Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics

Developments in methodologies, agglomeration, and a range of applied issues have characterized recent advances in regional and urban studies. Volume 5 concentrates on these developments while treating traditional subjects such as housing, the costs and benefits of cities, and policy issues beyond regional inequalities. Contributors make a habit of combining theory and empirics in each chapter, guiding research amid a trend in applied economics towards structural and quasi-experimental approaches. Clearly distinguished from the New Economic Geography covered by Volume 4, these articles feature an international approach that positions recent advances within the discipline of economics and society at large. * Editors are recognized as leaders and can attract an international list of contributors* Regional and urban studies interest economists in many subdisciplines, such as labor, development, and public economics* Table of contents combines theoretical and applied subjects, ensuring broad appeal to readers
Intermittent recombinant TSH injections prevent ovariectomy-induced bone loss

We recently described the direct effects of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) on bone and suggested that the bone loss in hyperthyroidism, hitherto attributed solely to elevated thyroid hormone levels, could at least in part arise from accompanying decrements in serum TSH. Recent studies on both mice and human subjects provide compelling evidence that thyroid hormones and TSH have the opposite effects on the skeleton. Here, we show that TSH, when injected intermittently into rodents, even at intervals of 2 weeks, displays a powerful antiresorptive action in vivo. By virtue of this action, together with the possible anabolic effects shown earlier, TSH both prevents bone loss and restores the lost bone after ovariectomy. Importantly, the osteoclast inhibitory action of TSH persists ex vivo even after therapy is stopped for 4 weeks. This profound and lasting antiresorptive action of TSH is mimicked in cells that genetically overexpress the constitutively active ligand-independent TSH receptor (TSHR). In contrast, loss of function of a mutant TSHR (Pro → Leu at 556) in congenital hypothyroid mice activates osteoclast differentiation, confirming once again our premise that TSHRs have a critical role in regulating bone remodeling.
Ethnicity and Election Outcomes in Ghana

Is ethnicity the critical determinant of election results in Africa? We investigate this question empirically on the 2004 presidential poll in Ghana. We use variables from several data sources matched at the district level, and perform econometric analysis on the turnout rate and party vote shares, and on their evolution between two similar polls. We test the accuracy of two alternate models of voting, an ethnic model and a non-ethnic one that includes variables such as education, occupation or wealth. We provide robust evidence that the ethnic factor is a slightly better explaining factor for the structure of votes in Ghana, but does not rule out the significance of the non-ethnic model. We then show that the ethnic model fails to account accurately for the evolution of votes between two polls, which appears as the result of evaluative votes. Since a changeover of political power has occurred repeatedly in Ghana, the analysis of the motives of the pivotal voter is crucial. Our results show that non-ethnic determinants may ultimately drive election outcomes. _________________________________ L’ethnicite est-elle le determinant majeur des resultats electoraux en Afrique? Nous etudions empiriquement cette question pour le scrutin presidentiel de 2004 au Ghana, en utilisant des donnees provenant de sources variees, assemblees au niveau du district. Nous conduisons une analyse econometrique du taux de participation et des resultats des partis politiques, ainsi que de leur evolution entre deux elections similaires. Nous testons la precision de deux modeles alternatifs de vote, un modele ethnique et un non-ethnique qui inclut des variables telles que l’education, la profession ou la richesse. Nous montrons que le facteur ethnique surpasse legerement le modele non-ethnique pour expliquer la structure des votes au Ghana, meme si ce dernier reste statistiquement valide. Mais le modele ethnique explique tres mal l’evolution des votes entre deux elections, qui apparait comme le resultat d’un vote d’evaluation politique non ethnique. Comme des alternances se sont produites au Ghana plusieurs fois, les motivations de l’electeur pivot sont cruciales. Nos resultats montrent donc que les facteurs non-ethniques semblent determiner les resultats des elections.
Modeling ultrasound echoes in skin tissues using symmetric α-stable processes

Starting from the widely accepted point-scattering model, this paper establishes, through analytical developments, that ultrasound signals backscattered from skin tissues converge to a complex Levy flight random process with non- Gaussian α-stable statistics. The envelope signal follows a generalized (heavy-tailed) Rayleigh distribution. It is shown that these signal statistics imply that scatterers have heavy-tailed power-law cross sections. This model generalizes the Gaussian framework and provides a formal representation for a new case of non-Gaussian statistics, in which both the number of scatterers and the variance of their cross sections tend to infinity. In addition, analytical expressions are derived to relate the α-stable parameters to scatterer properties. Simulations show that these expressions can be used as rigorous interpretation tools for tissue characterization. Several experimental results supported by excellent goodness-of-fit tests confirm the proposed analytical model. Finally, these fundamental results set the basis for new echography processing methods and quantitative ultrasound characterization tools.
Femtosecond laser versus mechanical microkeratome-assisted flap creation for LASIK: a prospective, randomized, paired-eye study

Purpose To compare a femtosecond laser with a microkeratome for flap creation during laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in terms of flap thickness predictability and visual outcomes. Patients and methods This was a prospective, randomized, masked, paired-eye study. Forty-four patients (34 females) who received bilateral LASIK were included. Patients were stratified by ocular dominance, and they then underwent randomization of flap creation using the femtosecond laser on one eye and undergoing the microkeratome procedure on the other one. The visual outcome differences between the corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) at baseline and the uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) on the first day postoperatively were set as the efficiency index for both groups. All visual acuity outcome results and the deviation of flap thickness were evaluated. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results The index of efficiency regarding the postoperative visual outcomes in the microkeratome group was lower (P<0.0001). This result was correlated with the difference between intended and achieved flap thickness (P=0.038; r=0.28), and a negative relationship in the regression analysis was confirmed (P<0.04; R2=0.1428). The UDVA in the microkeratome group improved significantly by the end of the first month (P<0.0271) in comparison to the baseline CDVA. The deviation between intended and postoperative flap thickness using either optical coherence pachymetry or Heidelberg Retinal Tomography II confocal microscopy was statistically significant (paired t-test; P<0.001) between the groups. The flap thickness deviation in the microkeratome group was higher. In the femtosecond laser group, the efficiency index was stable postoperatively (P=0.64) The UDVA improved significantly by the end of the first postoperative week (P=0.0043) in comparison to the baseline CDVA. Six months after surgery, improvement in the UDVA was significant in both groups (all P<0.001; one way analysis of variance). Conclusion Femtosecond laser was superior to microkeratome-assisted LASIK in terms of flap thickness predictability and the speed of visual acuity recovery. A negative relationship in the regression analysis between increasing flap thickness deviation and visual acuity recovery was confirmed.
Online learning communities for school teachers' continuous professional development : the cognitive, social and teaching aspects of an eTwinning Learning Event

Whereas a reasonable body of research now exists on the use of networked learning and learning communities in higher education, less is known about their use in other sectors of education such as professional development. This research focuses on an example of an online learning community used for school teachers’ continuous professional development (CPD) – in an eTwinning Learning Event (LE). It looks at how the online community supports the development of school teachers’ competence and practice, at how social aspects contribute to the discourse and at the impact of moderation. Action research is used to follow and influence the development of the LE entitled 'Exploiting Web 2.0: eTwinning and Collaboration'. An analysis of the first LE, using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework (Garrison et al., 2000) as a theoretical lens, led to changes being applied in the second LE to reinforce the cognitive, teaching and social presence. The event was lengthened to provide an opportunity for participants to apply what they were learning in the LE to their teaching practice and a final activity was added to support reflection amongst peers. Tutor moderation was reinforced at key points and informal social interaction was encouraged through the addition of a virtual staff room. Data were collected via a participant questionnaire, interviews and the coding of the messages in the discussion forums. The subsequent analysis suggests that the applied changes had a positive impact on cognitive development, social interaction and the orchestration of learning. Cognitive presence was reinforced with evidence of critical thinking emerging in the participants' discourse. Teaching presence, initially provided by the tutors, gradually emerged from the participants as they self-organised the collaboration and offered their peers mutual support. Collaboration was seen as contributing to the learning, with informal knowledge sharing and participants perceiving a sense of community. However, the community was ephemeral, lasting only for as long as it served the purpose of learning. The results suggest an emerging model for future eTwinning LEs and their online moderation by a tutor.
Dropout Prevention Fieldbook: Best Practices from the Field

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Prevalence of anemia and associated factors among pregnant women in Southern Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study

Background Anemia is defined as a condition in which there is less than the normal hemoglobin (Hb) level in the body. During pregnancy; iron deficiency is associated with multiple adverse outcomes for both mother and infant. Most of the studies conducted in Ethiopia on anemia during pregnancy were conducted at institution level and associated factors are not well studied and documented. Independent factors like, food security status, dietary diversity and intestinal parasites infection were considered by only a few of them. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among pregnant women in Lemo District, Southern Ethiopia. Methods Community based cross- sectional study was conducted from May-June 2015. Multistage sampling was used to include 507 study participants. Anaemia was diagnosed using HemoCue HB 301 and haemoglobin concentration <11 g/dl was classified as anaemic. Stool examinations were also done. Structured questionnaire was used as a tool to collect sociodemographic characteristics, individual dietary diversity and level of household food security data. Multivariate logistic regression model was employed to determine the effect of explanatory variables like level of education, level of household food security, dietary diversity, trimester of pregnancy, family planning before pregnancy, deworming, gravidity, iron intake in current pregnancy and soil transmitted helminthes on dependent variable anemia. Results The prevalence of anemia was 23.2% (95% CI: 19.5%-26.9%). Factors associated with anemia were: low socio-economic status (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.11–3.69), trimester second (AOR = 3.09, 95%CI: 1.41–6.79) and third (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.67–8.08), gravidity three to five (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.03–3.07) and six and above (AOR = 2.59, 95%CI: 1.37–4.92), not supplemented with iron (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.02–2.91), low dietary diversity score (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.37–7.37) and hookworm infection (AOR = 2.69, 95%CI: 1.34–5.39). Conclusion Anemia has moderate public health significance in the area. Community-based interventions should be enhanced considering the identified associated factors.
Comparison of the Levitan FPS Scope™ and the single‐use bougie for simulated difficult intubation in anaesthetised patients

Summary A randomised cross‐over study was performed in 34 patients with no evidence of airway difficulties, following induction of general anaesthesia, to compare the efficacy of the Levitan FPS scope™ (LFPS) and the single‐use bougie for tracheal intubation during simulated grade IIIa laryngoscopy. Success rates for intratracheal placement of the device, and the time required for insertion and tracheal intubation were recorded. Both devices were equally successful (31/34 for the LFPS vs 29/34 for the bougie) for insertion into the glottis. The mean insertion time for the LFPS was statistically longer than that for the bougie (4.4–12.5 s) but this difference was not clinically relevant. Intubation times were similar between the two devices. Major problems hindering successful intubation using the LFPS were the presence of a narrow epiglottic‐pharyngeal wall space and copious secretions. An inability to maintain the desired shape was the principal cause of failure with the bougie.
Induced Velopharyngeal Fatigue Effects in Speakers with Repaired Palatal Clefts

Objective: To address whether speakers with cleft palate exhibit velopharyngeal mechanism fatigue and are more susceptible to muscle fatigue than are speakers without cleft palate. Methods: Six adults with repaired palatal clefts and mild-moderate hypernasality served as subjects. Velopharyngeal closure force and levator veli palatini muscle activity were recorded. Subjects were asked to repeat /si/ 100 times while an external load consisting of air pressure (0, 5, 15, 25, 35 cm H2O) was applied via a mask to the nasal side of the velopharyngeal mechanism. Fatigue was defined as a reduction in velopharyngeal closure force across the series of /si/ productions, as evidenced by a negatively sloped regression line fit to the closure force data. Results: Absolute levels of velopharyngeal closure force were much lower than those observed previously in speakers without palatal clefts. All subjects showed evidence of fatigue. Furthermore, all subjects demonstrated exhaustion, where they were unable to close the velopharyngeal port against the nasal pressure load. This occurred at pressure load levels lower than those successfully completed by speakers without cleft palate. Conclusions: In speakers with a repaired palatal cleft, the velopharyngeal closure muscles may not possess the same strength and/or endurance as in normal speakers. Alternatively, muscles may possess adequate strength, but not be positioned optimally within the velopharynx following cleft palate repair or may be forced to move velopharyngeal structures that are stiffer as a result of surgical scarring.
Characteristics and correlates of fatigue after adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

PURPOSE Clinical reports suggest that many breast cancer patients experience persistent fatigue as a long-term side effect of adjuvant chemotherapy treatment. To investigate this issue further, we examined the characteristics and correlates of fatigue in women who had completed adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and in a comparison group of women with no history of cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Participants were 61 women with breast cancer who had completed chemotherapy an average of 471 days previously and 59 women with no history of cancer. All participants completed standardized self-report measures of fatigue, sleep quality, menopausal symptoms, and coping and were administered a structured clinical interview to identify current and past psychiatric disorder. RESULTS Compared with women with no history of cancer, former adjuvant chemotherapy patients reported more severe fatigue (P < .01) and worse quality of life because of fatigue (P < .05). More severe fatigue among patients was significantly (P < .05) related to poorer sleep quality, more menopausal symptoms, greater use of catastrophizing as a coping strategy, and current presence of a psychiatric disorder. CONCLUSION These findings support the view that many breast cancer patients experienced heightened fatigue after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy treatment. Results yield a profile of women who are at increased risk for heightened fatigue after chemotherapy and suggest ways to intervene clinically to prevent or reduce fatigue in this patient population.
Hydrocortisone replacement dosage influences intraocular pressure in patients with primary and secondary hypocortisolism

It has been suggested that the variation of intraocular pressure (IOP) during the day follows the diurnal variation of serum cortisol. There is also a higher risk of ocular hypertension and glaucoma in patients taking excessive oral steroid treatment. We assessed whether different replacement doses of hydrocortisone (HC) influenced IOP.
Children's Understanding: The Development of Mental Models

Contents: Preface. Part I: Introduction. The Nature of Understanding. Part II: General Processes. Mental Models and Representations. Capacity and Complexity. Basic Learning Processes in Cognitive Development. Analogies and Structure-Mapping Processes. Part III: Theory. How Understanding Develops: A Cognitive Developmental Theory. Part IV: Domain-Specific Processes and Concepts. Inferences and Hypothesis Testing. Classification, Quantification, and Conservation. Scientific Concepts. Part V: Conclusions. Concluding Comments.
Motif III S5 of L-type Calcium Channels Is Involved in the Dihydropyridine Binding Site

The α1 subunit of L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (α1C) has been shown to harbor high affinity binding sites for the Ca2+ channel dihydropyridine (DHP) modulators. It has been suggested by a number of investigators that the binding site may be composed of III S6 and IV S6. Evidence with chimeric channels indicated the possible involvement of III S5 in DHP binding. Site-directed mutations were introduced in motif III S5 region of the α1C, changing the amino acids to their counterparts in the DHP-insensitive α1A channel. The mutant channels were expressed both in HEK 293 cells and in Xenopus oocytes. Equilibrium binding and electrophysiological studies showed that the Thr1006 to Tyr substitution produced a mutant channel with at least 1000-fold decreased affinity in [3H](+)isopropyl-4-(2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)-1,4-dihydro-(2,6-dimethyl-5-methoxycarbonyl)pyridine-3-carboxylate (PN200-110, isradipine) binding and in sensitivity of R(−)-4(2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-3-pyridincarboxylic acid isopropylester (R202-791) in terms of inhibition of current through the L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Replacing Gln1010 with Met resulted in more than a 10-fold decrease in binding affinity for [3H](+)PN200-110 and in the potency of channel modulation by S202-791. Four additional mutations in this region also lead to a slight but statistically significant increase of KD values for [3H](+)PN200-110 binding. The binding and electrophysiological results show that certain residues of the transmembrane segment III S5 are important in contributing to the DHP binding “pocket” and are critical for DHP binding and for its calcium channel effect.
Is Presenteeism a hidden form of sickness absence

Objectives: To highlight the associated factors with presenteeism and to look at the linked health consequences. Methods: In the Belstress III study (N¼2675 workers 7 enterprises) socio-demographic data (age, sex, educational level, professional status), self-recorded presenteeism and their potential influencing variables at work were measured. Various mental health indicators were collected. Absenteeism was registered independently by the enterprise during 1 year. Fourteen days of absence and more was considered as long absence. Logistic regression analyses were performed, controlling for diverse variables. Results: Associated factors (significant OR) were bullying (1.07), strain (1.56), low social support (0.08), task-oriented coping (1.02) and emotional coping (1.05). Linked health consequences (significant OR): anxiety (2.32), depression (2.69), fatigue (3.09), perceived health (2.75), current health index (3.69), long absences (1.77). Conclusion: Knowing the economical and societal consequences of presenteeism, employers should not only look for absenteeism but also for presenteeism and their associated factors.
Nottingham health profile questionnaire incorporates important aspects of the patient perspective into outcome assessment in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE There is a consensus on the need for a more thorough assessment of outcome of RA from the perspective of those who experience the disease. Our objective was to assess the health- related quality of life (HR-QOL) of RA patients by the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), the measurement of subjective experienced distress. METHODS One hundred and nineteen consecutive out-patients were cross-sectionally assessed. HR-QOL was evaluated by using the first section of the NHP, a generic quality of life instrument, that assess subjective distress on six dimensions: mobility, pain, energy, sleep, emotional reaction and social isolation. Functional capacity was measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). RESULTS The NHP scores for mobility, pain, energy and sleep showed a linear association (p<0.001 for each) with HAQ disability level. In addition to pain, patients with mild disability (HAQ 0-1) may suffer from remarkable fatigue (loss of energy) and problems in sleep. Even at the HAQ level 0, there was some perceived distress in almost all of the NHP dimensions. CONCLUSIONS Poor HAQ levels were associated with patient perceived distress in dimensions which are getting minor attention in clinics, i.e., energy and sleep. It is to be noted that RA patients who reported no disability or its lowest levels measured by HAQ perceived notable distress in many NHP dimensions. Our results suggest that NHP is a potential candidate for a HR-QOL questionnaire which should considered to be used in routine clinical assessment of RA patients.