Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The multi‐professional approach: front‐line professionals' behaviours and interactions

Sousa L, Costa T. The multi-professional approach: front-line professionals' behaviours and interactions Int J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 444–454 © 2009 The Author, Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare. Given the complexity of social problems, the multi-professional approach has been generally adopted in the Western world as a desirable work practice. This study aimed at identifying front-line professionals' behaviours and interactions that significantly influenced (positively or negatively) multi-professional processes and outcomes. The study was conducted using the critical incidents technique administered to 117 front-line professionals involved in multi-professional approaches from different agencies and areas of expertise. The main findings suggest that the multi-professional approach among front-line professionals is facilitated by the professionals' commitment and complementarity and inhibited by the absence of complementarity, professionals being aggressive and insensitive to other professionals, and incompetence. The multi-professional approach emerges as a context in which it is necessary to articulate professionals' personal and professional similarities and differences. The results suggest that professionals need to develop new competencies, particularly interdependence, flexibility and reflection on the process and outcomes of the multi-professional approach.
Career support needs of learners with historical disadvantage: an exploratory study

This study explored the career support needs of learners from a historically disadvantaged rural South African school setting. Participants were a convenience sample of 20 high school learners (females=60%; males=40%; age range 15–17 years; schools grades 9–10). They completed focus group interviews relating to their career awareness and needs. The data were thematically analysed. The results suggested learners have significant in-school career awareness and support needs. The learners accessed career related information informally from social networks they were using out of school rather than in the educational setting.
Protective Effects of Catalase Overexpression on UVB-induced Apoptosis in Normal Human Keratinocytes*

UV-induced apoptosis in keratinocytes is a highly complex process in which various molecular pathways are involved. These include the extrinsic pathway via triggering of death receptors and the intrinsic pathway via DNA damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. In this study we investigated the effect of catalase and CuZn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) overexpression on apoptosis induced by UVB exposure at room temperature or 4 °C on normal human keratinocytes. Irradiation at low temperature reduced UV-induced apoptosis by 40% in normal keratinocytes independently of any change in p53 and with a decrease in caspase-8 activation. Catalase overexpression decreased apoptosis by 40% with a reduction of caspase-9 activation accompanied by a decrease in p53. Keeping cells at low temperature and catalase overexpression had additive effects. CuZn-SOD overexpression had no significant effect on UVB-induced apoptosis. UVB induced an increase in ROS levels at two distinct stages: immediately following irradiation and around 3 h after irradiation. Catalase overexpression inhibited only the late increase in ROS levels. We conclude that catalase overexpression has a protective role against UVB irradiation by preventing DNA damage mediated by the late ROS increase.
Towards a Smart Learning Environment for Smart City Governance

Educational services provided to various stakeholders need to be actively developed to accommodate the diversity of learning models and to get the advantages of available resources (e.g. data) in smart cities governance. Despite the substantial literature on smart cities, for Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) and its related domains such as learning analytics and big data, little effort has been given to the creation of connectivity to smart cities governance to meet stakeholders' demands, even though this connection may generate various challenges arising from conflict of interests between stakeholders and organisations. This paper proposes a structural framework for successful application of smart learning environments in the context of smart city governance. It reflects on selected challenges and proposes some future directions.
Phase II, Open-Label Study Evaluating the Activity of Imatinib in Treating Life-Threatening Malignancies Known to Be Associated with Imatinib-Sensitive Tyrosine Kinases

Purpose: To evaluate the activity of imatinib in treating advanced, life-threatening malignancies expressing one or more imatinib-sensitive tyrosine kinases. Experimental Design: This was a phase II, open-label, single arm study. Patients ≥15 years old with malignancies showing histologic or molecular evidence of expression/activation of imatinib-sensitive tyrosine kinases were enrolled. Patients were treated with 400 or 800 mg/d imatinib for hematologic malignancy and solid tumors, respectively. Treatment was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary objective was to identify evidence of imatinib activity with tumor response as the primary end point. Results: One hundred eighty-six patients with 40 different malignancies were enrolled (78.5% solid tumors, 21.5% hematologic malignancies). Confirmed response occurred in 8.9% of solid tumor patients (4 complete, 9 partial) and 27.5% of hematologic malignancy patients (8 complete, 3 partial). Notable activity of imatinib was observed in only five tumor types (aggressive fibromatosis, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, hypereosinophilic syndrome, myeloproliferative disorders, and systemic mastocytosis). A total of 106 tumors were screened for activating mutations: five KIT mutations and no platelet-derived growth factor receptor mutations were found. One patient with systemic mastocytosis and a partial response to therapy had a novel imatinib-sensitive KIT mutation (D816T). There was no clear relationship between expression or activation of wild-type imatinib-sensitive tyrosine kinases and clinical response. Conclusion: Clinical benefit was largely confined to diseases with known genomic mechanisms of activation of imatinib target kinases. Our results indicate an important role for molecular characterization of tumors to identify patients likely to benefit from imatinib treatment.
Australian Workers’ Narratives about Emergency Relief and Employment Service Clients: Complex Issues, Simple Solutions

Abstract This paper illuminates two under-investigated, and often intersecting, frontline services accessed by unemployed people. It reports on the narratives of 32 Australian service providers working in emergency relief or employment services during 2012, including perceptions of clients’ presenting issues and problems, and rationale for intervention. Workers tended to use reductionist and individualistic terms to describe complex client issues suggesting self-motivation and personal responsibility were key to gaining employment or alleviating poverty. Clients were often viewed as having the power to change their circumstances, while workers appeared unaware of their positional power and drew from dominant conservative discourse about welfarism and unemployment to fortify their compliance requirements. The findings are discussed in relation to service delivery and reform.
Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of pseudorabies in Shandong province of China

A cross-sectional serological study was conducted in Shandong province of China to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with seropositivity due to pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection in small- and medium-sized farrow-to-finish herds following outbreaks of variant PRV strains. A total of 6,035 blood samples from 224 randomly selected herds were screened. The results showed that 25.0% of the herds and 56.7% of the serum samples were seropositive for field strains of PRV. Herds consisting of 50–100 breeding sows had higher herd seroprevalence and serum sample seroprevalence than larger herds. Both the highest herd seroprevalence and highest serum sample seroprevalence were observed in western Shandong, followed northern Shandong. Based on univariate analysis, the following risk factors were utilized in subsequent multivariable logistic regression analysis: region, herd size, weight of purchased gilts, and all-in/all-out practice. Upon multivariate analysis, region, herd size, weight of purchased gilts and all-in/all-out practice were significantly associated with PRV herd seropositivity. These findings indicate that we are facing a serious situation in the prevention and control of pseudorabies. The results could help predict the next outbreak and set out control measures.
Regionalisation in the Gdańsk area: Virtual disintegration and functional cooperation

Purpose – This paper aims to present some of the key obstacles and general conditions which shape regional cooperation between municipalities of Poland's third largest agglomeration of Gdansk, also called Tri‐City.Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines the role of leadership in organizations representing business interests, and the competing and conflicting perspectives on the “right” scale to do so – local and/or regional, drawing on participatory insights into the relevant processes.Findings – It is found that economic competition and post‐1990 neo‐liberal governance practices enhance the isolationism and rivalry between localities within the agglomeration. Any public claims to “cooperation” are mainly limited to the practicalities of public transportation. Individual actors and their personalities and policy‐making abilities play a key part in any collaborative agenda, often pushed by EU funding conditions that require institutional collaboration.Originality/value – The obstacles to, and mech.
The critically ill obstetric patient - Recent concepts

Obstetric patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) present a challenge to an intensivist because of normal physiological changes associated with pregnancy and puerperium, the specific medical diseases peculiar to pregnancy and the need to take care of both the mother and the foetus. Most common causes of admission to an ICU for obstetric patients are eclampsia, severe preeclampsia, haemorrhage, congenital and valvular heart disease, septic abortions, severe anemia, cardiomyopathy and non-obstetric sepsis. The purpose of this review is to present the recent concepts in critical care management of obstetric patients with special focus mainly on ventilatory strategies, treatment of shock and nutrition. The details regarding management of individual diseases would not be discussed as these would be beyond the purview of this article. In addition, some specific issues of importance while managing such patients would also be highlighted.
Optimal interaction structure of human drivers cooperation: A pilot study

Ongoing research deals with the question how to design a machine for an optimal shared control with a human being. For examinition of different methods of cooperation an experiment was carried out in which two humans solve a simplified driving task together. A pilot study was executed where both the determination of the combined output as well as the feedback from the partners were varied. The results indicate that there is neither in signal fusion nor in the way of feedback a single form of cooperation which is preferable for all participants. Instead the optimal way is dependant on the level and homogeneity of the cooperating partners.
Central and Peripheral Routes to Sustained Technology Usage

In this paper we combine three theories of attitude and behavior change in an attempt to inform the under-studied concept of sustained technology usage over time. We address two broad research questions (1) what specific processes act to drive behavior change? and (2) does the route of persuasion accepted by the recipient affect the long-term behavior of the recipient, i.e. are the changes enduring? We use Kelman's (1958) processes of attitude change (i.e. compliance, identification, and internalization) as the three mechanisms through which the change can occur. We use the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) to provide a theoretical underpinning for understanding the cognitive elaboration that information recipients use when they are subject to persuasive messages. Finally, social learning theory helps us identify supervisors, work groups, and self as salient referents for behavioral modeling. We test our conceptual model using longitudinal data from a field study of users of a new customer relationship management system in a large financial services institution. Our results show that individuals are influenced to use technology by multiple processes including compliance, identification and internalization, and their usage over a span of one and a half years is either enduring or decreasing depending upon whether or not these information cues are processed through a central or peripheral route.
Does elevated peripheral benzodiazepine receptor gene expression relate to cognitive deficits in methamphetamine dependence?

Methamphetamine (METH) is a neurotoxin and psychostimulant drug with potent effects on the central nervous system. With chronic METH administration, an inflammatory glial response is observed as a result of METH‐induced neurotoxicity. One inflammatory marker is the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR).
On the Use of Biaxial Properties in Modeling Annulus as a Holzapfel–Gasser–Ogden Material

Besides the biology, stresses and strains within the tissue greatly influence the location of damage initiation and mode of failure in an intervertebral disk. Finite element models of a functional spinal unit (FSU) that incorporate reasonably accurate geometry and appropriate material properties are suitable to investigate such issues. Different material models and techniques have been used to model the anisotropic annulus fibrosus, but the abilities of these models to predict damage initiation in the annulus and to explain clinically observed phenomena are unclear. In this study, a hyperelastic anisotropic material model for the annulus with two different sets of material constants, experimentally determined using uniaxial and biaxial loading conditions, were incorporated in a 3D finite element model of a ligamentous FSU. The purpose of the study was to highlight the biomechanical differences (e.g., intradiscal pressure, motion, forces, stresses, strains, etc.) due to the dissimilarity between the two sets of material properties (uniaxial and biaxial). Based on the analyses, the biaxial constants simulations resulted in better agreements with the in vitro and in vivo data, and thus are more suitable for future damage analysis and failure prediction of the annulus under complex multiaxial loading conditions.
The role of primary sequence in helical control compared across short α- and β3-peptides

α-helices are the most common form of secondary structure found in proteins. In order to study controlled protein folding, as well as manipulate the interface of helical peptides with targets in protein–protein interactions, many techniques have been developed to induce and stabilize α-helical structure in short synthetic peptides. Furthermore, short, non-natural β-peptides have been established that fold into predictable 14-helices that mimic α-helical structure. We created a panel of short 6–8 residue α- and β-peptides that used confirmed primary sequence design features which influence helical control and directly compared the helicity across peptides with the most minimal epitopes. Using CD spectroscopy, we found that both α- and β-peptides abided by their respective design principles, with no significant “cross-helicity” inducing an α- or a β-peptide to fold into the oppositely controlled helix. Generally, the β-peptide of the most optimal sequence displayed the largest percent of 14-helicity, whereas the two α-peptides of most favorable design showed some α-helicity and a marked 310-helical contribution. Overall, the results can inform future peptidomimetic designs, especially in the development of short, structured peptides with biological function.
Effect of Calstabin1 Depletion on Calcium Transients and Energy Utilization in Muscle Fibers and Treatment Opportunities with RyR1 Stabilizers

Depletion of calstabin1 (FKBP12) from the RyR1 channel and consequential calcium leakage from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is found in certain disease conditions such as dystrophy, aging or muscle overuse. Here, we first assessed the effect of calstabin1 depletion on resting Ca2+ levels and transients. We found that depletion of calstabin1 with the calstabin1-dissociation compound FK506 increased the release of calcium from the SR by 14 % during tetanic stimulation (50 Hz, 300 ms) and delayed cytosolic calcium removal. However, we did not find a significant increase in resting cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Therefore, we tested if increased SERCA activity could counterbalance calcium leakage. By measuring the energy utilization of muscle fibers with and without FK506 treatment, we observed that FK506-treatment increased oxygen consumption by 125% compared to baseline levels. Finally, we found that pretreatment of muscle fibers with the RyR1 stabilizer JTV-519 led to an almost complete normalization of calcium flux dynamics and energy utilization. We conclude that cytosolic calcium levels are mostly preserved in conditions with leaky RyR1 channels due to increased SERCA activity. Therefore, we suggest that RyR1 leakiness might lead to chronic metabolic stress, followed by cellular damage, and RyR1 stabilizers could potentially protect diseased muscle tissue.
Modeling Interferogram Stacks

Synthetic aperture radar interferometry is limited by temporal and geometrical decorrelation. Permanent scatterers (PSs) are helpful to overcome these problems, but their density in agricultural and out-of-town areas is not always sufficient. The forthcoming availability of satellite platforms with thinner orbital tubes and shorter revisit times will enhance the use of interferogram stacks, which are usable for distributed and progressively decorrelating targets, like those found in agricultural areas. To estimate the possibilities of the interferogram stack technique, a Markovian model for the temporal decorrelation is considered. ERS-1 data measured in C-band over Rome with a three-day repeat cycle are used to identify the parameters for this model, namely, the decorrelation time (estimated as 40 days) and the short-term coherence (estimated as 0.6). In the hypothesis of small deviations from a model of the motion, the optimal weights to be used to combine a sequence of interferograms taken at intervals that are shorter than the decorrelation time are calculated in the cases of progressive and sinusoidal ground motion. The dispersion of the optimal estimate of the motion is then determined. This model is extended to frequencies other than C-band. These evaluations are compared with the known results obtained for PSs. As an example, the case of a time interval between the takes of T = 12 days is considered. With N consecutive images, interferogram stack results are equivalent to PSs if the pixel count in the window used to smooth the interferograms grows with N2.
Aqueous Extract of Annona macroprophyllata: A Potential α-Glucosidase Inhibitor

Annona genus contains plants used in folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes. In the present study, an aqueous extract prepared from Annona macroprophyllata (Annonaceae, also known as A. diversifolia) leaves was evaluated on both the activity of yeast α-glucosidase (an in vitro assay) and sucrose tolerance in Wistar rats. The results have shown that the aqueous extract from A. macroprophyllata inhibits the yeast α-glucosidase with an IC50 = 1.18 mg/mL, in a competitive manner with a K i = 0.97 mg/mL, a similar value to that of acarbose (K i = 0.79 mg/mL). The inhibitory activity of A. macroprophyllata was reinforced by its antihyperglycemic effect, at doses of 100, 300, and 500 mg/kg in rats. Chromatographic analysis identified the flavonoids rutin and isoquercitrin in the most polar fractions of A. macroprophyllata crude extract, suggesting that these flavonoids are part of the active constituents in the plant. Our results support the use of A. macroprophyllata in Mexican folk medicine to control postprandial glycemia in people with diabetes mellitus, involving active constituents of flavonoid nature.
Intention to Unretire

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to identify antecedents of intentions to unretire among a group of retirees that included both those who had not returned to the workforce since their retirement and those who had previously unretired.Design/methodology/approach – A cross‐sectional survey collected data from 460 recent retirees between the ages of 50 and 70.Findings – Results of hierarchical regression indicated that retirees are more likely to remain retired if they feel financially secure and have a positive retirement experience. Conversely, they are more likely to intend to return to the workforce if they experience financial worries, wish to upgrade their skills or miss aspects of their former jobs.Practical implications – Aging boomers who anticipate early retirement have created a dwindling labor pool. Simultaneously, the global pension crisis has impacted on the financial decisions of retirees. A trend to abolish mandatory retirement and/or increase mandatory age in various countries provides.
In Silico and In Vivo Investigations of Proteins of a Minimized Eukaryotic Cytoplasm

Algae with secondary plastids such as diatoms maintain two different eukaryotic cytoplasms. One of them, the so-called periplastidal compartment (PPC), is the naturally minimized cytoplasm of a eukaryotic endosymbiont. In order to investigate the protein composition of the PPC of diatoms, we applied knowledge of the targeting signals of PPC-directed proteins in searches of the genome data for proteins acting in the PPC and proved their in vivo localization via expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions. Our investigation increased the knowledge of the protein content of the PPC approximately 3-fold and thereby indicated that this narrow compartment was functionally reduced to some important cellular functions with nearly no housekeeping biochemical pathways.
Parental Substance Misuse and Child Welfare

Emphasising the importance of developing holistic approaches, involving both child care and drug and alcohol agencies as well as families, this book presents a practical model for risk assessment and intervention that balances the 'competing' needs of parents and their children. It is an essential resource for all those working or training to work in the fields of child welfare, substance misuse, health, education and criminal justice.