Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sex Differences in the Relationship Between Child Maltreatment, Recent Bereavement, and Average Heart Rate

The study explores the sex differences in cardiovascular outcomes among bereaved individuals. In addition, the study differentiates the impact of child maltreatment and recent loss on the physical health of adult men and women. This study conducted a secondary analysis of data drawn from the Biomarker Subproject of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (n = 1,255). Analysis included a series of regression models estimated in Stata version 15.1. A main effect for both sex and loss was observed. Both male and female respondents with loss had higher average heart rates as compared to male respondents without loss. Interestingly, being a female without loss was also associated with a higher average heart rate as compared to males without loss. The findings suggest that sex differences in cardiovascular functioning do occur and that these differences may be exacerbated by experiences of trauma and loss, and this relationship has implications for assessment and intervention.
Congenital heart defects associated with aneuploidy syndromes: New insights into familiar associations

The frequent occurrence of congenital heart defects (CHDs) in chromosome abnormality syndromes is well‐known, and among aneuploidy syndromes, distinctive patterns have been delineated. We update the type and frequency of CHDs in the aneuploidy syndromes involving trisomy 13, 18, 21, and 22, and in several sex chromosome abnormalities (Turner syndrome, trisomy X, Klinefelter syndrome, 47,XYY, and 48,XXYY). We also discuss the impact of noninvasive prenatal screening (mainly, cell‐free DNA analysis), critical CHD screening, and the growth of parental advocacy on their surgical management and natural history. We encourage clinicians to view the cardiac diagnosis as a “phenotype” which supplements the external dysmorphology examination. When detected prenatally, severe CHDs may influence decision‐making, and postnatally, they are often the major determinants of survival. This review should be useful to geneticists, cardiologists, neonatologists, perinatal specialists, other pediatric specialists, and general pediatricians. As patients survive (and thrive) into adulthood, internists and related adult specialists will also need to be informed about their natural history and management.
Reciprocal Effects Between Loneliness and Sleep Disturbance in Older Americans

Objectives: To model the relationship between loneliness and sleep disturbance over time. Method: Data came from the Health and Retirement Study (2006, 2010, 2014 waves; age ≥ 65 years; n = 5,067). Loneliness was measured via the Hughes Loneliness Scale and sleep disturbance via a four-item scale assessing sleep and restedness. Cross-lagged panel modeling (path analysis) was used to jointly examine reciprocal effects between loneliness and sleep disturbance. Results: Higher loneliness correlated with higher sleep disturbance at baseline. There was evidence of reciprocal effects between loneliness and sleep across timepoints. These associations overall remained when accounting for demographics, objective isolation, and depression. Discussion: Although causality cannot be established, the findings indicate that the relationship between loneliness and sleep disturbance is bidirectional. This requires revision to the current theory on sleep disturbance as a mechanism for the relationship between loneliness and health and indicates that effective treatment of sleep disturbance may reduce loneliness.
Tolerance of ambiguity and psychological well‐being in medical training: A systematic review

The prevalence of stress, burnout and mental health disorders in medical students and doctors is high. It has been proposed that there may be an association between levels of tolerance of ambiguity (ie an ability to tolerate a lack of reliable, credible or adequate information) in clinical work and psychological well‐being within this population. The aims of this systematic review were: (i) to assess the nature and extent of the literature available, in order to determine if there is an association, and (ii) to develop a conceptual model proposing possible mechanisms to underpin any association, in order to inform subsequent research.
A novel 4-dimensional live-cell imaging system to study leukocyte-endothelial dynamics in ANCA-associated vasculitis

Abstract Neutrophils, monocytes and the endothelium are critical to ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) pathogenesis. This study aimed to develop a 4-dimensional (4D) live-cell imaging system that would enable investigation of spatial and temporal dynamics of these cells in health and disease. We further aimed to validate this system using autologous donor serum from AAV patients and polyclonal ANCA IgG, as well as exploring its potential in the pre-clinical testing of putative therapeutic compounds. Neutrophils and monocytes were isolated from peripheral venous blood of AAV patients or healthy controls and co-incubated on an endothelial monolayer in the presence of autologous serum. Alternatively, polyclonal ANCA IgG was used, following TNF-α priming, and imaged in 4-dimensions for 3 h using a spinning disc confocal microscope. Volocity 6.3® analysis software was used for quantification of leukocyte dynamics. The use of autologous serum resulted in increased neutrophil degranulation (p = .002), transmigration (p = .0096) and monocyte transcellular transmigration (p = .0013) in AAV patients. Polyclonal MPO-ANCA IgG induced neutrophil degranulation (p < .001) in this system. C5aR1 antagonism reduced neutrophil degranulation (p < .0002). We have developed a novel 4D in vitro system that allows accurate quantification of multiple neutrophil- and monocyte-endothelial interactions in AAV in a single assay. This system has the potential to highlight dynamics key to pathophysiology of disease, as well investigating the impact of potential therapeutics on these functions.
Antagonistic effect of natural habitat conversion on community adjustment to climate warming in nonbreeding waterbirds

Although the impacts of climate and land‐use changes on biodiversity have been widely documented, their joint effects remain poorly understood. We evaluated how nonbreeding waterbird communities adjust to climate warming along a gradient of land‐use change. Using midwinter waterbird counts (132 species) at 164 major nonbreeding sites in 22 Mediterranean countries, we assessed the changes in species composition from 1991 to 2010, relative to thermal niche position and breadth, in response to regional and local winter temperature anomalies and conversion of natural habitats. We observed a low‐level, nonsignificant community adjustment to the temperature increase where natural habitat conversion occurred. At the sites affected by natural habitat conversion, the relative increase of warm‐dwelling species in response to climate warming was 6 times lower and the relative species decline was 3 times higher than in the sites without natural habitat conversion. We found no evidence of community adjustment to climate warming when natural habitat conversion was >5% over 15 years. This strong negative effect suggests an antagonistic interaction between climate warming and habitat change. These results underline the importance of habitat conservation in community adjustment to climate warming.
Combination non-pharmacologic intervention for orthostatic hypotension in older people: a phase 2 study

Abstract Background orthostatic hypotension (OH) is highly prevalent in older populations and is associated with reduced quality of life and increased mortality. Although non-pharmacologic therapies are recommended first-line, evidence for their use is lacking. Objective determine the efficacy of combination non-pharmacologic therapy for OH in older people. Methods a total of 111 orthostatic BP responses were evaluated in this prospective phase 2 efficacy study in 37 older people (≥60 years) with OH. Primary outcome was the proportion of participants whose systolic BP drop improved by ≥10 mmHg. Secondary outcomes include standing BP and symptoms. Comparison is made to the response rate of the most efficacious single therapy (bolus water drinking 56%). Therapeutic combinations were composed of interventions with known efficacy and tolerability: Therapy A- Bolus water drinking + physical counter-manoeuvres (PCM); Therapy B- Bolus water drinking + PCM + abdominal compression. Results the response rate to therapy A was 38% (95% confidence interval – CI 24, 63), with standing systolic BP increasing by 13 mmHg (95% CI 4, 22). Therapy B was efficacious in 46% (95% CI 31, 62), increasing standing systolic BP by 20 mmHg (95% CI 12, 29). Neither therapy had a significant effect on symptoms. There were no adverse events. Conclusions in comparison to single therapy, there is little additional benefit to be gained from combination non-pharmacologic therapy. Focussing on single, efficacious therapies, such as bolus water drinking or PCM, should become standard first-line therapy.
Role of spinal adenosine A1 receptors in the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture in a rat model of neuropathic pain

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the role of spinal adenosine A1 receptors (A1Rs) in the analgesic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) for neuropathic pain. Methods We performed EA for 30 minutes at the zusanli acupoint in the legs of rats with previously induced chronic constriction injuries and observed the mechanical and thermal pain thresholds 1 hour later. We also examined adenosine levels by high-performance liquid chromatography and A1R expression in the L4–6 spinal cord by western blot analysis. We then injected A1R short interfering RNA (AV-shA1RNA) into the L4–6 spinal cord to downregulate A1R expression and re-examined the mechanical and thermal pain thresholds. Results Adenosine levels and A1R expression in the L4–6 spinal cord were increased at 1 hour after EA. In addition, EA exhibited an analgesic effect that was reversed by AV-shA1RNA. Conclusions Our results suggest that EA at the zusanli acupoint elicits an analgesic effect against neuropathic pain, mediated by A1Rs in the spinal cord.
C-mannosylation supports folding and enhances stability of thrombospondin repeats

Previous studies demonstrated importance of C-mannosylation for efficient protein secretion. To study its impact on protein folding and stability, we analyzed both C-mannosylated and non-C-mannosylated thrombospondin type 1 repeats (TSRs) of netrin receptor UNC-5. In absence of C-mannosylation, UNC-5 TSRs could only be obtained at low temperature and a significant proportion displayed incorrect intermolecular disulfide bridging, which was hardly observed when C-mannosylated. Glycosylated TSRs exhibited higher resistance to thermal and reductive denaturation processes, and the presence of C-mannoses promoted the oxidative folding of a reduced and denatured TSR in vitro. Molecular dynamics simulations supported the experimental studies and showed that C-mannoses can be involved in intramolecular hydrogen bonding and limit the flexibility of the TSR tryptophan-arginine ladder. We propose that in the endoplasmic reticulum folding process, C-mannoses orient the underlying tryptophan residues and facilitate the formation of the tryptophan-arginine ladder, thereby influencing the positioning of cysteines and disulfide bridging.
Intervention focus moderates the association between initial receptive language and language outcomes for toddlers with developmental delay

Abstract This ex-post facto study reanalyzed data from Romski et al. to examine whether intervention focus moderated the relationship between pre-intervention standardized measures of receptive language and post-intervention standardized measures of receptive and expressive language age and observations of expressive target vocabulary size. In all, 62 toddlers with developmental delay were randomly assigned to augmented communication-input (AC-I), augmented communication-output (AC-O), or spoken communication (SC) interventions. AC-I provided augmented language input via spoken language and a speech-generating device (SGD); AC-O encouraged the production of augmented output via an SGD; and SC provided spoken input and encouraged spoken output without using an SGD. Intervention focus moderated the impact of initial receptive language on expressive language age and expressive target vocabulary size. Participants in AC-I, when compared to those in the other two interventions, had a significantly stronger relationship between initial receptive language and post-intervention expressive language age. For expressive target vocabulary size, participants in AC-O showed a strong relationship and those in AC-I a slightly weaker relationship between initial receptive language and expressive target vocabulary size; no significant relationship was found in the SC group. Results emphasize that different interventions may have distinct outcomes for children with higher or lower initial receptive language.
Reduction Of Microbial Contamination Of Whole Broiler Chicken Carcasses During Processing

Contamination of broiler carcasses during processing with several microorganisms as salmonella, campylobacter, E. coli and staphylococcus aureus is frequently occurring. Scalding, defeathering, chilling are critical points at which cross contamination may occur during processing. Recently several interventions for carcass decontamination have been employed in order to reduce the levels of microbial hazards on poultry carcasses during processing; among which chlorine and organic acids are the most common. This study was carried out in a traditional poultry abattoir in Fayoum Governorate in order to improve the microbial quality of broiler carcasses. During 10 replicate a total of 160 carcasses were collected at 4 sampling points in the processing line (scalding, defeathering, final wash and chilling). Bacterial counts recovered from broiler carcasses rinse were lowered by 1.3, 1.3, 0.3 and 0.5 Log10 cfu ml after treatment of scalding water with 100 ppm Calcium hypochlorite in scalding. Adding peracetic acid (PAA) 50 ppm + 0.5 % acetic acid to the defeathering machine spraying system during defeathering lowered the count of coliforms and faecal coliforms significantly (P ≤ 0.05) by 1.5 and 1.6 Log10 cfu ml of carcass rinse, while it wasn't significant for E. coli and staphylococcus counts (1.2 and 0.95 Log10 cfu ml), respectively. Furthermore, significant differences in the reduction of all bacterial counts were observed in the washing stage (P ≤ 0.05) after treatment of broiler carcasses with a mixture of lactic acid 1 % + acetic acid 1 % in the final washing step. At chilling stage Na hypochlorite 50 ppm reduced the bacterial counts by 2, 2.2, 1.3 and 0.8 log10 cfu ml of carcass rinse for coliforms, faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus, respectively. E. coli, salmonellae, staphylococcus aureus and campylobacter spp. were reduced by different percentages. The used interventions effectively or significantly reduced microbial populations on broiler chicken carcasses during processing.
Public opinion on crime, punishment and the death penalty in Barbados

The bulk of extant research on public opinion on crime and punishment is focused on Global North nations. This article contributes a new perspective to the literature on punitivism by examining public opinion on crime, punishment and the death penalty in Barbados. The article presents insights from exploratory focus group research conducted in Barbados in 2017. These findings are particularly relevant as Barbadian lawmakers navigate reform of the nation’s death penalty law. While the focus groups reveal anxieties that echo those identified in other jurisdictions, related to nostalgia for the past and concern regarding social order for instance, they also demonstrate the specific relevance of time and place. Using approaches from Caribbean Criminology and drawing on post-colonial perspectives, the article examines the context of views on punishment in Barbados, including perceptions of ‘neo-colonial’ interference and concerns about what can be lost in the process of ‘progress’.
Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds during Different Pollution Periods in Winter in Yuncheng, a Typical City in North China

ABSTRACT The composition characteristics and health risks of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their effects on secondary organic aerosol (SOA) during polluted and clean periods in winter 2018 for Yuncheng, a typical city in North China, were studied. The average concentration of VOCs was 2.3 times higher during the polluted period (105.29 µg m–3) than the clean period (45.78 µg m–3), whereas the average concentrations of the alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics were 3.4, 2.1, and 3.9 times higher, respectively, during the polluted period than the clean period. In addition, the VOC concentration was significantly influenced by meteorological conditions. Using positive matrix factorization (PMF), seven sources of atmospheric VOCs were identified, with the largest factors being vehicle emission (27.89%), coal combustion (23.37%), liquefied petroleum gas/natural gas evaporation (18.30%), and industrial emission (15.51%). Vehicle emission (30.04%) was the primary contributor during the polluted period, whereas coal combustion (33.53%) was the primary contributor during the clean period. The SOA formation potential (which almost exceeded 80%) was influenced by industrial emission (28.80%), solvent usage (26.30%), and vehicle emission (24.85%). Additionally, an assessment of the health risks of six aromatics based on the health risk exposure model of the United States Environmental Protection Agency revealed that the non-cancer risk was higher during the polluted period (6.61 × 10–2) than the clean period (2.20 × 10–2) but still below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit (1.00) and therefore negligible for the exposed population. However, the carcinogenic index of benzene (2.85 × 10–5 to 5 × 10–5) exceeded 10–6, suggesting a higher carcinogenic risk. Large-scale energy restructuring during recent years has sharply reduced coal combustion, but the VOC concentration has dramatically increased due to vehicle emission. Hence, regulating vehicle emissions is an effective strategy for controlling VOCs in Yuncheng.
On micro-services architecture

This paper provides an overview of micro-services architecture and implementation patterns. It continues our series of publications about M2M systems, existing and upcoming system software platforms for M2M applications. A micro-service is a lightweight and independent service that performs single functions and collaborates with other similar services using a well-defined interface. We would like to discuss the common principles behind this approach, its advantages and disadvantages as well as its possible usage in M2M applications.
Subnational Government Budgets and Resource Revenues in Indonesia: Indications of Resource Blessings?

We examine the economic consequences of resource extraction and the associated revenue windfalls on subnational government revenues and spending patterns. Making use of Indonesia’s fiscal sharing rules and an offshore oil and gas production instrument, we find a positive impact of resource revenues on the center-local balancing funds including the general allocation fund, despite the latters’ fiscal rebalancing purposes. Fiscal windfalls from resource extraction increase public sector spending on capital and infrastructure projects as well as public goods and services, with positive spillover benefits on local tax revenues. At the same time spending on personnel and administration increases less and decrease as percentage of total expenditures. Interaction with district economic governance index data indicates enhanced infrastructure spending but also increases in the balancing funds.
Assessing Job Performance Using Brief Self-report Scales: The Case of the Individual Work Performance Questionnaire

espanolJob performance is considered the “ultimate dependent variable” in human resource management, turning its assessment into a capital issue. The present study analyzes the functioning of a brief 18-item self-report scale, the Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ), which measures the main dimensions of job performance (task performance, contextual performance, and counterproductive behaviors) in a wide variety of jobs. Participants were 368 employees who voluntarily answered a questionnaire including the IWPQ, other performance scales, and the NEO-FFI. Descriptive statistics, exploratory structural equation modeling, and correlations were performed. Results show that the IWPQ has a tridimensional structure with adequate reliability, exhibits significant associations with other measures of performance, and its association with personality traits is similar in terms of direction and strength of the correlations between other job performance measures and personality. We conclude that the IWPQ is an adequate measure of job performance but with emphasis on behaviors aimed toward organizations. EnglishEl desempeno laboral es considerado la “variable dependiente definitiva” en recursos humanos, convirtiendo su evaluacion en algo crucial. El presente estudio analiza el funcionamiento de una escala autoinformada breve de 18 items, el Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ), que mide las principales dimensiones del desempeno laboral (desempeno de tarea, desempeno contextual y comportamientos contraproductivos en el trabajo) en una amplia variedad de trabajos. Los participantes fueron 368 empleados que voluntariamente completaron un cuestionario que incluia el IWPQ, otras escalas de desempeno y el NEO-FFI. Se llevaron a cabo estadisticos descriptivos, modelos exploratorios de ecuaciones estructurales y correlaciones. Los resultados muestran que el IWPQ tiene una estructura tridimensional con una fiabilidad adecuada, mostrando asociaciones significativas con el resto de medidas de desempeno. En cuanto a los factores de personalidad, el IWPQ muestra correlaciones similares a las de los otros instrumentos de desempeno analizados. Se concluye que el IWPQ es un instrumento adecuado para medir de manera breve y autoinformada el desempeno laboral, pero con enfasis en los comportamientos dirigidos hacia la organizacion.
Accuracy of determining specific parameters of the urban forest using remote sensing

Abstract: This paper reviews the current state of knowledge in the field of urban forest inventory and specific tree parameters derived by remote sensing. The paper discusses the possibilities and limitations of using remote sensing to determine the following characteristics of individual trees acquired during the inventory: position (coordinates), tree height, breast height diameter, tree crown parameters (crown span, height of tree crown basis, crown projection surface), health condition, and tree species. A total of 543 papers published in scientific databases (Scopus® and ScienceDirect®) from the year 2000 to December 2017 have been analyzed; 86 of them were used for the review. The most important outcomes are: (a) the integration of many datasets, in particular spectral data (aerial images and satellite imageries) and structural data (LIDAR), allows the most complex use of remote sensing data and helps to improve the accuracy of parameter estimations as well as the correct identification of tree species; (b) the highest precision of measurement is characteristic of TLS, while ALS data has the largest operating system; (c) remote sensing data applications are associated with a large number of sophisticated processing on very large datasets using often proprietary elaborations; (d) the use of remote sensing data makes it possible to determine the characteristics of urban vegetation at various levels of detail and at different scales.