Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 in children and the influence on the employment activity of their female caregivers: A cross sectional gender perspective study

Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, women disproportionately assume more unpaid activities, affecting their employment. Objective Describe the influence of COVID-19 on the employment of caregivers of children and adolescents from a gender perspective. Methods Cross-sectional study in three high-complexity hospitals in Bogotá, Colombia from April 2020 to June 2021. A subsample of the FARA cohort was taken, including those patients with a positive test for SARS-COV2. We took as our analysis category children older than 8 years and younger than 18 years who had a positive SARS-COV2 test, as well as, caregivers of all children with a positive SARS-COV2 test. This subsample was drawn from the FARA cohort. A survey was applied to them. We carried out a descriptive and stratified analysis by age group, educational, and socioeconomic level. Results We included 60 surveys of caregivers and 10 surveys of children. The main caregiver in 94.8% of the cases was a female. At the beginning of the pandemic, 63.3% of the caregivers were employed, and 78.9% of those lost their employment. The vast majority of these caregiver were women (96.6%, n = 29). A predominance of loss of work activity was documented in caregivers of children in early childhood 66.6% (n = 20), with lower education 66.6% (n = 20), and from lower strata 56.6% (n = 17). Conclusion Caregivers of children with COVID-19 with low educational levels and lower socioeconomic conditions, as well as those with children under 5 years showed greater likelihood of employment loss between the interviewed subsample.
The influence of price value on purchase intention among patients with chronic diseases in medical e-commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic in China

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical e-commerce (MEC) has provided a way for patients with chronic diseases to purchase drugs online to maintain social distancing, decrease the risk of infection and community transmission, and relieve the burden on medical resources. Therefore, research which seeks to elucidate the drivers of purchase intention (PI) among patients with chronic diseases in MEC is vital. This study extended the theory of planned behavior (TPB) by integrating the price value (PV) variable into the original TPB framework and explored the effect of PV on patients' PI in MEC during the coronavirus pandemic. Methods Empirical data was gathered from 414 Chinese participants. Structural equation modeling was applied to explore the mechanism of chronic patients' PI in MEC. In addition, this study also estimated the moderating effect of gender, income, and region and the mediating role of attitude (ATT), subjective norm (SN), and perceived behavioral control (PBC) between PV and PI. Results Patients' PI in MEC is significantly affected by ATT, SN, and PBC. PV delivers significant influence on ATT, SN, PBC, and PI, with PV having the strongest effect on ATT. Gender, income, and region can significantly moderate the relationship between PV and ATT. Conclusion These findings can contribute to design targeted interventions to increase the adoption of MEC for patients with chronic diseases, decrease infection rates, and alleviate the strain on medical resources in the COVID-19 era.
How to position the patient? A meta-analysis of positioning in vestibular schwannoma surgery via the retrosigmoid approach

Objective Patient positioning is a matter of ongoing debate in the surgical treatment of vestibular schwannoma (VS). Main endpoints of this discussion are preservation of facial nerve functioning, extent of resection, and complications. In this meta-analysis, we aim to investigate the impact of patient positioning on VS surgery via the retrosigmoid approach. Methods We searched for eligible comparative trials on PubMed, Cochrane library, and Web of Science. Positioning groups were compared regarding facial nerve outcome, extent of resection, postoperative hydrocephalus, postoperative CSF leaks, perioperative venous air embolism, and perioperative mortality. Two groups of positions were defined, and the following positions were allocated to those groups: (1) Semi-sitting and Sitting-position; (2) Lateral position, supine position with extensive head rotation, lateral oblique (=Fukushima/Three-quarter prone), and park-bench position. Results From 374 full-text screenings, 7 studies met the criteria and were included in our meta-analysis comprising 1640 patients. Our results demonstrate a significantly better long-term (≥6 months) outcome of the facial nerve after VS surgery in the semi-sitting positioning (OR: 1.49, 95%CI: 1.03-2.15, p = 0.03). Positioning did not influence the extent of resection, rate of postoperative CSF leaks, and the presence of a postoperative hydrocephalus. Overall incidence of venous air embolisms was significantly associated with VS surgery in sitting positioning (OR: 6.77, 95% CI: 3.66-12.54, p < 0.00001). Perioperative mortality was equal among both positioning groups. Conclusion Semi-sitting positioning seems to be associated with an improved facial nerve outcome after VS surgery via the retrosigmoid approach. Venous air embolisms are significantly more often observed among VS patients who underwent surgery in the sitting position, but the perioperative mortality is equal in both positioning groups. Both positioning groups are a safe procedure. Multicentric prospective randomized trials are needed to evaluate the risk-benefit ratio of each positioning in VS surgery via the retrosigmoid approach. Graphical Abstract
Computational models for prediction of protein–protein interaction in rice and Magnaporthe grisea

Introduction Plant–microbe interactions play a vital role in the development of strategies to manage pathogen-induced destructive diseases that cause enormous crop losses every year. Rice blast is one of the severe diseases to rice Oryza sativa (O. sativa) due to Magnaporthe grisea (M. grisea) fungus. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) between rice and fungus plays a key role in causing rice blast disease. Methods In this paper, four genomic information-based models such as (i) the interolog, (ii) the domain, (iii) the gene ontology, and (iv) the phylogenetic-based model are developed for predicting the interaction between O. sativa and M. grisea in a whole-genome scale. Results and Discussion A total of 59,430 interacting pairs between 1,801 rice proteins and 135 blast fungus proteins are obtained from the four models. Furthermore, a machine learning model is developed to assess the predicted interactions. Using composition-based amino acid composition (AAC) and conjoint triad (CT) features, an accuracy of 88% and 89% is achieved, respectively. When tested on the experimental dataset, the CT feature provides the highest accuracy of 95%. Furthermore, the specificity of the model is verified with other pathogen–host datasets where less accuracy is obtained, which confirmed that the model is specific to O. sativa and M. grisea. Understanding the molecular processes behind rice resistance to blast fungus begins with the identification of PPIs, and these predicted PPIs will be useful for drug design in the plant science community.
Psychotherapeutic and neurobiological processes associated with ayahuasca: A proposed model and implications for therapeutic use

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive Amazonian plant brew. It is usually made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine (Spruce ex Griseb. Morton, Malpighiaceae), which contains three primary harmala alkaloids, along with the leaves of Psychotria viridis (Ruiz et Pavon, Rubiaceae) in which the potent psychedelic dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is found. DMT-harmaloid concoctions have gained popularity in recent years, due to growing anecdotal and scientific reports of therapeutic benefits associated with their consumption. Ayahuasca is now ingested in a variety of different settings across the globe, from traditional ethnobotanical to so called “neo-shamanic” ceremonies. Furthermore, related preparations involving alternative sources of DMT and harmala alkaloids are becoming increasingly common as knowledge of ayahuasca continues to spread internationally. This article reviews the existing literature and draws on original qualitative data from a large cross-sectional study of ayahuasca drinkers, to propose a model of psychotherapeutic processes associated with the consumption of ayahuasca. We assert that it is these processes, facilitated by a range of neurobiological effects, that lead to beneficial mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Our proposed model identifies five key psychotherapeutic processes or effects inherent to the ayahuasca experience; somatic effects; introspection and emotional processing; increased Self-connection; increased spiritual connection, and finally the gaining of insights and new perspectives. We note some important differences in these processes compared with other classic psychedelics as well as the implications of the model for the therapeutic use of ayahuasca. Improved understanding of the psychotherapeutic processes involved with the ayahuasca experience will better equip practitioners to work with this potentially transformative concoction and enable the optimization of therapeutic treatment models for potential clinical use.
Editorial: Protein misfolding, altered mechanisms and neurodegeneration

COPYRIGHT © 2023 Gogia, Tare, Kannan and Singh. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Editorial: Protein misfolding, altered mechanisms and neurodegeneration
Low prevalence of hepatitis delta infection in Cuban HBsAg carriers: Prospect for elimination

Introduction Infection with hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is one of the most severe hepatitis B virus (HBV) complications, with a more rapid progression to cirrhosis and an increased risk of hepatic decompensation and death. Data on HDV infection in Cuba are limited. The aims of our study were to determine the HDV prevalence in HBsAg carriers and to characterize the HDV strains circulating. The data were used to assess the possibility of HDV elimination in the Cuban HBV epidemiological setting. Methods Five hundred and two serum samples from the same number of HBsAg carriers collected in the period 2006–2019 from all over the country were tested for anti-HDV total antibodies. If positive, the samples were analyzed for HDV-RNA using Real-Time RT-PCR targeting the ribozyme and HD antigen domains followed by genotyping based on phylogenetic analysis. Results Two samples were anti-HDV positive [0.39% (95% CI 0.11–1.44)]. One of them was also HDV-RNA positive. Clinically, the patient with active HDV infection had compensated liver cirrhosis. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the virus belonged to genotype 1 and thus clustered with contemporary strains from North America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia. Discussion This is the first HDV study, including molecular detection and virus characterization, done after the introduction of the universal childhood anti-hepatitis B vaccination. The very low prevalence of HDV infection in HBsAg carriers combined with the high HBV vaccination coverage of all newborn children, of previously identified risk groups, and of the general population currently under 40 years of age suggests that HDV elimination is feasible in Cuba if the success in HBV control is maintained.
Psychological skills training impacts autonomic nervous system responses to stress during sport-specific imagery: An exploratory study in junior elite shooters

This study investigated the effects of psychological skills training (PST) in shooters psychophysiologically using heart rate variability (HRV) in addition to psychological questionnaires and participant interviews. Five junior pistol shooters participated in an 8-week PST program consisting of a group session per week followed by individual counseling. Before and after PST, we collected electrocardiography data during rest, mental imagery of sport-related crisis situations, and successful performance, to analyze differences in HRV indices. Participants also responded to the Psychological Skills Inventory for Archery and Shooting (PSIAS), Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI), Sports Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Trait Sport Confidence Inventory (TSCI). Results showed that the perceived competence (pre: 2.52 ± 0.95, post: 3.36 ± 0.73, p = 0.049) and trait sport confidence (pre: 4.94 ± 1.17, post: 6.60 ± 0.65, p = 0.049) significantly improved after PST. The analysis of HRV indicated that the ratio of low-frequency power to high-frequency power (LF/HF ratio) decreased significantly during imagery of crisis (pre: 3.4 ± 2.3, post: 1.014 ± 0.71, p = 0.038) and success (pre: 1.933 ± 0.917, post: 0.988 ± 0.572, p = 0.046), reflecting a strengthened autonomic nervous system’s responsiveness to stress. Our findings illustrate that PST can help athletes better cope with psychologically disturbed situations during competition, by providing psychophysiological evidence through HRV changes.
On the Numerical Discretization in Space and Time: Part 1 - Hamilton's Law of Varying Action Involving Lagrangian/Hamiltonian/Total Energy Framework

The focus in Part 1 of this exposition is strictly restricted to holonomic-sceleronomic systems, and the applications of interest are elastodynamics, which are routinely encountered in a wide class of structural dynamics problems in engineering. Restricting attention to these considerations, new and different perspectives and equivalences are described which deal with finite element space discretization aspects employing three distinctly different frameworks with scalar formalism. It encompasses the Lagrangian mechanics, the Hamiltonian mechanics, and as an alternative, the framework with a built-in measurable quantity based on the Total Energy. Historically, traditional practices routinely employ the weighted residual method or equivalently the principle of virtual work in dynamics for developing finite element formulations. In contrast, the present developments stem from Hamilton's law of varying action (HLVA) as a starting point and involve distinctly different scalar descriptive functions (the Lagrangian [ℒ( q , [qdot] ) : TQ →ℝ], the Hamiltonian [ℋ( p , q ) : T* Q →ℝ], or the Total Energy [ℰ( q , [qdot] ):TQ →ℝ]). These developments naturally embody the weak form in space and the statement of the weighted residual in time. Complicated structural dynamical systems such as a rotating bar and the Timoshenko beam are particularly shown here simply for illustration. In Part 2, we describe the satisfaction of conservation properties of the fully discretized equations of motion in space and time with particular attention to the Total Energy framework (in contrast to the Lagrangian and the Hamiltonian), primarily because it is very natural and is computationally attractive and meaningful to conducting the time discretization [1] process. Instead of starting from the continuous form of representations, the particular focus is upon directly employing the discrete formulations for enabling algorithmic designs for the class of LMS methods for linear dynamic problems for illustration purposes. This is a necessary first step in the design of algorithms for integrating the equations of motion, and they serve as the parent algorithms for subsequent extensions to nonlinear dynamic problems.
Factor structure of post-operative quality of recovery questionnaire (QoR-15): An Italian adaptation and validation

Background The Quality of Recovery questionnaire (QoR-15) is an English instrument for measuring quality of recovery in surgical patients, not yet translated and validated in Italian when the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Piemonte studies were planned. Objective To produce the Italian version of the QoR-15 questionnaire, to evaluate its factorial structure and to assess the invariance between two types of surgery. Methods The Italian version (QoR-15I) was obtained translating and adapting the original version to the Italian context. The validation was performed suppling the QoR-15I to 3,784 patients enrolled in two parallel stepped wedge cluster randomised trials (ERAS Colon-rectum Piemonte; ERAS Gyneco Piemonte). The factor structure and its invariance between types of surgery was tested using confirmatory bifactor model and multi-group analysis. Comparative fit index (CFI), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) fit indices and their changes between nested models were used to assess the factor structure and the invariance. Results The bifactor model showed good fit (RMSEA = 0.049, CFI =0.957, SRMR = 0.036) and provided a general recovery factor and two specific factors for physical and mental recovery. Eighty-four percent of the common variance is attributable to the general factor, and thus the QoR-15I is sufficiently ‘one-dimensional’ with an adequate reliability (ωh = 0.70). The ωs values for the physical and mental recovery factors were 0.01 and 0.13, respectively. Multigroup analysis supported configural (RMSEA = 0.053, CFI = 0.950, SRMR = 0.035) and metric invariance (ΔRMSEA = -0.004; ΔCFI = -0.002; ΔSRMR = 0.014), whereas the intercept constraint was removed from item 15 to obtain partial scalar invariance (ΔRMSEA = 0.002; ΔCFI = 0.007; ΔSRMR = 0.004). Construct validity was supported by a negative association of QoR-15I scores with all variables related to worse patient condition and more complex surgery. Conclusion Our results support the use of the QoR-15I as a valid, reliable, and clinically feasible tool for measuring the quality of recovery after surgery. The results of the confirmatory factor analyses suggest that a unique recovery score can be calculated and support measurement invariance of the QOR-15I across the two type of surgery, suggesting that the questionnaire has the same meaning and the same measurement parameters in colorectal and gynaecologic patients.
Clinical characteristics of pancreatic and biliary tract cancers in Lynch syndrome: A retrospective analysis from the Finnish National Lynch Syndrome Research Registry

Introduction Patients with Lynch syndrome (LS) have an increased lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer (PC) and biliary tract cancer (BTC). These cancers have a notoriously pessimistic prognosis due to late diagnosis and limited therapeutic options. There are limited data based on small cohorts reviewing PC and BTC in LS patients. Methods In this retrospective study of the Lynch Syndrome Registry of Finland (LSRFi), records of genetically verified LS patients diagnosed with PC or BTC between 1982 and 2020 were analyzed. Results Thirty-nine patients were included: tumor(s) were in the pancreas in 26 patients, in the biliary tract in 10, and in the ampulla of Vater in three. A pathogenic germline variant was found in MLH1 in 33 of 39 patients. Twenty-six patients with 28 tumors located in the pancreas were identified: 23 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) and five neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The median age at diagnosis of PC was 64 years (range of 38–81). In PC, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 20%, and in PDAC, it was 13.6%. Ten patients with BTC were diagnosed: two intrahepatic, five perihilar, two distal extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, and one gallbladder carcinoma. Eight patients were male, and the median age at diagnosis was 54 years (range of 34–82). The 5-year OS rate for BTC was 30%. Metachronous tumors were diagnosed in 28 patients (70%). Colorectal cancer was the most common metachronous tumor, diagnosed in 20 patients (51%), and diagnosed prior to PC or BTC in all cases. Curative surgery was attempted on 17 of 39 patients. For 30 patients (91%), the cause of death was PC or BTC; two patients died from another LS-associated cancer, and one died from a stroke. Conclusion Although the survival of LS patients with PC or BTC is better than in sporadic cancers, it is still poor and may be reflected by the relatively higher surgical resectability accounted for by the earlier age of onset. More studies on analyses of the molecular and immune profile, screening, and management of LS-associated pancreaticobiliary cancers are warranted.
Psychometric properties of the effort-reward imbalance scale in Chinese version for university students

Objective The main purpose of the study was to translate the Effort-Reward Imbalance Scale for University Students (ERIUS) and assess its psychometric properties in the Chinese cultural context. Methods We translated the original English version of the ERIUS into Chinese and undertook exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis using data collected from university students. The Stress Scale for College Students was selected as the criterion measure to examine the association between psychological stress and effort-reward imbalance. The validity and reliability of the translated version of the ERIUS were also assessed, and a sub-sample of participants (n = 120) completed the measure twice, with a two-week interval to assess test–retest reliability. Result Results of the exploratory factor analysis using data from 314 students showed that the Chinese version of the ERIUS had 14 items and 3 factors: effort, reward and overcommitment. Confirmatory factor analysis using data from 584 students showed that the Chinese version of the ERIUS had adequate structural validity (χ2 = 107.10, df = 32, RMSEA = 0.08, NFI = 0.90, CFI = 0.91, GFI = 0.90, PGFI = 0.62). Conclusion The Chinese version of the Effort-Reward Imbalance Scale for University Students has adequate psychometric properties in the Chinese cultural context and can be used as an effective tool to measure psychosocial stress of university students in China.
Gut microbiota variation between climatic zones and due to migration strategy in passerine birds

Introduction Decreasing biotic diversity with increasing latitude is an almost universal macroecological pattern documented for a broad range of taxa, however, there have been few studies focused on changes in gut microbiota (GM) across climatic zones. Methods Using 16S rRNA amplicon profiling, we analyzed GM variation between temperate (Czechia) and tropical (Cameroon) populations of 99 passerine bird species and assessed GM similarity of temperate species migrating to tropical regions with that of residents/short-distance migrants and tropical residents. Our study also considered the possible influence of diet on GM. Results We observed no consistent GM diversity differences between tropical and temperate species. In the tropics, GM composition varied substantially between dry and rainy seasons and only a few taxa exhibited consistent differential abundance between tropical and temperate zones, irrespective of migration behavior and seasonal GM changes. During the breeding season, trans-Saharan migrant GM diverged little from species not overwintering in the tropics and did not show higher similarity to tropical passerines than temperate residents/short-distance migrants. Interestingly, GM of two temperate-breeding trans-Saharan migrants sampled in the tropical zone matched that of tropical residents and converged with other temperate species during the breeding season. Diet had a slight effect on GM composition of tropical species, but no effect on GM of temperate hosts. Discussion Consequently, our results demonstrate extensive passerine GM plasticity, the dominant role of environmental factors in its composition and limited effect of diet.