 20 (30%) 24-h and 4 of 16 (25%) 48-h runners had high-sensitivity troponin T values above the reference interval after the races. N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide levels showed a 15-fold increase in 24-h runners and a 10-fold increase in 48-h runners at post-race. There was a positive correlation between delta N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide and running mileage (rs=0.629, p=0.003) in 24-h ultra-marathoners. In conclusion, stroke volume and cardiac output showed inconsistent changes between the 2 groups. Average running speed has a significant effect on post-exercise elevation in cardiac biomarkers.
Suicides in Nunavik: a life course study

ABSTRACT This study reports results of a life course study conducted with Inuit in Nunavik to obtain information on the life adversities and cumulative burden of adversity for three groups: those who died by suicide, those who attempted suicide, and those who experienced suicidal ideation but never attempted. The study involved different levels of collaboration between health authorities, front-line health workers and the research team. Results indicate that substance misuse and relational difficulties are most associated with the burden of adversity for those people who died by suicide, while bullying is most associated with the burden of adversity for those people who have made suicide attempts and those who have never made a suicide attempt. Specifically targeting parent–child relations, substance misuse, and bullying may be an important upstream strategy for reducing future suicidality in Nunavik.
Fibrous long‐chain organic acid cellulose esters and their characterization by diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy, solid‐state CP/MAS 13C‐NMR, and X‐ray diffraction

Unsaturated and saturated organic acids with 11 and 18 carbon atoms, respectively, were used in a heterogeneous esterification reaction in the pyridine/toluene sulfonyl chloride system to prepare fibrous cellulose esters with different degrees of substitution. Highly bleached sulfite cellulose fibers were esterified during a 1- or 2-h reaction time with the following organic acids: undecylenic acid, undecanoic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid. In all cases, the heterogeneous esterification yielded partially substituted cellulose esters retaining their fibrous structure. The substitution reaction was confirmed by diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy and the chemical structures of cellulose esters were identified by solid-state CP/MAS 13C-NMR (75.3 MHz). X-ray diffraction analyses showed broadening of the diffraction peaks with a higher degree of substitution of cellulose esters, which suggests structural changes within the cellulose fibers. Because the broadening peaks of X-ray spectra or the unassigned C-4 region of substituted cellulose chains in NMR spectra do not allow the calculation of dimensional changes of cellulose crystallites in cellulose esters, the lateral dimensions of crystallites in only cellulose fibers were calculated. The value derived from NMR (4.6 nm) differs by about 11% when compared with the value calculated from X-ray diffraction data (4.1 nm). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1354–1365, 2000
Nrf2 induces Ucp1 expression in adipocytes in response to β3-AR stimulation and enhances oxygen consumption in high-fat diet-fed obese mice

Coldinduced norepinephrine activates β3-adrenergic receptors (β3-AR) to stimulate the kinase cascade and cAMP-response element-binding protein, leading to the induction of thermogenic gene expression including uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1). Here, we showed that stimulation of the β3-AR by its agonists isoproterenol and CL316,243 in adipocytes increased the expression of Ucp1 and Heme Oxygenase 1 (Hmox1), the principal Nrf2 target gene, suggesting the functional interaction of Nrf2 with β3-AR signaling. The activation of Nrf2 by tert-butylhydroquinone and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by glucose oxidase induced both Ucp1 and Hmox1 expression. The increased expression of Ucp1 and Hmox1 was significantly reduced in the presence of a Nrf2 chemical inhibitor or in Nrf2-deleted (knockout) adipocytes. Furthermore, Nrf2 directly activated the Ucp1 promoter, and this required DNA regions located at −3.7 and −2.0 kb of the transcription start site. The CL316,243-induced Ucp1 expression in adipocytes and oxygen consumption in obese mice were partly compromised in the absence of Nrf2 expression. These data provide additional insight into the role of Nrf2 in β3-AR-mediated Ucp1 expression and energy expenditure, further highlighting the utility of Nrf2-mediated thermogenic stimulation as a therapeutic approach to diet-induced obesity.
Evaluation of leaching and runoff losses of selenium from seleniferous soils through simulated rainfall

Experiments were conducted to study drainage and runoff losses of selenium (Se) from two seleniferous soils (from Simbly containing total Se 850 μg [kg soil]-1 and from Barwa containing 1310 μg [kg soil]-1) under simulated rainfall (250-260 mm in three rainstorms) conditions. Rainfall intensities ranged from 56 to 120 mm h -1 with uniformity coefficients ranging from 70.6% to 84.2%. Selenium lost through drainage (sum of drainage from initially saturated soil for 24 h and through dry and wet runs) was 0.15% and 0.11% of total Se content in the two soils. In soils having similar pH and organic-C content, losses of Se through drainage as well as runoff were defined by total Se, water-soluble Se, CaCO 3 content, and texture of the soils. The amount of runoff water was almost two times in the soil with fine texture and less infiltration rate than in the other and that same trend was observed with respect to loss of sediment. The soil with higher CaCO 3 content and water-soluble Se lost more Se with moving water both through leaching and runoff, whereas the other soil with fine texture lost greater amount of Se with the sediment. Total Se lost through drainage as well as runoff was 0.29% of the native Se present in both the soils suggesting that significant amount of Se could be lost from seleniferous soils during irrigation and rainfall events.