Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Family Functioning and School Connectedness on Preadolescent Sense of Mastery

Families and schools are important environments that contribute to the resilience and positive development of preadolescent children. Sense of mastery, including its two central factors of optimism and self-efficacy, forms an important component of resilience during preadolescence (Prince-Embury, 2007). This study examined the interrelationships between family functioning, school connectedness, and sense of mastery in 75 children (46 girls and 29 boys) from a government school in Melbourne, Australia. Data was gathered from students aged 10 to 12 years through three self-report questionnaires. Negative perceptions of family functioning were significantly associated with the resilience factors of low sense of mastery, optimism, and self-efficacy. Higher school connectedness was significantly associated with greater sense of mastery, optimism, and self-efficacy. Additional evaluation revealed school connectedness to partially mediate the relationship between family functioning and sense of mastery. School connectedness appears to be a protective factor against the negative influence of poor family functioning. Findings highlight the important role of school connectedness in preadolescent resilience, as measured in terms of mastery, and suggest that interventions directed to enhance school connectedness are of value, particularly for children from poorly functioning families.
The Causes and Consequences of Presence: Considering the Influence of Violent Video Games on Presence and Aggression

The level of presence is likely to influence the effect of media violence. This project examines the causes and consequences of presence in the context of violent video game play. In a between subjects design, 227 participants were randomly assigned to play either a violent or a nonviolent video game. The results are consistent with what would be predicted by social learning theory and are consistent with previous presence research. Causal modeling analyses reveal two separate paths to presence: from individual differences and condition. The first path reveals that individual differences (previous game use and gender) predict presence. Those who frequently play video games reported higher levels of presence than those who play video games less frequently. Males play more games but felt less presence than women. The second path is related to perceived violence: those who perceived the game to be more violent felt more presence than those who perceived less violence in the game. Both of these paths were influenced by frustration with the game, which reduced presence. Those who felt more presence felt more hostility and were more verbally aggressive than those who felt lower levels of presence. Higher levels of presence led to increased physically aggressive intentions. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Effect of perampanel, a novel AMPA antagonist, on benzodiazepine-resistant status epilepticus in a lithium-pilocarpine rat model

This study assessed the efficacy of diazepam, and the alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole‐propionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonists perampanel and GYKI52466 in a lithium‐pilocarpine status epilepticus (SE) model. SE was induced in rats using lithium chloride, scopolamine methyl bromide, and pilocarpine. Diazepam 10, 20, or 40 mg kg−1, or perampanel 1, 2.5, 5, or 8 mg kg−1 were administered intravenously at 10 or 30 min after seizure onset, and GYKI52466 50 mg kg−1, or combinations of diazepam 2.5–5 mg kg−1 and perampanel 0.5–1 mg kg−1, were administered intravenously at 30 min after seizure onset. Diazepam 20 mg kg−1 terminated seizures (based on electroencephalography and assessment of behavioral seizures) in 2/6 rats at 10 min and 0/6 rats at 30 min (ED50: 10 min, 30 mg kg−1; 30 min, not determined). Perampanel 8 mg kg−1 terminated seizures in 6/6 rats at both 10 and 30 min (ED50: 10 min 1.7 mg kg−1; 30 min, 5.1 mg kg−1). GYKI52466 50 mg kg−1 terminated seizures in 2/4 rats at 30 min. Co‐administration of diazepam 5 mg kg−1 and perampanel 1 mg kg−1 terminated seizures in 9/9 rats at 30 min. In conclusion, perampanel and GYKI52466 provided efficacy in a lithium‐pilocarpine SE model at 30 min after seizure onset, when SE was refractory to diazepam, supporting the therapeutic potential of AMPA receptor antagonists for refractory SE. The perampanel dose required to terminate seizures was reduced by combination with diazepam, suggesting synergy.
Vitamin D Deficiency Is Prevalent in Morbidly Obese Adolescents Prior to Bariatric Surgery

Background. Obese adults are frequently vitamin D deficient before bariatric surgery; whether similar abnormalities exist in morbidly obese adolescents is unknown. Objective. To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in morbidly obese adolescents. Methods. Cross-sectional study of preoperative laboratory measures from 236 adolescents evaluated for bariatric surgery. Results. The group (N = 219 with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels; 76 boys, 143 girls; 15.9 ± 1.2 years; 43% Caucasian, 35% Hispanic, and 15% African American) had mean BMI of 47.6 ± 8.1 kg/m2. 25OHD levels were deficient (<20 ng/mL) in 53%; 8% had severe deficiency (<10 ng/mL); only 18% of patients were replete (>30 ng/mL). 25OHD levels were inversely associated with BMI (r = −0.28, P < 0.0001) and PTH levels (r = −0.24, P = 0.0003). Race was the strongest predictor of 25OHD (P < 0.002); 82% of African Americans, 59% of Hispanics, and 37% of Caucasians were deficient. African American race, BMI, and PTH explained 21% of the variance in 25OHD (P < 0.0001). Conclusions. Most adolescents presenting for bariatric surgery have suboptimal vitamin D levels, with African Americans and those with higher BMIs at greatest risk for vitamin D deficiency. All morbidly obese adolescents should be screened for vitamin D deficiency before bariatric procedures.
Utility of a Paediatric Trigger Tool in a Norwegian department of paediatric and adolescent medicine

Objectives The British National Health Service (NHS) Paediatric Trigger Tool (PTT) was made based on various trigger tools developed for use in adults. The PTT has not previously been developed or used in Nordic units. We aimed to compare harm identified through PTT screening with voluntary incidence reports in our department. A secondary aim was to assess utility of the different triggers, including predictive value for identifying harm. We hypothesised that the NHS PTT would need adjustments for the setting in which it is used. Setting A Norwegian level II department of paediatric and adolescent medicine. Participants A convenience sample of 761 acute medical and surgical patient contacts March–May 2011. Median age (IQR) for the trigger positive patients was 2.5 (1.0–8.0) years; range 0–18 years. Primary and secondary outcome measures Incidence, type and severity of harm identified with the PTT compared with the department's voluntary incidence reports. The type and rate of identified triggers and positive predictive value for harm. Results The PTT revealed a harm rate of 5% for medical patients, as compared to 0.5% in the incidence reports the same months. PTT screening revealed other types of harm than those reported by healthcare personnel themselves. We identified only 20 of the 39 NHS PTT triggers. The most frequent trigger was readmission within 30 days. Hypoxia, which was the second most frequent trigger, did not predict any patient harm. Conclusions This study showed that the NHS PTT identifies more and other types of harm than voluntary incidence reports. The presence of adult-oriented triggers, triggers that were not identified at all, as well as triggers with a low predictive value for harm may indicate the need for modification of the PTT to different settings. More studies are needed before a final decision is made to exclude triggers from the screening.
Emerging Problems in Infectious Diseases Prevalence of infectious bronchitis and Newcastle disease virus among domestic and wild birds in H5N1 outbreaks areas

Introduction: The first H5N1 outbreak in Burkina Faso was reported to the World Organization for Animal Health on 3 April 2006. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of avian influenza virus, infectious bronchitis virus, and Newcastle disease virus among domestic and wild birds in highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks areas. Methodology: We collected paired tracheal and cloacal swabs from 283 birds including 278 domestic and five wild birds (three vultures, one sparrowhawk and one Western Grey Plantain-eater) in the Central Region (Ouagadougou) and the Western Region (Bobo-Dioulasso and Sokoroni) of Burkina Faso. Total RNA extracted from samples were subjected to reverse transcription and resulting cDNA amplified by PCR using specific primers for detection of Avian Influenza Virus (AIV mainly highly pathogenic H5N1), Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV), and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) for the first time in Burkina Faso. Results and conclusions: Our results show that 13.8% (39/283) samples were reactive for NDV, and the prevalence of IBV was 3.9% (11/283). None of the 283 birds were co-infected by AIV, IBV and/or NDV in our study areas. The prevalence of influenza A virus was 3.2% (95% CI: 0-6.6) with a 1.7% (95% CI: 0-3.2) prevalence of H5N1 being detected. Positive cases of H5N1 virus were found in two out of three vultures in Ouagadougou, and in three out of 203 local chickens in the Western Region. These results confirm the presence of influenza A H5N1 virus, IBV and NDV in domestic and wild birds in Burkina Faso.
The Slowly Aggregating Salmon Calcitonin: A Useful Tool for the Study of the Amyloid Oligomers Structure and Activity

Amyloid proteins of different aminoacidic composition share the tendency to misfold and aggregate in a similar way, following common aggregation steps. The process includes the formation of dimers, trimers, and low molecular weight prefibrillar oligomers, characterized by the typical morphology of globules less than 10 nm diameter. The globules spontaneously form linear or annular structures and, eventually, mature fibers. The rate of this process depends on characteristics intrinsic to the different proteins and to environmental conditions (i.e., pH, ionic strength, solvent composition, temperature). In the case of neurodegenerative diseases, it is now generally agreed that the pathogenic aggregates are not the mature fibrils, but the intermediate, soluble oligomers. However, the molecular mechanism by which these oligomers trigger neuronal damage is still unclear. In particular, it is not clear if there is a peculiar structure at the basis of the neurotoxic effect and how this structure interacts with neurons. This review will focus on the results we obtained using salmon Calcitonin, an amyloid protein characterized by a very slow aggregation rate, which allowed us to closely monitor the aggregation process. We used it as a tool to investigate the characteristics of amyloid oligomers formation and their interactions with neuronal cells. Our results indicate that small globules of about 6 nm could be the responsible for the neurotoxic effects. Moreover, our data suggest that the rich content in lipid rafts of neuronal cell plasma membrane may render neurons particularly vulnerable to the amyloid protein toxic effect.
The two-week wait guideline for suspected CNS tumours: a decade analysis

Abstract Introduction. The two-week wait (2WW) referral guideline for suspected central nervous system (CNS) tumours was implemented more than a decade ago to facilitate early cancer diagnosis with the aim of improving tumour survival rates. Short-term studies have shown poor compliance and low detection rates of the guideline. This study aimed to provide a decade analysis of referral patterns, and compliance and detection rates of the guideline. Methods. All patients referred via the 2WW pathway for suspected CNS tumour to the Newcastle Department of Neurosurgery from 1st January 2002 to 31st December 2011 were retrospectively identified from the local cancer registry. Data from referral letters, case notes, radiographic images and final outcomes were recorded. Trends in waiting time, time to diagnosis, compliance and detection rate of the guideline in identifying CNS tumours were analysed. Results. Over the last decade, there were no significant changes in trends in waiting time, time to diagnosis and compliance and detection rates of the guideline. Of 85 2WW referrals, 41.2% were non-compliant and 21.2% identified CNS tumours. The detection rate was higher in referrals that complied with the guideline compared to those that did not (32.0% vs 5.2%, p < 0.05). The non-compliant referrals which identified CNS tumours consisted of patients with cognitive decline. The guideline sensitivity and specificity were 88.8% (63.9%–98.1%, 95% CI) and 49.3% (40.0%–61.6%), respectively. Most of CNS tumour diagnoses were made independent of the 2WW pathway (N = 1093, 98.4%). Conclusion. There have not been any major changes in terms of waiting time, time to diagnosis, compliance and detection rates of the 2WW guideline during the last decade. The 2WW pathway generated very few referrals but among these, the positive detection rate was high and the addition of time-based cognitive decline onto the current guideline may further improve the detection rate.
Depleting Neuronal PrP in Prion Infection Prevents Disease and Reverses Spongiosis

The mechanisms involved in prion neurotoxicity are unclear, and therapies preventing accumulation of PrPSc, the disease-associated form of prion protein (PrP), do not significantly prolong survival in mice with central nervous system prion infection. We found that depleting endogenous neuronal PrPc in mice with established neuroinvasive prion infection reversed early spongiform change and prevented neuronal loss and progression to clinical disease. This occurred despite the accumulation of extraneuronal PrPSc to levels seen in terminally ill wild-type animals. Thus, the propagation of nonneuronal PrPSc is not pathogenic, but arresting the continued conversion of PrPc to PrPSc within neurons during scrapie infection prevents prion neurotoxicity.
South African Foundation Phase Teachers’ Perceptions of ADHD at Private and Public Schools

This study investigated foundation phase teachers’ perceptions of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The teachers’ views on the aetiology, appropriate interventions and incidence rates of ADHD were examined. A total of 130 foundation phase teachers from mainstream private and public schools completed a self-developed questionnaire that had been piloted by the researchers. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data, specifically to determine whether there were differences in responses between public and private school teachers. Thematic content analysis was used to identify the themes that emerged from the open-ended questions. It was found that the teachers had a limited understanding of ADHD, in terms of what it is as well as the aetiology. In addition, it emerged that medication was the preferred method of intervention despite the participants’ awareness of alternative intervention methods. A comparison of the private and public school teachers’ results indicated no significant difference in their perceptions regarding the aetiology, interventions or incidence rates of ADHD.
On the images of the Galois representations attached to genus 2 Siegel modular forms

We address the problem of the determination of the images of the Galois representations attached to genus 2 Siegel cusp forms of level 1 having multiplicity one. These representations are symplectic. We prove that the images are as large as possible for almost every prime, if the Siegel cusp form is not a Maass spezialform and verifies two easy to check conditions.
An OMERACT reliability exercise of inflammatory and structural abnormalities in patients with knee osteoarthritis using ultrasound assessment

Objective To assess whether ultrasonography (US) is reliable for the evaluation of inflammatory and structural abnormalities in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods Thirteen patients with early knee OA were examined by 11 experienced sonographers during 2 days. Dichotomous and semiquantitative scoring was performed on synovitis characteristics in various aspects of the knee joint. Semiquantitative scoring was done of osteophytes at the medial and lateral femorotibial joint space or cartilage damage of the trochlea and on medial meniscal damage bilaterally. Intra- and interobserver reliability were computed by use of unweighted and weighted κ coefficients. Results Intra- and interobserver reliability scores were moderate to good for synovitis (mean κ 0.67 and 0.52, respectively) as well as moderate to good for the global synovitis (0.70 and 0.50, respectively). Mean intra- and interobserver reliability κ for cartilage damage, medial meniscal damage and osteophytes ranged from fair to good (0.55 and 0.34, 0.75 and 0.56, 0.73 and 0.60, respectively). Conclusions Using a standardised protocol, dichotomous and semiquantitative US scoring of pathological changes in knee OA can be reliable.
Advanced embryo development during extended in vitro culture: Observations of formation and hatching patterns in non-transferred human blastocysts

Human embryos not chosen for fresh transfer or cryopreservation were maintained in extended in vitro culture for up to 9 days after fertilization to observe blastocyst formation and hatching features. These non-transferred embryos were derived from 64 consecutive IVF cycles, and were not cryopreserved either because of compromised morphology or because the patients did not consent to cryopreservation for personal reasons. Embryos were cultured individually to monitor daily growth until developmental arrest, and differential blastocyst formation and hatching were analysed among groups of patients and embryos. In the population studied, hatching occurred most commonly on day 7 after fertilization (range 5–9 days). A total of 301 blastocysts was observed, of which 116 (38.5%) eventually hatched in vitro irrespective of day of formation. A trend towards earlier blastocyst formation and a greater likelihood of hatching was noted in this population. Both blastocyst formation and hatching appeared negatively correlated with increasing maternal age and higher basal serum FSH concentrations on day 3 of development, although these trends did not reach statistical significance. Comparison of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) (n = 25) and conventional insemination (n = 39) cycles showed a similar rate of blastocyst formation in both groups (54 and 52%, respectively; P > 0.05), but hatching patterns varied significantly between these groups (4.1 versus 61.6%, respectively; P < 0.0001). The discovery of marked impairment of hatching among non-transferred ICSI embryos supports the case for reconsideration of the appropriateness of assisted blastocyst hatching in selected cases.
Binge eating and fast cognitive worsening in an early-onset bvFTD patient carrying C9ORF72 expansion

An expanded hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) repeat in a non-coding promoter region of open reading frame 72 of chromosome 9 (C9ORF72) has been recently identified as a major cause of familial and sporadic frontotemporal lobar degeneration. We describe the clinical picture of a 64-year-old woman carrying the hexanucleotide repeat expansion, who developed a sporadic early-onset form of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia characterized by the occurrence of uncommon behavioral manifestations such as binge eating disturbance and by a rapid worsening of cognitive abilities. Our report confirms previous studies asserting that C9ORF72 repeats may sustain heterogeneous clinical syndromes.
Systolic Mitral Annular Velocity as a Simple Marker of Left Ventricular Peak Systolic dP/dt in Patients with Significant Mitral Regurgitation

Introduction Evaluating the left ventricular (LV) contractile function in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) is a difficult clinical problem. Because of the favorable loading condition, ejection phase indexes such as ejection fraction (EF) may remain in the normal range despite the presence of significant contractile dysfunction and mislead the decisions regarding the indications and timing of surgery. Among many parameters proposed as a measure of myocardial function, Doppler-derived rate of LV pressure rise during ventricular contraction (dP/dtDoppler) has been shown to correlate well with peak dP/dt measured by cardiac catheterization and thus postoperative LV function. However, it is limited clinically due to the complexity of the measurements and the difficulty in obtaining appropriate Doppler tracing in patients with eccentric MR. Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) is a relatively new ultrasound algorithm that records systolic and diastolic velocities within the myocardium. The velocity of annular
Displaced African Female Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Conflict throughout Africa has created havoc for many. This overwhelming chaos has led to the disintegration of social order and generated widespread gender-based violence. As a result, African women have become casualties, experienced brutal acts of sexual violence, and been forced into exile. Drawing on the tribulations of displaced African female survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, this article discusses these women’s experiences and highlights the barriers and struggles encountered while seeking refuge. The article concludes by exploring the challenges of providing culturally informed, strength-focused mental health services to these women as they rebuild their lives in a new sociocultural context.
Disparities in Usage of Assistive Technology Among People With Disabilities

Assistive technology is essential to the lives of many people with disabilities, but disparities in usage put certain segments of the disability population at a particular disadvantage. This article uses survey data and statistical modeling to explore differences in technology usage across disability subpopulations. Responses to a 2005 survey of nearly 2,000 adult consumers of California Independent Living Centers reveal large differences in technology usage by age, race, ethnicity, education, income, and type and severity of disability. Statistical modeling of overall device usage, number of devices used, and usage of high-, medium-, and low-tech devices reveals several factors that appear to put people with disabilities at a disadvantage in accessing and using assistive devices. These factors include lower educational attainment, racial or ethnic minority status, lower household income, later disability onset, and disability related to mental as opposed to physical or sensory functioning. Findings highlight approaches needed to expand usage of and to promote equal access to technologies that enable greater social and economic participation for people with disabilities.
“Some People Are Born Strange”

The article explores the role of a Brechtian theater pedagogy as “philosophical ethnography” in four investigative drama-based workshops, which took international students’ intercultural “strangeness” experiences as the starting point for aesthetic experimentation. It is argued that a Brechtian theater pedagogy allows for a productive rather than representational orientation in research, which is underpinned by a love for the aesthetic “re-entanglement” of (dis-embodied) language and ethical concerns about mimetic representational acts. To show how a Brechtian research pedagogy functioned as philosophical ethnography, the article maps the aesthetic transformation of participant Jamal’s verbatim account in the drama workshops—from (a) its emergence in a post-creative-writing discussion in Workshop 2, to (b) its enactment as a body sculpture in Workshop 3, and (c) to its translation into a rehearsal piece in Workshop 4.