Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sleep and Professional Burnout in Nurses, Nursing Technicians, and Nursing Assistants During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT Background The COVID-19 pandemic may trigger sleep disorders and burnout in nursing professionals. Purpose This study was designed to describe the occurrence of sleep disorders and burnout in a nursing team during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the associated factors. Methods A cross-sectional approach was used. The questionnaire was administered via the Internet. All of the participants were nursing professionals who had provided care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and data were collected between June and August 2020. Sociodemographic and work characterization instruments, the Jenkins Sleep Scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory were used. Results Five hundred seventy-two nursing professionals (nurses, nursing technicians, and nursing assistants) responded. Slightly over one quarter (26.4%) presented a sleep disorder, and 17.3% presented burnout. Professional category was a factor found to be associated with having a sleep disorder. Moreover, a lower prevalence both of disorders and of starting to use sleep medication was found among nurses than nursing assistants. Moreover, an association was found between having a high level of emotional exhaustion burnout and being a nursing technician, having a higher number of patients needing care, and starting to use sleep medication. The level of burnout related to depersonalization was significantly higher for nursing assistants, those with a weekly workload of 50 hours or more, and those starting to use sleep medication. Furthermore, burnout related to personal accomplishment was significantly higher in those starting to use sleep medication. Among the participants with sleep disorders, according to Jenkins Sleep Scale results, all of the participants presented a high or moderate level of emotional exhaustion and a high level of burnout related to personal accomplishment. Conclusions/Implications for Practice The findings indicate that the incidence of sleep disorders and burnout were high among nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and mainly related with starting to use sleep medication. The results demonstrate the importance of detecting and assessing the frequency of sleep disorders and professional exhaustion. Interventions that aim to improve sleep quality and working conditions for these professionals should be developed.
Efﬁciency and Safety of O 6 -Methylguanine DNA Methyltransferase ( MGMT P140K )-Mediated In Vivo Selection in a Humanized Mouse Model

Efﬁcient O 6 -methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT P140K )-mediated myeloprotection and in vivo selection have been demonstrated in numerous animal models and most recently in a phase I clinical study in glioblastoma patients. However, this strategy may augment the genotoxic risk of integrating vectors because of chemotherapy-induced DNA damage and the proliferative stress exerted during the in vivo selection. Thus, to improve the safety of the procedure, we evaluated a self-inactivating lentiviral MGMT P140K vector for transduction of human cord blood-derived CD34 + cells followed by transplantation of the cells into NOD/LtSz-scid/ Il2r c - / - mice. These experiments demonstrated signiﬁcant and stable enrichment of MGMT P140K transgenic human cells in the murine peripheral blood and bone marrow. Clonal inventory analysis utilizing linear ampliﬁcation-mediated polymerase chain reaction and high-throughput sequencing revealed a characteristic lentiviral integration proﬁle. Among the bone marrow insertions retrieved, we observed considerable overlap to previous MGMT P140K preclinical models or the clinical study. However, no signiﬁcant differences between our chemotherapy-treated and nontreated cohorts were observed. This also hold true when speciﬁc cancer gene databases and a functional annotation of hit genes by the Panther Database with respect to molecular function, biological process, or cellular component were assessed. Thus, in summary, our data demonstrate efﬁcient and long-term in vivo selection without overt hematological abnormalities using the lentiviral MGMT P140K vector. Furthermore, the study introduces humanized mouse models as a novel tool for the pre-clinical assessment of human gene therapy related toxicity.
A New Control Algorithm for Nonlinear Underactuated Mechanical Systems

Abstract In this work a new control algorithm for nonlinear underactuated mechanicalsystems (EUK) is proposed. The control problem of nonlinear underactuatedmechanical system forced with nonholonomic constraints is the main objectof many recent researches. In analogy with the Linear Quadratic Regulatoralgorithm (LQR), the proposed algorithm represents the extension of theUdwadia-Kalaba control method (UK) to underactuated mechanical systems.From this extension a new algorithm is originated, namely the extendedUdwadia-Kalaba control method (EUK). The e ectiveness of the combinedalgorithms (EUK) has been tested in the worst-case scenario in which thesystem is excited by an external force whose harmonic content is close tothe rst three system natural frequencies. This paper and its companionrepresent an e ort to improve the control strategy for nonlinear mechanicalsystems. 1 Introduction In this paper a system to perform vibration control of exible structures isproposed [1]. The case study examined is a three-story building model witha pendulum hinged on the third oor [2]. The motivations of this choicecan be summarized in two points. First, the three-story frame, in spite of itssimplicity, is a mechanical system whose dynamical behaviour is qualitativelysimilar to complex exible structures. Therefore, all algorithms capable to
The role of anxiety and callous-unemotional traits in the relationship between externalizing behaviors and sleep problems in clinic-referred youth

In a growing body of literature, poor sleep quality has been associated with externalizing problems. In adults, anxiety was found to mediate the relationship, and callous-unemotional (CU) traits were found to moderate it. We sought to examine these relationships in a child population. We examined these relationships in 239 clinic-referred youth (age 6–17) in Singapore with externalizing behavior problems. Parent- but not child-rated sleep problems were associated with increased parent-rated externalizing problems. This association was partially mediated by anxiety. Unlike in adults, CU traits did not moderate the relationship. Sleep problems were associated with externalizing problems regardless of the level of CU traits. It is possible externalizing behaviors may lead children to internalize experiences, leading to anxiety about their behaviors. Another possibility is externalizing behaviors may lead to more stressful life experiences due to negative reactions children with externalizing behaviors receive from parents, teachers, or peers. Regardless, the partial mediation found indicates anxiety may be an important factor to consider in future interventions focused on improving sleep as a means to reduce externalizing problems.
Influenza Vaccination Among Pregnant Women: Self-report Compared With Vaccination Data From Electronic Health Records, 2018-2020 Influenza Seasons

Objectives: Having accurate influenza vaccination coverage estimates can guide public health activities. The objectives of this study were to (1) validate the accuracy of electronic health record (EHR)–based influenza vaccination data among pregnant women compared with survey self-report and (2) assess whether survey respondents differed from survey nonrespondents by demographic characteristics and EHR-based vaccination status. Methods: This study was conducted in the Vaccine Safety Datalink, a network of 8 large medical care organizations in the United States. Using EHR data, we identified all women pregnant during the 2018-2019 or 2019-2020 influenza seasons. Surveys were conducted among samples of women who did and did not appear vaccinated for influenza according to EHR data. Separate surveys were conducted after each influenza season, and respondents reported their influenza vaccination status. Analyses accounted for the stratified design, sampling probability, and response probability. Results: The survey response rate was 50.5% (630 of 1247) for 2018-2019 and 41.2% (721 of 1748) for 2019-2020. In multivariable analyses combining both survey years, non-Hispanic Black pregnant women had 3.80 (95% CI, 2.13-6.74) times the adjusted odds of survey nonresponse; odds of nonresponse were also higher for Hispanic pregnant women and women who had not received (per EHR data) influenza vaccine during current or prior influenza seasons. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of EHR documentation of influenza vaccination compared with self-report were ≥92% for both survey years combined. The negative predictive value of EHR-based influenza vaccine status was 80.5% (95% CI, 76.7%-84.0%). Conclusions: EHR-based influenza vaccination data among pregnant women were generally concordant with self-report. New data sources and novel approaches to mitigating nonresponse bias may be needed to enhance influenza vaccination surveillance efforts.
Variants within MECP2 , a key transcriptional regulator, are associated with increased susceptibility to lupus and differential gene expression in lupus patients

Objective— Both genetic and epigenetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of lupus. Herein, we study methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 ( MECP2 ) polymorphism in a large cohort of lupus patients and controls, and determine functional consequences of the lupus-associated MECP2 haplotype. Methods— We genotyped 18 SNPs within MECP2 , located on chromosome Xq28, in a large cohort of European-derived lupus patients and controls. We studied the functional effects of the lupus-associated MECP2 haplotype by determining gene expression profiles in B cell lines from female lupus patients with and without the lupus-associated MECP2 risk haplotype. Results— We confirm, replicate, and extend the genetic association between lupus and genetic markers within MECP2 in a large independent cohort of European-derived lupus patients and controls (OR= 1.35, p= 6.65×10 ). MECP2 is a dichotomous transcriptional regulator that either activates or represses gene expression. We identified 128 genes that are differentially expressed in lupus patients with the disease-associated MECP2 haplotype; most (~81%) are upregulated. Genes that were upregulated have significantly more CpG islands in their promoter regions compared to downregulated genes. Gene ontology analysis using the differentially expressed genes revealed significant association with epigenetic regulatory mechanisms suggesting that these genes are targets for MECP2 regulation in B cells. Further, at least 13 of the 104 upregulated genes are interferon-regulated genes. The disease-risk MECP2 haplotype is associated with increased expression of the MECP2 transcriptional co-activator CREB1, and decreased expression of the co-repressor HDAC1. Conclusion— Polymorphism to the
Portable Device to Assist With Force Control in Ultrasound Acquisition

This study presents a portable device that ensures precise contact force between a subject and a probe to improve the stability and reproducibility of ultrasound (US) acquisition. The mechanical portion of the device includes a servo motor, gears, and a ball screw linear actuator; two photoelectric switches are used to limit the stroke. A combined force and position control system is developed, and a pressure threshold is introduced to reduce the chattering of the system so that it can be applied to US examinations of tissues of different stiffness levels. Force control experiments were conducted on the device, and the results showed that the device can overcome the chattering of a physician’s hand and movement caused by a subject’s respiration. Additionally, the stability of the US acquisition was substantially improved. Based on clinical trials on humans, this device was observed to improve the consistency of ultrasonic results and the repeatability of images, and it assisted sonographers with maintaining suitable contact force and improving imaging quality. The device can either be handheld by a physician or easily integrated with a manipulator as an autonomous robotic US acquisition device, thereby validating its potential for US applications.
Informing the Product Development of an mHealth Solution for People with Multiple Sclerosis Through Early Health Technology Assessment

The potential of mHealth is enormous for chronic conditions, yet the integration of these technologies into the clinical infrastructures and healthcare pathways remains an ongoing challenge. Digi-HTA has been developed to support health technology assessment activities for novel digital healthcare technologies. The use of Early Health Technology Assessment (EHTA) can help product development. The present study describes the way in which EHTA can guide the development of a product to anticipate future needs and market access.
MANP Activation Of The cGMP Inhibits Aldosterone Via PDE2 And CYP11B2 In H295R Cells And In Mice

Background: Aldosterone is a critical pathological driver for cardiac and renal diseases. We recently discovered that mutant atrial natriuretic peptide (MANP), a novel atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) analog, possessed more potent aldosterone inhibitory action than ANP in vivo. MANP and natriuretic peptide (NP)-augmenting therapy sacubitril/valsartan are under investigations for human hypertension treatment. Understanding the elusive mechanism of aldosterone inhibition by NPs remains to be a priority. Conflicting results were reported on the roles of the pGC-A (particulate guanylyl cyclase A receptor) and NP clearance receptor in aldosterone inhibition. Furthermore, the function of PKG (protein kinase G) and PDEs (phosphodiesterases) on aldosterone regulation are not clear. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of aldosterone regulation in a human adrenocortical cell line H295R and in mice. Results: We first provided evidence to show that pGC-A, not NP clearance receptor, mediates aldosterone inhibition. Next, we confirmed that MANP inhibits aldosterone via PDE2 (phosphodiesterase 2) not PKG, with specific agonists, antagonists, siRNA silencing, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments. Further, the inhibitory effect is mediated by a reduction of intracellular Ca2+ levels. We then illustrated that MANP directly reduces aldosterone synthase CYP11B2 (cytochrome p450 family 11 subfamily b member 2) expression via PDE2. Last, in PDE2 knockout mice, consistent with in vitro findings, embryonic adrenal CYP11B2 is markedly increased. Conclusions: Our results innovatively explore and expand the NP/pGC-A/3',5', cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)/PDE2 pathway for aldosterone inhibition by MANP in vitro and in vivo. In addition, our data also support the development of MANP as a novel ANP analog drug for aldosterone excess treatment.
A Rapid and Universal Workflow for Label‐Free‐Quantitation‐Based Proteomic and Phosphoproteomic Studies in Cereals

Proteomics and phosphoproteomics are robust tools to analyze dynamics of post‐transcriptional processes during growth and development. A variety of experimental methods and workflows have been published, but most of them were developed for model plants and have not been adapted to high‐throughput platforms. Here, we describe an experimental workflow for proteome and phosphoproteome studies tailored to cereal crop tissues. The workflow consists of two parallel parts that are suitable for analyzing protein/phosphoprotein from total proteins and the microsomal membrane fraction. We present phosphoproteomic data regarding quantification coverage and analytical reproducibility for example preparations from maize root and shoot, wheat leaf, and a microsomal protein preparation from maize leaf. To enable users to adjust for tissue specific requirements, we provide two different methods of protein clean‐up: traditional ethanol precipitation (PC) and a recently developed technology termed single‐pot, solid‐phase‐enhanced sample preparation (SP3). Both the PC and SP3 methods are effective in the removal of unwanted substances in total protein crude extracts. In addition, two different methods of phosphopeptide enrichment are presented: a TiO2‐based method and Fe(III)‐NTA cartridges on a robotized platform. Although the overall number of phosphopeptides is stable across protein clean‐up and phosphopeptide enrichment methods, there are differences in the preferred phosphopeptides in each enrichment method. The preferred protocol depends on laboratory capabilities and research objective. © 2022 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Mg 2 1 Block Unmasks Ca 2 1 /Ba 2 1 Selectivity of a 1G T-Type Calcium Channels

We have examined permeation by Ca 2 1 and Ba 2 1 , and block by Mg 2 1 , using whole-cell recordings from a 1G T-type calcium channels stably expressed in HEK 293 cells. Without Mg o2 1 , inward currents were comparable with Ca 2 1 and Ba 2 1 . Surprisingly, three other results indicate that a 1G is actually selective for Ca 2 1 over Ba 2 1 . 1) Mg 2 1 block is ; 7-fold more potent with Ba 2 1 than with Ca 2 1 . With near-physiological (1 mM) Mg o2 1 , inward currents were ; 3-fold larger with 2 mM Ca 2 1 than with 2 mM Ba 2 1 . The stronger competition between Ca 2 1 and Mg 2 1 implies that Ca 2 1 binds more tightly than Ba 2 1 . 2) Outward currents (carried by Na 1 ) are blocked more strongly by Ca 2 1 than by Ba 2 1 . 3) The reversal potential is more positive with Ca 2 1 than with Ba 2 1 , thus P Ca . P Ba . We conclude that a 1G can distinguish Ca 2 1 from Ba 2 1 , despite the similar inward currents in the absence of Mg o2 1 . Our results can be explained by a 2-site, 3-barrier model if Ca 2 1 enters the pore 2-fold more easily than Ba 2 1 but exits the pore at a 2-fold lower rate.
Compounds of tucum-do-cerrado (Bactris setosa) fruit with antioxidant activity

Abstract ‘Tucum-do-cerrado’ (Bactris setosa) is an edible fruit from the Brazilian ‘Cerrado’ biome marked by a high antioxidant potential and polyphenol content when compared to other fruits from the same biome. Its antioxidant activity is higher in the peel than in the pulp. Ethanolic and aqueous peel extracts were analyzed by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. We also investigated the aqueous peel extract for its antioxidant mechanism and isolated some of its compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography. Among the extracts tested, the aqueous peel extract exhibited the highest FRAP values, with a predominant free radical scavenger activity. The isolated compounds were identified as two catechins, a cyanidin, a peonidin, and a quercetin. Testing the antioxidant potential of the isolated compounds using the 2-deoxyribose degradation assay revealed that catechin and quercetin showed the highest antioxidant activity. Thus, our results advance the identification of ‘tucum-do-cerrado’ compounds with antioxidant activity. Graphical Abstract
INVITED PAPER , State of the Art for Differential Circuits and Baluns in Wireless Communications Transceivers; A New Wideband Active Balun in SiGe-BiCMOS Technology

The aim of this paper is three-fold : firstly, to provide a comprehensive overview of the use of differential circuits for analog signal processing in wireless transceivers; secondly, to describe in detail the conversion of single-ended signals to differential : corresponding theory of such devices, their characterisation, various methods of implementation and comparative analyses of their performance; and, finally, to propose a new solution for wideband baluns using active elements. This novel solution is based on the current conveyor; it has been modelled using the transistors parameters of a 0. 35μm SiGe BiCMOS technology. The salient features of the new implementation are : (a) stable 50Ω input-port impedance and easily controllable output impedance (50Ω/75Ω/100Ω); (b) stable matching between the differential output ports : within 1dB(3dB) amplitude and 10°(20°) phase balance up-to 2GHz(3GHz); (c) good signal quality : output signal harmonic distortion lower than 1% for input signals up-to 50mV; (d) excellent S-parameter performance (0-3GHz) : return losses lower than –10dB, reverse signal rejection better than 20dB, more than 25dB isolation between the two output ports, and 42dB common-mode rejection; and (d) stable performance over a 100°C operating temperature range. This performance advances the state of the art for single-ended to differential conversion circuits (evinced upon detailed comparisons to existent baluns).
A continuous production roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) dryer using solar energy

There is now an urgent need to consume immediately products in short periods because they can quickly reach the decomposition. The use of solar energy in dehydrated agricultural products is an important element in our days, since through the appropriate use of technology high yields can be achieved in the postharvest products. With the designed and construction of solar dehydrator and using a system thermal control, it is possible to reduce the drying time of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) 4 days for 5.098 h on average, with a standard deviation of 1.829. The experimental tests were run under a factorial design 3. The evaluation of the qualitative characteristics is performed by applying the methodology multi-criteria adjusts. This method of analysis compares the functionality of the dryer against other drying systems. The calculation tool is a powerful tool for food dryers that can simulate the drying system before building the prototype. The tool provides reliable results for good decision-making. With this, we obtain the equation that governs the process for drying time, it determines the capacity of the drying process, considering the response of variable final product moisture. The analysis reveals the behaviour of the roselle within the tolerance limits of the process; a lower humidity at 11.05% and the higher humidity in 14.64% are obtained to standard deviations. With the experimental run average value is obtained from the final product moisture to 12.84%. A continuous production roselle dryer using solar energy could improve the quality of production and integrate the use of zero energy design in the agricultural sector.