Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What We Know and Don't Know About Lyme Disease

We know the cause of Lyme disease. We know that the bacteria can be found in the initial rash, and occasionally in the blood in the subsequent 2–3 months, but after then, its subsequent location is unknown. Whereas diagnosis and treatment of early Lyme disease is generally straightforward, the etiology of relapsing or persisting symptoms is yet to be defined, and presents clinical challenges. There are no current tests to determine if the infection is still present or absent, thus complicating diagnosis and treatment. Presented here are approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of persisting Lyme disease, based on available published information, and the experience of the author.
Factors influencing the reintroduction success and population persistence of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in a semi-arid environment Completion report

After a 70 year absence, brushtail possums were reintroduced to the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, following a successful fox control program. Several studies were undertaken to assess factors influencing reintroduction success and population persistence. Reintroduction success was not influenced by release method or source population (predator-exposed v predator-naïve). Population persistence appears possible as possums found suitable shelter and food, and juvenile survival was moderate. Continued predator management is likely to be key to the long-term persistence of the population, with predation by feral cats the primary cause of death for both adults and juveniles.
Emotional Content Analysis Among People With Psychopathy During Emotional Induction by the International Affective Picture System

1 Université de Mons (UMONS), Mons, Belgium; 2 Centre de Recherche en Défense Sociale, Tournai, Belgium; 3 Institut Philippe-Pinel, Montréal, Canada; 4 Institution Publique de Protection de la Jeunesse, Jumet, Belgium; 5 Prison de Marche-en-Famenne, Marche-en-Famenne, Belgium; 6 Caracol–Centre pluridisciplinaire, Arlon, Belgium; 7 Unité de Psychopathologie Légale, Tournai, Belgium; 8 Centre Régional de soins Psychiatrique, Les Marronniers, Tournai, Belgium; 9 Université de Lille, Lille, France; 10 Hôpital de Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, France
Early Warning Models to Predict the 90-Day Urinary Tract Infection Risk After Radical Cystectomy and Urinary Diversion for Patients With Bladder Cancer

Purpose To develop and validate a nomogram of the 90-day urinary tract infection (UTI) risk for patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) and urinary diversion. Patients and Methods The predictive nomogram was based on a retrospective study on the consecutive patients who underwent RC and urinary diversion for bladder cancer between January 2014 and March 2021. The incidence and microbiology of UTI were reported. The univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were conducted to determine independent risk factors associated with UTI. The predictive accuracy and discriminatory ability of the established nomogram were evaluated by the concordance index (C-index) and decision curve analysis (DCA). The performance of the model was validated internally. Results A total of 220 patients were included and the incidence of UTI within 90 days was 27.3%. The most commonly identified pathogens were Enterococcus (42.0%), Escherichia coli (21.70%), and Candida (13.0%). Urinary diversion type, Charlson comorbidities index (CCI), stricture, and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were included in the nomogram. The C-index of the nomogram for predicting UTI was 0.858 (95% CI: 0.593–0.953). In the validation cohort, the nomogram also showed high-predictive accuracy. Net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) index indicated that PNI led to improvement in predictive ability. Conclusion The proposed early warning model shows great accuracy in predicting the incidence of 90-day UTI after RC and urinary diversion in patients with bladder cancer.
Relationship Between Isokinetic Lower-Limb Joint Strength, Isometric Time Force Characteristics, and Leg-Spring Stiffness in Recreational Runners

Neuromuscular characteristics, such as lower-limb joint strength and the ability to rapidly generate force, may play an important role in leg-spring stiffness regulation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between isokinetic knee and ankle joint peak torque (PT), the force-time characteristics of isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and leg stiffness (Kleg)/vertical stiffness (Kvert) in recreationally trained runners. Thirty-one male runners were recruited and underwent three separate tests. In the first session, the body composition, Kleg, and Kvert at running speeds of 12 and 14 km⋅h–1 were measured. In the second session, isokinetic knee and ankle joint PT at 60°⋅s–1 were tested. The force-time characteristics of the IMTP were evaluated in the final session. Pearson’s product-moment correlations, with the Benjamini–Hochberg correction procedure, showed that the knee flexor concentric and eccentric and extensor concentric PT (r = 0.473–0.654, p < 0.05) were moderate to largely correlated with Kleg and Kvert at 12 and 14 km⋅h–1. The knee extensor eccentric PT (r = 0.440, p = 0.050) was moderately correlated with the 14 km⋅h–1 Kvert. The ankle plantar flexor concentric and dorsiflexor eccentric PT (r = 0.506–0.571, p < 0.05) were largely correlated with Kleg at 12 km⋅h–1. The ankle plantar flexor concentric and eccentric and dorsiflexor eccentric PT (r = 0.436–0.561, p < 0.05) were moderate to largely correlated with Kvert at 12 and 14 km⋅h–1. For IMTP testing, high correlation was only found between the IMPT peak force (PF) and Kvert at 14 km⋅h–1 (r = 0.510, p = 0.014). Thus, superior leg-spring stiffness in recreational runners may be related to increased knee and ankle joint strength, eccentric muscular capacity, and maximal force production.
Nomograms Incorporating the CNLC Staging System Predict the Outcome of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Curative Resection

Purpose Prediction models of postoperative outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgery based on the China liver cancer (CNLC) staging system are rare. This study aimed to compare the prognostic abilities of CNLC, Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) 8th edition, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging systems for HCC after curative resection. We developed two nomograms incorporating the CNLC staging system to predict the postoperative recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of HCC patients. Patients and methods The prognostic abilities of the CNLC, TNM and BCLC staging systems for HCC after curative resection were compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Two nomograms incorporating five selected risk factors were constructed based on multivariate Cox regression in the primary cohort of 312 HCC patients. It was validated with an independent validation cohort of 130 HCC patients. The predictive performance and discrimination ability of the two nomograms were further evaluated and compared with those of the TNM and BCLC staging systems. Results The CNLC staging system had a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) value for both OS (AUC=0.692) and RFS (AUC=0.673) than the TNM (ROC=0.667 for OS and 0.652 for RFS) and BCLC (ROC=0.671 for OS and 0.670 for RFS) staging systems. The independent predictors of OS (cirrhosis, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), tumor differentiation and CNLC staging system) and RFS (α-fetoprotein (AFP) and CNLC staging system) were incorporated into the two nomograms. The OS and RFS nomograms consistently outperformed the TNM and BCLC staging systems in the primary cohort. These results were verified in the validation cohort. In the 442 patients with HCC, the RFS nomogram could predict early recurrence very well. Conclusion The two proposed nomograms incorporating the CNLC staging system can predict the outcomes of patients with HCC after curative hepatectomy in clinical practice.
Relationship between Teacher Efficacy and Information and Communication Technology
Competencies of Pre-Service Teachers

The main purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between teacher efficacy levels, information and communication technology competencies, and demographic variables of pre-service teachers. In addition to the main problem, teacher efficacy levels and the technological competencies were also reviewed in terms of variables such as gender, grade, the status of choosing the teaching profession willingly, and if they were given the opportunity to select the teaching profession again. The study was designed in a correlational screening model, and the sample of the study consisted of pre-service teachers. Ohio State Teacher Efficacy Scale (OSTES) and Information and Communication Technology Competencies Scale (ICTCS) were used as the data collection tools. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to reveal how the variables of teacher efficacy, gender, grade level, willingly choosing to become a teacher, and re-choosing to become a teacher if having a chance predict ICTCS. As a result of correlational and regression significance tests, it was determined that only the teacher efficacy variable predicted ICTCS to a large extent in the established regression model. Additionally, it was found that the teacher efficacy and the information communication technology competencies of pre-service teachers showed differences in terms of grade and the status of choosing the teaching profession willingly variables, while they did not differ in terms of gender and if they were given the opportunity to select the teaching profession again. Recent studies show that the most important conditions for attaining these skills are that teachers have general competencies for using information and communication technologies in their lessons. So, this study can contribute to the field by determining the positive relationship between teaching efficacy levels and information and communication technologies competencies of pre-service teachers, as well as presenting the results of some specific variables.
Development and validation of a risk score for predicting pericardial effusion in patients undergoing leadless pacemaker implantation: experience with the Micra transcatheter pacemaker

Abstract Aims There is limited information on what clinical factors are associated with the development of pericardial effusion after leadless pacemaker implantation. We sought to determine predictors of and to develop a risk score for pericardial effusion in patients undergoing Micra leadless pacemaker implantation attempt. Methods and results Patients (n = 2817) undergoing implant attempt from the Micra global trials were analysed. Characteristics were compared between patients with and without pericardial effusion (including cardiac perforation and tamponade). A risk score for pericardial effusion was developed from 18 pre-procedural clinical variables using lasso logistic regression. Internal validation and future prediction performance were estimated using bootstrap resampling. The scoring system was also externally validated using data from the Micra Acute Performance European and Middle East (MAP EMEA) registry. There were 32 patients with a pericardial effusion [1.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8–1.6%]. Following lasso logistic regression, 11 of 18 variables remained in the model from which point values were assigned. The C-index was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.71–0.88). Patient risk score profile ranged from −4 (lowest risk) to 5 (highest risk) with 71.8% patients considered low risk (risk score ≤0), 16.6% considered medium risk (risk score = 1), and 11.7% considered high risk (risk score ≥2) for effusion. The median C-index following bootstrap validation was 0.73 (interquartile range: 0.70–0.75). The C-index based on 9 pericardial effusions from the 928 patients in the MAP EMEA registry was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.52–0.83). The pericardial effusion rate increased significantly with additional Micra deployments in medium-risk (P = 0.034) and high-risk (P < 0.001) patients. Conclusion The overall rate of pericardial effusion following Micra implantation attempt is 1.1% and has decreased over time. The risk of pericardial effusion after Micra implant attempt can be predicted using pre-procedural clinical characteristics with reasonable discrimination. Clinical trial registration The Micra Post-Approval Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02536118), Micra Continued Access Study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02488681), and Micra Transcatheter Pacing Study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02004873).
Differences and Relationship Between Attitudes and Self Efficacy of Female and Male Students in Science Subjects in Junior High School

Students' attitudes and self-efficacy are very important in science subjects. With a good attitude and self-efficacy, learning will be easier and more enjoyable. This study aims to examine the attitudes and self-efficacy of female and male students from two classes, namely VII A and VII B in junior high school. This research is a type of quantitative survey research. The sampling technique used in this study was simple random sampling with the research subjects as many as 74 junior high school students studying science. The instrument used in data collection was 28 questions containing 5 choices that must be filled out by students. Analysis of the data used in this study in the form of descriptive analysis and T test and correlation test to determine whether there is a comparison and relationship between students' attitudes and efficacy towards science. The results obtained indicate that there are significant differences and relationships between attitudes and self-efficacy of female and male students. These results indicate that male students have an average attitude and good self-efficacy compared to female students at the junior high school level
Learning object representations in deep neural networks

Humans have the ability to learn visual representations of the surrounding environment with limited supervision. A major challenge in cognitive neuroscience is to understand the neural computations that give rise to this ability. Recent work has started modelling the neural computations implemented by the ventral visual system using deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs). Despite their successes, DCNNs leave substantial amounts of variance in brain representations unexplained. We hypothesize that this may in part be due to the DNNs’ sole reliance on supervision during representation learning. In this thesis, we investigate the role of training algorithms (supervised versus unsupervised) on the representational similarity between the computational models and brain data from human inferior temporal cortex. We show that one implementation of unsupervised contrastive learning yields more brain-like representations than the selected supervised learning method. Our findings suggest that human visual representations may in part arise from unsupervised learning during development.
PERSISTENT STATES: LESSONS FOR SCOTTISH DEVOLUTION AND INDEPENDENCE

Abstract The equilibrium size of a nation state is, in part, the result of a trade-off between the gains from scale economies in the provision of public services and the costs of applying uniform policy to heterogeneous cultural, institutional and geographical fundamentals. Changes in such fundamentals can thus place pressure on states to reform over time. We consider this dynamic state formation process in the context of Scotland within the United Kingdom. First, we review the recent research in economic history on the persistence and evolution of such fundamentals. Second, we consider the history of Scotland both before and after the 1707 Act of Union in the light of that broader economic history literature. We conclude with some implications of fundamental persistence for current debates on the place of Scotland within the United Kingdom.
The Relationship between Future Anxiety Due to COVID-19 and Vigilance: The Role of Message Fatigue and Autonomy Satisfaction

How does future anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic relate to people’s willingness to remain vigilant and adhere to preventive measures? We examined the mediating role of message fatigue and the moderating role of autonomy satisfaction in the relationship between future anxiety due to COVID-19 and willingness to remain vigilant. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with adults residing in the United States in June 2021 when numerous U.S. states re-opened following the CDC’s relaxed guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals. Our data showed that message fatigue mediated the relationship between future anxiety due to the pandemic and willingness to remain vigilant. The data further revealed that autonomy satisfaction significantly moderated the mediation. Namely, the role of message fatigue in the indirect relationship between future anxiety and willingness to remain vigilant was significant only among people low to moderate in autonomy satisfaction; its role in the indirect path was not significant for those high in autonomy satisfaction. Notably, independent of the mechanism involving message fatigue, future anxiety was directly and positively associated with willingness to remain vigilant regardless of the levels of autonomy satisfaction. Implications of these findings are discussed in light of psychological and behavioral responses to the current pandemic and policy directions.
Accuracy of Heart Rate Measurement by the Fitbit Charge 2 During Wheelchair Activities in People With Spinal Cord Injury: Instrument Validation Study

Background Heart rate (HR) is an important and commonly measured physiological parameter in wearables. HR is often measured at the wrist with the photoplethysmography (PPG) technique, which determines HR based on blood volume changes, and is therefore influenced by blood pressure. In individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), blood pressure control is often altered and could therefore influence HR accuracy measured by the PPG technique. Objective The objective of this study is to investigate the HR accuracy measured with the PPG technique with a Fitbit Charge 2 (Fitbit Inc) in wheelchair users with SCI, how the activity intensity affects the HR accuracy, and whether this HR accuracy is affected by lesion level. Methods The HR of participants with (38/48, 79%) and without (10/48, 21%) SCI was measured during 11 wheelchair activities and a 30-minute strength exercise block. In addition, a 5-minute seated rest period was measured in people with SCI. HR was measured with a Fitbit Charge 2, which was compared with the HR measured by a Polar H7 HR monitor used as a reference device. Participants were grouped into 4 groups—the no SCI group and based on lesion level into the T1 (cervical) group. Mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and concordance correlation coefficient were determined for each group for each activity type, that is, rest, wheelchair activities, and strength exercise. Results With an overall MAPEall lesions of 12.99%, the accuracy fell below the standard acceptable MAPE of –10% to +10% with a moderate agreement (concordance correlation coefficient=0.577). The HR accuracy of Fitbit Charge 2 seems to be reduced in those with cervical lesion level in all activities (MAPEno SCI=8.09%; MAPET1=20.43%). The accuracy of the Fitbit Charge 2 decreased with increasing intensity in all lesions (MAPErest=6.5%, MAPEactivity=12.97%, and MAPEstrength=14.2%). Conclusions HR measured with the PPG technique showed lower accuracy in people with SCI than in those without SCI. The accuracy was just above the acceptable level in people with paraplegia, whereas in people with tetraplegia, a worse accuracy was found. The accuracy seemed to worsen with increasing intensities. Therefore, high-intensity HR data, especially in people with cervical lesions, should be used with caution.
Effects of persistent water-table level drawdown on fine-root biomass and production in different site types of a boreal forested peatland

Purpose In peatlands, fine-root biomass (FRB) and production (FRP) and their depth distribution and plant functional type (PFT) composition are poorly known. We studied the effects of persistent water-table level drawdown on these characteristics in four forested boreal peatland site types that varied in soil nutrient and WTL regimes, ground vegetation and tree stand characteristics. Methods FRB was estimated by separating and visually identifying roots from soil cores extending down to 50-cm depth. FRP was estimated using ingrowth cores covering the same depth and the separated roots were identified using infrared spectroscopy. Results In both FRB and FRP, the differences between undrained and drained sites were small. In FRB, the clearest differences were seen in the originally wettest site, oligotrophic tall-sedge pine fen, and in the most-nutrient-rich site, herb-rich spruce swamp: in the pine fen FRB was smaller, and in the spruce swamp greater in the drained than in the undrained site. FRP was generally higher in nutrient-poor, pine-dominated sites. The depth distribution of FRB was more superficial than that of FRP, except for the most nutrient-rich spruce swamp. Tree and shrub roots dominated both FRB and FRP, except for the undrained pine fen, where graminoids and forbs dominated. Even there, these PFTs were replaced by trees and shrubs at the drained site. Conclusion Fine-root biomass and production vary widely both within and among different types of boreal forested peatlands. Lowering of WTL large enough to support greater-volume tree stands affects FRB and FRP relatively little.