Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characteristics and outcomes of gunshot-acquired spinal cord injury in South Africa.

BACKGROUND Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) caused by assault present a unique challenge facing the healthcare system, in that very little is known about how these injuries manifest compared with other causes of injury. Understanding the nuances of gunshot SCIs could contribute towards better care provision. OBJECTIVE To determine the characteristics of gunshot SCI and compare both injury characteristics and outcomes between gunshot SCI and all other traumatic causes taken together. METHODS The gunshot SCI sub-cohort was derived from a 1-year prospective, population-based study, including both tertiary-level hospitals providing SCI care in the Cape Metropolitan area of South Africa (SA). All consenting 145 survivors, after a window period of 7 days, were included, and their demographic and injury characteristics were captured according to the International SCI Core Basic Data Set. Further, selected secondary medical complications (outcomes) were prospectively and routinely assessed throughout acute care. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe and compare characteristics and outcomes, respectively. RESULTS Of the 145 survivors of traumatic SCIs, 45 (31%) injuries were caused by gunshots. The gunshot SCI group consisted mainly of males (n=43, 96%), and the average age of injury onset was 26 years. Most survivors of the gunshot SCI group were paraplegic (69%), had complete lesions (69%) and vertebral injuries (96%), and presented with significant associated injuries (84%). When comparing gunshot SCI with all other traumatic causes, significant differences were found in relation to demographic and injury characteristics and adverse outcomes, indicating that those survivors with gunshot SCI were typically younger males with complete paraplegia, had more frequent secondary medical complications, and a longer hospital stay. CONCLUSION This study contributes to the knowledge base of survivors with gunshot SCIs in a region of SA. Efforts should be made to reduce the occurrence of all gunshot SCIs, since those injuries affect survivors negatively in terms of injury characteristics and adverse outcomes.
Humour, beauty, and culture as personal health resources: Experiences of elderly Swedish women

Aim: This paper explores how a group of elderly women used humour, beauty, and cultural activities to maintain physical and mental well-being. Methods: The paper reports on one aspect of a qualitative study on women's work and health in a lifetime perspective. Interviews with 20 strategically selected Swedish women, aged 63 to 83 years, were audiotaped and analysed according to a phenomenological approach. Results: During the interview process, the researchers became increasingly aware that the women had clear ideas about what enabled them to feel well and healthy — even when actually quite diseased. Creating and enjoying humour, beauty, and culture formed part of such strategies. Joking with workmates made hard, low-status jobs easier, helped them endure pain, and helped balance marital difficulties. Creating a nice and comfortable home gave pleasure and a little luxury in a life filled with necessities. Making articles for everyday use more beautiful was regarded as worthwhile, because it gave delight to them and their families. Gains from cultural activities were social, aesthetic, and existential — the latter through a feeling of self-recognition and being heard. Conclusions: Humour, beauty, and culture formed a greater part of these women's survival strategies than expected. Making everyday life more aesthetic is an undervalued aspect of women's health-creating work in the family. Through their lifelong experience as carers and homemakers, elderly women possess special knowledge regarding what may promote health, a knowledge that should be tapped. When supplying elderly women with social care, their needs for humour, beauty, and culture should be respected.
Novel recognition mode between Vav and Grb2 SH3 domains

Vav is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the Rho/Rac family that is expressed exclusively in hematopoietic cells. Growth factor receptor‐bound protein 2 (Grb2) has been proposed to play important roles in the membrane localization and activation of Vav through dimerization of its C‐terminal Src‐homology 3 (SH3) domain (GrbS) and the N‐terminal SH3 domain of Vav (VavS). The crystal structure of VavS complexed with GrbS has been solved. VavS is distinct from other SH3 domain proteins in that its binding site for proline‐rich peptides is blocked by its own RT loop. One of the ends of the VavS β‐barrel forms a concave hydrophobic surface. The GrbS components make a contiguous complementary interface with the VavS surface. The binding site of GrbS for VavS partially overlaps with the canonical binding site for proline‐rich peptides, but is definitely different. Mutations at the interface caused a decrease in the binding affinity of VavS for GrbS by 4‐ to 40‐fold. The structure reveals how GrbS discriminates VavS specifically from other signaling molecules without binding to the proline‐rich motif.
Decision-Making About Genetic Testing Among Women at Familial Risk for Breast Cancer

Objective Recent identification of the breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 and the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA2 have raised the possibility of clinical genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility. This study examined decision-making about future susceptibility testing among women at familial risk for breast cancer. Based on the transtheoretical model, it was hypothesized that readiness to undergo testing would be related to the ratio between the perceived advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) of learning one's susceptibility status. Methods Seventy-four women with one or more first-degree relatives with breast cancer were recruited before a routine mammogram. Participants completed measures assessing readiness to undergo testing, perceived pros and cons of testing, and perceived breast cancer risk. Family history data was used to calculate empiric genetic risk of developing breast cancer. Results Forty-six per cent of participants planned to seek genetic testing as soon as possible, 35% planned to seek testing in the future, and 19% did not plan to seek testing. As expected, greater readiness to undergo testing was associated with a positive decisional balance (pros > cons). Older age and greater perceived risk (but not empiric risk) also were associated with greater readiness. Conclusion The readiness of many women to seek breast cancer susceptibility testing can be attributed, in large part, to their perceptions that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Examination of these perceptions suggests that notification of carrier status may have significant effects on women's psychological well-being and breast cancer surveillance and prevention behaviors.
erbB3 is dispensable for oligodendrocyte development in vitro and in vivo

During development and in the adult, erbB2, erbB3, and erbB4 are expressed in many tissues and as heterodimers (B2/B3, B2/B4) serve as receptors for neuregulins. The general importance of neuregulin receptors for development is underlined by the observed embryonic (erbB2, erbB4) or perinatal (erbB3) lethality in mouse mutants. These mutants further revealed the fundamental role of the erbB2/erbB3 heterodimer for proper Schwann cell development, the ensheathing glia of the peripheral nervous system. However, only little is known about the functions of neuregulins and their receptors during postnatal development and in the adult. erbB2 and erbB3 during late embryogenesis and postnatally are expressed in different areas and cell types of the central nervous system, including oligodendrocytes, the ensheathing glia of the central nervous system. As terminal differentiation of oligodendrocytes peaks during postnatal development, it is not possible to use the neuregulin receptor mouse mutants to study terminal differentiation of oligodendrocytes in their absence in vivo. In order to investigate possible functions of the erbB3 gene in oligodendrocytes, we employed two different techniques. First, we directed the differentiation of erbB3‐deficient embryonic stem cells into neural cell types to analyze the development of oligodendrocytes in the absence of erbB3 in vitro. Second, we grafted neural stem cells from spinal cords of erbB3 mutants into the retina of young mice to monitor oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination in vivo. Results of both experimental approaches clearly show that erbB3 is not required for normal oligodendrocyte development and myelination. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessing Recreational Activities’ Service Quality in Hotels: An Examination of Animation and Spa & Wellness Services

ABSTRACT In this study, service quality perceptions of international tourists’ about the recreational activities in a five-star hotel located in Antalya, Turkey were examined by a measurement tool adapted from the ServQual model. Study 1 for animation and Study 2 for wellness & spa services, were carried out with the participation of 213 and 143 tourists, respectively. Analyses of the data show that both recreation activities’ service quality consists of three dimensions, which are: ‘Tangibility,’ ‘Competence & Courtesy,’ and ‘Credibility & Safety. ’ Results show that all service dimensions of animation have almost the same effect on overall satisfaction from the hotel, while the ‘Tangibility’ dimension belong to spa & wellness have the highest.
Polysomnographic findings in 320 infants evaluated for apneic events

Apnea is a common problem that causes significant parental anxiety. The aim of this study was to describe polysomnographic findings in infants who were referred over a 4‐year period for an apnea and/or cyanotic event. Our hypothesis was that most infants with apnea or cyanosis events will have normal polysomnography (PSG). In total, 320 patients younger than 2 years old were recruited sequentially and prospectively. Patients underwent a day or overnight PSG by computerized polysomnograph; 78% of studies were performed with pH probe in situ. Subjects' ages ranged from 10 days to 21 months (55% male and 84% full‐term babies); 55% and 74% were younger than 3 and 6 months, respectively. The average total sleep time was 473.4 min (SD, 52.3), with mean sleep efficiency of 83.5%. The distribution of sleep stages was 56.5% active, 38.5%, quiet and 5.1% indeterminate sleep. Sixty‐nine percent (n = 220) of PSG studies were done overnight. There were significant differences in average sleep efficiency (78.1% vs. 83.3%) and REM sleep time (63.6% vs. 59.1%) between PSGs done during the day and overnight (P < 0.05). In total, 34 patients with apneas were studied. The median apnea index for the whole study population was 1.01 (range, 0.1–9.1). In conclusion, our study showed a high prevalence of normal polysomnographic findings in infants referred because of apnea and/or cyanotic events. New clinical prospective studies should be conducted to evaluate whether there is a correlation between PSG findings and outcome at follow‐up of infants with a history of apnea and cyanosis. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The optimism to overcome: Educational beliefs and strategies of resilience among African American college graduates who are former teenage mothers

The purpose of this study is to examine the real-life experiences and narratives of African American, former teenage mothers who have earned college degrees. The Resiliency theory and the Intersectionality paradigm provide the framework for this qualitative research study. The Resilience theory explores the processes employed by the women in this study to successfully balance the multiple demands of being a parenting-student. Through the lens of Intersectionality, this study examines how issues of race, class and gender impacted the academic trajectories of African American, former teenage mothers. The 20 women in this study participated in an interview about their experiences as students before, during and after their first childbirth. In addition, the women discussed the impact motherhood had on their academic ambitions. The data first reveals that the attitudes, beliefs and values held about education by the women were not negatively impacted by their pregnancies or childbirth. Instead, early childbearing strengthened their desire to academically excel. In addition, this research shows that the women utilized a variety of strategies of resilience created by both their internal support systems and offered by external structural opportunities, as they successfully managed the numerous and sometimes competing demands of being parenting-students. Lastly, the study examines the psychosocial impact of academic success and social mobility on these women.
A Spiking Neural Bayesian Model of Life Span Inference

In this paper, we present a spiking neural model of life span inference. Through this model, we explore the biological plausibility of performing Bayesian computations in the brain. Specifically, we address the issue of representing probability distributions using neural circuits and combining them in meaningful ways to perform inference. We show that applying these methods to the life span inference task matches human performance on this task better than an ideal Bayesian model due to the use of neuron tuning curves. We also describe potential ways in which humans might be generating the priors needed for this inference. This provides an initial step towards better understanding how Bayesian computations may be implemented in a biologically plausible neural network.
Opinion of medical students regarding problem based learning.

OBJECTIVE To assess the process of problem-based learning (PBL) as perceived by the medical students and their opinions regarding the process. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted at Karachi Medical and Dental College. One hundred and four medical students of fourth year MBBS (52 each of batch 2004 and 2005) were selected for their responses and feedback on problem-based learning in small groups. Data was collected through a closed-ended questionnaire. RESULTS Seventy nine percent (82 out of 104) of medical students liked the PBL sessions. Overall 85% of students were motivated towards self learning while liking for PBL was 82%. Activation of prior knowledge was observed by 83% students. CONCLUSION Students supported problem-based learning (PBL) as an effective method of learning. Majority of students were motivated towards self- learning. They were convinced that PBL helped them in building up communication skills, interpersonal relationship and problem solving capacity.
Prefilled Income Tax Returns and Tax Compliance: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

Despite the adoption of prefilled tax forms in many countries, little is known about their effects on taxpayers’ reporting behaviour. We estimate the effect of the income tax filing system on taxpayers’ reporting behaviour, utilising data from a Finnish policy experiment. We find that receiving a (partially) prefilled income tax return lead to a significant reduction in non-prefilled deductions and self-reported income, and an increase in deductions that were prefilled in the new system. However, we do not find effects on individuals’ total taxable income or taxes paid. We discuss complexity and compliance costs, salience effects, and changes in the opportunities for tax evasion as possible explanations for our findings.
The photoprotective protein PsbS exerts control over CO(2) assimilation rate in fluctuating light in rice.

A direct impact of chloroplastic protective energy dissipation (qE) on photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation has not been shown directly in plants in the absence of photoinhibition. To test this empirically we transformed rice to possess higher (overexpressors, OE) and lower (RNA interference, RNAi) levels of expression of the regulatory psbS gene and analysed CO(2) assimilation in transformants in a fluctuating measurement light regime. Western blots showed a several-fold difference in levels of PsbS protein between RNAi and OE plants with the wild type (WT) being intermediate. At a growth light intensity of 600 μmol m(-2) sec(-1) , the carboxylation capacity, electron transport capacity and dark adapted F(v)/F(m) (ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence) were inhibited in RNAi plants compared with WT and OE. The PsbS content had a significant impact on qE (measured here as non-photochemical quenching, NPQ) but the strongest effect was observed transiently, immediately following the application of light. This capacity for qE was several-fold lower in RNAi plants and significantly higher in OE plants during the first 10 min of illumination. At steady state the differences were reduced: notably at 500 μmol m(-2) sec(-1) all plants had the same NPQ values regardless of PsbS content. During a series of light-dark transitions the induction of CO(2) assimilation was inhibited in OE plants, reducing integrated photosynthesis during the light period. We conclude that the accumulation of PsbS and the resultant qE exerts control over photosynthesis in fluctuating light, showing that optimization of photoprotective processes is necessary for maximum photosynthetic productivity even in the absence of photoinhibitory stress.
Dirty-Paper Coding Based Secure Transmission for Multiuser Downlink in Cellular Communication Systems

This paper studies the secure transmission in a multiuser broadcast channel where only the statistical channel state information of the eavesdropper is available. We propose to apply secret dirty-paper coding (S-DPC) in this scenario to support the secure transmission of one user and the normal (unclassified) transmission of the other users. By adopting the S-DPC and encoding the secret message in the first place, all the information-bearing signals of the normal transmission are treated as noise by potential eavesdroppers and thus provide secrecy for the secure transmission. In this way, the proposed approach exploits the intrinsic secrecy of multiuser broadcasting and can serve as an energy-efficient alternative to the traditional artificial noise (AN) scheme. To evaluate the secrecy performance of this approach and compare it with the AN scheme, we propose two S-DPC-based secure transmission schemes for maximizing the secrecy rate under constraints on the secrecy outage probability (SOP) and the normal transmission rates. The first scheme directly optimizes the covariance matrices of the transmit signals, and a novel approximation of the intractable SOP constraint is derived to facilitate the optimization. The second scheme combines zero-forcing dirty-paper coding and AN, and the optimization involves only power allocation. We establish efficient numerical algorithms to solve the optimization problems for both schemes. Theoretical and simulation results confirm that, in addition to supporting the normal transmission, the achievable secrecy rates of the proposed schemes can be close to that of the traditional AN scheme, which supports only the secure transmission of one user.
Income Inequality in Host Countries and Remittances: A Discussion of the Determinants of Portuguese Emigrants' Remittances

The evolution of income inequality in host countries affects the migrants working there. As a significant number of these migrants do not earn high incomes, this evolution tends to significantly affect migrants' abilities to send money back to their home countries. We test this hypothesis considering the evolution of income inequality in 59 countries with Portuguese emigrants through observations from 1996 to 2014. Using the system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator, we found that an increase in income inequality leads to fewer remittances per emigrant. We also controlled income inequality with several determinants of remittances, including the real GDP per capita, unemployment rate, education skills, and the self-employment rates of the host countries.
Awareness of the metabolic syndrome in patients with bipolar disorder: A comparison of US and European psychiatrists

Introduction. The metabolic syndrome is a relatively new concept still being debated in the US and Europe; little is known about how it is factored into psychiatric treatment decisions. Method. Practicing psychiatrists in the US (n=500) and five European countries (UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain; n=718) participated in brief online surveys in 2005 and 2006. Results. US psychiatrists were more likely than EU psychiatrists surveyed to view metabolic syndrome as a significant health risk; US respondents reported significantly more bipolar patients who were overweight or obese, but similar percentages of bipolar patients who met criteria for the metabolic syndrome. More US than EU psychiatrists reported monitoring metabolic parameters before and during treatment, and generally were more concerned about bipolar medication adverse effects (AEs). Significantly more US psychiatrists indicated that they were extremely or very concerned about weight gain as an AE. Conclusions. For most surveyed US and EU psychiatrists, metabolic health is an important concern in the treatment of bipolar disorder. US psychiatrists reported more often monitoring metabolic parameters and adjusting treatment if abnormalities become evident, but practices are evolving in the US and EU.
Prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal nematodes in slaughter lambs from central Alberta.

Two trichostronglyes, Teladorsagia ostertagi and Nematodiru helvetianus, accounted for > 99% of nematodes recovered from gastrointestinal tracts of 47 lambs pastured in central Alberta during the summer of 2000. Their prevalence and mean intensity increased from < 10% and < 50 worms/host, in late June, to > 80% and approximately 1000 worms/host, by mid-July, respectively.
Endobronchial Ultrasonography

Endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) allows visualization of the tracheobronchial tree with real-time ultrasound and permits visualization of the internal structure of pulmonary lesions, which may narrow the differential diagnosis. The indications for EBUS are to (1) determine the depth of tumor invasion of tracheobronchial lesions, (2) define positional relationships with the pulmonary artery and veins and hilar structures and determine the extent of tumor invasion, (3) visualize paratracheal and peribronchial lymph nodes and metastatic lesions and enable EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA), and (4) localize and diagnose peripheral pulmonary lesions (benign or malignant). New and evolving applications of EBUS will increase the cost-effectiveness of EBUS in the diagnosis and treatment of thoracic diseases.