Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Infection control measures in neonatal units: implementation of change in the Gaza-Strip

Abstract Introduction: Low-income countries rarely report infection control measures although they are key to reducing mortality and morbidity in healthcare. This audit examined healthcare personnel’s adherence to infection control measures before entry to the NICU and in both minor and major procedures’ bundles. Furthermore, it examined the effect of subsequent authorization and dissemination of infection control guidelines followed by education and training sessions on the adherence of healthcare personnel to infection control policies. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in two NICUs at two separate hospitals in the Gaza-Strip, Palestine. The initial observation period was June–August 2016 during which healthcare professionals’ adherence to infection control policies was assessed by direct observation. This was followed by NICU feedback dissemination and on-site educational and training sessions. Then, the reaudit, following the same protocol, was carried out throughout February 2017. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in the adherence to infection control measures among healthcare personnel. Significant improvements were found in both minor and major procedure infection control protocols’ adherence rates. However, when comparing the general neonatal handling adherence rate between both audits, no significant change was noted. Discussion: This study highlights the effectiveness of using audit feedback and on-site educational and training sessions in the enhancement of adherence to infection control policies, demonstrating significant improvement in areas covered by the staff training program. Therefore, including regular infection control training combined with feedback in the curriculum of healthcare professionals can improve the sustainability of infection control programs. Further studies must examine the impact of such training also on the incidence of healthcare-associated infection rates as well as morbidity and mortality within neonatal units.
Genetics behind the Biosynthesis of Nonulosonic Acid-Containing Lipooligosaccharides in Campylobacter coli

Despite the fact that Campylobacter coli a major foodborne pathogen, its glycobiology has been largely neglected. The genetic makeup of the C. coli lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis locus was largely unknown until recently. C. coli harbors a large set of genes associated with lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis, including genes for several putative glycosyltransferases involved in the synthesis of sialylated lipooligosaccharide in Campylobacter jejuni. In the present study, C. coli was found to express lipooligosaccharide structures containing sialic acid and other nonulosonate acids. These findings have a strong impact on our understanding of C. coli ecology, host-pathogen interaction, and pathogenesis. ABSTRACT Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the most common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis in the world. Ganglioside mimicry by C. jejuni lipooligosaccharide (LOS) is the triggering factor of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an acute polyneuropathy. Sialyltransferases from glycosyltransferase family 42 (GT-42) are essential for the expression of ganglioside mimics in C. jejuni. Recently, two novel GT-42 genes, cstIV and cstV, have been identified in C. coli. Despite being present in ∼11% of currently available C. coli genomes, the biological role of cstIV and cstV is unknown. In the present investigation, mutation studies with two strains expressing either cstIV or cstV were performed and mass spectrometry was used to investigate differences in the chemical composition of LOS. Attempts were made to identify donor and acceptor molecules using in vitro activity tests with recombinant GT-42 enzymes. Here we show that CstIV and CstV are involved in C. coli LOS biosynthesis. In particular, cstV is associated with LOS sialylation, while cstIV is linked to the addition of a diacetylated nonulosonic acid residue. IMPORTANCE Despite the fact that Campylobacter coli a major foodborne pathogen, its glycobiology has been largely neglected. The genetic makeup of the C. coli lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis locus was largely unknown until recently. C. coli harbors a large set of genes associated with lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis, including genes for several putative glycosyltransferases involved in the synthesis of sialylated lipooligosaccharide in Campylobacter jejuni. In the present study, C. coli was found to express lipooligosaccharide structures containing sialic acid and other nonulosonate acids. These findings have a strong impact on our understanding of C. coli ecology, host-pathogen interaction, and pathogenesis.
Gender and intoxication: from masculinity to intersectionality

Abstract Alcohol use, misuse, and intoxication have long been associated with men and masculinity. In different cultures and at different times, researchers have consistently found significant gender differences in drinking and intoxication prevalence rates. However, more recently gender differences appear to be diminishing. Nevertheless, while this may be the case, it does not necessarily mean that the meaning of drinking and intoxication for young women and men are the same. With this in mind, the aim of this paper is to explore recent theoretical developments by feminist researchers to examine gender and intoxication. Research on intoxicating substances and gender has developed considerably in the last 20 years, especially in the social sciences. Much of the more recent research has explored how the boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable behavior are critically influenced by societal norms about gender performance. While we are fortunate that feminist research has developed and begun to highlight the contradictory discourses about young women’s intoxication, and critique of neo-liberal discourses concerning the position of women, there still remain significant gaps within these research fields if we are to fully understand the role and meaning of intoxication for all young people and not merely for white, middle-class cisgender young people.
Brain Activation Patterns Associated with the Effects of Fearful Distractors during Working Memory Maintenance in Patients with Schizophrenia

Objective The neural correlates underlying the effects of emotional distraction during working memory (WM) tasks in patients with schizophrenia have yet to be clearly identified. Thus, the present study employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the effects of emotional distraction involving fear during WM maintenance in patients with schizophrenia. Methods This study included 17 patients with schizophrenia who were diagnosed based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition, text revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria and 17 matched healthy controls. Event-related fMRI data were acquired while the participants performed a delayed-response WM task that included neutral and fearful distractors. Results Patients with schizophrenia may have tried to maintain WM function during the presentation of task-irrelevant fearful distractors that induced interruption and required attention. Compared to healthy controls, the schizophrenia patients exhibited significantly increased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, insula, hippocampus, caudate nucleus, and postcentral gyrus in a delayed-response WM task when presented with fearful relative to neutral distractors. In addition to its series of increased brain activations, prefrontal areas exhibited interconnections with more caudal brain regions, including temporal areas and the hippocampus and insula. Conclusion The present study identified specific brain areas associated with the interaction between emotional regulation and cognitive functioning during fearful distractors presented while patients with schizophrenia performed a WM maintenance task. These findings further the current understanding of the neural correlates underlying the effects of emotional distraction on cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Chloroform Fraction of Pyrus Ussuriensis Maxim. Leaf Extract on 2, 4-Dinitrochlorobenzene-Induced Atopic Dermatitis in nc/nga Mice

Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim, a pear commonly known as “Sandolbae” in Korea, is used as a traditional herbal medicine for asthma, cough, and fever in Korea, China, and Japan. P. ussuriensis Maxim leaves (PUL) have therapeutic effects on atopic dermatitis (AD). However, there are no reports on the efficacy of specific components of PUL. In the present study, activity-guided isolation of PUL was used to determine the compounds with potent activity. Astragalin was identified as the major component of the chloroform-soluble fraction of PUL (PULC) using High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Astragalin and PULC were tested in vitro and in vivo for their effects against AD. PULC and astragalin dose-dependently inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) in mouse macrophage (RAW 264.7) cells, and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)/interferon γ (IFNγ) induced HaCaT cells. In the AD mice model, PULC and astragalin application significantly reduced dermatitis severity, scratching behavior, and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) when compared to that of 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene-treated NC/Nga mice. Additionally, they normalized skin barrier function by decreasing immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in the serum. Filaggrin and involucrin protein levels were normalized by PULC treatment in HaCaT cells and skin lesions. These results indicate that PULC and astragalin ameliorate AD-like symptoms by alleviating both pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune stimuli in vitro and in vivo in animal models. Therefore, PULC and astragalin might be effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of AD.
Predation on Eggs of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae): Temporal Dynamics and Identification of Potential Predators During the Winter Season in a Temperate Region

Abstract In temperate regions, the populations of Aedes aegypti (L.) remain in the egg stage during the cold season. The ability of these eggs to survive until the next favorable season is affected by several mortality factors, including the action of predators. In the present study, we analyzed the temporal dynamics of the loss of eggs and identified predators of Ae. aegypti eggs along the unfavorable season in a temperate region of Argentina. To this end, eggs were exposed in field conditions in pitfall traps, where walking arthropod taxa were captured during 1-wk periods from early June to early September (Austral winter). The association of arthropod taxa with the loss of eggs was analyzed to identify potential predators. Based on the results obtained, two taxa were chosen to confirm their capacity to consume eggs in a laboratory study. The proportion of lost eggs and the abundance of predators were significantly higher in the winter–spring transition, although results were heterogeneous among traps in all exposure periods. Ants of the genus Strumigenys, isopods of the species Armadillidium vulgare (Isopoda: Armadilloidea), and dermapterans of the species Euborellia annulipes (Dermaptera: Anisolabidae) were positively associated with a high proportion of lost eggs. In laboratory conditions, A. vulgare and E. annulipes consumed the offered eggs, thus confirming their predator capacity. This study represents the first record of predation of Ae. aegypti eggs in temperate South America and the first evidence of dermapterans consuming mosquito eggs.
Varanto: variant enrichment analysis and annotation

Summary Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) aim to identify associations of genetic variations such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to a specific trait or a disease. Identifying common themes such as pathways, biological processes and diseases associations is needed to further explore and interpret these results. Varanto is a novel web tool for annotating, visualizing and analyzing human genetic variations using diverse data sources. Varanto can be used to query a set of input variations, retrieve their associated variation and gene level annotations, perform annotation enrichment analysis and visualize the results. Availability and implementation Varanto web app is developed with R and implemented as Shiny app with PostgreSQL database and is freely available at http://bioinformatics.uef. fi/varanto. Source code for the tool is available at https://github.com/oqe/varanto. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Thriving through relationships: assistance dogs’ and companion dogs’ perceived ability to contribute to thriving in individuals with and without a disability

Abstract Purpose: Companion dogs can provide psychosocial benefits for their owners. Assistance dogs reportedly provide similar benefits, while also performing specific tasks. These psychosocial benefits may increase their handler’s quality of life and ability to thrive – defined as having the ability to grow and flourish, especially in the face of adversity. Currently, no studies compare assistance dogs’ effectiveness to companion dogs’ in assisting their handler/owner to thrive, an important comparison given that companion dogs are typically less expensive to acquire, and more readily available. Methods: The Thriving Through Relationships (TTR) theory was used to inform the development of a human-dog relationship survey, which was distributed through assistance dog organizations and to the general public. Results: Participants were divided into three groups: persons with a disability who had an assistance dog (n = 165), persons with a disability who had a companion dog (n = 249) and persons with no disability who had a companion dog (n = 198). Perceived overall support was statistically different between the three groups, F (2, 394) = 14.45, p < . 001. Assistance dog handlers reported receiving significantly higher levels of support than companion dog owners with disabilities (p < .01) or without disabilities (p < .001). In fact, assistance dogs were reported to provide more support (p < .017) than companion dogs on nine out of ten separate indicators of thriving. Conclusion: Overall, dogs are perceived to provide support that improves their handler/owner’s ability to thrive. Most importantly, however, assistance dogs may provide greater support than companion dogs for persons with a disability and, therefore, may be worth the additional time and financial cost. Implications for Rehabilitation Assistance dogs could assist rehabilitation by improving coping skills, especially during times of adversity, as demonstrated through the ten indicators of thriving. Assistance dogs and companion dogs are not inter-changeable when it comes to providing support for individuals with a disability.
D-dimer: Preanalytical, analytical, postanalytical variables, and clinical applications

Abstract D-dimer is a soluble fibrin degradation product deriving from the plasmin-mediated degradation of cross-linked fibrin. D-dimer can hence be considered a biomarker of activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis, and it is routinely used for ruling out venous thromboembolism (VTE). D-dimer is increasingly used to assess the risk of VTE recurrence and to help define the optimal duration of anticoagulation treatment in patients with VTE, for diagnosing disseminated intravascular coagulation, and for screening medical patients at increased risk of VTE. This review is aimed at (1) revising the definition of D-dimer; (2) discussing preanalytical variables affecting the measurement of D-dimer; (3) reviewing and comparing assay performance and some postanalytical variables (e.g. different units and age-adjusted cutoffs); and (4) discussing the use of D-dimer measurement across different clinical settings.
Latent class analysis of symptoms for sexually transmitted infections among Iranian women: Results from a population-based survey

Abstract A preliminary symptom-based screening test would lower the financial burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) caused by clinical testing. To develop such a screening method, we should first identify the most specific STI symptoms. We aim to distinguish the specific STI symptom(s) that are most likely to be found in the truly infected individuals. We used data from a population-based survey that was conducted in Iran, in 2014. Using Latent Class Analysis (LCA) in R software, we classified 3049 Iranian women, 18–60 years old, with reference to seven self-reported STI-associated symptoms. Using LCA, we categorized nearly 1% of women as “probably STI-infected”. Above 70% of participants reported the “seven symptoms” that are associated with STIs, except for genital ulcer. These symptoms could be used to distinguish healthy participants from infected ones. The “probably healthy” class incorporated about 77% of the participants. Lower abdominal pain and abnormal vaginal discharge were the most frequently reported symptoms of this class. The LCA determined classes along with the WHO syndromic guidelines for STI diagnosis can help physicians to make a more accurate diagnosis. Hence, cost-effectively, only patients who are classified as probably infected need to be referred to medical laboratories for further investigations.
A new 5α,8α-epidioxysterol with immunosuppressive activity from the South China Sea soft coral Sinularia sp.

Abstract A new 5α,8α-epidioxysterol, namely yalongsterol A (1), along with two known related steroids 5α,8α-epidioxy-24-methyl-cholesta-6,24(28)-dien-3β-ol (2) and (22E,24S)-5α,8α-epidioxy-24-methyl-cholesta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (3), were isolated from the South China Sea soft coral Sinularia sp. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparisons of the spectral data with those reported in the literature. In bioassay, compounds 1–3 showed moderate immunosuppressive activities against T and/or B lymphocyte cells with IC50 values ranging from 19.30 to 59.49 μM, and low cytotoxicity on murine splenocytes with CC50 values ranging from 40.88 to 62.29 μM.
Genotyping strategies of selection candidates in livestock breeding programmes

Benefits of genomic selection (GS) in livestock breeding operations are well known particularly where traits are sex-limited, hard to measure, have a low heritability and/or measured later in life. Sheep and beef breeders have a higher cost:benefit ratio for GS compared to dairy. Therefore, strategies for genotyping selection candidates should be explored to maximize the economic benefit of GS. The aim of the paper was to investigate, via simulation, the additional genetic gain achieved by selecting proportions of male selection candidates to be genotyped via truncation selection. A two-trait selection index was used that contained an easy and early-in-life measurement (such as post-weaning weight) as well as a hard-to-measure trait (such as intra-muscular fat). We also evaluated the optimal proportion of female selection candidates to be genotyped in breeding programmes using natural mating and/or artificial insemination (NatAI), multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) or juvenile in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (JIVET). The final aim of the project was to investigate the total dollars spent to increase the genetic merit by one genetic standard deviation (SD) using GS and/or reproductive technologies. For NatAI and MOET breeding programmes, females were selected to have progeny by 2 years of age, while 1-month-old females were required for JIVET. Genomic testing the top 20% of male selection candidates achieved 80% of the maximum benefit from GS when selection of male candidates prior to genomic testing had an accuracy of 0.36, while 54% needed to be tested to get the same benefit when the prior selection accuracy was 0.11. To achieve 80% of the maximum benefit in female, selection required 66%, 47% and 56% of female selection candidates to be genotyped in NatAI, MOET and JIVET breeding programmes, respectively. While JIVET and MOET breeding programmes achieved the highest annual genetic gain, genotyping male selection candidates provides the most economical way to increase rates of genetic gain facilitated by genomic testing.
Addition of high-dose methotrexate to standard treatment for patients with high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma contributes to improved freedom from progression and survival but does not prevent central nervous system relapse

Abstract Combination of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP) is regarded as standard care for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and upfront intensification of therapy is still controversial. The current study aimed to dertermine whether the addition of high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) affects long-term outcomes and could also prevent central nervous system (CNS) relapse. Medical records of 480 patients with DLBCL treated between 1994 and 2013 at Rambam and Hadassah medical centers in Israel were reviewed; 130 (27%) had received HDMTX. Patients receiving HDMTX generally had higher International Prognostic Index (IPI) and CNS-IPI scores. HDMTX addition significantly improved progression free and overall survival (p = .001) and this advantage was maintained in multivariate analysis (HR for OS 0.3; 95% CI 0.19–0.47; p < .0001). Thirty-one (6.5%) patients had CNS relapse and in these cases high CNS-IPI, but not HDMTX treatment, was independently associated with CNS relapse (HR 1.2; 95% CI 1.2–11.5; p = .02). In conclusion, the addition of HDMTX to CHOP/RCHOP independently and significantly improved prognosis of patients with high-risk DLBCL, irrespective of their risk for CNS relapse.
Do smokers devaluate smoking cues after go/no-go training?

Abstract Objective: Smoking is one of the leading public health problems worldwide. The inability to quit smoking may be the result of the amplified value of smoking-related cues and inhibitory control deficits. Previous research has shown that pairing substance-related cues with no-go trials in go/no-go training reduces the value of these cues, an effect known as devaluation. The current experiment investigated the devaluation effect of go/no-go training on smoking-related cues, and compared this effect between smokers and nonsmokers. Design and Main Outcome Measures: 39 smokers and 43 nonsmokers were trained to respond immediately to neutral stimuli, but inhibit their reaction when smoking stimuli were presented. Before and after training, participants evaluated smoking and neutral stimuli, where part of these stimuli were subsequently presented in the training, and the other part was not used in training. Results: Not responding to smoking stimuli in go/no-go training decreased subsequent evaluations of trained smoking stimuli compared to untrained smoking stimuli, thereby replicating food and alcohol studies and extending the devaluation effect to smoking-related cues. This devaluation effect was found for both smokers and non-smokers. Conclusion: Smoking-related cues can be devaluated in smokers and non-smokers, thereby showing the potential for Go/No-Go training in smoking cessation interventions.