Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identifying Barriers to and Facilitators of Using a Mobile Fruit and Vegetable Market Intervention Delivered to Low-Income Housing Sites: A Concept Mapping Study

Background Mobile fruit and vegetable (F&V) markets may be a promising strategy to improve F&V intake among low-income and racial/ethnic minority groups. However, challenges remain in terms of maximizing the reach and utilization of such markets. Therefore, this study identifies perceived barriers to and facilitators of utilizing a mobile F&V market among residents who lived in low-income housing that received the markets. Specifically, this article reports the results of the follow-up acceptability study of the “Live Well, Viva Bien” (LWVB) intervention. Method We conducted concept mapping with residents in housing communities that received the Fresh to You (FTY) markets. Participants generated, sorted, and rated statements concerning barriers to and facilitators of market use. We compared the rating data by residents’ level of market utilization and created a map representing how statements clustered into conceptual themes. Results We retained 66 unique participant-generated statements. Eight thematic clusters emerged; four pertained to barriers: financial/promotion, produce-related, scheduling/knowledge, and logistic/awareness barriers, and four related to facilitators: produce/staffing, promotion, accessibility, and multilevel market facilitators. There was a strong correlation in ratings between participants who more frequently versus less frequently shopped at the markets (r = 0.94). Conclusions Participants identified financial barriers, market promotion, ease of market accessibility, produce variety and quality, and staffing as key factors influencing FTY market use. This study highlights the importance of identifying the perceived barriers to and facilitators of mobile F&V market use among target populations to inform future efforts to scale up such approaches.
Carbon Sequestration Processes in Temperate Soils With Different Chemical Properties and Management Histories

A variety of biochemical, physical, and chemical processes protect organic carbon from decomposition in soils; however, the influences of land use and soil properties on the relative importance of these processes are not well known. In this study, amounts of organic C in unprotected, physically protected, and 10 chemically and biochemically protected pools in agricultural and forest soils and soils with different mineralogical composition were investigated using a combination of organic C mineralization and sequential chemical extraction techniques. Results from the mineralization procedure with intact and disrupted aggregates showed that unprotected, physically protected, and biochemically/chemically protected organic C made up 1 to 7%, 0.1 to 2%, and more than 90% of soil organic C, respectively. The most important biochemically and chemically protected organic C pools, as revealed by the sequential extraction procedure, were (i) acid-hydrolyzable organic C, representing fulvic acid, amino sugars, and polysaccharides (34-58% of soil organic C), (ii) pyrophosphate-extractable organic C, representing compounds complexed with Fe and Al cations and oxyhydroxides and mineral surfaces (12-21%), (iii) nonextractable organic C, representing lignin and humin (7-29%), and (iv) base-hydrolyzable organic C, representing humic acids (3-21%). Cultivation of soils significantly decreased the amount of organic C in all pools except for those in the physically protected, humic acid and mineral-intercalated fractions. Results from the study showed that organic C in these soils was protected primarily by a combination of biochemical and chemical processes and that these were dictated by land management practices (organic matter inputs and quality) and soil chemical properties (levels of Fe and Al cations and oxyhydroxides).
Capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence : Method for the mycotoxin ochratoxin A

Ochratoxin A (OA) is a natural contaminant of a large variety of foods of plant and animal origin. Herein is reported the development of a capillary electrophoresis (CE) method for the quantification of OA in three very different commodities: roasted coffee, corn, and sorghum. The extraction and isolation procedures combine a silica column and an immunoaffinity cleanup column analogous to other chromatographic methods. After separation from interferences by CE, OA was exposed to light from an ultraviolet He/Cd laser, and the fluorescence of OA was measured [CE-laser-induced fluorescence (CE-LIF)]. When OA was added to several foods over the range 0.2-10 ng/g (ppb), the average recoveries were 86% for roasted coffee (SD = 12.2; n = 8), 99% for corn (SD = 10.1; n = 8), and 91% for sorghum (SD = 14.8; n = 4). Each instrumental analysis, after extraction and purification, required 13 min, equivalent to HPLC analysis. CE-LIF can be applied to the quantitation of OA in roasted coffee, corn, and sorghum, reducing organic solvent usage relative to HPLC.
Gender disparity in cases enrolled in clinical trials of visceral leishmaniasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background A higher caseload of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been observed among males in community-based surveys. We carried out this review to investigate how the observed disparity in gender distribution is reflected in clinical trials of antileishmanial therapies. Methods We identified relevant studies by searching a database of all published clinical trials in VL from 1980 through 2019 indexed in the Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO) VL clinical trials library. The proportion of male participants enrolled in studies eligible for inclusion in this review were extracted and combined using random effects meta-analysis of proportion. Results were expressed as percentages and presented with respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Heterogeneity was quantified using I2 statistics and sub-group meta-analyses were carried out to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Results We identified 135 published studies (1980–2019; 32,177 patients) with 68.0% [95% CI: 65.9%–70.0%; I2 = 92.6%] of the enrolled participants being males. The corresponding estimates were 67.6% [95% CI: 65.5%–69.7%; n = 91 trials; I2 = 90.5%; 24,218 patients] in studies conducted in the Indian sub-continent and 74.1% [95% CI: 68.4%–79.1%; n = 24 trials; I2 = 94.4%; 6,716 patients] in studies from Eastern Africa. The proportion of male participants was 57.9% [95% CI: 54.2%–61.5%] in studies enrolling children aged <15 years, 78.2% [95% CI: 66.0%–86.9%] in studies that enrolled adults (≥15 years), and 68.1% [95% CI: 65.9%–70.0%] in studies that enrolled patients of all ages. There was a trend for decreased proportions of males enrolled over time: 77.1% [95% CI: 70.2%–82.8%; 1356 patients] in studies published prior to the 1990s whereas 64.3% [95% CI: 60.3%–68.2%; 15,611 patients] in studies published on or after 2010. In studies that allowed the inclusion of patients with HIV co-infections, 76.5% [95% CI: 63.8%–85.9%; 5,123 patients] were males and the corresponding estimate was 64.0% [95% CI: 61.4%–66.5% 17,500 patients] in studies which excluded patients with HIV co-infections. Conclusions Two-thirds of the participants enrolled in clinical studies in VL conducted in the past 40 years were males, though the imbalance was less in children and in more recent trials. VL treatment guidelines are informed by the knowledge of treatment outcomes from a population that is heavily skewed towards adult males. Investigators planning future studies should consider this fact and ensure approaches for more gender-balanced inclusion.
Dynamic interplay between the co-opted Fis1 mitochondrial fission protein and membrane contact site proteins in supporting tombusvirus replication

Plus-stranded RNA viruses have limited coding capacity and have to co-opt numerous pro-viral host factors to support their replication. Many of the co-opted host factors support the biogenesis of the viral replication compartments and the formation of viral replicase complexes on subverted subcellular membrane surfaces. Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) exploits peroxisomal membranes, whereas the closely-related carnation Italian ringspot virus (CIRV) hijacks the outer membranes of mitochondria. How these organellar membranes can be recruited into pro-viral roles is not completely understood. Here, we show that the highly conserved Fis1 mitochondrial fission protein is co-opted by both TBSV and CIRV via direct interactions with the p33/p36 replication proteins. Deletion of FIS1 in yeast or knockdown of the homologous Fis1 in plants inhibits tombusvirus replication. Instead of the canonical function in mitochondrial fission and peroxisome division, the tethering function of Fis1 is exploited by tombusviruses to facilitate the subversion of membrane contact site (MCS) proteins and peroxisomal/mitochondrial membranes for the biogenesis of the replication compartment. We propose that the dynamic interactions of Fis1 with MCS proteins, such as the ER resident VAP tethering proteins, Sac1 PI4P phosphatase and the cytosolic OSBP-like oxysterol-binding proteins, promote the formation and facilitate the stabilization of virus-induced vMCSs, which enrich sterols within the replication compartment. We show that this novel function of Fis1 is exploited by tombusviruses to build nuclease-insensitive viral replication compartment.
Correlation between absorption bands and implanted alkali ions in LiF

Defects induced in LiF by bombardment with alkali ions in the 1 MeV energy range have been investigated by optical absorption measurements. Inaddition to the absorption bands of F and F-aggregate centres, newbands have been obtained after thermal annealings and have been attributed to implanted ion centres. The corresponding absorption band positions depend on the nature of the implanted ions and have been obtained at 520 nm for sodium (CA(Na+) band) and 680 nm for potassium (CA(K+) band). The comparison of these band positions with those of the colloidal centres created in NaCl and KCl by ionbombardment suggests that they are colloidal bands. So it has been deduced from Doyle's theory that the CA bands were due to the plasma resonance of quasimetallic particles formed after precipitation of the implanted ions. Les defauts crees dans LiF par bombardement avec des ions alcalins d'energie de l'ordre du MeV ont ete etudies par des mesures d'absorption optique. En plus des bandes d'absorption des centres F et agglomerats de F, de nouvelles bandes ont ete obtenues apres traitement thermique et ont ete attribuees a des centres dus aux ions implantes. Les positions des bandes d'absorption correspondantes dependent de la nature de l'ion implante et ont ete obtenues a 520 nm pour le sodium (bande CA(Na+)) et a 680 nm pour le potassium (bande CA(K+)). La comparaison entre les positions de ces bandes et celles des bandes colloidales crees dans NaCl et KCl par bombardement ionique, nous a suggere qu'elles etaient dues a la presence de colloides. La theorie de Doyle nous a permis de montrerque les bandes CA etaient dues a la resonance de plasma de particules quasimetalliques formees par la coagulation des ions implantes.
A single-arm, open-label, intervention study to investigate the improvement of glucose tolerance after administration of the 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) in the patients with mitochondrial diabetes mellitus

Abstract Background: Mitochondrial diabetes mellitus (MDM) is characterized by maternal inheritance, progressive neurosensory deafness, insulin secretory disorder, and progressive microvascular complications. Mitochondria are critical organelles that provide energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). An impairment of ATP production in pancreatic β cells is regarded as the main cause of the insulin secretory disorder in patients with MDM, and these patients require insulin replacement therapy early after the diagnosis. The amino acid 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), a precursor of heme metabolites, is a non-proteinogenic δ amino acid synthesized in mitochondria. An addition of ferrous iron to 5-ALA enhances heme biosynthesis and increases ATP production through an upregulation of the respiratory complex. Several studies have reported that the administration of 5-ALA and ferrous iron to existing treatment improved the glycemic control in both patients with prediabetes and those with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The additional administration of 5-ALA and ferrous iron to MDM patients on insulin therapy may improve their insulin secretory capacity and glycemic control by improving their mitochondrial function. The findings of this study are expected to provide new treatment options for MDM and improve the patients’ glycemic control and prognosis. Methods/design: This study is a single-arm, open-label pilot intervention study using clinical endpoints to investigate the effects of treatment with 5-ALA plus sodium ferrous citrate (SFC) to patients with MDM on their glucose tolerance. A total of 5 patients with MDM will be administered 5-ALA/SFC (200 mg/d) for 24 weeks. We will perform a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test before and at 24 weeks after the start of this 5-ALA/SFC treatment to evaluate glucose-dependent insulin responses. Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this study will be the first assessment of the effects of 5-ALA/SFC in patients with MDM. This study will obtain an evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of 5-ALA/SFC for patients with MDM. Trial registration: This study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000040581) on July 1, 2020 and with the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs071200025) on August 3, 2020.
Theoretical analysis of heteropolymeric transitions in superhelical DNA molecules of specified sequence

This paper develops accurate and computationally tractable, theoretical methods to analyze equilibrium heteropolymeric transitions in superhelical DNAs of specified sequence and kilo‐base length. Although these methods are generally applicable, their development here is focused primarily on superhelical strand separation, a heteropolymeric transition of great biological importance to which every base pair in a duplex DNA molecule is susceptible. Because the total number of states of this transition grows exponentially with molecular length, exact analytic methods that consider all possible states are not feasible for DNAs of practical interest. First, an approximate statistical mechanical analysis is developed in which all states are considered whose free energies do not exceed that of the minimum energy state by more than a specified threshold amount. An approximate partition function is constructed using these states, from which estimates of the equilibrium values of important transition parameters are .
Central Nervous System (CNS) Viral Seeding by Mature Monocytes and Potential Therapies To Reduce CNS Viral Reservoirs in the cART Era

We characterized mechanisms of CNS viral reservoir establishment/replenishment using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of PLWH on cART and propose therapeutic targets to reduce/block selective entry of cells harboring HIV (HIV+) into the CNS. Using DNA/RNAscope, we show that CD14+ CD16+ monocytes with integrated HIV, transcriptionally active, and/or with active viral replication from PBMC of PLWH prescribed cART and virally suppressed, selectively transmigrate across a human BBB model. ABSTRACT The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) enters the central nervous system (CNS) within a few days after primary infection, establishing viral reservoirs that persist even with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). We show that monocytes from people living with HIV (PLWH) on suppressive cART harboring integrated HIV, viral mRNA, and/or viral proteins preferentially transmigrate across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to CCL2 and are significantly enriched post-transmigration, and even more highly enriched posttransmigration than T cells with similar properties. Using HIV-infected ART-treated mature monocytes cultured in vitro, we recapitulate these findings and demonstrate that HIV+ CD14+ CD16+ ART-treated monocytes also preferentially transmigrate. Cenicriviroc and anti-JAM-A and anti-ALCAM antibodies significantly and preferentially reduce/block transmigration of HIV+ CD14+ CD16+ ART-treated monocytes. These findings highlight the importance of monocytes in CNS HIV reservoirs and suggest targets to eliminate their formation and reseeding. IMPORTANCE We characterized mechanisms of CNS viral reservoir establishment/replenishment using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of PLWH on cART and propose therapeutic targets to reduce/block selective entry of cells harboring HIV (HIV+) into the CNS. Using DNA/RNAscope, we show that CD14+ CD16+ monocytes with integrated HIV, transcriptionally active, and/or with active viral replication from PBMC of PLWH prescribed cART and virally suppressed, selectively transmigrate across a human BBB model. This is the first study to our knowledge demonstrating that monocytes from PLWH with HIV disease for approximately 22 years and with long-term documented suppression can still carry virus into the CNS that has potential to be reactivated and infectious. This selective entry into the CNS—and likely other tissues—indicates a mechanism of reservoir formation/reseeding in the cART era. Using blocking studies, we propose CCR2, JAM-A, and ALCAM as targets on HIV+ CD14+ CD16+ monocytes to reduce and/or prevent CNS reservoir replenishment and to treat HAND and other HIV-associated comorbidities.
A Systematic Review of Motivational Interviewing to Address Substance Use with Justice-Involved Adults

Abstract Background Motivational Interviewing (MI) is widely used in substance abuse treatment, possibly due to the short sessions and the treatment’s cost-effectiveness. Previous research has established the efficacy of MI among a broad range of populations and outcomes. However, there is a lack of a review of the knowledge about if MI works with justice-involved individuals who have substance use issues. Purpose: This review aimed to examine the extent of the literature on MI as a treatment to decrease rates of substance use for justice-involved individuals. Methods: The databases utilized for the review include Academic Search Complete (EBSCO), PsycINFO, and ProQuest. The dates for the literature inclusion were from 2008 to March 2020. The literature search was initiated in February and was completed in March 2020. Results: Five RCT studies were identified. Studies were conducted using populations during incarceration in prison, prior to release from jail, through probation, and those with DWI charges. However, all of the populations included were actively being monitored for substance use. All five studies found no difference between groups at the latest point in the study, which for most included the follow-up measure. Consideration for potential moderators such as severity and type of substance use, and length of treatment and follow up data are discussed. Conclusion: The results of the review indicated that more standardized and rigorous research is needed for exploring MI with individuals involved with the justice system with the focus of decreasing substance use.
p-STAT3 expression in breast cancer correlates negatively with tumor size and HER2 status

Abstract Although some studies have reported the expression and clinical significance of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) in breast cancer tissues, it is still controversial whether p-STAT3 play a role in promoting or suppressing cancer. Here, we used immunohistochemistry analysis to explore expression of p-STAT3 in 407 cases of breast cancer, and analyzed the relationship between p-STAT3 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of breast cancer patients. Positive p-STAT3 expression was seen in 112 cases (27.5%) of breast cancer. p-STAT3 expression was negatively correlated with tumor size, tumor stage and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, and the positive rate of p-STAT3 was lowest in HER2-enriched subtype breast cancer (15.3%), while other subtypes were luminal B (23.0%), luminal A (30.2%), and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (37.5%). Logistic regression model multivariate analysis showed that the independent correlation factor of p-STAT3 expression in breast cancer was tumor size (OR = 0.187, 95% CI = 0.042–0.839, P = .029) and HER2 status (OR = 0.392, 95% CI = 0.216–0.710, P = .002). In this study, no clear relationship was observed between patients’ prognosis and expression of p-STAT3. Therefore, we suggest that p-STAT3 expression in breast cancer is negatively correlated with tumor size and HER2 status, but appears to have no effect on survival.
Removal of full-thickness vertical corneal stromal wooden foreign bodies: An innovative ab-interno technique

A 28-year-old male presented with three full-thickness stromal wooden foreign bodies vertically oriented in the left cornea. An innovative intracameral approach was used. Paracentesis was done and healon was injected into the anterior chamber. Iris repositor was introduced into the anterior chamber and the area of foreign bodies was pushed up to compress the stroma. The wooden foreign body projected above the corneal surface and were picked up one by one using McPherson forceps. One of the foreign bodies has penetrated through the Descemet's membrane resulting a corneal perforation. A corneal perforation was confirmed by observing egress of the irrigating solution, injected into the anterior chamber through the paracentesis opening. The corneal perforation was sealed with corneal glue. He achieved 6/9 BCVA (OS) at 8 weeks and maintained it during18 months follow-up.
Effects of molecular targeting agents and immune-checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced cancer who are near the end of life

Abstract Background In recent years, the use of both molecular targeting agents (MTAs) and immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) tend to occupy important positions in systemic anticancer therapy (SACT). The objective of this study is to describe the predictors of SACT include both MTAs and ICIs near the end of life (EOL) and the effect on EOL care in patients with advanced cancer. Methods We analyzed all patients who died of advanced cancer from August 2016 to August 2019, and we analyzed the survival time of patients who underwent anticancer agents excluded due to the loss of information about the last administration of SACT. The primary endpoint of this study was to identify predictors during the last administration of SACT near EOL. Results In a multivariate analysis, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) (ORs 33.781) was significantly related factors within 14 days of death from the last administration of SACT. Age (ORs 0.412), ECOG-PS (ORs 11.533), primary cancer site of upper GI cancers (ORs 2.205), the number of comorbidities (ORs 0.207), MTAs (ORs 3.139), and ICIs (ORs 3.592) were significantly related factors within 30 days of death. The median survival time (MST) of patients with PS 3–4 was 29 days, while that of patients with both PS 0–2 was 76 days. The prevalence rate of delirium with MTAs was 17.5%, which was significantly lower than that of patients without it (31.8%). The prevalence rate of the mean dose of opioids in patients with ICIs was 97.9 mg/day, which was significantly higher than that of patients without it (44.9 mg/day). Conclusions Age, ECOG-PS, primary cancer site, the number of comorbidities, MTAs, and ICIs use were significant associated with SACT near EOL. Information on these factors may aid clinical decision making in referral to palliative care institutes.