Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Different mechanisms to contain the cost of pharmaceuticals in Malaysia

The rise of pharmaceuticals cost in Malaysia had put pressure on the Ministry of Health in managing scarce resources in the healthcare sector. Currently, drugs that are listed in the National Drug List are supplied free of charge through government hospitals and clinics. The main objectives of this paper were to review mechanisms that could be used to contain government expenditure on pharmaceuticals and to make recommendations as to which of these mechanisms should be adopted in Malaysia. In addition, an overview of the healthcare sector in Malaysia was presented, and current trends in pharmaceutical spending in Malaysia were compared with those of developing countries, namely Thailand and South Korea. Four mechanisms for containing the cost of pharmaceuticals were reviewed - the use of a national formulary, reference pricing, imposing restrictions on physicians, and cost sharing. After discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each of these mechanisms, the following were put forward as recommendations to contain the costs of pharmaceuticals in Malaysia: (i) to increase the role of cost sharing in the funding of pharmaceuticals in the public sector with exemption fees or other mechanisms used to safeguard low income groups from the increase in prices (ii) to introduce a requirement for the economic evaluation of new drugs seeking listing on the national formulary and only list those drugs that are shown to be cost-effective and (iii) to break the wholesaler monopoly of the drug supply and introduce a tender process whereby pharmaceutical companies compete to supply drugs to the public healthcare system.
Relationship between Children’s Toes and Kindergartens’ Barefoot Policy

This study clarified the relationship between children’s toes and kindergartens’ barefoot policy by comparing the condition of untouched toes, that is, toes not touching the ground while standing normally, between children who attended kindergartens following a barefoot policy and those who did not. Participants were 552 children (299 boys and 253 girls) attending kindergartens that followed a barefoot policy and 538 children (286 boys and 252 girls) attending kindergartens that did not follow this policy. The presence of floating toes was determined from pictures of participants’ soles on a contact surface area. For boys, the percentage of untouched toes was significantly lower for those who attended kindergartens following a barefoot policy (50.5%) than for those who attended kindergartens not following this policy (66.4%). Moreover, the number of untouched toes was significantly lower in children who attended kindergartens following a barefoot policy than for those who did not. On the other hand, results for boys differed from those for girls. Possibly, the occurrence of young children’s untouched toes decreases when they attend kindergartens following a barefoot policy, especially for those who are very active.
From cathode rays to alpha particles to quantum of action: A rational reconstruction of structure of the atom and its implications for chemistry textbooks

Research in science education has recognized the importance of the history and philosophy of science. Given this perspective, it is important to analyze chemistry textbooks, at the freshman college level, to determine the degree to which they deal with recent developments in the history and philosophy of science. This study has the following objectives: (a) elaboration of a framework, based on a rational reconstruction of developments that led to the formulation of atomic models by Thomson, Rutherford, and Bohr; (b) formulation of eight criteria based on the framework that could be useful in the evaluation of chemistry textbooks; and (c) evaluation of the textbooks based on the criteria. Twenty-three textbooks were evaluated on the eight criteria. Results obtained show that most textbooks emphasize experimental details based on observations, leading to the presentation of scientific progress as a rhetoric of conclusions, based on irrevocable truths. Such an understanding lacks the conceptualization of the heuristic principles that led the scientists to design and interpret their experiments. For example, in the case of J. J. Thomson's work, besides the experimental details of cathode ray experiments (emphasized by most textbooks), the “heuristic principle” involved the testing of rival hypotheses, namely a determination of the mass-to-charge ratio would have helped to identify cathode ray particles as an ion or a universal charged particle. Most textbooks presented the experimental details, without the conceptualization that progress in science is based on competing frameworks of understanding that clash in the face of evidence. It is concluded that textbooks should emphasize not only the experimental details but also the “heuristic principles” required to “structure inquiry. ” © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sci Ed82:527–552, 1998.
Adherence to International Guidelines in the Management of Hypertension in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Purpose: The role of physicians in the overall management of hypertension and their adherence to the JNC VII, WHO/ISH and ESH guidelines were examined in this study. Method: Case notes of hypertensive patients diagnosed between 1 January 2004 and 30 September 2005, in the Cardiology Clinic of University of Benin Teaching Hospital were retrieved for evaluation. They were assessed for adherence to the JNC VII, WHO/ISH and ESH guidelines, in the management of hypertension. Result: Five hundred and one case notes were used in the study. Prevalence of hypertension was highest in the Grade 2 category (36%). More women (60%) than men (40%) were affected, with a diagnostic mean systolic blood pressure (SBP); male (164.0mmHg ± 21.9), female (163.7 mmHg ± 18.8) and mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP); male (100.1 mmHg ± 13.2), female (97.3 mmHg ± 13.1). After commencing treatment, mean SBP and DBP for male and female were (131.8 mmHg ± 11.6; 84.3 mmHg ± 7.5), and (132.3 mmHg ± 11.5 83.2 mmHg ± 7.6), respectively. The commonest co-morbidity was diabetes mellitus (18%). Co-morbidity was commonest in Grade 2 (34%) and Grade 3 hypertension (34%). Almost half of the subjects (49%) were on a two-drug combination while 14% were on monotherapy. Calcium channel blockers were the most commonly prescribed anti-hypertensive drug (31%) followed by diuretics (30%). In combination drug regimen, diuretics were the commonest (74%). There was no evidence of body weight management in hypertension. Conclusion: Physicians in this hospital fairly complied with the stated guidelines, but do not appear to have recommended lifestyle modifications to their hypertensive patients. Keywords : Adherence, Guidelines, Hypertension, Management. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 7 (2) 2008: pp. 945-952
Proximate and mineral composition of whole body, flesh and exoskeleton of male and female common West African fresh water crab Sudananautes africanus africanus.

The proximate and mineral composition of the whole body (edible parts), flesh and exoskeleton of the male and female common West African fresh water crab Sudananallles africanus africanus were determined on a dry weight basis. In the exoskeleton and flesh, the protein, fat, the percentage utilizable energy due to protein and metabolizable energy were all of higher concentration in male than in female. Among the three samples the trace elements of Co, Fe, Ni, Mn and Zn were reasonably concentrated but Cu was not detected. In all the samples the Ca/P ratio was poor with values that ranged from 0.08 to 0.20 whereas that of Na/K was high with values of 0.86 to 1.35. F calculated > F table at p<0.05 in proximate composition of male and female in exoskeleton, flesh, whole body: in mineral composition in male and female in exoskeleton, flesh, whole body: and in the mineral ratio in the flesh of male and female samples.
RoViM : Rotating Virtual Machines for Security and Fault-Tolerance

Nowadays, the field of embedded system experiences a number of changes. On one hand, recent cyber attacks against safety-critical systems demonstrate that malware can force safetycritical systems to endanger human lives and harm the environment. Therefore, a new requirement of security have arisen for safety-critical and embedded systems. However, security should be designed hand in hand with safety to resolve conflicts between the two fields. On the other hand, the emerging trend of virtualization has significant impact on the embedded market. The isolation and protection mechanisms of virtualization contributes to both safety and security via redundancy and the prevention of one virtual machine affecting another. In this paper we present RoViM, a system of rotating virtual machines providing proactive security for embedded devices. RoViM uses multiple virtual machines in the system which increases redundancy as a safety measure. Our design satisfies reachability, liveness and safety requirements and we present a proof-of-concept implementation with use case of an Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) gateway. We evaluate our design with formal verification and show that rotating virtual machines cause no significant change in the performance of the IPsec gateway. Keywords—embedded systems, proactive security, virtual machines, self-cleansing intrusion tolerance (SCIT)
Product assembling quality risk analysis approach based on RQR chain

The assembling process is the final production step, its quality is the decisive factor of the reliability of the finished product. Along with the release of ISO 9001: 2015, the risk of thinking is firstly cited, and the risk oriented quality analysis should be extended to the assembling process. Therefore, in order to improve the reliability of the final product, the risk thinking is needed to be introduced into the management and analysis of the assembling quality. Therefore, based on the proposed RQR chain, a reliability oriented quality risk analysis method is presented for the product assembling process. Firstly, the RQR assembling chain is introduced in this paper, and its three basic management objects of system reliability (R), assembling process quality (Q) and product reliability (R) are expounded. Secondly, based on the co-effect in the RQR chain, a quality framework of risk control is put forward. Thirdly, the impact of noncritical quality characteristic variations on key quality characteristics (KQC) is analyzed, and then the decline degree of the assembling product reliability caused by the KQCs variation is quantified. Then, according to the impact of the proportion, the risk factor K is determined, and then the quantitative relationship between assembling variation and product quality accident risk is established. Finally, a quality risk analysis case of a lifting equipment assembling process is given to verify the availability of the approach.
The level of patients' satisfaction and perception on quality of nursing services in the Renal unit, Kenyatta National Hospital Nairobi, Kenya

Introduction: Renal failure is on the increase and patients have to identify with renal services and centres where services for renal replacement therapies are rendered. This calls for health care workers to offer services that are perceived as quality and satisfying in order to meet the biophysical and psychological needs of the patients. Study design: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study undertaken at the Renal unit of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Purpose: The study aimed at determining the level of satisfaction and perception of the quality of nursing services in the Renal unit. Methodology: The study population included all patients who were seeking dialysis services during one month period of data collection. The sample size was 151 following data collection. Data collection tools consisted of semi-structured questionnaires which were administered with the aid of research assistants as well as checklists which were self administered. Data analysis and results: Analysis of data was performed using the statistical package of social sciences (SPSS) version 16. Results of data analysis were presented in form of descriptive statistics which included mean, standard deviation and percentages. Regression analysis, t-test and ANOVA were conducted to determine demographic predictors of patient satisfaction with the nursing services. The results of the study revealed that patients in the Renal unit were generally satisfied with the nursing services. The aggregate mean score for all patients on Likert scale was 71.2 out of 105, with a standard deviation of 16.8. Level of satisfaction was 67.8%. The findings also showed that there was no association between demographic characteristics with the levels of satisfaction with the nursing services. Recommendation: The hospital should keep the patients’ level of satisfaction high and maintain it through the provision of more dialysis machines and hiring more nurses.
A new scheme for heterodyne polarimetry with high temporal resolution

A new scheme for making combined interferometric and polarimetric measurements on tokamak plasmas with high temporal resolution is presented. The method, which can be regarded as a generalization of techniques suggested by other workers, can achieve bandwidths in excess of 100 kHz using an optically pumped far-infrared triple laser source. A bandwidth of 10 kHz with an accuracy of better than has already been demonstrated. Calibration measurements as well as first plasma measurements obtained with the new approach are presented and evaluated.
Yabancı Dil Öğreniminde Kaygı: Bir Literatür Özeti

Yapilan arastirmalarin sonuclari, kayginin yabanci dil ogrenimi uzerinde onemli etkilere sahip oldugunu gostermektedir. Bu calisma, yabanci dil ogreniminde kaygi konusunda yapilmis calismalarin bir sentezini sunmayi amaclamaktadir. Bu amaca dayanarak, yapilmis olan calismalar; kaygi turlerinin belirlenmesi, kayginin nedenleri, kayginin yabanci dil ogrenimi uzerindeki etkileri, kaygi ile basetme yollari ve Turkiye’de yapilan calismalar basliklari altinda gruplandirilarak kronolojik bir sira ile ozetlenmistir. Calismanin; ogretmenler, ogrenciler, ogretmen yetistiriciler gibi hedef gruplarin kaygi konusunda farkindalik duzeylerini artirmalarina ve arastirma etkinliklerine katki saglayacagi dusunulmektedir.
Using Farmer's Information Seeking Behaviour to Inform the Design of Extension

Dairy farmers in the Central Goulburn Irrigation District used information seeking behaviour to collect a range of information from a number of sources when they were considering adopting centre pivot irrigation (CPI). The information that was sought depended on where the farmers were in the decision making process. General information on CPI function, price, performance and site requirements was collected from a range of sources early in the decision-making process. As the farmers sought to determine how CPI would perform in their unique farm environment their search for information became increasingly specific. The final stage of the information search was very specific and related to price, features, technical specifications, finance and permit conditions. The findings of this small, preliminary study suggest there was a common pattern to the farmers' information seeking behaviour in regard to the type of information sought and the sources of information used. This knowledge can be used to design extension that will enable the farmers to obtain the information they need from fewer sources. This will save the farmers time and effort, and potentially hasten the adoption process. An example of a web-based extension program that has been designed using these concepts is provided.
Fiscal Policy and the Democratic Process in the European Union

The construction of a monetary union with a single currency in Europe raises serious concerns for those who understand the democratic process as one in which social groups compete on different ideological programs. This is because it increasingly constrains national governments of different partisan hues to follow similar fiscal and monetary policies. Recent empirical studies indicate that these concerns might be somewhat misplaced since there is evidence that partisan convergence on macroeconomic policy predates these institutional developments. One problem with these studies, though, is that they fail to include the electoral system as a constraint on partisan behavior. Since electoral systems generate centripetal and centrifugal tendencies, we should expect to find strong evidence for partisan differences only where electoral rules encourage dispersion. We test this argument using data on fiscal policy from European Union countries between 1981 and 1992. We find that there is still no systematic evidence for partisan differences. Given this, it is hard to see how EMU can add to the democratic deficit in the European Union.
Cocirculation of two dengue virus serotypes in individual and pooled samples of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus larvae.

INTRODUCTION To detect dengue virus, eggs of Aedes sp were collected in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 2007. METHODS Egg samples were subsequently hatched and the larvae were tested for the presence of dengue virus RNA by RT-PCR. RESULTS Among the Aedes aegypti larvae samples, 163 (37.4%) out of 435 were positive, including 32 (10.9%) of 293 individual larvae samples concomitantly positive for two serotypes. CONCLUSIONS Virological surveillance detecting coinfected vectors in the field could represent an important strategy for understanding the numerous factors involved in the transmission and clinical presentation of dengue.
Surficial offsets on the Central and Eastern Garlock Fault associated with prehistoric earthquakes

Geomorphic features offset along the central and eastern Garlock fault record the amount of surface slip associated with prehistoric earthquakes. Along the easternmost 90 km of the fault, the smallest offsets cluster around 2–3 m of left-lateral slip, apparently associated with the most recent earthquake on this portion of the fault. Larger offsets along this part of the fault, especially in Pilot Knob Valley, cluster around values consistent with 2–4 m of slip in each of the past several events. Farther west, south of El Paso Mountains, offset geomorphic features suggest that each of the past two earthquakes on this stretch of the Garlock fault was produced by about 7 m of slip, whereas the third event back was produced by about 4 m of slip. Vertical displacements of geomorphic features range from 0% to 30% of the left-lateral offsets. Within Pilot Knob Valley (along the southern side of the Slate Range), vertical displacements are consistently up on the northern side, whereas within the Avawatz Mountains both north- and south-side-up vertical displacements are present. On the basis of the geomorphic offsets, the geometry of the Garlock fault, and the precedents set by historical strike-slip earthquakes elsewhere, a number of different rupture patterns are plausible. These range from rupture of the entire Garlock fault in a single event with a maximum magnitude of about Mw=7.8, to separate rupture of the western segment and of the central and eastern segments combined, with approximate magnitudes Mw≤1.1 and Mw=7.5, respectively, to separate rupture of even shorter segments, producing earthquakes of magnitudes Mw=6.6 to Mw=7.5. In conjunction with available slip rates for the Garlock fault, the geomorphic offsets suggest that average recurrence intervals are probably within the range of 600–1200 years south of El Paso Mountains, about 200–750 years in Searles Valley, about 200–1300 years in Pilot Knob Valley, and about 200–3000 years near Leach Lake and in the Avawatz Mountains.
College Student Drug Prevention: A Review of Individually-Oriented Prevention Strategies

The current paper highlights the college years as a risk period for development, continuation, and escalation of illicit substance use and substance use disorders and reviews the literature related to the prevention and treatment of these disorders in college populations. Despite widespread implementation of college drug prevention programs, a review of the literature reveals few controlled trials targeting this population. However, alcohol prevention has been extensively studied, and many efficacious interventions for college drinking share theoretical and methodological underpinnings with interventions shown to be efficacious in drug prevention and treatment with other populations (i.e., school-based prevention, adolescent and adult drug treatment). These interventions could be adapted to target drug prevention on college campuses. Barriers to implementation and evaluation of these interventions on campus are discussed, and suggestions are made for future research and programmatic directions.
Ice nucleation by fertile soil dusts: relative importance of mineral and biogenic components

Abstract. Agricultural dust emissions have been estimated to contribute around 20% to the global dust burden. In contrast to dusts from arid source regions, the ice-nucleating abilities of which have been relatively well studied, soil dusts from fertile sources often contain a substantial fraction of organic matter. Using an experimental methodology which is sensitive to a wide range of ice nucleation efficiencies, we have characterised the immersion mode ice-nucleating activities of dusts (d
Evaluation of CT Image Guided Radiofrequency Ablation in the Management of Painful Bone Metastases Originating from NSCLC

Background: Pain palliation in patients with bone metastases is of great importance. The ideal treatment method has to be fast, safe, effective and tolerable for the patient. Objective: Evaluation of efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT) guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a treatment method of painful bone metastases originating from NSCLC. Materials and methods: A total of thirty two patients with painful bone metastases originating from NSCLC were included in our study (median age 67; range 35-88 years). Lesion diameter was between 2 and 6 cm (mean ± SD: 2.8±2cm). Pain was assessed in all patients with the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). All patients were treated with RFA under CT guidance, under conscious sedation. RFAs were performed either with RITA Model 1500® electrosurgical generator with a seven-array multitined electrode or AMICA electrosurgical generator, depending on the lesion’s size. Mean ablation time was 9.5 minutes. Technically successful ablation was considered when lesion was completely covered according to protocol. After each session a CT scan was performed in order to exclude complications. Patients were hospitalised up to 24 hours for clinical monitoring. Post-ablation assessment with BPI score and report of the use of analgesics was performed with telephone interview one, four and eight weeks after the ablation. Results: We observed significant decrease in the mean past day BPI score for worst pain, for average pain and for pain interference during daily life in comparison to pre procedural symptoms (P<0.001, paired t-test), one, four and eight weeks after treatment. There was also a marked decrease in the use of analgesics. None complication occurred. Conclusions: RFA appears to be a promising treatment method for painful bone metastases originating from NSCLC as it is a safe, fast, minimal invasive method with high efficacy and security.