Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Buddhist Religious Care Is Incorporated for End-of-Life Stroke Patients Receiving Palliative Care at Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Revisiting Constructivist Grounded Theory

Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic has involved unprecedented health challenges, impacting not only the receipt of palliative care, but also that of religious care. The present article aimed to explore how Buddhist religious care is incorporated for end-of-life stroke patients receiving palliative care at home during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand. A constructivist grounded theory (CGT) was utilised with theoretical sampling of 30 respondents in the Angthong, Ayutthaya, and Pratumthani provinces, central Thailand, from June 2020 to March 2022. Online in-depth interviews were video-recorded and transcribed, using written memos and constant comparative methods. Data transcripts were analysed using open, axial, selective coding, categorising, and themes. Our CGT study identified five themes of Buddhist religious care incorporated for end-of-life stroke patients receiving palliative care at home, namely Buddhist therapies, religious beliefs, religious life satisfaction, religious mental care, and religious needs. The implications of Buddhist religious care being incorporated for end-of-life stroke patients receiving home palliative care during the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.
Technology policy evaluation: The interaction between the ﬁnancial constraint of ﬁrms and level of ﬁnancial additionality

This study analyses the differentiated effects of the public support for private R&D and innovation considering the financial situation of the firm. Two main questions are analyzed. Firstly, do the firms that have less access to funds for RDI – and therefore could depend more on the public support- get more frequently support? And, secondly, do such firms show a higher level of financial additionality than the firms with less financial restrictions? Despite of the fact that market failures imply basically that firms underinvest in R&D and often lack access to financial markets, only a few papers were detected that analyze the above-mentioned questions and present contradictory non-conclusive results. All of them used only one or two – often dummy- variables as indicator to measure the financial restrictions. Moreover, only four studies analyzed the intermediating role of the financial restriction on the policy impact in terms of the financial additionality and five measures its effect on the degree of participation. The main novelty of this paper is the simultaneous use of a broad set 17 different indicators (reflecting quantitative data on the firm’s liabilities or indebtedness, assets, and liquidity) directly derived from the firms ’ balance sheet. These were clustered by a factor analysis in 7 synthetic indicators, which are used in an innovation policy evaluation framework based on the Propensity Score Matching Method. The main findings show that in Spain financial constraints negatively affect the access to public funds. There are significant differences between the level and cost of debt for both probability and financial additionality. Solvency indicators report that solvent firms are negatively discriminated for the likelihood of participation, however we find different effects for the impact depending on the public support that firms receive and their size.
A S IMPLE AND D EBIASED S AMPLING M ETHOD FOR P ERSONALIZED R ANKING

Pairwise ranking models have been widely used to address various problems, such as recommendation. The basic idea is to learn the rank of users’ preferred items through separating items into positive samples if user-item interactions exist, and negative samples otherwise. Due to the limited number of observed interactions, pairwise ranking models face serious class-imbalance issue. Our theoretical analysis shows that current sampling-based methods cause the vertex-level imbalance problem, which makes the norm of learned item embeddings towards infinite after a certain training iterations, and consequently results in vanishing gradient and affects the model performance. To this end, we propose VINS, an efficient Vital Negative Sampler, to alleviate the class-imbalance issue for pairwise ranking models optimized by gradient methods. The core of VINS is a bias sampler with reject probability that will tend to accept a negative candidate with a larger popularity than the given positive item. Evaluation results on several real datasets demonstrate that the proposed sampling method speeds up the training procedure 30% to 50% for ranking models ranging from shallow to deep, while maintaining and even improving the quality of ranking results in top-N item recommendation.
Open Research Online “As the Twig is bent, so is the Tree Inclined”: Research engagement among pre-service EFL teachers

Teacher research tends to have a low uptake among teachers, which might be due to the fact that they are not generally identified with the role of the teacher as a researcher in initial teacher education programs. Also, as there is little research on the effects of research introduction courses on pre-service teachers, this descriptive study explored pre-service English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ attitudes towards research engagement and the benefits and difficulties they experienced throughout this process. To this end, pre-service EFL teachers (N= 32) from a state university in Turkey, who took a course on research engagement, participated in this study. This study adopted a mixed-methods research design: We triangulated quantitative survey data with the qualitative data elicited through an open-ended survey and semi-structured focus-group interviews. The findings described pre-service teachers’ attitudes towards research from self-efficacious, behavioural, cognitive, and affective perspectives, as well as elicited the perceived benefits and challenges from participants’ responses. Overall, we found that participants developed positive views towards research as part of the course and they felt more self-efficacious and overcame their research anxiety. At the same time, our study also showed that while most participants found the research methodology course important, less than one third of them planned to conduct research when they become in-service teachers. The study concludes by discussing the implications for initial teacher education programs. ABSTRACT Nearly any existing framework reflecting on the skills essential for success in the 21st century includes critical thinking competencies (Ananiadou & Claro, 2009). Thus, enhancing learners’ critical thinking skills for their academic and future professional development has been among the primary concerns of
Peer Feedback to Improve Indonesian Adult Learners' Writing Skills: A Literature Review

Demonstrating good writing skills in English is considered important to master for students in tertiary level. In addition, as higher education institutions in Indonesia have been conducting teaching and learning activities online to mitigate COVID-19 viral spread, students' engagement in learning has been reported to be low due to boredom and tiresome in an online learning environment. Therefore, teachers need to plan and implement strategies to promote students' skills in writing and students' engagement in learning activities, in this case writing course. One of them is by practicing peer feedback. The purpose of this paper is to critically review peer feedback in improving Indonesian adult learners' writing skills in English course. In this literature review, 23 documents (a book chapter and peer-reviewed articles) were synthesized to find how peer feedback is relevant and beneficial in the tertiary education context. This paper argues that peer feedback is advantageous in improving adult learners' writing skills in that it facilitates meaning negotiation, it fosters critical thinking, and it promotes collaborative learning. However, teachers should anticipate possible issues emerging in peer feedback practice by providing pre-requisite training for students.
Cardiometabolic characterization in metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease

Background To better understand the patient's heterogeneity in fatty liver disease (FLD), metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) was proposed by international experts as a new nomenclature for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular risk, assessed through coronary artery calcium (CAC) and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), of patients without FLD and patients with FLD and its different subtypes. Methods Cross sectional study of 370 patients. Patients with FLD were divided into 4 groups: FLD without metabolic dysfunction (non-MD FLD), MAFLD and the presence of overweight/obesity (MAFLD-OW), MAFLD and the presence of two metabolic abnormalities (MAFLD-MD) and MAFLD and the presence of T2D (MAFLD-T2D). MAFLD-OW included two subgroups: metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUHO). The patients without FLD were divided into 2 groups: patients without FLD and without MD (non-FLD nor MD; reference group) and patients without FLD but with MD (non-FLD with MD). EAT and CAC (measured through the Agatston Score) were determined by computed tomography. Results Compared with the reference group (non-FLD nor MD), regarding EAT, patients with MAFLD-T2D and MAFLD-MUHO had the highest risk for CVD (OR 15.87, 95% CI 4.26-59.12 and OR 17.60, 95% CI 6.71-46.20, respectively), patients with MAFLD-MHO were also at risk for CVD (OR 3.62, 95% CI 1.83-7.16), and patients with non-MD FLD did not have a significantly increased risk (OR 1.77; 95% CI 0.67-4.73). Regarding CAC, patients with MAFLD-T2D had an increased risk for CVD (OR 6.56, 95% CI 2.18-19.76). Patients with MAFLD-MUHO, MAFLD-MHO and non-MD FLD did not have a significantly increased risk compared with the reference group (OR 2.54, 95% CI 0.90-7.13; OR 1.84, 95% CI 0.67-5.00 and OR 2.11, 95% CI 0.46-9.74, respectively). Conclusion MAFLD–T2D and MAFLD–OW phenotypes had a significant risk for CVD. MAFLD new criteria reinforced the importance of identifying metabolic phenotypes in populations as it may help to identify patients with higher CVD risk and offer a personalized therapeutic management in a primary prevention setting.
Effects of combined aerobic and resistance training on gut microbiota and cardiovascular risk factors in physically active elderly women: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Exercise can modulate gut microbiota and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the association between exercise-induced changes in gut microbiota and CVD risk have not been investigated. Objective: This study determined the effects of exercise training on CVD risk and gut microbiota in physically active elderly women and whether exercise-induced gut microbiota changes were associated with CVD risk. Methods: An 8-week randomized controlled trial was conducted with 14 elderly women assigned to exercise group (n = 8) or control group (n = 6). Physical function, sarcopenic obesity, and metabolic syndrome were evaluated as components of CVD risk. Gut microbiota composition was determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to examine intra-group and inter-group differences. Results: A significant group × time interaction was observed for chair sit-and-reach (F = 8.262, p = 0.014), single-leg standing with eyes closed (F = 7.340, p = 0.019), waist circumference (F = 6.254, p = 0.028), and body fat mass (F = 12.263, p = 0.004), for which the exercise group showed improved trends. The exercise group exhibited significant improvements in skeletal muscle mass (p = 0.041) and fasting blood glucose (p = 0.017). Regarding gut microbiota, a significant interaction was observed for the class Betaproteobacteria (F = 6.822, p = 0.023) and genus Holdemania (F = 4.852, p = 0.048). Conclusion: The 8-week exercise training improved physical function, lowered CVD risk, and modulated relative abundance of gut microbiota associated with CVD in physically active elderly women.
Survival and risk factors associated with mortality in people living with HIV from 2005 to 2018 in Nanjing, China

Background Although the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) decreased the mortality of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV), substantially, hundreds of thousands of people are dying of AIDS each year. The accurate survival patterns and factors related to death among PLHIV were rarely reported. In this study, we evaluated survival status and identified factors associated with death among PLHIV in Nanjing. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of PLHIV followed-up in Nanjing and registered to the national HIV/AIDS comprehensive management information system from 2005 to 2018. We used the life table to calculate the cumulative survival rates. We applied the Kaplan-Meier to calculate median survival times and employed cox hazard proportional regression to analyze the associated factors related to death. Results The median survival time of PLHIV was 11.8 (95%CI:11.6–11.9) years from 2005 to 2018. Among 4,235 PLHIV included in this study, 7.5% had died of AIDS-related disease and the AIDS-related mortality rate was 2.0/100 PYs. The cumulative proportion surviving at the end of the interval was 95.2% over the 1st year, 94.0% over the 2nd year, 91.8% over the 5th year, and 85.4% over the 10th year, respectively. PLHIV who unaccepted ART showed a greater risk of death compared to those who accepted ART (AHR = 16.2, 95%CI:11.9~22.2). For baseline CD4 count, compared to CD4 < 200 cell/μL, higher CD4 count was demonstrated as a protective factor, with AHR = 0.2 (95%CI: 0.1~0.3) for ≥500 cell/μL, AHR = 0.3 (95%CI:0.2~0.4) for 350~499 cell/μL, AHR = 0.4 (95%CI:0.3~0.6 for 200~349 cell/μL). In addition, we observed a higher death risk in PLHIV who were screened through outpatient (AHR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.1~2.2) and inpatient (AHR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.1~2.5) compared to through VCT; the age of diagnosis was ≥50 years old (AHR = 9.5, 95%CI: 3.7~24.1) and 25~49 years old (AHR = 5.0, 95%CI: 2.0~12.3) compared to ≤ 24 years old; educated from junior and below (AHR = 3.4, 95%CI: 2.3~5.1) and Senior high school (AHR = 1.7, 95%CI: 1.1~2.7) compared to college and above. Conclusion The AIDS-related mortality among PLHIV in Nanjing was relatively low. A higher risk for AIDS-related deaths were observed among PLHIV who unaccepted ART, whose baseline CD4 cell count was<200 cell/μL, older age, and lower educated.
The effect of exercise on academic fatigue and sleep quality among university students

Background Routine academic events may cause fatigue and impair sleep quality. This research aimed to examine the prevalence and risk factors for academic fatigue among college students and its adverse effects on well-being and sleep. A brief exercise intervention was also evaluated. Methods A total of 864 college students (33.5% female) filled out self-reported questionnaires with few open-ended questions. Fatigue and sleep quality were assessed using the translated version of the Smith Well-being Questionnaire and the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Spearman correlations, logistic regression analysis, and t-tests were used to test the hypotheses. In a second study, 29 female participants took part in an exercise intervention aimed at reducing fatigue and improving sleep. Results Among the effective respondents, nearly 40% reported higher academic-related fatigue, and a few reported high-quality sleep. Negative coping styles, workload, stress, and disturbed surroundings had a significant positive predictive effect on academic fatigue. In addition, adverse consequences of fatigue were found for physical health and academic-life balance, and a significant, positive relationship was observed between the degree of fatigue and PSQI score (p < 0.01). The exercise study showed some beneficial effects of the intervention for both sleep and fatigue outcomes. Conclusion Fatigue is common and widely reported among Chinese college students, and it may have a major negative impact on their health. Increased awareness of daily academic fatigue and its impact on college students is important for individuals, schools, and society. Exercise may be a simple way to improve sleep and reduce fatigue.
Melatonin ameliorates the adrenal and pancreatic alterations in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: Clinical, biochemical, and descriptive histopathological studies

Previous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of melatonin in diabetic rats. However, limited studies have been conducted on the potential effects of melatonin on the descriptive histopathological and morphometric findings in different compartments of the adrenal glands in diabetic animal models. In this study, using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model, we sought to examine histological alterations in the pancreas and adrenal glands and observe the effect of the administration of melatonin on the histopathology and morphology of the pancreas and the adrenal gland cortex and medulla that are altered by STZ-induced hyperglycemia. Rats were randomly assigned to four different groups: Group I, normal control; Group II, melatonin group (MT) (10 mg/kg/day); Group III, (diabetic STZ group), and Group IV, diabetic (STZ) + melatonin group (MT). Throughout the experiment, the animals' fasting blood sugar levels were measured. Blood was obtained to determine the animals' cumulative blood sugar levels after sacrification. For histological and morphometrical evaluations, the pancreatic and adrenal gland tissues were dissected and processed. Our results showed that diabetic rats receiving melatonin significantly (P < 0.05) improved their fasting blood sugar and cumulative blood sugar levels compared to the diabetic group not receiving melatonin. Furthermore, histopathological examinations of the pancreatic and adrenal tissues of the diabetic rats indicated the occurrence of severe histopathological and morphometric changes. Morphometric analysis of the adrenals indicated a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the thickness of the cortex zones [zona glomerulosa (ZG), zona fasciculata (ZF), and zona reticularis (ZR)] for the diabetic STZ group compared with other groups, and a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the diameter of the in adrenal gland medullas in the diabetic STZ rats compared to the other groups. Furthermore, treatment with melatonin restored these changes in both the pancreatic and adrenal gland tissues and produced a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in the cortex and medulla thickness compared to the untreated diabetic rats. Overall, melatonin significantly reduced the hyperglycemic levels of glucose in diabetic rats and reversed the majority of histopathological alterations in the tissues of the pancreas and adrenals, demonstrating its anti-diabetic activity.
Ozone and nitrogen dioxide regulate similar gene expression responses in Arabidopsis but natural variation in the extent of cell death is likely controlled by different genetic loci

High doses of ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) cause damage and cell death in plants. These two gases are among the most harmful air pollutants for ecosystems and therefore it is important to understand how plant resistance or sensitivity to these gases work at the molecular level and its genetic control. We compared transcriptome data from O3 and NO2 fumigations to other cell death related treatments, as well as individual marker gene transcript level in different Arabidopsis thaliana accessions. Our analysis revealed that O3 and NO2 trigger very similar gene expression responses that include genes involved in pathogen resistance, cell death and ethylene signaling. However, we also identified exceptions, for example RBOHF encoding a reactive oxygen species producing RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE PROTEIN F. This gene had increased transcript levels by O3 but decreased transcript levels by NO2, showing that plants can identify each of the gases separately and activate distinct signaling pathways. To understand the genetics, we conducted a genome wide association study (GWAS) on O3 and NO2 tolerance of natural Arabidopsis accessions. Sensitivity to both gases seem to be controlled by several independent small effect loci and we did not find an overlap in the significantly associated regions. Further characterization of the GWAS candidate loci identified new regulators of O3 and NO2 induced cell death including ABH1, a protein that functions in abscisic acid signaling, mRNA splicing and miRNA processing. The GWAS results will facilitate further characterization of the control of programmed cell death and differences between oxidative and nitrosative stress in plants.
Mycoplasma Bovis adhesins and their target proteins

Bovine mycoplasmosis is an important infectious disease of cattle caused by Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) which poses a serious threat to the breeding industry. Adhesin is involved in the initial process of M. bovis colonization, which is closely related to the infection, cell invasion, immune escape and virulence of this pathogenic microorganism. For the reason that M. bovis lacks a cell wall, its adhesin is predominantly located on the surface of the cell membrane. The adhesins of M. bovis are usually identified by adhesion and adhesion inhibition analysis, and more than 10 adhesins have been identified so far. These adhesins primarily bind to plasminogen, fibronectin, heparin and amyloid precursor-like protein-2 of host cells. This review aims to concisely summarize the current knowledge regarding the adhesins of M. bovis and their target proteins of the host cell. Additionally, the biological characteristics of the adhesin will be briefly analyzed.
The role of T-cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: From immunity to immunotherapy

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) encompass a group of complex entities of tumours affecting the aerodigestive upper tract. The main risk factors are strongly related to tobacco and alcohol consumption, but also HPV infection is often associated. Surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy are the standard treatments, though the 5-year overall survival is less than 50%. The advances in genomics, molecular medicine, immunology, and nanotechnology have shed a light on tumour biology which helps clinical researchers to obtain more efficacious and less toxic therapies. Head and neck tumours possess different immune escape mechanisms including diminishing the immune response through modulating immune checkpoints, in addition to the recruitment and differentiation of suppressive immune cells. The insights into the HNSCC biology and its strong interaction with the tumour microenvironment highlights the role of immunomodulating agents. Recently, the knowledge of the immunological features of these tumours has paved the way for the discovery of effective biomarkers that allow a better selection of patients with odds of improving overall survival through immunotherapy. Specially biomarkers regarding immune checkpoint inhibitors antibodies, such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 in combination with standard therapy or as monotherapy. New immunotherapies to treat head and neck cancer carcinomas, such as CAR T cells and nanoparticles have been the center of attention and in this review, we discuss the necessity of finding targets for the T cell in the cancer cells to generate CAR T cells, but also the relevance of evaluating specificity and safety of those therapies.