Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Occupational Stress and Its Economic Cost in Hong Kong: The Role of Positive Emotions

There has been less research on the costs of occupational stress attributed to certain job stressors in Chinese contexts. This study identified and validated common job stressors and estimated the economic cost in Hong Kong. The role of positive emotions in alleviating the economic costs of job stressors was also examined. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were adopted. The findings obtained from five focus group discussions and a survey validated five common job stressors: Job insecurity; quantitative workload; organizational constraints; interpersonal conflicts; and work/home interface. A total of 2511 employees were surveyed, with 2032 valid questionnaires returned (925 males, 1104 females, and 3 unidentified, whose ages ranged from 18 to 70 years). The economic costs were estimated by combining the costs of absenteeism, presenteeism, and medical expenses. Absenteeism mainly caused by job stressors of the work/home interface, job insecurity, and quantitative workload accounted for an annual economic cost of HK$550 million to HK$860 million. The annual economic cost due to presenteeism mainly caused by job stressors of job insecurity, interpersonal conflict, quantitative workload, and organizational constraints ranged from HK$1.373 billion to HK$2.146 billion. The cost of medical treatments associated with occupational stress was HK$2.889 billion to HK$4.083 billion. Therefore, the total annual economic cost of occupational stress was approximately HK$4.81 billion to HK$7.09 billion. Positive emotions, representing a less explored individual factor in the cost of occupational stress studies, was found to be negatively correlated with presenteeism and buffered the negative impact of job stressors on absenteeism. The theoretical contributions and practical implications of findings are discussed.
A Narrative Study of Equity in Clinical Assessment Through the Antideficit Lens.

PURPOSE Efforts to address inequities in medical education are centered on a dialogue of deficits that highlight negative underrepresented in medicine (UIM) learner experiences and lower performance outcomes. An alternative narrative explores perspectives on achievement and equity in assessment. This study sought to understand UIM learner perceptions of successes and equitable assessment practices. METHOD Using narrative research, investigators selected a purposeful sample of self-identified UIM fourth-year medical students and senior-level residents and conducted semistructured interviews. Questions elicited personal stories of achievement during clinical training, clinical assessment practices that captured achievement, and equity in clinical assessment. Using re-storying and thematic analysis, investigators coded transcripts and synthesized data into themes and representative stories. RESULTS Twenty UIM learners (6 medical students and 14 residents) were interviewed. Learners often thought about equity during clinical training and provided personal definitions of equity in assessment. Learners shared stories that reflected their achievements in patient care, favorable assessment outcomes, and growth throughout clinical training. Sound assessments that captured achievements included frequent observations with real-time feedback on predefined expectations by supportive, longitudinal clinical supervisors. Finally, equitable assessment systems were characterized as sound assessment systems that also avoided comparison to peers, used narrative assessment, assessed patient care and growth, trained supervisors to avoid bias, and acknowledged learner identity. CONCLUSIONS UIM learners characterized equitable and sound assessment systems that captured achievements during clinical training. These findings guide future efforts to create an inclusive, fair, and equitable clinical assessment experience.
Chemerin Is a Valuable Biomarker in Patients with HCV Infection and Correlates with Liver Injury

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced inflammation contributes to progressive liver disease. The chemoattractant protein chemerin is associated with systemic inflammation. We hypothesized that chemerin is a biomarker that predicts the severity of liver disease in HCV patients. Furthermore, we investigated whether serum chemerin levels change during the course of HCV treatment using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Therefore, we measured serum concentration of chemerin in a cohort of 82 HCV-infected patients undergoing DAA treatment. Serum chemerin was positively associated with leukocyte count and negatively with markers of hepatic function and the model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. Low circulating chemerin levels significantly correlated with advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis as measured by the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, the aminotransferase/platelet (AST/PLT) ratio index (APRI) score and the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) score. Chemerin did not correlate with viral load or viral genotype. Treatment with DAAs did not improve MELD score and leukocyte count within the observation period, up to three months after the end of DAA treatment. Accordingly, chemerin levels remained unchanged during the treatment period. We conclude that low circulating chemerin is a noninvasive biomarker for hepatic dysfunction and advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in HCV infection.
Glutamine-Directed Migration of Cancer-Activated Fibroblasts Facilitates Epithelial Tumor Invasion

Cancer-associated fibroblasts migrate and invade toward free glutamine and facilitate invasion of tumor epithelial cells, accounting for their movement away from the hostile conditions of the tumor towards nutrient-rich adjacent tissues. Tumors are complex tissues composed of transformed epithelial cells as well as cancer-activated fibroblasts (CAF) that facilitate epithelial tumor cell invasion. We show here that CAFs and other mesenchymal cells rely much more on glutamine than epithelial tumor cells; consequently, they are more sensitive to inhibition of glutaminase. Glutamine dependence drove CAF migration toward this amino acid when cultured in low glutamine conditions. CAFs also invaded a Matrigel matrix following a glutamine concentration gradient and enhanced the invasion of tumor cells when both cells were cocultured. Accordingly, glutamine directed invasion of xenografted tumors in immunocompromised mice. Stimulation of glutamine-driven epithelial tumor invasion by fibroblasts required previous CAF activation, which involved the TGFβ/Snail1 signaling axis. CAFs moving toward Gln presented a polarized Akt2 distribution that was modulated by the Gln-dependent activity of TRAF6 and p62 in the migrating front, and depletion of these proteins prevented Akt2 polarization and Gln-driven CAF invasion. Our results demonstrate that glutamine deprivation promotes CAF migration and invasion, which in turn facilitates the movement of tumor epithelial cells toward nutrient-rich territories. These results provide a novel molecular mechanism for how metabolic stress enhances invasion and metastasis. Significance: Cancer-associated fibroblasts migrate and invade toward free glutamine and facilitate invasion of tumor epithelial cells, accounting for their movement away from the hostile conditions of the tumor towards nutrient-rich adjacent tissues. Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals. org/content/canres/81/2/438/F1.large. jpg. Graphical Abstract
Therapeutic Potential of Heme Oxygenase-1 and Carbon Monoxide in Acute Organ Injury, Critical Illness, and Inflammatory Disorders

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an inducible stress protein that catalyzes the oxidative conversion of heme to carbon monoxide (CO), iron, and biliverdin (BV), the latter of which is converted to bilirubin (BR) by biliverdin reductase. HO-1 has been implicated as a cytoprotectant in various models of acute organ injury and disease (i.e., lung, kidney, heart, liver). Thus, HO-1 may serve as a general therapeutic target in inflammatory diseases. HO-1 may function as a pleiotropic modulator of inflammatory signaling, via the removal of heme, and generation of its enzymatic degradation-products. Iron release from HO activity may exert pro-inflammatory effects unless sequestered, whereas BV/BR have well-established antioxidant properties. CO, derived from HO activity, has been identified as an endogenous mediator that can influence mitochondrial function and/or cellular signal transduction programs which culminate in the regulation of apoptosis, cellular proliferation, and inflammation. Much research has focused on the application of low concentration CO, whether administered in gaseous form by inhalation, or via the use of CO-releasing molecules (CORMs), for therapeutic benefit in disease. The development of novel CORMs for their translational potential remains an active area of investigation. Evidence has accumulated for therapeutic effects of both CO and CORMs in diseases associated with critical care, including acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), mechanical ventilation-induced lung injury, pneumonias, and sepsis. The therapeutic benefits of CO may extend to other diseases involving aberrant inflammatory processes such as transplant-associated ischemia/reperfusion injury and chronic graft rejection, and metabolic diseases. Current and planned clinical trials explore the therapeutic benefit of CO in ARDS and other lung diseases.
Intra- and Inter-Host Assessment of Bartonella Diversity with Focus on Non-Hematophagous Bats and Associated Ectoparasites from Brazil

The relationship among bats, ectoparasites and associated microorganisms is important to investigate how humans can become exposed to zoonotic agents. Even though the diversity of Bartonella spp. in bats and ectoparasites has been previously reported, the occurrence of gltA genotypes within hosts has not been assessed so far. We aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of Bartonella spp. in non-hematophagous bats and associated ectoparasites by assessing cloned gltA Bartonella genotypes in intra- and inter-hosts levels, as well as by using three additional molecular markers. Overall, 13.5% (18/133) bat blood samples, 17.18% bat flies (11/64) and 23.8% (5/21) Macronyssidae mite pools showed to be positive for Bartonella spp. Seventeen positive samples were submitted to gltA-cloning and three clones were sequenced for each sample. We also obtained 11, seven and three sequences for nuoG, rpoB and ftsZ genes, respectively. None were positive for the other target genes. We found at least two genotypes among the three gltA-cloned sequences from each sample, and 13 between all the 51 sequences. Among the nuoG, rpoB and ftsZ sequences we found eight, five and three genotypes, respectively. In the phylogenetic analysis, the sequences were positioned mainly in groups related to Bartonella identified in rodents, bats and bat flies. Herein, we showed the genetic diversity of Bartonella in bat’s blood and associated ectoparasites samples at both intra- and inter-host levels.
Chemosensory-Related Gene Family Members of the Horn Fly, Haematobia irritans irritans (Diptera: Muscidae), Identified by Transcriptome Analysis

Simple Summary Horn flies are blood-feeding ecoparasites that have a significant economic impact on cattle producers in the United States and worldwide. Insecticides have been utilized to reduce horn fly populations, but the development of insecticide resistance has prompted evaluation of alternative control approaches. Compounds isolated from natural products have shown some success in modifying interactions between the horn fly and its host. A more thorough understanding of the horn fly chemosensory pathway would enable identification of species-specific compounds. We assembled a database of genes that are expressed in appendages on the fly head that have a role in sensory input and compared these with genes expressed in adult fly bodies from which heads were removed. We identified genes that were enriched in head appendages and these were similar to previously described genes known to mediate an insect’s response to a chemical stimulus. These included odorant binding proteins and chemosensory binding proteins, as well as receptors that have a role in facilitating responses to odor and/or taste compounds, namely odorant, gustatory, and ionotropic receptors. These findings provide a resource to enable future studies targeting horn fly chemosensation as part of an integrated strategy to control this blood-feeding pest. Abstract Horn flies are one of the most significant economic pests of cattle in the United States and worldwide. Chemical control methods have been routinely utilized to reduce populations of this pest, but the steady development of insecticide resistance has prompted evaluation of alternative control strategies. Behavior modifying compounds from natural products have shown some success in impacting horn fly populations, and a more thorough understanding of the horn fly chemosensory system would enable improvements in the development of species-specific compounds. Using an RNA-seq approach, we assembled a transcriptome representing genes expressed in adult female and male horn fly head appendages (antennae, maxillary palps, and proboscides) and adult fly bodies from which heads were removed. Differential gene expression analysis identified chemosensory gene family members that were enriched in head appendage tissues compared with headless bodies. Candidate members included 43 odorant binding proteins (OBP) and 5 chemosensory binding proteins (CSP), as well as 44 odorant receptors (OR), 27 gustatory receptors (GR), and 34 ionotropic receptors (IR). Sex-biased expression of these genes was not observed. These findings provide a resource to enable future studies targeting horn fly chemosensation as part of an integrated strategy to control this blood-feeding pest.
Plasmid-Mediated Ampicillin, Quinolone, and Heavy Metal Co-Resistance among ESBL-Producing Isolates from the Yamuna River, New Delhi, India

Antibiotic resistance is one of the major current global health crises. Because of increasing contamination with antimicrobials, pesticides, and heavy metals, the aquatic environment has become a hotspot for emergence, maintenance, and dissemination of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance genes among bacteria. The aim of the present study was to determine the co-resistance to quinolones, ampicillin, and heavy metals among the bacterial isolates harboring extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) genes. Among 73 bacterial strains isolated from a highly polluted stretch of the Yamuna River in Delhi, those carrying blaCTX-M, blaTEM, or blaSHV genes were analyzed to detect the genetic determinants of resistance to quinolones, ampicillin, mercury, and arsenic. The plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) gene qnrS was found in 22 isolates; however, the qnrA, B, C, and qnrD genes could not be detected in any of the bacteria. Two variants of CMY, blaCMY-2 and blaCMY-42, were identified among eight and seven strains, respectively. Furthermore, merB, merP, merT, and arsC genes were detected in 40, 40, 44, and 24 bacterial strains, respectively. Co-transfer of different resistance genes was also investigated in a transconjugation experiment. Successful transconjugants had antibiotic and heavy metal resistance genes with similar tolerance toward antibiotics and heavy metals as did their donors. This study indicates that the aquatic environment is a major reservoir of bacteria harboring resistance genes to antibiotics and heavy metals and emphasizes the need to study the genetic basis of resistant microorganisms and their public health implications.
Interstitial Lung Abnormalities and Aging Biomarkers: A Mediation

pollution causes adult-onset asthma is sparse and equivocal. A nationwide study of women from the United States found that each 3.6 mg/m of long-term PM2.5 exposure was associated with an odds ratio of 1.20 (95% confidence interval, 0.99–1.46) for adult-onset asthma, with similar findings for NO2 (6). A large multicohort study in Europe (ESCAPE) reported numerous positive but insignificant associations between different trafficrelated exposure metrics and adult asthma incidence (7). Perhaps the window of vulnerability for asthma onset due to air pollution has already passed by age 35. Unfortunately, the authors were limited in their ability to investigate exposures earlier than this 3-year window with a 1-year lag. Sampling error is unlikely given that very large sample size, but bias is possible. The use of the health administrative databases precluded direct adjustment for potential individual-level confounders such as smoking, obesity, or family history of asthma. Unmeasured or residual confounding could bias results. Any negative confounding variables, however, would have to only (ormore strongly) affect asthma over COPD to explain the null result for asthma only. Although outcomemisclassification is possible, the asthma ascertainmentmethod used here by Shin and colleagues is similar to methods commonly applied in epidemiologic studies and not likely a major source of bias. Finally, we would expect any severe exposure misclassification to bias both the COPD and asthma analyses, thus it is not likely a major factor to explain the null asthma findings. Air pollution effect estimates are often relatively small (hazard ratio, 1.03–1.06 in this study), highlighting the need for large, well-conducted studies, such as the one by Shin and colleagues. Air pollution exposure is ubiquitous, and even a small effect estimate can have a large impact on the population’s health, especially when it contributes to the incidence of a chronic disease that impairs quality of life and increases health care use. From a policy standpoint, an increase in the incidence of an irreversible chronic disease is even more costly to society than acute events, such as asthma or COPD hospitalizations. There is a great need for studies on long-term air pollution exposure from childhood into adulthood and the incidence of chronic respiratory disease in adults. Research such as this work that involves areas where pollution concentrations are mostly below current regulatory standards is especially informative for future policy decision-making to protect public health. n Author disclosures are available with the text of this article at www.atsjournals. org.
Prediction of -Lactalbumin and -Lactoglobulin Composition of Aqueous Whey Solutions Using Fourier Transform Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Characterization and quantification of individual whey proteins are of crucial importance to many industrial dairy processes. Labor intensive wet-chemical methods are still being used for this purpose, but a rapid quantification method for individual whey proteins is highly desired. This work investigate the utility of Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy and Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy for rapid quantification of the two main whey proteins ( b -lactoglobulin and a -lactalbu-min) in complex aqueous whey solutions simulating production process streams. MIR and NIR spectra obtained on whey samples with known and varying amounts of the proteins of interest and are used to develop partial least squares prediction models. Selection of informative wavelength regions allowed for prediction of b -lactoglobulin and a -lactalbumin concentrations with very high precision and accuracy (root mean square error of cross-validation, or RMSECV, of 0.6% and R 2 of 0.99 for NIR), demonstrating the potential of being implemented for rapid in-line monitoring of protein composition in industrial whey streams. Two-dimensional MIR-NIR correlation spectroscopy is used to identify the most informative parts of the NIR spectra in relation to protein secondary structure. In addition multivariate curve resolution is applied to the MIR data to resolve mixture spectra and to elucidate the spectral ranges that were most useful in distinguishing between the two whey proteins. The study concludes that NIR spectroscopy has potential for accurate in-line protein quantification and overall secondary protein structure quantification which open new possibilities for in-line industrial applications.
Access to Psychological Support for Young People Following Stoma Surgery: Exploring Patients’ and Clinicians’ Perspectives

Psychological problems are common among people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) following stoma surgery. However, the ways in which stoma-related psychological needs are identified and addressed in health care settings remain unexplored. In this study, we investigated the perspectives of young people with a stoma and health care professionals about access to psychological support. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with young people with an IBD stoma (18–29 years, n = 13) and health care professionals (n = 15), including colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists, specialist nurses in IBD and stoma care, and general practitioners in England. Data collection and analysis were informed by constructivist grounded theory. Three analytic categories were developed: “initiating support-seeking,” “affirming psychological needs,” and “mobilizing psychological support,” which capture young peoples’ trajectory to access psychological support. Based on the findings, we highlight the need for both patients and health care professionals to assign greater priority to the identification of psychological symptoms post-stoma surgery. More effective care pathways, which include responsive psychological services, would enhance access to psychological support for young people with a stoma.
Polish Transition towards Circular Economy: Materials Management and Implications for the Construction Sector

Poland’s economy as the sixth largest economy in the EU is painfully experiencing the effects of natural resource depletion, which extend to increasing prices and the growing dependence on foreign suppliers. The situation is particularly unfavorable in the construction sector, which is among the most resource- and energy-consuming areas of the economy. This paper juxtaposes the situation of Polish construction industry in the context of the national economy with the context of the evolving EU policies promoting green solutions. The resulting changes in Polish legislation, industry and society are identified. The implementation of selected Circular Economy (CE) aspects, outcomes, emerging challenges and future directions are discussed. The social aspects related to this transformation were analyzed based on a survey carried out among construction industry consumers. The results clearly highlight that individuals are aware of the need to protect the environment, but also indicate a strong necessity to educate the populace about the consequences of the excessive exploitation of the environment and the long-term benefits of CE solutions.