Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Professional quality of life and burnout amongst radiation oncologists: The impact of alexithymia and empathy

Background and Purpose. Different factors may influence the professional quality of life of oncology professionals. Among them, personality traits, as alexithymia and empathy, are underinvestigated. Alexithymia is about deficits in emotion processing and awareness. Empathy is the ability to understand another’s ‘state of mind’/emotion. The PROject on BurnOut in RadiatioN Oncology (PRO BONO) assesses professional quality of life, including burnout, in the field of radiation oncology and investigates alexithymia and empathy as contributing factors. Material and Methods. An online survey was conducted amongst ESTRO members. Participants completed 3 validated questionnaires for alexithymia, empathy and burn-out: a)Toronto Alexithymia Scale; b)Interpersonal Reactivity Index; c)Professional Quality of Life Scale. The present analysis, focusing on radiation/clinical oncologists, evaluates Compassion Satisfaction (CS), Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) and Burnout and correlates them with alexithymia and empathy (empathic concern, perspective taking and personal distress) with generalized linear modeling. Significant covariates on univariate linear regression analysis were included in the multivariate linear regression model.
Efficacy of low-dose ketamine infusion in anxious vs nonanxious depression: revisiting the Adjunctive Ketamine Study of Taiwanese Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression

Abstract Background The antidepressant effect of low-dose ketamine infusion on Taiwanese patients with anxious vs nonanxious treatment-resistant depression (ANX-TRD vs NANX-TRD) has remained unknown. Methods In total, 71 patients with TRD were randomized to three groups. Each group had participants who received saline infusions mixed with 0 (a normal saline infusion), 0.2, and 0.5 mg/kg of ketamine. Participants were followed up for 2 weeks. Anxious depression was defined as major depressive disorder with a total score of 7 or more on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Anxiety-Somatization factor. Generalized estimating equation models were used to investigate the effects of treatment (ketamine vs placebo) and depression type (ANX-TRD vs NANX-TRD) in the reduction of depressive symptoms during the follow-up period. Results Patients with ANX-TRD were less likely to respond to a single low-dose ketamine infusion than those with NANX-TRD. Among patients with NANX-TRD, low-dose ketamine infusion was significantly superior to placebo for reducing depressive symptoms. However, among patients with ANX-TRD, ketamine was not superior to placebo; nonetheless, approximately 30% of the patients responded to ketamine infusion compared to 13% who responded to the placebo. Conclusions Low-dose ketamine infusion was effective for Taiwanese patients with NANX-TRD but not so effective for those with ANX-TRD. A higher level of anxiety severity accompanying depression was related to greater depression severity. This may confound and reduce the antidepressant effect of ketamine infusion.
Increasing dietary phytate has a significant anti-nutrient effect on apparent ileal amino acid digestibility and digestible amino acid intake requiring increasing doses of phytase as evidenced by prediction equations in broilers

Cobb 400, male broilers (n = 4,752) were housed in 12 pens/diet and 33 birds/pen. There were 3 levels of phytate P (0.24, 0.345, or 0.45%) and 4 phytase doses (0, 500, 1,000 or 2,000 phytase units (FTU)/kg) to evaluate the influence of phytate and phytase dose on apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and digestible nutrient intake. Diets were formulated with reduced Ca (0.22%), available P (0.20%), energy (80 to 120 kcal/kg) and amino acids (1 to 5%). On day 21, digesta was collected from 8 birds/pen. Prediction equations determined the linear or non-linear influence of phytate P, log phytase dose, and the interaction. The AID of amino acids, Ca or P and digestible amino acid or Ca intake were influenced by linear or non-linear phytate P × log phytase dose (P < 0.0001). Increasing the dietary phytate P from 0.24 to 0.345 or 0.45% was predicted to reduce the AID of amino acids in a non-linear manner by an average of 6 to 7 percentage points, respectively. This corresponded to a non-linear decrease in digestible amino acid intake of an average of 80 to 90 mg/D. The negative effect of increasing dietary phytate P from 0.24 to 0.45% on AID was greatest for cysteine (−14 percentage points), aspartic acid or glycine (−9 percentage points) and lowest for methionine, tryptophan, serine, or glutamic acid (−5 percentage points). The predicted digestible intake of lysine (−120 mg/D), aspartic acid (−180 mg/D), or glutamic acid (−290 mg/D) were reduced in birds fed diets containing 0.345% vs. 0.24% phytate P. Phytase supplementation was predicted to increase the AID of amino acids, Ca, or P in a non-linear-log or log-linear manner at all levels of phytate P, with the greatest response at higher doses of phytase in diets containing 0.345 or 0.45% phytate P. The effect of phytase on digestible nutrient intake was less clear. Prediction equations can be useful to determine the influence of phytase and phytate P on AID and digestible nutrient intake in broilers.
Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Protein 3A Domains Essential for Growth of Lymphoblasts: Transcriptional Regulation through RBP-Jκ/CBF1 Is Critical

ABSTRACT Experimental reverse genetic replacement of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 3A (EBNA3A) with a conditional mutant EBNA3A revealed that EBNA3A is critical for continued lymphoblastoid cell (LCL) growth. Wild-type (wt) EBNA3A expressed in the LCLs specifically sustained growth under nonpermissive conditions, whereas EBNA3B or EBNA3C expression had no effect (S. Mauro, E. Johannsen, D. Illanes, A. Cooper, and E. Kieff, J. Virol. 77:10437-10447, 2003). This genetic system and related biochemical assays have now been used to discover that EBNA3A lacking amino acid residues 170 to 240 (Δ170-240), TLGC202 to AAGA202, or Δ300-386, which are deficient in repression of EBNA2 activation of an RBP-Jκ/CBF1-dependent EBV Cp enhancer, are null mutations for LCL growth, whereas EBNA3A Δ2-124, Δ410-439, Δ440-470, Δ470-500, Δ500-523, Δ523-612, and Δ620-820, which are wt in repression are wt for LCL growth. Thus, EBNA3A regulation of transcription through RBP-Jκ/CBF1 is critical for LCL growth. EBNA3A mutants deleted of amino acid residues 240 to 300, 386 to 410, or 827 to 944 were intermediate, null, or intermediate, respectively, for LCL growth despite being wt for RBP-Jκ association and repression. Amino acid residues 240 to 300, 386 to 410, and, particularly, C-terminal residues 827 to 944 are therefore likely to contribute to LCL growth through RBP-Jκ-independent mechanisms.
Spin Polarization Reveals the Coordination Geometry of the [FeFe] Hydrogenase Active Site in Its CO-Inhibited State

The active site of [FeFe] hydrogenase features a binuclear iron cofactor Fe2ADT(CO)3(CN)2, where ADT represents the bridging ligand aza-propane-dithiolate. The terminal diatomic ligands all coordinate in a basal configuration, and one CO bridges the two irons leaving an open coordination site at which the hydrogen species and the competitive inhibitor CO bind. Externally supplied CO is expected to coordinate in an apical configuration. However, an alternative configuration has been proposed in which, due to ligand rotation, the CN– bound to the distal Fe becomes apical. Using selective 13C isotope labeling of the CN– and COext ligands in combination with pulsed 13C electron–nuclear–nuclear triple resonance spectroscopy, spin polarization effects are revealed that, according to density functional theory calculations, are consistent with only the “unrotated” apical COext configuration.
Serum Aldosterone Concentration, Blood Pressure, and Coronary Artery Calcium

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Aldosterone is a steroid hormone regulating fluid and electrolyte homeostasis and is known to increase the risk of atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined the associations of serum aldosterone concentrations with subclinical atherosclerosis and all-cause mortality. This study included 948 adults aged 46 to 88 years from the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) with measurements of serum aldosterone and plasma renin activity and not taking antihypertensive medications. Coronary calcification was longitudinally assessed using Agatston coronary artery calcium score from computed tomography scans. All-cause mortality was ascertained from the medical record. The average age (SD) was 62.3 (9.4) years and 53% were male. Among 700 subjects who had follow-up coronary artery calcium score (median follow-up of 6.4 years), higher aldosterone levels (per 100 pg/mL) were associated with higher coronary artery calcium (relative ratio, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.04–1.32]), with the association being stronger in individuals with suppressed plasma renin activity (≤0.5 μg/L/hr). Systolic or diastolic blood pressure mediated around 45% of the total effect of aldosterone on coronary artery calcium. Over a median follow-up of 12.5 years (120 deaths identified among 948 subjects), aldosterone was associated with the increased risk of all-cause mortality when plasma renin activity was suppressed; hazard ratio per 100 pg/mL, 1.70 (95% CI, 1.10–2.63). In this study, we found that higher aldosterone levels were associated with the increased risk of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and all-cause mortality particularly when renin was suppressed. Our findings indicate the importance of aldosterone levels (even within the reference range) with respect to the cardiovascular system and overall health.
Genetic Diversity, Variability and Heritability for Root, Shoot and Water Use Efficiency Traits in Castor (Ricinus communis L.) Genotypes

The present study aimed to estimate the genetic diversity; variability and heritability in 64 castor genotypes for root, shoot and water use efficiency (WUE) traits and further identify the suitable genotypes for a drought resistance breeding programme. Characters like plant height, leaf area index (LAI), stem girth and total dry matter (TDM) were significantly correlated (>0.70) with root volume and root dry weight. The genotypes were ranked based on the index in ascending order considering five important characters viz; LAI, stem girth, root volume, root dry weight and TDM using principal component analysis and 15 genotypes with high performance in terms of shoot and root characters were selected. These genotypes comprised 48-1, RG 2124, RG 2169, RG 2155, RG 2074, GCH-5, RG1963, RG 2094, DCS-99, RG 2153, DCS-78, RG 27, RG 1618, RG 2147 and RG 1673. High general combining ability (GCV) and heritability (>80%) for plant height, root volume, root dry weight, TDM and LAI indicate sufficient variability for selection for these characters. Heterosis was high for TDM, root dry weight, volume and LAI. Superior heterobeltiosis was observed for TDM, root volume and root dry weight. The hybrid GCH-5 with its significant heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for key root traits like root volume, root dry weight and TDM is worth exploring under water scarce conditions.
Proper cold stimulation starting at an earlier age can enhance immunity and improve adaptability to cold stress in broilers

The effects of long-term cold stimulation on the immune function of ileum and adaptability to cold stress in broilers were examined. A total of 360 Arbor Acres broilers was divided into 3 groups and four replicates per group. C (control) was reared in normal thermal environment. C-3 and C-12 (treatments) were kept in cold condition of 3 or 12°C lower than the temperature of C from days 8 to 42. At day 42, all the groups were exposed to an acute cold stress challenge, designated as S, S-3, and S-12. The mRNA levels of immune molecules and heat shock proteins as well as oxidative stress-related indicators in ileum tissues, and immunoglobulins contents in serum were examined at 14, 42, and 43 d of age. The C-3 regimen had no adverse effect on production performance, whereas the C-12 regimen reduced the production performance relative to C (P < 0.05). At day 42, C-3 had higher levels of immune indexes (P < 0.05), whereas C-12 had lower levels than C (P < 0.05). No differences in levels of oxidative stress-related indicators were found between C and C-3 at day 42 (P > 0.05). S-3 had higher levels of immune indexes and lower levels of oxidative stress-related indicators (P < 0.05), as compared to S and S-12. The results suggest that 34 d of cold stimulation at 3°C lower than the normal temperature had no adverse impacts on production performance but enhanced the immunity of ileum and adaptability to acute cold challenge in broilers.
Cystic fibrosis-associated liver disease in children.

INTRODUCTION As improvements in nutritional and pulmonary care increase the life expectancy of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, CF-associated liver disease (CFLD) is emerging as a cause of mortality. CFLD is the third leading cause of death in CF patients. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION We performed a search on PubMed and Google Scholar for published articles on CFLD. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS We reviewed the articles found in the literature search and gave priority to recent publications and studies with larger sample sizes. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of CFLD in the CF population is around 23% with a range of 2-62% and that prevalence increases linearly with age from 3.7% at age 5 to 32.2% at age 30. CFLD can present clinically in various ways such as hepatomegaly, variceal hemorrhage, persistent elevation of liver enzymes, and microgallbladder. Due to the focal nature of fibrosis in majority cases of CFLD, liver biopsies are sparsely performed for diagnosis or the marker of liver fibrosis. Although the mechanism of CFLD development is still unknown, many potential factors are reported. Some mutations of CFTR such as having a homozygous F508del mutation has been reported to increase the risk of developing CFLD and its severity. Having the SERPINA1 Z allele, a history of pancreatic insufficiency, a history meconium ileus, CF-related diabetes, or being male increases the risk of developing CFLD. Environmental factors do not appear to have significant effect on modulating CFLD development. Ursodeoxycholic acid is commonly used to treat or prevent CFLD, but the efficacy of this treatment is questionable.
The analysis of change-over trials

The analysis of simple change-over trials based on Latin squares is considered. It is shown that several difficulties are encountered when estimates of residual effects are required. In particular, there may be biased error variances. In certain circumstances the amount of bias in the error variance can be estimated in a proportion of the experiments based on a given design. If this bias is sufficiently large to be of importance an average correction can be calculated for use with further experiments of the same type.
Correlates of Physical Activity of Children and Adolescents with Visual Impairments: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The benefits of physical activity (PA) for children and adolescents with disabilities are well documented, and children and adolescents with visual impairments (VI) engage in lesser PA than their sighted peers. Two reviews have summarized studies on PA of children and adolescents with VI, but no systematic review with semi-quantitative assessment has been conducted to specifically identify the correlated of their PA. This review aims to summarize systematically the existing literature, which investigated correlates of PA of children and adolescents with VI until 2019 and identify variables that contribute to their PA participation. METHODS A systematic search using Academic Search Premier (ASP), Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Education Source (ES), PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection (PBSC), MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) was conducted in September 2019 to identify studies examining the correlates of PA in children and adolescents with VI aged 5 to 17 years. Two researchers independently screened studies, assessed their methodological quality and extracted relevant data. The correlates of PA among children and adolescents with VI were synthesized and further assessed semi-quantitatively. RESULTS A total of 17 articles were identified to correlate with PA of children and adolescents with VI. Out of 21 variables identified from the reviewed studies, 3 were consistently associated with PA of children and adolescents with VI. Body mass index (BMI)/obesity, percent of body fat, and visual impairment level were consistently and negatively associated with PA of children and adolescents with VI. Gender and age were identified as inconsistent relationships with children and adolescents with VI. The level of parental education was identified as "no association" with children and adolescents with VI. CONCLUSIONS This review can aid in developing effective interventions to improve the PA of children and adolescents with VI and propose directions for future research.
Association of High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein with Patient Prognosis Following Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this investigation was to examine the association of hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) with outcomes and prognosis of patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusion (LVO) after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). METHODS A total of 404 patients were enrolled, and outcomes included unfavorable clinical outcome at three months (modified Rankin Scale, mRS scores 3-6), occurrence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) and hemorrhagic transformation (HT) of infarct. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify the cutoff value of hsCRP to discriminate between favorable and unfavorable outcomes. The association of hsCRP with outcomes was evaluated using a logistic regression model. RESULTS The best cutoff value of hsCRP to discriminate between favorable and unfavorable outcomes at three months was identified as 3.0 mg/L (area under the curve, [AUC] 0.641, 95% confidence interval, [CI] 0.535-0.748; P = 0.014). In, multivariate analysis, patients with hsCRP ≥3 mg/L had more unfavorable outcome (odds ratio [OR] 1.72, 95% CI 1.42-2.02; P = 0.010), sICH (OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.62-3.66; p=0.004), and HT of infarct (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.42-2.02; P = 0.008) compared to those with hsCRP <1 mg/L. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that patients with higher CRP levels had more unfavorable outcome, and exhibited higher sICH, and HT of infarct than those with lower CRP levels. Elevated hsCRP level, especially when higher than 3mg/L, is an independent predictor for poor clinical prognosis in patients with MT for LVO.
Stenting in unprotected left main coronary stenosis—“What no progress”?

There does not appear to be a difference in patient outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis whether using first‐ or second‐generation drug elutting stent. This is despite increase in patients having more adjunctive procedures such as intravascular imaging and newer generation antiplatelet agents. This single‐center study provokes questions as to why there has not been improvement in outcomes.
A Pilot RCT of A Body-Oriented Group Therapy For Complex Trauma Survivors: An Adaptation of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

ABSTRACT This study is a pilot randomized controlled trial that examined the efficacy of a body-oriented group therapy designed to address chronic fear states in the body due to complex trauma. The Trauma and the Body Group (TBG) is a 20-session group psychotherapy that draws upon the principles and techniques of sensorimotor psychotherapy. Thirty-two women with a history of childhood trauma were randomized to immediate treatment or a waitlist control condition. Assessments were conducted one month prior to treatment, immediately after treatment, and six months post-treatment. Significant improvements were found in body awareness, anxiety, and soothing receptivity when comparing treatment to no treatment. The TBG appears to be a valuable tool for helping clients acquire mindfulness and self soothing skills that they can use to reduce posttraumatic symptoms. This study provides preliminary evidence that the TBG provides complex trauma survivors an opportunity to challenge their avoidance of two prominent trauma-related triggers – their bodies and interpersonal relationships – and in so doing may help survivors develop greater body awareness, increase their capacity for self and relational soothing, and reduce their anxiety symptoms.
Cardiorespiratory hysteresis during incremental high‐altitude ascent–descent quantifies the magnitude of ventilatory acclimatization

What is the central question of this study? We assessed the utility of a new metric for quantifying ventilatory acclimatization to high altitude, derived from differential ascent and descent steady‐state cardiorespiratory variables (i.e. hysteresis). Furthermore, we aimed to investigate whether the magnitude of cardiorespiratory hysteresis was associated with the development of acute mountain sickness. What is the main finding and its importance? Hysteresis in steady‐state cardiorespiratory variables quantifies ventilatory acclimatization to high altitude. The magnitude of cardiorespiratory hysteresis during ascent to and descent from high altitude was significantly related to the development of symptoms of acute mountain sickness. Hysteresis in steady‐state chemoreflex drive can provide a simple, non‐invasive method of tracking ventilatory acclimatization to high altitude.
First report of Ovomermis sinensis (Nematoda: Mermithidae) parasitizing fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in China

Abstract Spodoptera frugiperda invaded China in the end of 2018 and has caused severe damage to maize and other crops. Several S. frugiperda naturally parasitized by nematodes were observed in Hainan Province, China. The morphological characteristics based on the results of scanning electron microscopy indicated that the nematode belongs to the family Mermithidae. Additionally, coding sequences for the 18 S and 28 S rDNA were amplified from the nematode genome, and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the nematode belongs to Ovomermis sinensis, a known entomoparasitic nematode. Our finding is the first record that S. frugiperda was naturally parasitized by O. sinensis. The results of this study are of great significance for potential biological control of S. frugiperda by indigenous natural beneficial organisms, i.e. O. sinensis within an integrated pest management system.