Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Education and post-release employment: An exploratory study of offender perceptions

EDUCATION AND POST-RELEASE EMPLOYMENT: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF OFFENDER PERCEPTIONS Frank R. Wood, Jr. Old Dominion University, 2016 Director: Dr. Melvina Sumter Employment is an essential component of the reintegration process for returning offenders. As one of the eight criminogenic needs, improving employment opportunities for returning offenders increases the ability of returning offenders to reintegrate back into the community, as well as decreases the potential threat of recidivism. However, further research is needed to examine how an offenders’ prospectus from educational experiences influences their perceptions of finding legal employment after release. The current study contributes to current literature by explaining why employment is a barrier to offender reentry, specifically, how educational factors influence an offender’s belief that he or she will find legal employment after release. Travis Hirschi’s social bond theory provides the theoretical framework guiding this study. Results from the current study suggest that an offender who believes that he or she can return to go school and further his or her education generates positive perceptions of finding legal employment after release. As well, results suggest that an offender who has access to social networks and resources perceives his or her ability to find legal employment after release negatively. Based on findings from this study, policy makers should consider integrating more educational programs that afford offenders the opportunity to return to school and enhance their human capital into criminal justice reform policies, as well as socialize offenders on how to effectively utilize networks and resources within their respective communities.
Fibre-specific white matter reductions in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment

Alzheimer's disease is increasingly considered a large-scale network disconnection syndrome, associated with progressive aggregation of pathological proteins, cortical atrophy, and functional disconnections between brain regions. These pathological changes are posited to arise in a stereotypical spatiotemporal manner, targeting intrinsic networks in the brain, most notably the default mode network. While this network-specific disruption has been thoroughly studied with functional neuroimaging, changes to specific white matter fibre pathways within the brain's structural networks have not been closely investigated, largely due to the challenges of modelling complex white matter structure. Here, we applied a novel technique known as 'fixel-based analysis' to comprehensively investigate fibre tract-specific differences at a within-voxel level (called 'fixels') to assess potential axonal loss in subjects with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. We hypothesized that patients with Alzheimer's disease would exhibit extensive degeneration across key fibre pathways connecting default network nodes, while patients with mild cognitive impairment would exhibit selective degeneration within fibre pathways connecting regions previously identified as functionally implicated early in Alzheimer's disease. Diffusion MRI data from Alzheimer's disease (n = 49), mild cognitive impairment (n = 33), and healthy elderly control subjects (n = 95) were obtained from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle study of ageing. We assessed microstructural differences in fibre density, and macrostructural differences in fibre bundle morphology using fixel-based analysis. Whole-brain analysis was performed to compare groups across all white matter fixels. Subsequently, we performed a tract of interest analysis comparing fibre density and cross-section across 11 selected white matter tracts, to investigate potentially subtle degeneration within fibre pathways in mild cognitive impairment, initially by clinical diagnosis alone, and then by including amyloid status (i.e. a positive or negative amyloid PET scan). Our whole-brain analysis revealed significant white matter loss manifesting both microstructurally and macrostructurally in Alzheimer's disease patients, evident in specific fibre pathways associated with default mode network nodes. Reductions in fibre density and cross-section in mild cognitive impairment patients were only exhibited within the posterior cingulum when statistical analyses were limited to tracts of interest. Interestingly, these degenerative changes did not appear to be associated with high amyloid accumulation, given that amyloid-negative, but not positive, mild cognitive impairment subjects exhibited subtle focal left posterior cingulum deficits. The findings of this study demonstrated a stereotypical distribution of white matter degeneration in patients with Alzheimer's disease, which was in line with canonical findings from other imaging modalities, and with a network-based conceptualization of the disease.awx355media15726254535001.
Erythromycin-resistant Campylobacter coli from slaughtered animals as a potential public health risk.

Erythromycin-resistant Campylobacter were isolated from pig, cattle, and poultry carcasses slaugh tered in Poland between 2008 and 2011. A total of 1335 strains were examined and among them 20 (1.5%) showed a high level of erythromycin resistance (≥ 32 mg/l) as determined by the microbroth dilution method. All these isolates were C. coli and mainly originated from poultry (15 strains). PCR amplification or DNA sequencing identi - fied the mutation A2075G in the 23S rRNA gene in all strains tested. The vast majority of such C. coli were also resistant to quinolones, tetracyclines, and streptomycin whereas none of them revealed resistance to gentamycin. Furthermore, several isolates (14; 70.0%) displayed multi-resistance pattern against quinolones, aminoglycosides, and tetracyclines. PCR analysis identified several putative virulence genes such as cadF, flaA, and iam (present in all erythromycin resistant isolates) as well as the cdtA and flhA markers (19 and 16 strains, respectively) among C. coli tested. On the other hand, only two out of 20 isolates were positive for the ciaB and docA genes. Further - more, none of the analysed strains had the virB11 and wlaN markers. A molecular relationship determination of the erythromycin-resistant C. coli performed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) revealed 17 different types. This reflects the high genetic diversity among the examined isolates. The results obtained suggest that erythromycin-resistant C. coli from food-producing animals may represent an underestimated potential health risk for consumers.
Performance profiles: the influence of patient satisfaction data on physicians' practice.

OBJECTIVE Health maintenance organizations and other payers increasingly use patient satisfaction data to profile physician performance. Little is known about physicians' use of patient satisfaction information or how profiles affect individual physician behaviors. The objective of this study was to examine primary care physicians' perceptions of performance profiles based on patient satisfaction data, whether physicians use profiles to change practice behaviors, and which profile components physicians think are important for assessing quality of care. METHODS A written survey was conducted in 1998 in Massachusetts with 810 primary care physicians (304 pediatricians, 201 family practitioners, 305 internists) who had at least 100 patients in a large managed care plan and had received 1 or more profiles based on patient satisfaction data. Physicians in training were excluded. Physicians' perceptions of profiles and their reported use to change practice behaviors were measured. RESULTS The response rate was 68%. Twenty-three percent reported that profiles were very or extremely useful for improving care. Only 7% reported using profiles often or always to change care. Although specific profile components related to interpersonal aspects of care were rated more useful, <11% reported using profiles often or always to make changes on any individual component. A majority, 67% to 89%, reported making no or minor changes on profile components. Responses did not vary by specialty, demographics, or practice characteristics. Physicians rated interpersonal factors (eg, ability to communicate with patients, ability to show caring and empathy) as the most important indicators of quality of care; they report having the most control over these factors. Office factors (eg, staying on schedule, ease of scheduling appointments) were ranked as least important for assessing quality of care. CONCLUSION Although health maintenance organizations and other payers increasingly use patient satisfaction reports to profile individual physicians and guide physician compensation and health plan participation, <25% of primary care physicians find profiles useful for improving patient care and even fewer report using profiles to change practice. Profiles likely have limited influence on behavior changes. Payers who invest in profiles may find it advantageous to focus on health plans and practice facilities rather than on individual physicians.
The Feasibility and Construct Validity of Graduate and Supervisor Surveys in a Pulmonary Fellowship Training Program

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and construct validity of our graduate and employer survey and its potential use in programmatic evaluation. Methods: An identical survey instrument was sent to fellowship graduates from our institution and their employers. We estimated feasibility through determining our survey response rate. Construct validity was assessed by comparing graduate self-ratings and employer ratings and through comparing survey ratings with passing board-certification examinations and referrals to the National Practitioner Databank. Results: Eleven years of graduates were included (n = 38 graduates). Response rates were 84% and 82% for graduates and their employers, respectively. Mean supervisor ratings were greater than graduate self-ratings on all questions. The lowest rating consistently across survey years was in graduates' self-perception of their ability to direct a PFT lab. One fellow failed his pulmonary boards and 1 failed his critical care boards on the first attempt. No graduates were referred to the National Practitioner Databank during our study period. Conclusions: This fellowship survey appears to be feasible and have construct validity. The consistency in the relatively low self-rating of graduates in directing a PFT lab has led to important areas for curriculum reform.
Can transcutaneous bilirubinometry safely guide phototherapy treatment of neonatal jaundice in Malawi?

Abstract Objectives: To assess the correlation between total serum bilirubin (TSB) and transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) values in Malawian newborn infants, and to investigate whether TcB can be used safely to guide phototherapy treatment in the absence of TSB results. Methods: 128 newborn jaundiced infants were studied in the neonatal nursery at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre. Paired TSB and TcB measurements (from forehead and sternum) were compared using the linear regression and Bland–Altman methods. Clinical decisions based on TcB results were compared with those based on ‘gold standard’ TSB results. Results: For infants not under phototherapy, the lowest TcB reading (from forehead or sternum) gave the strongest correlation with TSB: r = 0·83 for term infants and r = 0·71 for premature infants. For infants undergoing phototherapy, the highest TcB reading gave the strongest correlation with TSB: r = 0·66 for term infants and r = 0·71 for premature infants. TcB values overestimated the degree of jaundice. For infants not under phototherapy, the mean (SD) bias and imprecision of TcB was 25 (72) μmol/L for term infants and 37 (73) μmol/L for premature infants. For infants under phototherapy, the mean bias and imprecision was 30 (79) μmol/L for term infants and 44 (77) μmol/L for premature infants. For infants not under phototherapy, using the lowest TcB reading to guide treatment decisions (n = 167) had good sensitivity (91%) and specificity (90%). For infants undergoing phototherapy, using the highest TcB reading to guide treatment decisions (n = 129) had good sensitivity (94%), but lower specificity (36%). Conclusions: TcB can be used to safely guide phototherapy treatment in a resource-poor setting.
Distribution patterns and trophic characteristics of salmonids and native species inhabiting high altitude rivers of Pampa de Achala region, Argentina

The Pampa de Achala in central Argentina is an area with low fish species richness where salmonids were first introduced at the beginning of the twentieth century. A total of 19 rivers of different order were sampled during the low water period by using portable electrofishing equipment. We covered different identified macrohabitats (pools, riffles, glides and cascades) in reaches of 300-500 m length. The native species Trichomycterus corduvensis and two exotic salmonids such as Salvelinus fontinalis and Oncorhynchus mykiss represented the most common species, showing allopatric and sympatric distribution in some streams. Stomach contents and diet overlapping were also analyzed. Cluster results showed a first main group comprised those streams with high diet similitude between T. corduvensis and O. mykiss whereas a second main group consisted of streams with high diet similitude between O. mykiss and S. fontinalis. Mean niche width was similar among all these species but T. corduvensis showed that widest range whereas S. fontinalis exhibited the narrowest trophic niche. We were able to document a direct predation on T. corduvensis by O. mykiss in two stream although distribution overlapping among native and exotic species were low. In turn diet overlapping among species were negligible. Trophic niche amplitude of S. fontinalis was inversely related to stream order, providing clues that geomorphology and hydrology may exert also influence of trophic characteristics and can be used for predicting the potential for food competition with native species. Analysis by Tokeshi plot revealed that T. corduvensis ranged from specialist to generalist whereas both salmonids showed generalist feeding habits with a heterogeneous and homogeneous diet.
NaCl-induced expression of ASCORBATE PEROXIDASE 8 in roots of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings is not associated with osmotic component

Ascorbate peroxidase (APx; EC 1.11.1.11) plays an important role in scavenging the toxic effects of H2O2 in higher plants. Eight types of APx have been described for Oryza sativa: two cytosolic (OsAPx1 and OsAPx2), two putative peroxisomal (OsAPx3 and OsAPx4), and four chloroplastic isoforms (OsAPx5, OsAPx6, OsAPx7, and OsAPx8). We have recently demonstrated that Na+ but not Cl- is required for the NaCl-induced expression of OsAPx8 in rice roots. Evidence is also provided to show that Na+-induced expression of OsAPx8 is mediated through an accumulation of ABA. In addition to its known component of ion toxicity, there is an osmotic effect resulting from salt concentration in the soil. Here we show that ABA level but not OsAPx8 expression was enhanced at a concentration of mannitol iso-osmotic with 150 mM NaCl suggests that NaCl-enhanced OsAPx8 expression is not associated with osmotic component.
Effectiveness of peripheral vascular catheter care bundle in the Pediatric Nursing Service, Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand

Objective The main purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes and nurse compliance before and after implementation of peripheral vascular catheter (PVC) care bundle. Methods This study was conducted at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. The samples included children and infants admitted to pediatric wards, with pediatric nurses. Four thousand seven hundred and eight peripheral catheter insertion sites were evaluated, and 140 registered nurses were observed for compliance to the peripheral vascular catheter care bundle. Data were collected from October, 2011 to August, 2012. The research tools consisted of the following: 1) The Peripheral Vascular Care Bundle by the Health Protection of Scotland, 2) The Complication Assessment Form, and 3) The Nursing Action Observation Form. The peripheral vascular care bundle was implemented by providing training and knowledge for pediatric nurses. The establishment of strategies to promote the implementation of care bundle, support of equipment, and provision of feedback, were included. Data were collected before and after implementing the care bundle. The Chi-square statistical test was used to compare data. Results The results showed that after implementing care bundle; there were no infections at the catheter insertion sites and no bloodstream infections. The infiltration rate decreased significantly from 5.6 to 0.8 episodes per 100 PVC insertions (p< 0.001), and the phlebitis rate decreased significantly from 0.6 to 0.2 episodes per 100 PVC (p =0.02). Overall nurse compliance with PVC bundle was 58.6%, which improved significantly to 77.3% after intervention (p< 0.001). Conclusions The findings indicated that implementation of the PVC bundle reduced complications in children and infants who received a peripheral vascular catheter. The PVC bundle should be promoted in nursing services, for sustainable and best nursing practices.
Treatment Options for Diabetic Neuropathic Foot Ulcers: A Cost‐Effectiveness Analysis

BACKGROUND Diabetic foot ulcers are a common problem and result in more than 85,000 lower extremity amputations each year in the United States. Studies have suggested that between 25% and 50% of costs related to inpatient diabetes care may be directly attributable to the diabetic foot. Novel treatments for these wounds, while expensive, have been reported to improve healing rates, although no formal cost effectiveness analyses have been performed in order to address the cost effectiveness of a given therapy. OBJECTIVE To estimate the cost effectiveness of common treatment strategies for diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers. METHODS Four main options are available for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers: (1) standard care (SC), (2) standard treatment in a specialized wound care center (WCC), (3) treatment with becaplermin, (4) or treatment with platelet releasate (PR). We utilized effectiveness data from published clinical trials, meta-analyses, and a database that includes data on 26,599 patients with these wounds. Effectiveness was assessed as a percentage of ulcers healed at 20 and 32 weeks. RESULTS Baseline effectiveness (with 95% confidence intervals) for SC, becaplermin, PR, and WCC care were 30.9% (26.6, 35.1), 43.0% (37.3, 48.7), 36.8% (35.4, 38.2), and 35.6% (34.8, 36.4), respectively. Cost:effectiveness ratios for PR versus SC and becaplermin versus SC were 414.40 and 36.59, respectively. Therefore the incremental cost of increasing the odds of healing by 1% over standard therapy was $414.40 for PR and $36.59 for becaplermin. CONCLUSIONS PR, becaplermin, and WCC care all provided improved healing rates over standard care, and becaplermin was less expensive and more effective than PR after 20 weeks of care.
Epistemology, Ethics, and Progress in Precision Medicine

The emerging paradigm of precision medicine strives to leverage the tools of molecular biology to prospectively tailor treatments to the individual patient. Fundamental to the success of this movement is the discovery and validation of “predictive biomarkers,” which are properties of a patient’s biological specimens that can be assayed in advance of therapy to inform the treatment decision. Unfortunately, research into biomarkers and diagnostics for precision medicine has fallen well short of expectations. In this essay, we examine the portfolio of research activities into the excision repair cross complement group 1 (ERCC1) gene as a predictive biomarker for precision lung cancer therapy as a case study in elucidating the epistemological and ethical obstacles to developing new precision medicines.
Progressive encephalomyelopathy and cerebellar degeneration in 10 captive-bred cheetahs

Progressive ataxia, with head tremor, developed in 10 captive-born cheetah cubs under six months of age. The condition was usually preceded by coryza and an ocular discharge. Initially the ataxia and weakness affected the hindquarters, then the forelegs, and head tremor developed later. Significant pathological changes were confined to the central nervous system. There was widespread Wallerian degeneration in the funiculi of the spinal cord (except those in the dorsal columns), in the medulla and in the cerebellum. In the cerebellum there was degeneration of Purkinje cells and of the molecular and granular cell layers. There was chromatolysis in the Purkinje cells, the ventral horn cells of the spinal cord and in the neurons of the lateral vestibular nucleus. The olivary nucleus was necrotic. There were foci of inflammatory cells in the molecular layer of the cerebellum and in the medulla. The cause of the disease remains unknown.
Multichannel bidirectional transmission using a WDM MUX/DMUX pair and unidirectional in-line amplifiers

We propose a repeated bidirectional WDM transmission system using cascaded WDM MUX/DMUX pairs as narrow-bandpass filters and reflection attenuators. Fiber span is increased by inserting unidirectional EDFAs between WDM MUX/DMUX pair as in-line amplifiers. A three-channel hybrid system with one 10-Gb/s and two 2.5-Gb/s channels is also demonstrated In the 1550-nm region for transmission over 150 km of dispersion-shifted fiber. Negligible power penalty due to back reflection was observed.
OBESITY IN CHILDHOOD AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK

1 Childhood obesity is increasing worldwide and is associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk factors in childhood. 2 In children, obesity is associated with hypertension, impaired vascular function, dyslipidaemia, atheroma, the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Greater risk is associated with clustering of risk factors. 3 Obesity tracks from childhood to adult life and predicts adverse levels of risk and an increase in cardiovascular end‐points. 4 Adults who were obese as children have higher rates of obesity and its sequelae: greater intima–media thickness, left ventricular hypertrophy and atherosclerosis. There is greater all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality, as well as a greater risk of stroke, in long‐term follow‐up of obese children. 5 Genetic and environmental factors contribute to familial aggregation of obesity, with parental obesity as a strong predictor of obesity in children. However, clustering of adverse health‐related behaviours is seen in such families. 6 Adverse behaviours (smoking, poor dietary choices, less physical activity and greater alcohol intake) also cluster in individuals, suggesting the need for multimodal interventions. 7 Recognition of families at risk offers opportunities for prevention of obesity in children and decreasing risk in parents.