Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Academic and Community Partnerships and Social Change

Abstract Proponents of community engagement to promote social change advocate bringing together researchers, practitioners, politicians, business leaders, advocates and other relevant stakeholders to identify and solve community problems and issues. This chapter will describe the need for academic and community partnerships, how academic institutions can develop priorities, governance and financial structures that facilitate stronger, more effective community relationships and make contributions to the resolution of social ills. The current literature on community engagement, community-based participatory research, community action research, community-engaged scholarship and service-learning are reviewed. The principles and tenets of engaged scholarship are reviewed, barriers to implementation are discussed and examples provided. Academic institutions can play an important role in social change if they are willing to embrace community engagement. A key to success is building trust, sharing power, fostering co-learning, enhancing strengths and resources, building capacity, and addressing community-identified needs. Academic participation requires institutional and faculty commitment to engagement principles, flexible and inclusive governance structures and strategies to educate community members. The development of the relationships and structures required for successful community engagement can be inhibited by imbalances in power and knowledge that often exist among practitioners, researchers, and community members. This review may assist academic institutions to examine implementation of tenure and promotion policies, oversight strategies and structures that assure community development and benefit, as well as opportunities for faculty, staff and student training on principles and best practices of community-engaged research.
Previously Uncharacterized Mycoplasma Isolates from an Investigation of Canine Pneumonia

Mycoplasmas recovered from the respiratory tract and genitourinary system of dogs, with and without respiratory infection, have been characterized by biological and immunological methods. Some of the isolates were indentified as being similar to the three species of canine mycoplasmas described earlier under the designation Mycoplasma spumans, M. canis, and M. maculosum. Other mycoplasmas placed in three groups (A, C, and D) were found to be clearly distinct from the three classified species. Group A strains fermented glucose but not mannose and were serologically distinct from other canine mycoplasmas recovered in this study. These strains were subsequently found to be biologically and serologically related to a previously reported, but unclassified, canine mycoplasma. Group D strains differed in some biological properties but were serologically related. These were found to be nonfermenting mycoplasmas representing isolations from the throat and bladder of dogs. They were serologically distinct from other canine mycoplasmas and were apparently unrelated to other known mycoplasma serotypes. Group C mycoplasmas were recovered only from the lungs of dogs. Within the group, they differ in some immunological properties but appear to be serologically distinct from other canine strains. They can also be separated from other dog strains in their ability to ferment glucose and mannose. Group B strains were found to have biological properties similar to M. canis strains but seemed to be only partially related to this serotype when examined in several serological techniques. It is suggested that these strains might represent antigenic variants of M. canis.
Impact on HIV test providers of giving a positive test result

Abstract The provision of a positive HIV antibody test result and the direction and support given to the test recipient are critical components of care and prevention. There has been little research that describes what happens in such interactions between recipient and provider. The impact on the test provider of delivering the HIV test result is an important issue to consider. The discomfort experienced by some health providers in giving a positive test result may have adverse effects on the client interaction or may carry over into subsequent client interactions. Utilizing a thematic analysis on interview data from 24 HIV test providers, we describe the impact of delivering a positive test result on HIV test providers, identify the factors that influence this impact, and describe strategies used to manage the impact. As with other health care professionals communicating “bad news,”HIV test providers experience a variety of impacts. While a small number of providers indicated little or no impact of delivering the HIV positive test result because the diagnosis is ‘‘not the end of the world,’’ most indicated it was difficult as it was anticipated that the test recipient would (or did) find the news distressing. Several coping strategies were identified.
Osteotransductive bone cements

Abstract Calcium phosphate bone cements (CPBCs) are osteotransductive, i.e. after implantation in bone they are transformed into new bone tissue. Furthermore, due to the fact that they are mouldable, their osteointegration is immediate. Their chemistry has been established previously. Some CPBCs contain amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and set by a sol-gel transition. The others are crystalline and can give as the reaction product dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD), calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA), carbonated apatite (CA) or hydroxyapatite (HA). Mixed-type gypsum-DCPD cements are also described. In vivo rates of osteotransduction vary as follows: gypsum-DCPD > DCPD > CDHA ≍ CA > HA. The osteotransduction of CDHA-type cements may be increased by adding dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCP) and/or CaCO3 to the cement powder. CPBCs can be used for healing of bone defects, bone augmentation and bone reconstruction. Incorporation of drugs like antibiotics and bone morphogenetic protein is envisaged. Load-bearing applications are allowed for CDHA-type, CA-type and HA-type CPBCs as they have a higher compressive strength than human trabecular bone (10 MPa).
Toward Equity in Higher Education: Women’s Collegiate Decision-Making Processes

This purpose of this study was to better understand women’s collegiate decisions (e.g., opting to pursue a college education, the type of school attended, major choice, and ultimate career goals). Comparative qualitative methodology was utilized and the data were interpreted using Giddens’ (1984) structuration theory. Participants were women at an urban community college and a rural, public liberal arts college. Findings reveal that, while women’s collegiate decision-making processes continue to evolve toward more equitable higher education outcomes, there is still socialized inequity to be addressed. Implications for student affairs practice are discussed.
Poor physical performance and dementia in the oldest old: the 90+ study.

OBJECTIVE To examine the cross-sectional relationship between physical performance and dementia in the oldest old (those ≥ 90 years of age). DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING The 90+ Study is a population-based, longitudinal, epidemiologic study of aging and dementia performed at the University of California, Irvine, from January 1, 2003, through November 30, 2009. PARTICIPANTS A total of 629 participants from The 90+ Study were included in the study. The mean age was 94 years, and most (72.5%) were women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES All-cause dementia, based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) criteria, was the main outcome measure. The independent variables were physical performance measures, including 4-m walk, 5 chair stands, standing balance, and grip strength, each scored from 0 to 4 (0, unable to perform; 4, best performance). Odds of dementia in relation to the physical performance measures were estimated by logistic regression after adjustment for age and sex. RESULTS Poor physical performance in all measures was significantly associated with increased odds of dementia (P< .001). Odds ratios for every unit decrease in physical performance score were 2.1 for 4-m walk, 2.1 for chair stands, 1.9 for standing balance, and 1.7 for grip strength. CONCLUSIONS We found a strong cross-sectional relationship between poor physical performance and dementia in people 90 years and older. Our findings suggest that dementia is a complex neurodegenerative process that may affect physical performance and cognition. Additional research is necessary to determine the temporal relationship between poor physical performance and cognitive dysfunction.
Behavioural factors in the financial decisions of young Mozambicans

This paper seeks to analyse how behavioural factors influence the financial decisions of young Mozambican investors. The standard theory of finance assumes investors make rational financial decisions, seeking to minimise risk and maximise their expected utility. However, several studies have been conducted criticizing the assumption that investors are rational, opening the way to behavioural finance theory. According to the behavioural finance approach, financial decisions made by individuals are not based on rational thinking and their risk taking behaviour depends on their beliefs or feelings. Our analysis reveals that young Mozambicans are risk averse towards certain gains and risk lovers when faced with certain losses; they are excessively optimistic about the future; they use the information available as an anchor for their estimates; and they are so overconfident that they believe estimates in uncertain situations to be more accurate than they really are.
Informal Caregivers’ Use of the Internet for Caregiving Information

Using data extracted from the Caregiving in the U.S. 2009 survey, this study describes caregivers’ use of the Internet for caregiving information and identifies factors related to their use. This study includes 800 informal caregivers for community-residing older adults age 65 and over. In the study, more than one-half of caregivers searched online caregiving information. The results from an ordered logistic regression analysis showed that caregivers’ use of the Internet was significantly related to caregivers’ age, education, income, primary caregiver status, caregiving strain, self-reported health, and information/service needs. Implications of these findings are discussed.
P4B-2 Beamforming Techniques for Motion Estimation in Ultrasound Elastography

In this paper, we will discuss about the interest and performance of synthetic aperture with transverse oscillations beamforming technique from the displacement estimation point of view. After the experimental validation of the combination of transmit and receive beamforming for transverse oscillations methods using synthetic aperture imaging performances in terms of displacement field accuracy are evaluated experimentally. Motion is estimated using a specific motion estimation method based on phase plane fittingThe quality of the estimation is evaluated by block wise correlation between the pre-deformation image and the registered post-deformation image. Results show that transmit and receive beamforming allow to increase by nearly a factor of 2 the transverse oscillations frequency increasing as well the transverse resolution by a factor of radic2 compared to receive beamforming only. This leads naturally to an increase in estimated displacement field accuracy.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE EU COUNTRIES

The issues of economic growth and development are constantly re-evaluated, especially after occurrence and severe consequences of the economic and financial crisis of 2008-2009. The world trends are changing and market is more competitive as ever. These changes are visible in several ways: increased competition from emerging economies, economic structure of countries is changing concerning the importance of manufacturing and services sectors, strategies of positioning in global value chains, geopolitical centers of power, as well as policy initiatives to foster competitiveness and economic growth and development. This paper empirically tested the Granger causality between R&D expenditure and gross domestic product growth in the period 2003-2013. We defined two variables: (1) gross domestic expenditure on research and development as percentage of gross domestic product and (2) gross domestic product (GDP) per capita annual growth rates on the sample of European Union countries. Unidirectional causality from GDP per capita annual growth rate to gross domestic expenditure on research and development with lag two has been confirmed at 5% significance level. Following Granger causality test results in our model we took GDP per capita annual growth rate as an independent variable and R&D expenditures as the dependent one. Afterword we used dynamic panel data and panel generalized method of moments as an estimator. Gross domestic expenditure on research and development on average depends on gross domestic expenditure on research and development previous year with coefficient 0.77 and on annual GDP per capita growth rate with coefficient -0.0073. Even though the sample countries are heterogeneous in terms of GDP per capita level statistically significant effects has been confirmed. The empirical results confirm that most developed European Union countries invest less, measured in relationship to the GDP per capita growth rate, but invest more in absolute terms. It is obvious that the European Union as an integration of rather heterogeneous countries faces many challenges with maintaining and strengthening its position on the world market. Also, the paper gives some overviews of fostering these activities in Croatia.
Age-dependent reference intervals for estimated and measured glomerular filtration rate

Abstract Background Defining mean and reference intervals for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) has been the subject of only a limited number of studies and review articles, with contradicting statements about the mean. Normal measured GFR (mGFR) values of ∼120–130 mL/min/1.73 m2 have long been the referenced values for young adults but seem to be too high according to recent studies. Reference intervals are difficult to define because of the age decline of GFR, which is also observed in healthy subjects. Little data are available for subjects >70 years of age. Methods Based on the reference intervals for serum creatinine (SCr) and the recently published full-age spectrum (FAS) equation, we define simple age-dependent equations for the reference limits of GFR. The mGFR of 633 living potential kidney donors was used to validate the new formulae that define the reference interval. Results The reference limits for estimated GFR (eGFR), calculated by entering the reference limits for SCr into the FAS equation closely correspond with published reference limits for mGFR. Of the mGFRs of potential living kidney donors, 97.2% lie between the newly defined reference limits for GFR. Conclusion SCr reference limits may serve to define age-dependent reference limits for eGFR and mGFR.
Up‐regulation of basolateral multidrug resistance protein 3 (Mrp3) in cholestatic rat liver

Cholestasis induces down‐regulation of multidrug resistance protein 2 (Mrp2, symbol Abcc2), which is localized to the canalicular membrane. Given the overlapping substrate specificities of Mrp2 and multidrug resistance protein 3 (Mrp3, symbol Abcc3), we examined the hypothesis of a different subcellular and lobular localization of these members of the Mrp family in rat liver after bile duct ligation. We raised a polyclonal antibody against rat Mrp3 and detected this protein in the basolateral plasma membrane of hepatocytes surrounding the central veins and of cholangiocytes. The Mrp3 protein level was less than 2% of the expression observed after 72 hours of obstructive cholestasis. After 48 hours of bile duct ligation, the Mrp3 protein was increased and was further enhanced after 72 hours. In 72‐hour‐cholestatic rat liver Mrp3 was expressed, in addition, in periportal hepatocytes. However, there was a preponderance of Mrp3 in the pericentral area of the liver lobule. In Mrp2‐deficient mutant rat liver, the Mrp3 protein expression was most enhanced and its zonation was lost. The Mrp3 immunostaining of cholangiocytes was preserved in cholestatic and in Mrp2‐deficient mutant liver. Canalicular Mrp2 decreased and amounted to 34% of normal after bile duct ligation for 72 hours. We conclude that the hepatocellular up‐regulation of Mrp3 in cholestasis together with cholangiocellular Mrp3 may compensate for the biliary obstruction and impaired canalicular Mrp2 function by clearing cholephilic anionic substances into the blood.
Using Twitter to tackle peripherality? Facilitating networked scholarship for part-time doctoral students within and beyond the university

Feeling part of a community has previously been found to be a motivating factor for part-time doctoral students as well as speeding up doctoral progress. Separately, it has also been suggested that social media usage (specifically Twitter) can encourage the development of interactive academic networks to establish social relations with relevant people beyond the doctoral supervisory team. Drawing on Lave and Wenger’s theory of legitimate peripheral participation, and building particularly on the work of Teeuwsen et al. (2014), this paper suggests that the use of social media in doctoral education can be one way for part-time doctoral students to migrate from a position of academic peripherality to one of legitimate peripheral participation in a wider research community. This paper investigates the use of social media for academic purposes by three different groups of part-time doctoral students. It explores the ways in which Twitter might be used to help part-time doctoral students feel part of the research community both within a University and the wider research community beyond. It also identifies some of the barriers and limitations to achieving this. Finally, the paper raises questions about the roles and responsibilities of supervisors and other faculty members in relation to using social media to support the learning of part-time doctoral students.
Application of wavelet de-noising to signal demodulation

We present the application of wavelet-based de-noising techniques to the demodulation of digital communication signals. These techniques are related to those originally devised by Donoho and Johnstone (see Biometrika, v.81, p.455, 1994, and IEEE Trans. Info. Theory, vol.41, p.613, 1995) for minimum L/sub 2/-risk signal reconstruction. The important minimax property of wavelet de-noising filters yields significant noise reduction while retaining the essential signal features. However, the two problems are quite different, i.e., the objective is not signal reconstruction but rather minimizing bit error rate. This generally results in different design rules for optimizing performance. We show that wavelet de-noising can be effectively used for data demodulation and we propose simple design rules for its implementation.
Does the Level of Cervical Disc Herniation Surgery Affect Performance-based Outcomes in National Football League Athletes?

Study Design. Retrospective cohort study. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine whether the level of a cervical disc herniation (CDH) procedure will uniquely impact performance-based outcomes in elite athletes of the National Football League (NFL). Summary of Background Data. Comparative assessments of postsurgical outcomes in NFL athletes with CDH at different levels are unknown. Further, the surgical decision-making for these types of injuries in professional football athletes remains controversial. Methods. NFL players with a CDH injury at a definitive cervical level were identified through a review of publicly available archives. Injuries were divided into upper- (C2-C4) and lower-level (C4-T1) CDH. The impact on player outcomes was determined by comparing return to play statistics and calculating a “Performance Score” for each player on the basis of pertinent statistical data, both before and after surgery. Results. A total of 40 NFL athletes met inclusion criteria. In the upper-level group, 10 of 15 (66.6%) players successfully returned to play an average of 44.6 games over 2.6 years. The lower-level cohort had 18 of 25 (72%) players return to play with an average of 44.1 games over 3.1 years. There was no significant difference in the rate of return to play (P = 0.71). Postsurgical performance scores of the upper and lower-level groups were 1.47 vs. 0.69 respectively, with no significant difference between these groups (P = 0.06). Adjacent segment disease requiring reoperation occurred in 10% of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion patients. In 50% of foraminotomy patients, a subsequent fusion was required. Conclusion. A uniquely high percentage of upper-level disc herniations develop in NFL athletes, and although CDH injuries present career threatening implications, an upper-level CDH does not preclude a player from successfully returning to play at a competitive level. In fact, these athletes showed comparable postsurgical performance to those athletes who underwent CDH procedures at lower cervical levels. Level of Evidence: 4
Cellular immune responses to the murine nematode parasite Trichuris muris. I. Differential cytokine production during acute or chronic infection.

A variety of T-cell parameters have been analysed in two H-2 compatible strains of mice, B10.BR and BALB/K, which differ in an absolute fashion in their ability to resist infection with the parasitic nematode Trichuris muris: BALB/K mice expel T. muris relatively rapidly, whereas B10.BR mice are unable to expel the parasite before the infection reaches patency. Analysis of Th1- and Th2-specific cytokines (IFN-gamma and IL-5, respectively) produced by in vitro Con A-stimulated mesenteric lymph node cells (MLNC) from infected and normal mice demonstrated that MLNC from resistant BALB/K mice produced high levels of IL-5 and low levels of IFN-gamma whilst B10.BR MLNC secreted large amounts of IFN-gamma in the relative absence of IL-5. As an in vivo correlate of in vitro IL-5 production, peripheral and tissue eosinophilia were quantified during the course of infection in the two strains of mice. No peripheral eosinophilia was observed in BALB/K or B10.BR individuals. However, a considerable intestinal eosinophilia was seen in the high IL-5-producing BALB/K mice compared to normal levels. Differences observed in cytokine profiles were not due to differential changes in the numbers of T cells within the MLN. Indeed, FACS analysis revealed a decrease in the relative percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in both strains of mice post-infection. Our results suggest that resistance to T. muris involves the preferential induction of Th cells which secrete IL-5, whilst cells of a different Th subset (IFN-gamma producing) predominate in chronically infected mice. As such, this represents the first description of a correlation between the reciprocal activation of Th cell subsets in relation to acute or chronic intestinal infection with the same parasite in the same host species.