Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Online Neonatal Training and Orientation Programme in India (ONTOP-IN)--the way forward for distance education in developing countries.

BACKGROUND Internet-based distance learning combined with local hands-on skill enhancement can provide high-quality standardized education to in-service healthcare professionals in a wide geographical area. OBJECTIVE Primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of internet-based distance learning in conjunction with local hands-on skill enhancement in improving knowledge and skills of essential newborn care among in-service nursing health professionals. METHODS A total of 98 participants from seven health facilities in India and Maldives were enrolled in the study. Delivery of course material staggered over 5 weeks in the form of two lessons every week was moderated by two to three online tutors at each site. Participants managed actual case scenarios, participated in discussion forums and synchronous chat sessions within a closed group. Skill learning was administered by local tutor at the partnering health facilities. Knowledge and skill enhancement were evaluated by administering online multiple-choice questions (MCQs) test and on-site objective structured clinical evaluation (OSCE) stations before and after completion of the course. Participants' satisfaction was evaluated on a five-point Likert scale. RESULTS Among 98 participants enrolled in the study, 78 (79%) completed the post-test assessment. There was significant increase in knowledge and skills scores (MCQ test: mean difference: 6.4 (95% CI: 5.6-7.17), OSCE: mean difference: 15.4 (95% CI: 12.7-18.1). All the participants expressed satisfaction with content and delivery of the learning module. CONCLUSION To conclude, online training and teaching in essential newborn care is feasible and acceptable for in-service nursing professionals and serves as a useful tool for professional development of their practical skills and knowledge.
Transnationalism in the Construct of Haitian Migrants' Racial Categories of Identity in New York City a

More than a single movement from one place to another, international migration is a process of network buildmg, of network ties, of relationships between groups and social agents distributed across different places, maximizing their economic opportunities through mutual and multiple displacements (Portes and Walton 1981:31). One of the most important features of recent international migration is that the movement takes place within a social setting and space that engulfs these new kinds of relationships and processes, linking both societies of origin and destination. In that sense, international migration can no more be conceptualized as a process external to the country of origin and has forced a rethinlung of studies of international migration (Larose 1984; Glick Schiller, Basch, and Blanc-Szanton, 1992). Analyzing international migration from a transnational perspective implies a redefinition of social context. It has been common in most analyses of international migration to posit the state as the boundary and to equate the concept of the state to that of the social formation. Yet, as Larose (1984) points out, because of transnational networks, more and more immigrant workers are embedded and inscribed in two social formations. Haitian immigrant workers for example are not only being incorporated into the U.S. labor force but are also active participants in the reproduction of labor in Haiti. In addition, the existence of transnational networks are one of the most important ideological expressions of the intensity of the ties of the social agents with the country of origin.
Anger, Quality of Life and Mood in Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: To investigate the role of different anger variables in predicting quality of life and mood in multiple sclerosis (MS), while controlling for disease severity. Methods: 78 individuals with MS completed questionnaire measures of anger (Anger Rumination Scale and State/Trait Anger Expression Inventory), mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale); disease severity (Patient Determined Disease Steps) and quality of life (WHOQoL-BREF). Results: Anger was significantly associated with quality of life (QoL) in MS. Higher levels of experienced anger and lack of control over the experience of anger predicted lower psychological and environmental QoL. Depression levels were also predicted by high levels of experienced anger and lack of control over anger. In contrast, ruminating about anger was the strongest predictor of anxiety levels. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that feelings of anger are strongly associated with QoL in MS, even when disease severity is taken into account. Problems in controlling and ruminating about anger may also contribute to mood disorder in MS.
Melatonin–sulforaphane hybrid ITH12674 induces neuroprotection in oxidative stress conditions by a ‘drug–prodrug’ mechanism of action

Neurodegenerative diseases are a major problem afflicting ageing populations; however, there are no effective treatments to stop their progression. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are common factors in their pathogenesis. Nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2 (Nrf2) is the master regulator of oxidative stress, and melatonin is an endogenous hormone with antioxidative properties that reduces its levels with ageing. We have designed a new compound that combines the effects of melatonin with Nrf2 induction properties, with the idea of achieving improved neuroprotective properties.
Longitudinal Results of Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis in Hemifacial Microsomia

The aim of this study was to evaluate mandibular distraction therapy by three-dimensional (3-D) computed tomography (CT) imaging so as to be able to improve the treatment results. The study group consisted of eight children (3 male and 5 female) with hemifacial microsomia. For each child, CT scans of the head were available (Pro Speed S Fast Spiral scanner; General Electric). Longitudinal measurements of the mandible, bony and soft tissue 3-D reconstructions, and masticatory muscles were demonstrated. Three-dimensional CT scans provide important data concerning the results of mandibular distraction therapy and should be used in treatment evaluation. In some patients and for some muscles only, a small increase in the volume of the affected side of the masticatory muscles in comparison to the normal side was found 3 years after mandibular distraction. In around 50% of the cases, there seems to be a relapse occurring 1 year after distraction osteogenesis, and this relapse has a progressive character when seen 3 years after distraction osteogenesis in comparison to 15 weeks after distraction osteogenesis.
Death-associated Protein Kinase Is Activated by Dephosphorylation in Response to Cerebral Ischemia*

Death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a calcium calmodulin-regulated serine/threonine protein kinase involved in ischemic neuronal death. In situ hybridization experiments show that DAPK mRNA expression is up-regulated in brain following a global ischemic insult and down-regulated in ischemic tissues after focal ischemia. DAPK is inactive in normal brain tissues, where it is found in its phosphorylated state and becomes rapidly and persistently dephosphorylated and activated in response to ischemia in vivo. A similar dephosphorylation pattern is detected in primary cortical neurons subjected to oxygen glucose deprivation or N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced toxicity. Both a calcineurin inhibitor, FK506, and a selective NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, inhibit the dephosphorylation of DAPK after in vitro ischemia. This indicates that DAPK could be activated by NMDA receptor-mediated calcium flux, activation of calcineurin, and subsequent DAPK dephosphorylation. Moreover, concomitantly to dephosphorylation, DAPK is proteolytically processed by cathepsin after ischemia. Furthermore, a selective DAPK inhibitor is neuroprotective in both in vitro and in vivo ischemic models. These results indicate that DAPK plays a key role in mediating ischemic neuronal injury.
Differences in anatomical connections across distinct areas in the rodent prefrontal cortex

Prefrontal cortex (PFC) network structure is implicated in a number of complex higher‐order functions and with a range of neurological disorders. It is therefore vital to our understanding of PFC function to gain an understanding of its underlying anatomical connectivity. Here, we injected Fluoro‐Gold and Fluoro‐Ruby into the same sites throughout rat PFC. Tracer injections were applied to two coronal levels within the PFC (anterior +4.7 mm to bregma and posterior +3.7 mm to bregma). Within each coronal level, tracers were deposited at sites separated by approximately 1 mm and located parallel to the medial and orbital surface of the cortex. We found that both Fluoro‐Gold and Fluoro‐Ruby injections produced prominent labelling in temporal and sensory‐motor cortex. Fluoro‐Gold produced retrograde labelling and Fluoro‐Ruby largely produced anterograde labelling. Analysis of the location of these connections within temporal and sensory‐motor cortex revealed a consistent topology (as the sequence of injections was followed mediolaterally along the orbital surface of each coronal level). At the anterior coronal level, injections produced a similar topology to that seen in central PFC in earlier studies from our laboratory (i.e. comparing equivalently located injections employing the same tracer), this was particularly prominent within temporal cortex. However, at the posterior coronal level this pattern of connections differed significantly, revealing higher levels of reciprocity, in both temporal cortex and sensory‐motor cortex. Our findings indicate changes in the relative organization of connections arising from posterior in comparison to anterior regions of PFC, which may provide a basis to determine how complex processes are organized.
A Comparison between Total Intravenous Anaesthesia using Propofol plus Remifentanil and Volatile Induction/Maintenance of Anaesthesia using Sevoflurane in Children Undergoing Flexible Fibreoptic Bronchoscopy

Flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy is an important tool in the evaluation and management of paediatric respiratory disease. Total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) and volatile agent induction and maintenance of anaesthesia (VIMA) are commonly used for these procedures. The aim of this study was to determine which is superior for children undergoing flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy. The study included two phases. In Phase 1, ED99 of propofol in TIVA and ED99 of sevoflurane in VIMA were first determined. In Phase 2, 50 children aged from one to three years were recruited and randomly assigned to either a TIVA or a VIMA group. An ED99 dose of propofol with remifentanil was administered to the TIVA group and sevoflurane to the VIMA group. Haemodynamic variables, stress hormone responses, anaesthesia profiles, adverse reactions and physicians’ levels of satisfaction were compared between the two groups. The ED99 values of propofol in the TIVA group and sevoflurane in the VIMA group were 8.9 μg/ml and 6.8% respectively. Haemodynamic variables and stress hormone levels were higher in the VIMA group than in the TIVA group. Agitation and coughing also occurred less frequently in the TIVA group. In addition, physicians’ levels of satisfaction were greater in the TIVA group. Our results suggest that TIVA with propofol plus remifentanil is superior to VIMA using sevoflurane alone for children undergoing flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy.
Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Patients with HCC Exceeding the Milan Criteria: A Proposal of Expanded Criteria

Background: Optimal indications for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have yet not been established. The aim of the present study was to determine optimal criteria including categories outside the Milan criteria (MC) and still with a predictably good outcome. Patients and Methods: Between February 1999 and December 2007, 136 patients with HCC underwent LDLT. Based on preoperative imaging studies, 74 patients met the MC and 62 did not. Results: Overall patient survival rate at 5 years was 70%. Patients who exceeded MC but presented with ≤10 tumors and all ≤5 cm in diameter (n = 33) displayed similar 5-year recurrence rate to those within MC (7 vs. 10%). Based on the results of multivariate analysis of risk factors for recurrence, we defined new criteria as n ≤10 and all ≤5 cm and PIVKA-II ≤400 mAU/ml. The 5-year recurrence rate for the 83 patients who met the new criteria was significantly lower than for the 44 patients who exceeded them (5 vs. 61%, p < 0.0001). Similarly, patients who met the new criteria showed a significantly better 5-year survival rate (87 vs. 37%, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The selection criteria may be safely extended up to n ≤10 and all ≤5 cm in diameter and PIVKA-II ≤400 mAU/ml with acceptable outcomes.
The UCLA study of Predictors of Cognitive Functioning Following Moderate/Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Objectives: Following pediatric moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI), few predictors have been identified that can reliably identify which individuals are at risk for long-term cognitive difficulties. This study sought to determine the relative contribution of detailed descriptors of injury severity as well as demographic and psychosocial factors to long-term cognitive outcomes after pediatric msTBI. Methods: Participants included 8- to 19-year-olds, 46 with msTBI and 53 uninjured healthy controls (HC). Assessments were conducted in the post-acute and chronic stages of recovery. Medical record review provided details regarding acute injury severity. Parents also completed a measure of premorbid functioning and behavioral problems. The outcome of interest was four neurocognitive measures sensitive to msTBI combined to create an index of cognitive performance. Results: Results indicated that none of the detailed descriptors of acute injury severity predicted cognitive performance. Only the occurrence of injury, parental education, and premorbid academic competence predicted post-acute cognitive functioning. Long-term cognitive outcomes were best predicted by post-acute cognitive functioning. Discussion: The findings suggest that premorbid factors influence cognitive outcomes nearly as much as the occurrence of a msTBI. Furthermore, of youth with msTBI who initially recover to a level of moderate disability or better, a brief cognitive battery administered within several months after injury can best predict which individuals will experience poor long-term cognitive outcomes and require additional services. (JINS, 2016, 22, 1–8)
Directing chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells with a solid-supported chitosan thermogel for cartilage tissue engineering

Hydrogels are attractive for cartilage tissue engineering because of their high plasticity and similarity with the native cartilage matrix. However, one critical drawback of hydrogels for osteochondral repair is their inadequate mechanical strength. To address this limitation, we constructed a solid-supported thermogel comprising a chitosan hydrogel system and demineralized bone matrix. Scanning electron microscopy, the equilibrium scanning ratio, the biodegradation rate, biomechanical tests, biochemical assays, metabolic activity tests, immunostaining and cartilage-specific gene expression analysis were used to evaluate the solid-supported thermogel. Compared with pure hydrogel or demineralized matrix, the hybrid biomaterial showed superior porosity, equilibrium swelling and degradation rate. The hybrid scaffolds exhibited an increased mechanical strength: 75% and 30% higher compared with pure hydrogels and demineralized matrix, respectively. After three days culture, bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) maintained viability above 90% in all three materials; however, the cell retention of the hybrid scaffolds was more efficient and uniform than the other materials. Matrix production and chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs in the hybrid scaffolds were superior to its precursors, based on glycosaminoglycan quantification and hyaline cartilage marker expression after three weeks in culture. Its easy preparation, favourable biophysical properties and chondrogenic capacity indicated that this solid-supported thermogel could be an attractive biomaterial framework for cartilage tissue engineering.
Analyzing Urban Population Change Patterns in Shenyang, China 1982-90: Density Function and Spatial Association Approaches

Abstract Based on the subdistrict (jie-dao) data from 1982 and 1990 national population censuses, this research employs two approaches to investigate the urban population change patterns in Shenyang, China. The density function approach examines what function best characterizes its density distribution, how the density pattern has changed over time, how many centers can be identified in the city, and how influential each center has been on the citywide population distribution. Unlike the socialist cities in Russia, Shenyang has a negative density gradient, bearing more resemblance to western cities. A polycentric model explains the spatial variation of densities in Shenyang much better than a monocentric model. The spatial association approach analyzes the core-peripheral relationship between a city center and its neighboring areas. Both approaches show that people moved from the central city to suburbs, indicating a trend of population decentralization. This trend is attributable to the land use reform, .
Higher excitation levels of B11 via the B10(n,n)B10 and B10(n,n')B10* (0.72, 1.74, 2.15, 3.59, 4.77 MeV) reactions.

Differential cross sections for elastic and inelastic scattering of neutrons from isotopically enriched {sup 10}B samples have been measured for incident neutron energies from 3.02 to 6.45 MeV in 250 keV increments and from 7.02 to 12.01 MeV in 500 keV increments. Inelastic angular distributions for scattering to the states in parentheses in {sup 10}B have been measured from the indicated energy up to 12.01 MeV: (0.718) from 3.02 MeV; (1.74) from 3.27 MeV; (2.15) from 3.77 MeV; (3.59) from 5.52 MeV; (4.77) from 7.02 MeV. The measurements at 3.02, 3.51, 4.02, and 4.51 MeV were done at nine laboratory angles from 20{degree} to 158{degree} in 17.5{degree} increments with a sample that is isotopically 95.86% {sup 10}B. All other distributions measured scattering at 11 laboratory angles from 18{degree} to 158{degree} in 15{degree} increments from a sample that is isotopically 99.49% {sup 10}B. A multiple scattering code provided a simulation of the experimental scattering process allowing accurate corrections to the small measured inelastic cross sections. An eight-channel, multilevel {ital R}-matrix analysis was performed on the data. Level energies, spins, and parities were deduced for twelve levels above 13 MeV excitation in {sup 11}B. Only two definite and three tentative assignments formore » {ital T}=1/2 levels had been made previously above 13 MeV. The two definite levels were confirmed. Good agreement between the data and the {ital R}-matrix calculation in all analyzed channels was obtained for the proposed structure. « less
The implications of absorption cost accounting and production decisions for firms’ future performance and valuation

In this paper, we evaluate a comprehensive set of inventory related signals, the association between those signals and future firm performance and how the stock market responds to these signals. There is mixed evidence in the literature on how the market perceives and reacts to inventory build-ups and possible income manipulation. Lev and Thiagarajan (1993) conclude that the stock market views their measure of excess inventory growth as a negative signal, while Jiambalvo et al. (1997) find evidence that stock returns are positively associated with their measure of overproduction. In our view, the stock market perception of overproduction should also be affected by the materiality of the fixed costs that get absorbed into ending inventory. We provide evidence that future accounting performance (as measured by ROA) of high relative fixed cost/high overproduction firms is significantly negatively associated with overproduction, while this relationship is positive for other firms. We find that the stock market reacts in a rational manner and that there is a substantial reduction in the positive valuation impact of overproduction for firms with high relative fixed costs and high overproduction. We also examine the impact of order backlog, as also its interaction with overproduction and high relative fixed cost structure. We find that, in general, for firms that have a “conflicting” order backlog signal, overproduction is significantly more negatively associated with future performance (as measured by ROA) relative to firms that did not have a conflicting signal. We also report strong evidence that the market reacts rationally and discounts reported earnings of firms with conflicting order backlog signals, relative to firms where the backlog order signal is supportive of inventory build-ups.
Constructive Modelings for Theory Change

Alchourron, G¨ardenfors and Makinson have developed and inves-tigated a set of rationality postulates which appear to capture much of what is required of any rational system of theory revision. This set of postulates describes a class of revision functions, however it does not provide a constructive way of deﬁning such a function. There are two principal constructions of revision functions, namely an epistemic entrenchment and a system of spheres. We refer to their approach as the AGM paradigm. We provide a new constructive modeling for a revision function based on a nice preorder on models, and furthermore we give explicit conditions under which a nice preorder on models, an epistemic entrenchment, and a system of spheres yield the same revision function. Moreover, we provide an identity which captures the relationship between revision functions and update operators (as deﬁned by Katsuno and Mendelzon).
Coping strategies used by Pakistani parents living in the United Kingdom and caring for a severely disabled child

Purpose: This study explores the coping strategies of Pakistani parents living in the UK and caring for children with severe learning disabilities. It examines factors that influenced participants’ choice or ability to use the different strategies identified. Method: Qualitative design using in-depth interviews. Results: Coping strategies included sharing care with others, using external support and recognizing and enjoying the rewards of caregiving. Parents used different strategies according to their appraisal of resources available and the perceived consequences of their action within their social milieu. Conclusions: Findings relating to cultural difference fit with a universalist approach. Coping strategies are not specific to the Pakistani population but certain characteristics of the strategies may be distinct to those used by parents with a different heritage. Antonovsky’s work suggests that maintaining a sense of coherence makes a key difference to staying psychologically healthy in an apparently disordered world. Findings from this study fit with this theory. Parents derived meaning and a sense of purpose from the idea that their child’s disability was from God. The rewards of caregiving and the strong moral imperative to care for one’s own child contributed to understandings of caregiving as an activity worthy of investment. Implications for Rehabilitation Coping strategies identified are not specific to the Pakistani population but certain features of the strategies may be distinct to those used by parents with a different heritage. Individual practical and material circumstances and availability of resources influenced the choice of coping strategies. Religion played a role in the coping experiences of all participants. Health professionals should be equipped and supported to use religion appropriately to promote successful coping