Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) to characterize changes in functioning for individuals with traumatic brain injury who participated in a post-acute rehabilitation programme

Objective : Evaluate changes in community integration for survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) who participated in a post-acute rehabilitation programme. Design : Cohort, prospective study investigating change from admission to post-discharge. Participants : Individuals, the majority of whom were diagnosed with severe TBI, were placed into one of two groups as follows: (1) admitted for treatment less than 1 year post-injury (L1Y) or (2) admitted for treatment between 1-5 years post-injury (G1Y). Measure : The Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ). Results : Both groups showed significant improvements from admission to follow-up; however, some CIQ findings were more pronounced for the L1Y group. Reliable change (RC) methodology was used to assess individual change. Results of this approach were consistent with group results, but tempered the perception of degree of change. Conclusions : Findings cannot simply be attributed to neurological recovery and individual factors are important to examine when assessing change.
Teachers : hands up for CCTV in schools

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in public places has become a widely accepted method of surveillance for the purpose of public safety and crime management (Moran, 1998). Over recent years, increased public concern, media attention and political pressure over high levels of disruptive behaviour and violence in schools have prompted educators to search for new and more effective methods of combating the problem (Christie, Petrie and Christie, 1998). One of the methods explored has been the introduction of CCTV into the educational environment. The practice has since become increasingly widespread in many countries, including The United States of America and The United Kingdom (The United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2002: Association of Teachers and Lecturers, 2008). This increase is reflected in Australia where the number of schools implementing CCTV surveillance has continued to rise (Australian Education Union, 2003). It would appear that this trend is set to continue as an increasing number of Australian schools implement CCTV. This raises questions regarding the purpose of the increase and the effectiveness of CCTV for the purpose. As there is currently no research available to address those questions, the purpose of this project was to identify the perceptions of key stakeholders in education on the use of CCTV in schools. To determine the perceptions of key stakeholders, a sample of six participants were purposefully selected to include principals, early childhood and primary teachers. The participants shared their perceptions during individual, semi-structured interviews. It was established through this research that a perception exists that CCTV in schools has the potential to contribute to significant improvements to school safety and performance. In addition to the identification of the perceived benefits of CCTV, the research also established several serious concerns over the process of management and control of CCTV within the school environment. As a result of the findings of the study it was recommended that there is a significant need for further consultation with key stakeholders in education prior to the discussion of future decisions regarding the implementation of CCTV surveillance in schools.
Senescence of Cultured Porcine Coronary Arterial Endothelial Cells Is Associated with Accelerated Oxidative Stress and Activation of NFĸB

Aims: Endothelial dysfunction occurs following multiple passaging in vitro,but the molecular mechanisms involved remain unidentified. The present study defined the genomic changes related to dysfunction in cultured senescent endothelial cells. Methods and Results: Senescent cells were produced by multiple passaging of porcine coronary arterial endothelial cells for up to 4 weeks. Genomic and proteomic studies on cultured cells at the first passage (P1) and the fourth passage (P4) were performed. Senescence and decreased NO production were observed in cells and several signaling pathways – such as IFN/STAT, IGF, TGF-β, cytoskeleton rearrangement and lipid metabolism – were altered at P4, as judged from the microarray analysis. The basal and stimulated (by TNF-α) levels of NFĸB were augmented in senescent cells in electrophoretic mobility shift assays in association with increased oxidative stress, increased p53 protein stability, and activated apoptotic pathways. The increased oxidative stress was alleviated by treatment with the superoxide dismutase mimetic MnTMPyP. Conclusions: After multiple passaging in vitro, porcine coronary endothelial cells exhibited dysfunction and senescence associated with reduced proliferative capacity, increased oxidative stress, and activation of the NFĸB and p53 signaling pathways.
INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND MIGRATION THEORIES

There is growing intellectual interest in issues associated with international migration. The literature on migration is continuously growing due to this trend. However, theorization of migration is not strong when compared to other branches of international transactions. This may be due to the complexity and diversity of the area covered by international migration. The paper mainly focuses on theoretical perspectives of international migration. In line with that, an overview of international migration is provided at the beginning. It is followed by types of international migration and migration theories. Prominence is given to theoretical perspectives of international migration and the classification of migration theories. In addition, shortcomings of migration theories are examined.
Evaluation of two commercial nucleic acid amplification kits for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in saliva samples.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two commercial nucleic acid amplification techniques to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis in saliva. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Fifty-two participants were recruited, 32 patients with a clinical and microbiological diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and 20 healthy volunteers as controls. Three sputum samples were collected from each participant and were examined by direct bacilloscopy, cultured in liquid and solid media, and processed using the Mycobacterium tuberculosis direct (MTD) test for rRNA detection. One saliva sample was collected from each participant using conventional methods and was examined by direct bacilloscopy, cultured, and processed using the MTD test for rRNA detection and the FluoroType Mycobacterium tuberculosis assay for DNA detection. RESULTS In saliva samples, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the MTD test were 71.8%, 95%, 95.8%, and 67.8%, respectively. The values obtained with the FluoroType assay were 56.2%, 90%, 90%, and 56.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that when a sufficient volume of sputum cannot be obtained, saliva could be an alternative biological sample for the rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis using commercial nucleic acid amplification techniques.
Prospective Study of Sequential Technetium‐99 Phosphate and Gallium Imaging in Painful Hip Prostheses (Comparison of Diagnostic Modalities)

Twenty-two painful hip prostheses were studied prospectively with plain radiography, aspiration and arthrography, Tc-99m phosphate bone imaging, and gallium imaging to evaluate loosening, infection, or both and to compare the accuracy of these modalities. Fifteen pros-theses were revised yielding 14 loose femoral and eight loose acetabular components. Five proved to have infected prostheses. Arthrograms, plain radiographs, and bone scans are highly sensitive in detecting loosening of the femoral component. This study confirmed a previous retrospective study in demonstrating that accuracy of diagnosis of an abnormal acetabular component using all tour modalities is less than that for the femoral component. In infected prostheses, phosphate bone imaging showed high sensitivity of a pattern that accurately diagnosed all the infected cases, whereas gallium imaging missed one case.
Innovations in the Use of Technology and Teacher Professional Development

Technology has radically altered human civilisation. Few nations have not been affected in some way by the technological advances of the 20th and 21st centuries. Evidence from the 21st century indicates that technological change and adoption is not slowing, rather it is increasing at an almost exponential pace. Education, both in the schools and institutions of higher education, has similarly been affected by increasing accessibility to technology. As Levine and Sun indicate new technologies, in particular the Internet, have greatly influenced the opportunities to access education, interact with others, and to “disseminate knowledge to an exponentially large number of people than ever before” (2002, p. 1). This also applies to opportunities for accessing ongoing teacher professional development. This chapter outlines two main perspectives in relation to innovations in the use of technology and teacher ABsTRAcT
Learning about Learning To Teach: A Case Study of Pre-Service Teacher Education.

A report is given of a 3-year longitudinal study which has two strands, both of which are concerned with understanding better the complexities of teaching and learning science, knowing more of the processes by which individuals change, and understanding more of the research methodologies appropriate for these purposes. The first strand involves science teachers in secondary schools working in a collaborative fashion with the researchers. The second strand involves a group of science graduates who undertook a 1-year preservice education course during which an intensive case study of the development of the members of the group was undertaken. A description is given of issues of significance for teacher education which were reflected in the program undertaken by the students. The program reflected three broad areas of constructivist learning: student teachers' views of teaching and learning, their understanding of the content they teach, and their views of self. The most striking findings from the year related to the nature and extent of personal development, growth, and change experienced by many of the participants. This development was evidenced in individual intellectual competence and self-esteem. (JD) * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * froh the original document. * Learning about learning to teach A case study of pre-service teacher educatien1 Richard F. Gunstone Monica Slattery
A simple ultrasound score for the identification of candidates to fine needle aspiration of thyroid nodules.

BACKGROUND Cytological examination of fine needle aspirates (FNA) is the standard procedure for discriminating potentially malignant thyroid nodules to be referred to surgery. In a fraction of cases, ultrasound (US) examination could provide information theoretically sufficient to avoid FNA, when typical US features suggesting malignancies are lacking. AIM The aim of this study was to construct a simple US score predicting malignant nodules so as to reduce the number of unnecessary FNA. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In a series of 1632 consecutive patients undergoing US-guided FNA (1812 nodules), echostructure, echogenicity, margins, halo, microcalcification, and vascularization were assessed. RESULTS At multivariate analysis, the following parameters showed a strong predictive value for positive cytology (Thy 4 and Thy 5, suspicious and diagnostic for malignancy, respectively, according to the Thyroid British Association): solid echostructure, irregular margins and hypoechogenicity [adjusted odd ratio (OR) 5.13 (1.58-16.66), 3.03 (1.70-5.39), 2.05 (1.17-3.57), respectively]. A 10-point Thyroid Risk Ultrasound Score (TRUS) was constructed on the basis of the adjusted OR. A TRUS≥6 identified malignant nodules with sensitivity and specificity of 73% and 65%, respectively. Among the patients with follicular lesions (Thy 3) and final diagnosis of carcinoma, about 65% had a TRUS≥6.0. CONCLUSIONS The sensitivity of TRUS, although higher than that of other scores, could still be insufficient for the identification of patients who could avoid FNA in routine clinical practice, whereas its predictive value for Thy 3 lesions deserves further investigations.
Cytogenetic analysis of patients with primary and secondary amenorrhoea in Hong Kong: retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the incidence and type of chromosomal abnormalities in patients with primary and secondary amenorrhoea in Hong Kong. DESIGN Cytogenetic analysis and retrospective review. SETTING Clinical Genetic Service, Department of Health, Hong Kong. PATIENTS Case records of 549 patients with either primary (n=237) or secondary (n=312) amenorrhoea referred to the Clinical Genetic Service from 1 January 1991 to 30 April 2002 were reviewed. All these patients with amenorrhoea would have karyotyping (G banding) performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical characteristics of patients, and incidence and type of chromosomal abnormalities in the local population. RESULTS Sex chromosome anomaly was found in 24.5% and 9.9%, respectively, of women with primary and secondary amenorrhoea. In those with primary amenorrhoea, male karyotype was identified in 8.4% and X-chromosome abnormalities in 16.0%. CONCLUSION The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in women with amenorrhoea is similar to that reported in the literature. Chromosomal abnormalities are identified often enough to warrant karyotyping of all women with amenorrhoea.
Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Systems for Load Forecasting: A Comparative Study

Accurate short term load forecasting (STLF) is essential for a variety of decision-making processes. However, forecasting accuracy can drop due to the presence of uncertainty in the operation of energy systems or unexpected behavior of exogenous variables. This paper proposes the application of Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Systems (IT2 FLSs) for the problem of STLF. IT2 FLSs, with additional degrees of freedom, are an excellent tool for handling uncertainties and improving the prediction accuracy. Experiments conducted with real datasets show that IT2 FLS models precisely approximate future load demands with an acceptable accuracy. Furthermore, they demonstrate an encouraging degree of accuracy superior to feedforward neural networks and traditional type-1 Takagi-Sugeno-Kang (TSK) FLSs.
Investment dynamics in Japan

This thesis contributes to the literature by providing evidence that the drivers and impacts of Japanese private fixed investment change over time. There is substantial research into aggregate investment, and it remains an active area of investigation. This is particularly the case in Japan, where policy makers and macro-economists alike are encountering novel challenges in the aftermath of the ’Lost Decade’. This is partly because theoretical and empirical aspects of investment are both individually complex and jointly difficult to reconcile. This thesis considers the suggestion such intractability may be due to different models for private fixed investment applying at different points in time. Chapter 2 evaluates this suggestion in Japan by comparing optimal forecasting models produced by Dynamic Model Averaging. From 1965 to 2014, the optimal forecasting model for investment exhibits substantial composition variation. This variation appears to be linked with known Japanese business cycle and financial crisis events. Chapter 3 explores the Chapter 2 finding that the forecasting utility of uncertainty displays little time variation. This appears true even across the ‘1980s bubble’ and its collapse as well as the Asian and Global Financial Crises. The chapter discusses the potential for ‘real options’ theory to explain the apparently linear relationship between uncertainty and investment. Using Time-Varying Parameter VAR modelling, this chapter compares realised investment responses to various uncertainty shocks with the canonical response shapes from real options theory. Results differ depending on measure, but domestic, forward-looking shocks appear consistent with the real options theory. Chapter 4 explores the Chapter 2 indication of substantial time-variation in the forecasting utility of investment factors, focusing on one particular component with substantial policy relevance, the yen. Time-Varying Parameter VAR estimates demonstrate a priori unanticipated responses of both the real exchange rate and out-
Evaluation of the Sclerotherapeutic Efficacy of Ethanol, Polidocanol, and OK‐432 Using an In Vitro Model

BACKGROUND Sclerosants are used to treat vascular malformations. Owing to variations in the flow, the injected concentrations and the duration of exposure of these sclerosants are altered. Therefore, the clinical effectiveness of sclerotherapy is variable. OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the differences in clinical response, usually observed among ethanol, polidocanol, and OK-432, using an in vitro sclerotherapy model. METHODS Endothelial cells were cultured and exposed to different concentrations of the sclerosants for 5 seconds and the remaining viable cells were counted using a MTT assay kit. Dyes were used to visualize the morphologic changes. Precipitant formation in blood was also evaluated. Finally, the degree of ICAM-1 expression, after exposure to lower concentrations of these sclerosants, was studied using immunocytochemistry. RESULTS Only ethanol causes precipitant formation and kills almost all cells from 30% concentration. Polidocanol begins to disrupt the cell membrane from 0.0125% onward. Only OK-432 induces ICAM-1 expression. CONCLUSION Ethanol's strong precipitant-forming effect may induce thromboembolism, thus enhancing sclerosis. Polidocanol's endothelial cell–lysing effect was clearly documented. OK-432 may mediate its effect by inducing inflammatory response of the endothelium via ICAM-1 expression. This in vitro model may be useful in evaluating other sclerosants as well.
Fetomaternal outcome in pregnancy with severe thrombocytopenia.

OBJECTIVES STo study the feto-maternal outcome in pregnancy with severe thrombocytopenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS It was an observational study involving 1150 pregnant women with term gestation in labour, who were screened for thrombocytopenia. Ninety-four subjects (8.17%) were found to have thrombocytopenia i.e. platelet count < 1,50,/000/mm3, out of which 47 subjects (group A) had platelet count of less than 50.000/mm3 Simultaneously, 47 term pregnant women (group B) having a normal platelet count i.e. > 1.5 lac/mm3 formed the control group. All the subjects were followed during labour and postpartum period for any feto-maternal outcome. RESULTS Significant history of bleeding tendencies like prolonged bleeding from wound site, easy bruisability and menorrhagia (p = 0.023) was evident in the study population. Abruptio placentae and early onset pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) in previous gestations was more commonly found in the study population. Anemia and PIH were significantly more in group A. Incision site oozing during cesarean section was significantly more in group A. Moderate thrombocytopenia was more in neonates of study group (p = 0.014), but without any bleeding complications in neonates. CONCLUSIONS Careful surveillance is required in these high risk patients for earlier detection and treatment of complications so as to decrease the fetomaternal morbidities.
The therapeutic potential of the endocannabinoid system for Alzheimer's disease

Introduction: Dementia currently affects over 35 million people worldwide. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease (AD). Currently, treatments for AD do not stop or reverse the progression of the disease and they are accompanied by side effects. Areas covered: The main features of AD pathology, treatment options currently available, the endocannabinoid system and its functionality in general and its role in AD pathology in detail will be outlined. A particular focus will be on the therapeutic potential of the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol. Expert opinion: Based on the complex pathology of AD, a preventative, multimodal drug approach targeting a combination of pathological AD symptoms appears ideal. Importantly, cannabinoids show anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and antioxidant properties and have immunosuppressive effects. Thus, the cannabinoid system should be a prime target for AD therapy. The cannabinoid receptor 2 appears to be a promising candidate but its role in AD has to be investigated cautiously. Furthermore, the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol is of particular interest as it lacks the psychoactive and cognition-impairing properties of other cannabinoids. In conclusion, future research should focus on the evaluation of the effects of manipulations to the endocannabinoid system in established animal models for AD, combined with early-phase studies in humans.
Analysis of neuroendocrine tumour metastases in the liver using contrast enhanced ultrasonography

Background. Imaging of liver tumours might be improved by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, which allows much better demonstration of the microvascular system. The aim of this study was to assess the sonographic morphology and vascularity of neuroendocrine liver metastases. Methods. Forty-eight patients with histologically proven neuroendocrine tumours (NET) and suspected liver metastases – as well as 50 consecutive patients with liver metastases of other origins – were included in a prospective study to evaluate tumour characteristics using B-mode, colour Doppler (CDI) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Results. In 4/48 patients with NET, liver biopsy revealed hemangiomas. The typical B-mode appearance was that of both echo-rich and echo-poor combined, also inhomogeneous depending on the size, and often centrally cystic. With CDI, neuroendocrine metastases appeared hypervascular (66%) or isovascular (34%). Metastases of another origin were hypovascular in 82%. With CEUS, neuroendocrine metastases showed increased arterial enhancement in 38 patients and hypoechoic appearance in the portalvenous phase in 39 patients. In liver metastases of another origin, the sensitivity for malignancy due to a hypoechoic appearance during the portalvenous phase was 100%. In liver metastases of NET origin the sensitivity for malignancy was 39/48 (82%). Conclusions. Neuroendocrine tumour metastases might show characteristics which are similar to hemangiomas. In patients with liver cirrhosis and severe fatty liver disease the identification of NET with CEUS as a malignant lesion is more difficult. The sensitivity of CEUS in identifying malignancy based on the lack of portalvenous enhancement is higher for metastases of other origin.