Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The psycho-social experiences of unwed teenage mothers in faith communities : a qualitative study.

IV CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 3 1.1.1 The study aims 3 1.1.2 The study objectives 3 1.2 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 4 1.3 METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH 4 1.4 DEFINITION OF TERMS 4 1.5 OUTLINE OF THE STUDY 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 8 2.1 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT AND POSSIBLE CAUSES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY 9 2.1.1 Social incentives for teen motherhood 10 2.1.2 Barriers to effective contraceptive use 11 2.2 POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES AND PROBLEMS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY 14 2.2.1 Economic factors 14 2.2.2 Psycho-social factors 14 2.2.3. Psycho-social consequences for the child 16 2.2.4 School dropouts 17 2.2.5 Vulnerability to or participation in criminal activity 19 2.2.6 Health risk for mother and child 19 2.2. 7 Limited education and financial insecurity 21 2.3 UNDERSTANDING ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES 22 2.3. 1 Cognitive development 23 2.3. 2 Psycho-social development 23 2.3. 3 Moral development 24 2.3. 4 Spiritual and faith development (transitional faith) 25 2.4 ADOLESCENT DECISION-MAKING 26 2.5 RELIGIOUS PARTICIPATION: ITS MEANING AND SOCIAL SUPPORTIVE FUNCTION 29 2.6 ATTITUDES TOWARDS TEENAGE/PREMARITAL PREGNANCY IN CHURCH COMMUNITIES 31 2.6. 1 Premarital sex and the Christian sexual ethic 32 2.6. 2 The Church’s attitude towards abortion 33 2.6. 3 Discrimination and exclusionary practices within the church community 33
The burden of prenatal exposure to alcohol: revised measurement of cost.

BACKGROUND In Canada the incidence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is estimated to be 1 in 100 live births. FASD is the leading cause of developmental and cognitive disabilities in Canada. Only one study has examined the cost of FASD in Canada. In that study we did not include prospective data for infants under the age of one year, costs for adults beyond 21 years or costs for individuals living in institutions. OBJECTIVE To calculate a revised estimate of direct and indirect costs associated with FASD at the patient level. METHODS Cross-sectional study design was used. Two-hundred and fifty (250) participants completed the study tool. Participants included caregivers of children, youth and adults, with FASD, from day of birth to 53 years, living in urban and rural communities throughout Canada participated. Participants completed the Health Services Utilization Inventory (HSUI). Key cost components were elicited: direct costs: medical, education, social services, out-of-pocket costs; and indirect costs: productivity losses. Total average costs per individual with FASD were calculated by summing the costs for each in each cost component, and dividing by the sample size. Costs were extrapolated to one year. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to identify significant determinants of costs and to calculate the adjusted annual costs associated with FASD. RESULTS Total adjusted annual costs associated with FASD at the individual level was $21,642 (95% CI, $19,842; $24,041), compared to $14,342 (95% CI, $12,986; $15,698) in the first study. Severity of the individual's condition, age, and relationship of the individual to the caregiver (biological, adoptive, foster) were significant determinants of costs (p < 0.001). Cost of FASD annually to Canada of those from day of birth to 53 years old, was $5.3 billion (95% CI, $4.12 billion; $6.4 billion). CONCLUSIONS Study results demonstrated the cost burden of FASD in Canada was profound. Inclusion of infants aged 0 to 1 years, adults beyond the age of 21 years and costs associated with residing in institutions provided a more accurate estimate of the costs of FASD. Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed. Key words: Alcohol, pregnancy, cost, economic burden, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
ALVEOLAR–ARTERIAL OXYGEN GRADIENT, PNEUMONIA SEVERITY INDEX AND OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED WITH COMMUNITY ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA

1 The alveolar–arterial oxygen gradient (ΔA–a) provides a useful assessment of ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) abnormalities. The objectives of the present study were to: (i) examine the correlation between the ΔA–a and the pneumonia severity index (PSI); and (ii) determine whether these measures were comparable in predicting clinical outcomes. 2 The present study was conducted at a 750‐bed teaching hospital. It examined a retrospective cohort of 255 patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) over a 2 year period. Association between the CAP and ΔA–a was investigated by regression models and correlation, as well as two logistic models for subjects bifurcated by low‐risk/moderate‐to‐high risk. The decision levels (DL) for both PSI and ΔA–a were then compared as predictors of both length of stay (LOS) and survival. 3 The correlation between PSI and ΔA–a was strong (ρ = 0.76; P < 0.0001) and was best modelled by a curvilinear relationship. Both logistic models indicated a strong association (P < 0.001) between ΔA–a and PSI and yielded an optimal DL for the ΔA–a of < 89 mmHg. Inter‐test agreement of ΔA–a with PSI was 76.9% (κ = 0.60; 95% confidence interval 0.47–0.72; P < 0.0001). At < 89 mmHg, the odds ratios for LOS were similar to those at PSI = 90 in predicting LOS in the range 3–7 days, inclusive. There was no significant difference in the ability of ΔA–a and PSI to predict survival for either the low‐ or high‐risk group (P = 0.363 and P = 0.951, respectively). 4 The ΔA–a correlates well with PSI and performs comparably in predicting two major outcomes in subjects hospitalized with CAP.
Analysis of Performance Persistence in Spanish Short-Term Fixed Interest Investment Funds (1994-2002)

This paper contains a preliminary financial analysis of the performance of a group of portfolios based on Sharpe's ratio and a variant thereof, which provides a more appropriate ranking while remaining true to the traditional measure. The main thrust of the financial analysis contained in the paper focuses on performance persistence in the subject portfolios over a period of eight years. A total of 207 Spanish short-term fixed interest investment funds are considered, and we show that over the reference period persistence does in fact exist and, furthermore, the phenomenon is statistically robust. The assessment of performance persistence is focused on the contingency table methodology of repeated winners and losers. Moreover, financial tests, such as Malkiel's (1995) Z-statistic, Brown's and Goetzmann's (1995) odds ratio and Kahn's and Rudd's (1995) c2-statistic, are applied to analyse the robustness of this phenomenon.
Underreporting of malaria incidence in the Netherlands: results from a capture–recapture study

The aim of this study was to estimate the completeness of notification of malaria by physicians and laboratories in the Netherlands in 1996. We used a capture–recapture (CRC) analysis of three incomplete, partially overlapping registers of malaria cases: a laboratory survey, the Notification Office and the hospital admission registration. The response of the laboratories was 83.2%. In 1996 the laboratories microscopically identified 535 cases of malaria, 330 patients with malaria were admitted to hospital and physicians notified 311 malaria cases. 667 malaria cases were recorded in at least one register. CRC analysis estimated the total number of malaria cases at 774 (95% CI of 740–821). This implies a completeness of notification of 40.2% for physicians and 69.1% for the laboratories. It can be concluded that laboratory-based notification can considerably increase the number of officially reported malaria cases as compared to notification by physicians. However, possibly one-third of the cases may still go unreported.
Natural History of Proteinuria in Renal Transplant Recipients Developing De Novo Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies

Background. The relationship between humoral rejection and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies is established. Proteinuria is the hallmark of glomerular injury. The relationship between HLA antibody and proteinuria was explored in renal transplant recipients developing de novo donor-specific antibodies (DSA) and nondonor-specific antibodies (NDSA). Methods. Seventy-two patients with de novo HLA antibody (38 DSA and 34 NDSA) were identified from 475 prevalent renal transplant recipients (15.2%). Antibody surveillance occurred every 6 months, with specificity characterized by a combination of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow-bead cytometry, and Luminex bead analysis. Pooled analysis of every glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urinary protein estimation in a 48-month window around the date of antibody detection was performed (4004 and 2084 measurements, respectively). Results. GFR slope (−5.85 vs. −3.21 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year) and graft failure rate (29% vs. 9%, P=0.039) were worse in patients with DSA. Three-year graft survival after antibody detection was worse in patients with DSA (69.5% vs. 91.1%, P=0.035). Patients with DSA had significantly more proteinuria than those with NDSA and 205 control patients with no alloantibodies, from 6 months before antibody detection (0.91 vs. 0.39 g/L, P=0.015). Graft failure was more likely in patients with DSA with excess of 0.2 g/L at antibody detection (42% vs. 0%, P=0.008). Conclusions. Proteinuria is associated with DSA detection and is likely to be an important factor that determines rapid GFR decline and earlier graft failure in patients developing de novo HLA antibodies.
Cerebral circulation and metabolism in pulmonary emphysema and fibrosis with observations on the effects of mild exercise.

Chronic pulmonary disease, particularly emphysema and fibrosis, may result in variable alterations in blood oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, depending upon the severity of the disease. Changes in carbon dioxide and oxygen tensions have been shown to have a profound influence on cerebral circulation in acute experiments on normal subjects (1). Recently Patterson, Heyman, and Duke (2) demonstrated that cerebral blood flow was increased above normal in a group of subjects with severe chronic pulmonary emphysema, most of whomhad cor pulmonale and were in congestive heart failure. Their studies re-emphasized the importance of the influence of blood carbon dioxide and oxygen tensions on cerebral blood flow, even though the alterations in the tensions of these gases were chronic. Their patients all had advanced' pulmonary disease, however, and it was felt that it would be of interest to study the effects of less severe pulmonary disease, and less profound and more variable alterations in blood gas tensions, on the cerebral physiology. Most of these patients were studied before and during moderate exercise, since mental status changes are known to occur in some patients with chronic pulmonary disease during exertion.
Characterization of components of the mismatch repair machinery in Trypanosoma brucei

Mismatch repair is one of a number of DNA repair pathways that cells possess to deal with damage to their genome. Mismatch repair is concerned with the recognition and correction of incorrectly paired bases, which can be base–base mismatches or insertions or deletions of a few bases, and appears to have been conserved throughout evolution. Primarily, this is concerned with increasing the fidelity of DNA replication, but also has important roles in the regulation of homologous recombination and the correction of chemical damage. In this study, we describe five genes in the protistan parasite Trypanosoma brucei that are likely to be involved in nuclear mismatch repair. The predicted T. brucei mismatch repair genes are diverged compared with their likely counterparts in the other eukaryotes examined to date. To demonstrate that these do indeed encode a functional nuclear mismatch repair system, we made T. brucei null mutants in two of the genes, MSH2 and MLH1, that are likely to be central to the functioning of the mismatch repair machinery. These mutations resulted in increased rates of sequence variation at a number of microsatellite loci in the parasite genome, and led to increased tolerance to the alkylating agent N‐methyl‐N′‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine, both phenotypes consistent with mismatch repair impairment.
Scalp psoriasis: a review of current topical treatment options

The scalp is the most common site of disease involvement at the onset and throughout the course of psoriasis. For many patients, psoriasis of the scalp is the most difficult aspect of their disease; yet, despite a wide range of therapy options and an extensive literature base, scalp psoriasis remains difficult to treat, highlighting a long‐standing unmet need for the effective treatment of scalp psoriasis. A review of past and current medical literature reveals that a number of interesting therapeutic approaches have been used in the treatment of scalp psoriasis. The diverse and sometimes extreme therapeutic approaches, the marginal benefit of many topical agents, the paucity of controlled studies evaluating the efficacy of topical agents in the treatment of scalp psoriasis and the high level of patient dissatisfaction with currently available treatments for psoriasis all support the need for new, effective and well‐tolerated treatment options for scalp psoriasis.
Transitional Type 1 and 2 B Lymphocyte Subsets Are Differentially Responsive to Antigen Receptor Signaling*

Mature B-lymphocytes develop sequentially from transitional type 1 (T1) and type 2 (T2) precursors in the spleen. To elucidate the mechanisms that regulate the developmental fate of these distinct B cell subsets, we investigated their biochemical and biological responses following stimulation through the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR). As compared with the T1 subset, T2 cells are more responsive to BCR engagement, as evidenced by their robust induction of activation markers, expression of the prosurvival protein Bcl-xL, and enhanced proliferation. BCR stimulation of T2 cells leads to the appearance of B cells with mature phenotypic characteristics, whereas T1 cells die. All of these T2 responses are dependent on the BCR signal transducer Bruton's tyrosine kinase, which is dispensable for the T1 to T2 transition. Furthermore, the serine/threonine kinases ERK, p38 MAPK, and Akt are predominantly activated in T2 compared with T1 B cells following BCR cross-linking. We conclude that T1 and T2 B cells respond differentially to BCR engagement via the induction of stage-specific signaling pathways. In turn, these signaling pathways probably govern the development and selection processes that are critical for the formation of the mature B cell compartment.
Public Attention to Extreme Weather as Reflected by Social Media Activity

Recent advancements in the development of information and communication technologies have revolutionized risk and crisis communication. This research explored how social media facilitates information seeking, interpretation, and dissemination during extreme weather. Using Twitter data collected during a tornado&#8208;warned storm, this study explored the activity of different actor groups. The findings demonstrate that weather professionals and weather enthusiasts acted as &#8220;key stewards&#8221; who facilitated discussion during the event. Citizens engaged in the dialogue predominately by retweeting and by sharing personal observations of the storm. The results highlight the usefulness of Twitter for the propagation of both official and unofficial storm&#8208;related information. This study also supports previous research that suggests that tweet activity may be a reliable indicator of public attention.
Reactive production with preprocessing restriction in supply chains with forecast updates

Abstract We study a two-mode production system that allows the supply chain to utilize a second (reactive) production opportunity after demand information is updated before the selling season. Such reactive production quantity, however, is limited by the required preprocessing of raw materials that must be decided before the demand information is updated. We analyze the problem for two cases: perfect and imperfect demand information updates. For the case of imperfect demand updates, whether to engage in preprocessing that provides an opportunity for future reactive production depends on the relative magnitude of the resolved demand uncertainty compared with the unresolved one. In the case of perfect demand updates, however, it is independent of the demand characteristics. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to provide guidance on when and how much to invest in preprocessing in a situation with a general demand forecast updating. We also present a coordinating Pareto-improving reservation contract and show how the manufacturer can extract more profit by setting a lower reservation fee. Counterintuitively, we find that the manufacturer in the case of perfect demand updates benefits more from a contract without a return policy than that with a return policy. Numerical examples demonstrate that when the preprocessing restriction exists, the benefit of the two-mode production can be as large as 104% as compared to the single-mode production.
An optogenetic tool for the activation of endogenous diaphanous‐related formins induces thickening of stress fibers without an increase in contractility

We have developed an optogenetic technique for the activation of diaphanous‐related formins. Our approach is based on fusion of the light‐oxygen‐voltage 2 domain of Avena sativa Phototrophin1 to an isolated Diaphanous Autoregulatory Domain from mDia1. This “caged” diaphanous auto‐regulatory domain was inactive in the dark but in the presence of blue light rapidly activated endogenous diaphanous‐related formins. Using an F‐actin reporter, we observed filopodia and lamellipodia formation as well as a steady increase in F‐actin along existing stress fibers, starting within minutes of photo‐activation. Interestingly, we did not observe the formation of new stress fibers. Remarkably, a 1.9‐fold increase in F‐actin was not paralleled by an increase in myosin II along stress fibers and the amount of tension generated by the fibers, as judged by focal adhesion size, appeared unchanged. Our results suggest a decoupling between F‐actin accumulation and contractility in stress fibers and demonstrate the utility of photoactivatable diaphanous autoregulatory domain for the study of diaphanous‐related formin function in cells. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reasons for low uptake of referrals to ear and hearing services for children in Malawi

Background Early detection and appropriate intervention for children with hearing impairment is important for maximizing functioning and quality of life. The lack of ear and hearing services in low income countries is a significant challenge, however, evidence suggests that even where such services are available, and children are referred to them, uptake is low. The aim of this study was to assess uptake of and barriers to referrals to ear and hearing services for children in Thyolo District, Malawi. Methods This was a mixed methods study. A survey was conducted with 170 caregivers of children who were referred for ear and hearing services during community-based screening camps to assess whether they had attended their referral and reasons for non-attendance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 caregivers of children who did not take up their referral to explore in-depth the reasons for non-uptake. In addition, 15 stakeholders were interviewed. Thematic analysis of the interview data was conducted and emerging trends were analysed. Results Referral uptake was very low with only 5 out of 150 (3%) children attending. Seven main interacting themes for non-uptake of referral were identified in the semi-structured interviews: location of the hospital, lack of transport, other indirect costs of seeking care, fear and uncertainty about the referral hospital, procedural problems within the camps, awareness and understanding of hearing loss, and lack of visibility and availability of services. Conclusion This study has highlighted a range of interacting challenges faced by families in accessing ear and hearing services in this setting. Understanding these context specific barriers to non-uptake of ear and hearing services is important for designing appropriate interventions to increase uptake.
Serial superficial digital flexor tendon biopsies for diagnosing and monitoring collagenase-induced tendonitis in horses

The purpose of this investigation was to demonstrate the feasibility of a biopsy technique by performing serial evaluations of tissue samples of the forelimb superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in healthy horses and in horses subjected to superficial digital flexor tendonitis induction. Eight adult horses were evaluated in two different phases (P), control (P1) and tendonitis-induced (P2). At P1, the horses were subjected to five SDFT biopsies of the left forelimb, with 24 hours (h) of interval. Clinical and ultrasonographic (US) examinations were performed immediately before the tendonitis induction, 24 and 48 h after the procedure. The biopsied tendon tissues were analyzed through histology. P2 evaluations were carried out three months later, when the same horses were subjected to tendonitis induction by injection of bacterial collagenase into the right forelimb SDFT. P2 clinical and US evaluations, and SDFT biopsies were performed before, and after injury induction at the following time intervals: after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, and after 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days. The biopsy technique has proven to be easy and quick to perform and yielded good tendon samples for histological evaluation. At P1 the horses did not show signs of localised inflammation, pain or lameness, neither SDFT US alterations after biopsies, showing that the biopsy procedure per se did not risk tendon integrity. Therefore, this procedure is feasible for routine tendon histological evaluations. The P2 findings demonstrate a relation between the US and histology evaluations concerning induced tendonitis evolution. However, the clinical signs of tendonitis poorly reflected the microscopic tissue condition, indicating that clinical presentation is not a reliable parameter for monitoring injury development. The presented method of biopsying SDFT tissue in horses enables the serial collection of material for histological analysis causing no clinical signs and tendon damage seen by US images. Therefore, this technique allows tendonitis to be monitored and can be considered an excellent tool in protocols for evaluating SDFT injury.
Technical Note: Frenkel Halsey and Hill analysis of water on clay minerals: Toward closure between cloud condensation nuclei activity and water adsorption

Abstract. Insoluble atmospheric aerosol, such as mineral dust, has been identified as an important contributor to the cloud droplet number concentration and indirect climate effect. However, empirically-derived Frenkel-Halsey-Hill (FHH) water adsorption parameters remain the largest source of uncertainty in assessing the effect of insoluble aerosol on climate using the FHH activation theory (FHH-AT). Furthermore, previously reported FHH water adsorption parameters for illite and montmorillonite determined from water adsorption measurements below 100 % RH do not satisfactorily agree with values determined from FHH-AT analysis of experimental cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) measurements under supersaturated conditions. The work reported here uses previously reported experimental water adsorption measurements for illite and montmorillonite clays (Hatch et al., 2012; Hatch et al., 2014) to show that improved analysis methods that account for the surface microstructure are necessary to obtain better agreement of FHH parameters between water adsorption and experimental CCN-derived FHH parameters.