Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevention of mental disorders: effective interventions and policy options summary report.

One of the primary goals of the World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse is to reduce the burden associated with mental, neurological and substance abuse disorders. Prevention of these disorders is obviously one of the most effective ways to reduce the burden. A number of World Health Assembly and Regional Committee Resolutions have further emphasised the need for prevention. WHO published a document on primary prevention of mental, neurological and psychosocial disorders in 1998 (WHO, 1998). However, this scientific field has seen rapid development of ideas and research evidence, necessitating a fresh review. This Summary Report (along with the forthcoming Full Report) attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of this field, especially from the perspective of evidence for effective interventions and associated policy options. This is in accordance with the WHO mandate to provide information and evidence to Member States in order to assist them in choosing and implementing suitable policies and programmes to improve population health. In an area like prevention of mental disorders this task is even more critical since much evidence is recent and untested in varied settings.
Pre-Service Teachers' Motivation to Use Technology and the Impact of Authentic Learning Exercises

In this quasi-experimental study, the authors explored the impact of authentic learning exercises on pre-service teachers’ motivational beliefs to integrate technology, as well as the ability of those beliefs to predict intentions to integrate. A questionnaire was used to assess 104 pre-service teachers’ motivational beliefs, namely intrinsic and extrinsic goal orientations, task value, self-efficacy, and control of learning in relation to technology integration. Results indicated authentic learning exercises might have enhanced motivational beliefs, particularly self-efficacy and intrinsic goal-orientation. Also, motivational beliefs predicted their intentions to integrate technology into future instruction, with task value predicting significantly. The chapter concludes with implications for practice.
Creating a professional development platform to transform social work clinical practice in health care

ABSTRACT Since U.S. Congress’ 2010 passing of the Affordable Care Act and the creation of numerous care coordination programs, Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Social Work Services has experienced exponential growth. The Department is deeply committed to recruiting and developing the most talented social workers to best meet the needs of patients and family caregivers and to serve as integral, valued members of interdisciplinary care teams. Traditional learning methods are insufficient for a staff of hundreds, given the changes in health care and the complexity of the work. This necessitates the use of new training and education methods to maintain the quality of professional development. This article provides an overview of the Department’s strategy and creation of a professional development learning platform to transform clinical social work practice. It reviews various education models that utilize an e-learning management system and case studies using standardized patients. These models demonstrate innovative learning approaches for both new and experienced social workers in health care. The platform’s successes and challenges and recommendations for future development and sustainability are outlined.
Effects of Li+ and Mg2+ Dopants on the Magnetic Properties of Ni–Zn Ferrites

Ni<sub>0.5-0.5x</sub>Zn<sub>0.5-0.5x</sub>Mg<sub>x</sub>Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> and Ni<sub>0.4</sub>Zn<sub>0.6-2x</sub>Li<sub>x</sub>Fe<sub>2+x</sub>O<sub>4</sub> ferrites (x = 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15) were prepared and examined. Both systems after sintering showed a pure spinel phase and a uniform grain size and the lattice constants declined slightly as the amount of the Mg<sup>2+</sup> and Li<sup>+</sup> dopants increased. The average grain sizes of the Ni<sub>0.5-0.5x</sub>Zn<sub>0.5-0.5x</sub>Mg<sub>x</sub>Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> ferrites appeared to show little variation (ranging from 4.22 to 4.55 gm), while those of the Li<sup>+</sup>-doped Ni-Zn ferrites were dramatically reduced from 5.95 to 1.40 gm corresponding to the escalation in the x values from 0 to 0.15. In terms of the magnetic properties evaluated, the Ni<sub>0.475</sub>Zn<sub>0.475</sub>Mg<sub>0.05</sub>Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> and Ni<sub>0.4</sub>Zn<sub>0.4</sub>Li<sub>0.10</sub>Fe<sub>2.10</sub>O<sub>4</sub> ferrites demonstrated the best performance. The Ni<sub>0.475</sub>Zn<sub>0.475</sub>Mg<sub>0.05</sub>Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> ferrite reported a saturation magnetization of 76.9 emu/g, an initial permeability of 611.3, and a quality factor of 16.3, while the Ni<sub>0.4</sub>Zn<sub>0.4</sub>Li<sub>0.10</sub>Fe<sub>2.10</sub>O<sub>4</sub> ferrite presented a saturation magnetization of 82.3 emu/g, an initial permeability of 191.3, and a quality factor of 64.3. The former is marked with a high permeability and the latter a high quality factor. These properties make them exceptionally promising for high-frequency applications.
Comparison of quantitative real-time PCR and direct immunofluorescence for the detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii

Background Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a serious risk for HIV-positive patients. Asymptomatic infection or colonisation with P. jirovecii has been shown to occur frequently. PCR assays frequently identify such cases, due to their high sensitivity. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) gene copy number cut-off values have been suggested to differentiate colonisation and infection; these need to be standardised for routine use. We compared the results of qPCR with an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to determine a specific cut-off value. Methods From March 2005 through June 2009, induced sputum specimens were collected from adult patients who were clinically suspected of having PCP, at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Gauteng, South Africa. Laboratory diagnosis of PCP was done by a conventional direct IFA and a qPCR assay. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine a suitable copy number cut-off value. Results P. jirovecii was identified in 51% (156/305) and 67% (204/305) of specimens using IFA and qPCR, respectively. The cut-off value for the qPCR that best predicted the IFA results was 78 copies/5 μl (area under ROC curve 0.92). The sensitivity and specificity of qPCR using this cut-off was 94.6% and 89.1%, respectively, compared with the IFA. Discussion The results of the ROC curve analysis indicate an excellent predictive value of the qPCR using the proposed cut-off. However, the IFA test is an imperfect gold standard and so this cut-off should not be used in isolation; clinical data should also contribute to the interpretation of the qPCR result.
Maculopathy and Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1: A New Association?

Background: Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia is a rare heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by cerebellar symptoms, often associated with other multisystemic signs. Mild optic neuropathy has been associated with spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), but macular dysfunction has been reported in only 2 cases. We report the first family with SCA1 with several members affected by visual loss related to maculopathy. Methods: Cross-sectional clinical and electrophysiological study of a family with genetically confirmed SCA1. Patients with unexplained visual loss were included. Results: Four patients from the same family, carrying the same genetic mutation, were examined. Testing revealed an increased CAG trinucleotide repeat number within the SCA1 gene. Genetic testing results for SCA7 were negative. Visual acuities ranged between 20/20 and 20/200. Visual fields revealed central scotomas in most of the eyes, and funduscopy was unremarkable in most patients. Central retinal thinning of the retina or disorganized photoreceptor layers were found with optical coherence tomography (OCT). In one patient, multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) revealed central retinal dysfunction. Conclusions: A clinically subtle or even occult maculopathy can occur in association with SCA1. Macular OCT and mfERG can be abnormal even in asymptomatic patients. Unexplained visual loss in SCA1 patients should prompt evaluation of macular function, even if clinical signs of maculopathy are absent.
Monetary Policy and Mispricing in Stock Markets

We investigate the role of monetary policy in stock price misalignments and explore whether central banks can attenuate excessive mispricing as suggested by the proponents of a “leaning against the wind” monetary policy. Decomposing stock prices into expected excess dividends, an equity risk premium, and a mispricing component, we find that prices fall more strongly in response to an increase in the policy rate than what is implied by their underlying fundamentals. This systematic overreaction suggests that tighter monetary policy may contain emerging asset price misalignments. Our findings are at odds with the predictions of a rational bubble framework, but can be explained by mispricing arising from false subjective expectations of irrational investors.
Long-term cognitive and functional effects of potentially inappropriate medications in older women.

BACKGROUND The use of potentially inappropriate medications in older adults can lead to known adverse drug events, but long-term effects are less clear. We therefore conducted a prospective cohort study of older women to determine whether PIM use is associated with risk of functional impairment or low cognitive performance. METHODS We followed up 1,429 community-dwelling women (≥ 75 years) for a period of 5 years at four clinical sites in the United States. The primary predictor at baseline was PIM use based on 2003 Beers Criteria. We also assessed anticholinergic load using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden scale. Outcomes included scores on a battery of six cognitive tests at follow-up and having one or more incident impairments in instrumental activities of daily living. Regression models were adjusted for baseline age, race, education, smoking, physical activity, a modified Charlson Comorbidity Index, and cognitive score. RESULTS The mean ± SD age of women at baseline was 83.2 ± 3.3. In multivariate models, baseline PIM use and higher ACB scores were significantly associated with poorer performance in category fluency (PIM: p = .01; ACB: p = .02) and immediate (PIM: p = .04; ACB: p = .03) and delayed recall (PIM: p = .04). Both PIM use (odds ratio [OR]: 1.36 [1.05-1.75]) and higher ACB scores (OR: 1.11 [1.04-1.19]) were also strongly associated with incident functional impairment. CONCLUSIONS The results provide suggestive evidence that PIM use and increased anticholinergic load may be associated with risk of functional impairment and low cognitive performance. More cautious selection of medications in older adults may reduce these potential risks.
Education and Training of Mandated Reporters: Innovative Models, Overcoming Challenges, and Lessons Learned

Several Archstone Foundation funded projects developed and implemented training curricula on elder abuse for mandated reporters such as dentists, adult protective services workers, paramedics, and coroner investigators. Common education and training issues emerged, including the need to provide basic content on normal aging and the need for creating standardized trainings. Strategies include integrating elder abuse and neglect content into existing courses, building relationships with stakeholders, and customizing content and delivery to student needs and preferences. Projects developed relevant, practice-based content, decided on curriculum delivery methods, engaged learners, and provided feedback to them. A main outcome is the permanent institution of elder abuse content in training curricula.
The Impact of Service System Transformation on Human Service Agencies: Competing Ministry Directives and Strategic Innovative Leadership Adaptations

ABSTRACT This article will present qualitative research findings on the impact of service system transformation on three children’s mental health and child welfare agencies in Ontario, Canada. A multiple-case study, multimethod design, and thematic data analysis were used with 41 directors and supervisors. Competing ministry directives that leaders faced (lead agency competition, rising accountability, cross-sector collaboration, innovation, service excellence), and continuous funding constraints are linked with organizational impacts (competing values, changing identity and roles, complex data collection, diminished community collaboration, reduced resources, and viability). Leaders’ strategic adaptations to these external pressures are discussed along with future practice and research implications.
Do Financial Experts on the Board Matter? An Empirical Test From the United Kingdom’s Non-Life Insurance Industry

We examine the relation between board-level financial expertise and six measures of performance using panel data drawn from the United Kingdom’s non-life insurance industry. We find that collectively, financial experts have a beneficial influence on the performance outcomes of insurers. We also observe that board-level qualified accountants and actuaries are linked with superior performance in all six of our selected financial outcome measures. Professional insurance underwriters are associated with sound solvency levels (low leverage) and underwriting results, but not positive earnings-based measures. This suggests that underwriters may not be as adept at group-level earnings enhancement as accountants and actuaries. In addition, we find that the introduction of IFRS 4 in 2004/2005 did not have a significant impact on board composition and financial outcomes. Finally, we consider that our results could have commercial and/or policy implications.
Perinatal HIV Infection or Exposure Is Associated With Low N-Acetylaspartate and Glutamate in Basal Ganglia at Age 9 but Not 7 Years

Abnormalities of the basal ganglia are frequently seen in HIV-infected (HIV+) children despite antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation during childhood. Assessment of metabolites associated with neuronal integrity or with glial proliferation can present a sensitive description of metabolic events underlying basal ganglia structural changes. We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to examine differences in creatine, choline, N-acetylaspartate (NAA), glutamate, and myo-inositol between HIV+ children and HIV-unexposed controls, as well as between HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children and HIV-unexposed controls at age 7 and at age 9. No differences in metabolites relative to the HIV-unexposed control group were found at age 7. However, at 9 years, both HIV+ and HEU had lower NAA and glutamate than unexposed control children. HEU children also had lower creatine and choline than control children. At age 7, lower CD4/CD8 ratio at enrollment was associated with lower choline levels. At age 9 lower CD4/CD8 at enrollment was associated with lower myo-inositol. Low NAA and glutamate at age 9, but not 7, suggest that basal ganglia neurons may be particularly affected by perinatal HIV/ART and that neuronal damage may be ongoing despite early ART and viral suppression. Reduced basal ganglia metabolite levels in HEU children suggest an effect of HIV exposure on childhood brain development that merits further investigation using neuroimaging and neurocognitive testing.
Of Money and Trust in Medical Care Redux

Should we be concerned about financial conflicts of interest (COI) between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry? Some people will say no as there are clearly doctors who celebrate the relationship. Others say that it does not matter to patients, but the evidence says otherwise. Financial COI is different from other types of conflicts because it is voluntary and can be refused. Finally, it is not just the large gifts that are a problem, the small ones also create a "gift relationship. " Drug companies know about this and spend billions on promotion with good effect from their point of view. Companies also woo doctors who honestly hold pro-industry points of view to speak on behalf of the companies. There are still multiple examples of financial COI, and although there are isolated examples of improvement, this is still an area of deep concern.
Pseudo-Analytical Modeling for the Electromagnetic Propagation in Stratified Cylindrical Structures

In this letter, we present a pseudo-analytical formulation to model cylindrical structures composed by both radial and axial dielectric layers. In order to improve the location of the complex propagation constants, we propose a series of considerations on the argument principle, the so-called winding number technique. We use the complex coordinate stretching formulation of the perfectly matched layers to analyze unbound structures. The axial discontinuities are figured out by an analytical formulation of the mode matching technique. The mode excitation from electric current sources combined with the generalized scattering matrix allows us to accurately compute the fields along the entire structure.
Lumbar Spine Arthroplasty: Early Results Using the ProDisc II: A Prospective Randomized Trial of Arthroplasty Versus Fusion

This study represents the first 39 patients with at least 6-month follow-up enrolled in a prospective randomized Food and Drug Administration study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the ProDisc II versus the control, a 360° lumbar spinal fusion. Data were collected preoperatively and at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ), and patient satisfaction rates were evaluated at these intervals, as well as range of motion, return to work, and recreational and ambulatory status. There were 28 ProDisc patients and 11 who underwent fusion. Six patients had two-level surgery. Estimated blood loss (ProDisc = 69 mL versus fusion = 175 mL) and operative time (ProDisc = 75 minutes versus fusion = 219 minutes) were significantly different (P < 0.01). Hospital stays were shorter (ProDisc = 2.1 days versus fusion = 3.5 days [P < 0.01]) for ProDisc patients. There was a significantly greater reduction in the ODQ scores at 3 months in the ProDisc group compared with the fusion group (P < 0.05). No difference was noted in VAS. A trend was identified at 6 months in patient satisfaction rates favoring ProDisc versus fusion (P = 0.08), and motion was significantly improved in ProDisc patients compared with the fusion group (P = 0.02). Ambulatory status as well as recreational activity improved faster in the ProDisc group. The data suggest that total disc arthroplasty may be an attractive option as opposed to lumbar fusion for the surgical treatment of disabling mechanical low back pain secondary to lumbar disc disease.
Therapeutic immunization and local low‐dose tumor irradiation, a reinforcing combination

Therapeutic cancer vaccines show promise in preclinical studies, yet their clinical efficacy is limited. Increased recruitment of immune cells into tumors and suppression of the immune suppressive tumor environment are critical components toward effective cancer immunotherapies. Here, we report how local low‐dose irradiation, alone or with a therapeutic immunization based on Semliki Forest virus (SFV) against human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related cancer, influences these immune mechanisms. We first demonstrated that immunization with SFVeE6,7 or SFVeOVA, replicon particles expressing either HPV16 E6/E7 or ovalbumin, resulted in an antigen‐specific migration of CD8+ T cells into HPV‐ and OVA‐specific tumors. Local low‐dose tumor irradiation alone resulted in a 2‐fold increase of intratumoral CD8+ T cells. When 14 Gy irradiation was combined with immunization, intratumoral numbers of CD8+ T cells increased 10‐fold and the number of CD8+ T cells specific for the E7‐ epitope increased more than 20‐fold. Irradiation alone however also increased the number of intratumoral myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) 3.5‐fold. Importantly, this number did not further increase when combined with immunization. As a result, the ratio of antigen‐specific CD8+ T cells and MDSCs in tumors increased up to 85‐fold compared to the control. We furthermore demonstrated that following irradiation CCR2 and CCL2, CXCR6 and CCL16, chemokines and ligands involved in tumor homing of immune cells, were significantly up regulated. This study demonstrates that local low‐dose tumor irradiation influences the intratumoral immune population induced by SFVeE6,7 immunization by a strong increase in the ratio of antitumoral to immune suppressive cells, thus changing the intratumoral immune balance in favor of antitumor activity.
Efficacy of personalized normative feedback as a brief intervention for college student gambling: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE Social influences on gambling among adolescents and adults have been well documented and may be particularly evident among college students, who have higher rates of problem and pathological gambling relative to the general population. Personalized normative feedback (PNF) is a brief intervention designed to correct misperceptions regarding the prevalence of problematic behavior by showing individuals engaging in such behaviors that their own behavior is atypical with respect to actual norms. The current randomized controlled trial evaluated a computer-delivered PNF intervention for problem gambling college students. METHOD Following a baseline assessment, 252 college student gamblers scoring 2+ on the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) were randomly assigned to receive PNF or attention-control feedback. Follow-up assessments were completed 3 and 6 months postintervention. RESULTS Results indicated significant intervention effects in reducing perceived norms for quantities lost and won, and in reducing actual quantity lost and gambling problems at the 3-month follow-up. All intervention effects except reduced gambling problems remained at the 6-month follow-up. Mediation results indicated that changes in perceived norms at 3 months mediated the intervention effects. Further, the intervention effects were moderated by self-identification with other student gamblers, suggesting that PNF worked better at reducing gambling for those who more strongly identified with other student gamblers. CONCLUSIONS Results support the use of PNF as a stand-alone brief intervention for at-risk gambling students. Extending this approach more broadly may provide an accessible, empirically supported gambling prevention option for universities and related institutions.