Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social Behavior Changes Communication Intervention for Stunting Prevention: A Systematic Review

Purpose: T Social and behaviour change approach most used, and the only one used without other communication interventions was interpersonal communication and media and community/social mobilization. The current review sought to to review and synthesize the current literature regarding social and behavior communication change intervention at community-based programs, summarize treatment models and outcome measures, and evaluate the evidence. Methods: We searched Medline, PsychINFO, and PubMed (January 2000 and December 2020) and conducted ancestral and online searches in peer-reviewed, English language journals for eligible studies. Results: A total of 5 articles were included in review. All studies reported that SBCC was feasible to increased expenditures on eggs and flesh foods, minimum dietary diversity, early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBP, exclusive breastfeeding (EBP), knowledge and practices towards infant and youth complementary feeding (IYCF) , and reduced stunting prevalence. Conclusion: Future studies could be re-tested using more sample size in different place or region of others countries with relatively high prevalence of stunting.
From E-Business to Social Tool for the Poor - A Study on Internet Applications, Drivers and Impact

Internet, as a massive disruptive technology and as a General Purpose Technology, has offered tremendous opportunities to redefine human society. In order to identify critical impact of Internet on society, this thesis categorizes diverse Internet applications into four major groups, namely (1) business use (2) government use, (3) use as a social tool for the underprivileged and (4) individual use. It also identifies (1) digital convergence and (2) search engines as two salient drivers of Internet applications. Following a modular structure, the thesis studies two of the four applications - business use and use as a social tool, along with the two drivers.On the business use of Internet, using a sample of fifteen firms from five different sectors and three different sizes, the adaptation to e-business practices from stakeholders’ perspectives in the old-economy sector has been studied. With new-economy players, the focus is on impact of local factors in the evolution of B2B business models through a study of four leading organizations in India.In the form of two descriptive cases, the thesis answers the research question ‘what is happening’ for the drivers of the Internet applications. On digital convergence, the focus is on Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications impacting telecom and Internet players by studying the event of acquisition of VoIP leader Skype by eBay in 2005. Search engines are examined with the focus on the business model and product offerings of Google.On applications of Internet as a social tool for the underprivileged, the thesis first examines universal access of infrastructures (including ICTs) and finds trends of bridging of digital divide. Although digital access has been improving quality of lives, it fails to explain increasing income divide observed simultaneously. Next, the thesis focuses on importance of online content as a mass-media for the underprivileged, and highlighted the relative lack of online content in local languages of South-Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa with respect to number of native speakers. From the findings, the thesis reconfirms that Internet, as a ‘work-in-progress’ with its evolving applications and their drivers, can potentially transform the global society in a way unanticipated by most.
Gen Z and TV: An Analysis of Traditional Advertising Medium and Perception

Television as a medium of marketing communication has a decreasing exposure rate among generation Z due to the increasing patronage on Internet-based communication. However, marketers could not fully shift into online platforms because of television’s high market reach attribute especially in the Philippines. Establishing awareness is a crucial work for unknown brands but repetition does not guarantee familiarity. A comparative analysis on the impact of energetic commercials on deactivating audiences was performed while this research aimed to identify the factors affecting Gen Z’s consumer perception towards television as an advertising medium. Data collection was done through survey questionnaires distributed to 385 respondents. Data were treated with statistical tools such as measures of central tendency, measures of variability and partial least square - structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that Perceived Ease of Use is an insignificant variable to consumer perception. It was discovered that watching TV news, movies, series, and more is not usually preferred by consumers; they would rather stream online. However, Information Gratification is found to significantly influence consumer perception on TV as an advertising medium. Consumers get to know new products and brands when watching TV. The results of this study will mostly benefit advertising agencies because they will further understand the current perception of the generation on television advertising. Thus, more effective strategies concerning television advertising will be implemented. Keywords: TV, advertising, gen Z, consumer perception, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, information gratification
Review of wave drag reduction techniques: Advances in active, passive, and hybrid flow control

Typical challenges of supersonic flight include wave drag, acoustic signature, and aerodynamic heating due to the formation of shock waves ahead of the vehicle. Efforts in the form of sleek aerodynamic designs, better propulsion systems, and the implementation of passive and active techniques are generally adopted to achieve a weaker shock wave system. Shock reduction can improve flight range, reduce fuel consumption, and provide thermal protection of the forebody region. This paper briefly reviews shock reduction techniques, including passive, active, and hybrid flow control. Airfoil shape optimization, mechanical spike, and forebody cavities are studied as passive flow control approaches. For active flow control, developments in the area of opposing jets and energy deposition are explored. The combination of active and passive flow control and the hybrid flow techniques are discussed in the end. The discussions include the principle of operation, physics of fluid behavior, and overall contribution to flight stability characteristics. The implications in the usage of these technologies, along with potential gaps, are also identified. This comprehensive review can serve as the basis for contemporary solutions to realize sustainable supersonic travel for the aviation industry.
Clinical Evaluation of Single-Use, Fiber-Optic, and Digital Ureterorenoscopes in the Treatment of Kidney Stones

Introduction: Indication of ureteroscopy for the treatment of urolithiasis has expanded immensely over the last decade. Fiber-optic and digital reusable instruments present the standard in clinical practice, but various newly available single-use devices might offer an exciting alternative. To date, the evidence is limited to clinical evaluation and efficacy of single-use ureteroscopes (URS) compared to standard instruments. Therefore, we evaluate a single-use instrument’s clinical characteristics and efficacy in direct comparison with a fiber-optic and digital device. Methods: A prospective study was conducted for patients undergoing endoscopic therapy for urolithiasis at a tertiary care center. We evaluated the different instruments’ clinical performance in categories of visibility, the stability of visibility, irrigation flow, and surgeon’s satisfaction. Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS using the Chi-Quadrat and Kruskal-Wallis test. A p value of p ≤ 0.05 was defined as statistically significant. Results: A total number of 77 patients were included and distributed as follows: 35 (46.7%) single-use, 19 (25.3%) digital, and 23 (28%) fiber-optic URS. Patients’ characteristics were homogenous over the three cohorts in sex, stone amount, and localization. The stone-free rate was equal in all three cohorts (p = 0.31). We identify stability of visibility, irrigation flow, and satisfaction were equal in all cohorts (p = 0.73; p = 0.20; p = 0.20). We report a significant difference in visibility, with 100% rated excellent in the digital URS group (p = 0.028). Discussion/Conclusions: Single-use URS achieve comparable clinical outcomes with equal stone-free rates in direct comparison with fiber-optic and digital reusable instruments. Accordingly, single-use devices present an adequate alternative for endoscopic therapy of urolithiasis.
Efficacy and safety of lokivetmab (Cytopoint®) for the control of pruritus and skin lesions in dogs with atopic dermatitis

Background and objective: Lokivetmab is the first anti-canine interleukin-31 monoclonal antibody approved in the European Union for Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD) management. This study aimed to assess the lokivetmab’s efficacy and safety in treating CAD cases from a university reference service, as well as the dog’s owner’s overall opinion regarding therapy. Methods: Eighteen atopic dogs were enrolled to perform two subcutaneous injections of lokivetmab, according to the protocol. In order to determine the efficacy and safety of the treatment, skin lesions, pruritus score, blood count, liver parameters and adverse side effects were evaluated over 56 days. The overall pet owner’s satisfaction about the therapy was assessed at the end of the study, and the number of animals that maintained the treatment three months after the end of the study was considered. Results: There was a significant reduction in pruritus score over the eight weeks, with 76.5% of the dogs showing a significant clinical improvement. Regarding the lesion score, 77.8% of the dogs achieved significant clinical improvement, with 61.1% reaching it in the first 4 weeks. There were no reported adverse side effects or changes in blood tests. Pet owner’s opinion regarding the improvement of both the dog and its family’s quality of life was very positive, and three months after the end of the study, 77.8% of the dogs continued their therapy with lokivetmab. Conclusion: Lokivetmab proved to be extremely effective and safe, in addition to sparing pet owners from at home drug administrations, which also contributes to their high satisfaction degree. The great specificity of this biological therapy makes it one of the most potent and promising in the CAD field.
Shared Molecular Targets in Parkinson’s Disease and Arterial Hypertension: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Parkinson’s disease and arterial hypertension are likely to coexist in the elderly, with possible bidirectional interactions. We aimed to assess the role of antihypertensive agents in PD emergence and/or progression. (2) We performed a systematic search on the PubMed database. Studies enrolling patients with Parkinson’s disease who underwent treatment with drugs pertaining to one of the major antihypertensive drug classes (β-blockers, diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and calcium-channel blockers) prior to or after the diagnosis of parkinsonism were scrutinized. We divided the outcome into two categories: neuroprotective and disease-modifying effect. (3) We included 20 studies in the qualitative synthesis, out of which the majority were observational studies, with only one randomized controlled trial. There are conflicting results regarding the effect of antihypertensive drugs on Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis, mainly because of heterogeneous protocols and population. (4) Conclusions: There is low quality evidence that antihypertensive agents might be potential therapeutic targets in Parkinson’s disease, but this hypothesis needs further testing.
The Key Role of Hepcidin-25 in Anemia in Multiple Myeloma Patients with Renal Impairment

Background and objectives: Anemia is common in multiple myeloma (MM) and is caused by a complex pathomechanism, including impaired iron homeostasis. Our aim is to evaluate the biomarkers of iron turnover: serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and hepcidin-25 in patients at various stages of MM in relation with markers of anemia, iron status, inflammation, renal impairment and burden of the disease and as predictors of mortality. Materials and methods: Seventy-three MM patients (six with smoldering and 67 with symptomatic disease) were recruited and observed for up to 27 months. Control group included 21 healthy individuals. Serum sTfR and hepcidin were measured with immunoenzymatic assays. Results: MM patients with and without anemia had higher sTFR compared to controls, while only anemic patients had higher hepcidin-25. Both hepcidin-25 and sTfR were higher in anemic than non-anemic patients. Higher hepcidin-25 (but not sTfR) was associated with increasing MM advancement (from smoldering to International Staging System stage III disease) and with poor response to MM treatment, which was accompanied by lower blood hemoglobin and increased anisocytosis. Neither serum hepcidin-25 nor sTfR were correlated with markers of renal impairment. Hepcidin-25 predicted blood hemoglobin in MM patients independently of other predictors, including markers of renal impairment, inflammation and MM burden. Moreover, both blood hemoglobin and serum hepcidin-25 were independently associated with patients’ 2-year survival. Conclusions: Our results suggest that hepcidin-25 is involved in anemia in MM and its concentrations are not affected by kidney impairment. Moreover, serum hepcidin-25 may be an early predictor of survival in this disease, independent of hemoglobin concentration. It should be further evaluated whether including hepcidin improves the early diagnosis of anemia in MM.
Barriers to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in the Mississippi Delta

Rural regions in the United States are home to approximately 15–20% of the country’s population. These regions are often characterized by low access to medical care and high rates of disease and death. The literature has detailed the heterogeneous nature of rural health disparities, calling for research detailing regional factors that influence individual-level risk factors such as diet and physical activity. Approximately 54% of Mississippi residents live in rural areas. The Mississippi Delta population is largely characterized by high obesity rates, poor diet, and low levels of physical activity. This study presents detailed observations of the community-level barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and physical activity within Mississippi Delta communities, contextualizing the findings of a survey of 352 individuals across 25 communities to provide implications and direction for future activities aimed at reducing obesity in the Mississippi Delta. Study participants reported a high prevalence of overweight (22.9%) and obese (62.1%) body mass index classifications. Chi-square analyses revealed significant relationships between body mass index, age, and health conditions. Community food and physical activity environments and rural characteristics were largely implicated as barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity. Next steps involve using qualitative research techniques to guide the development of programmatic strategies for reducing obesity through diet and physical activity in these communities and other rural regions in the United States.
Mind the gap: a review of optimisation in mental healthcare service delivery

ABSTRACT Well-planned care arrangements with effective distribution of available resources have the potential to address inefficiencies in mental health services. We begin by exploring the complexities associated with mental health and describe how these influence service delivery. We then conduct a scoping literature review of studies employing optimisation techniques that address service delivery issues in mental healthcare. Studies are classified based on criteria such as the type of planning decision addressed, the purpose of the study and care setting. We analyse the modelling methodologies used, objectives, constraints and model solutions. We find that the application of optimisation to mental healthcare is in its early stages compared to the rest of healthcare. Commonalities between mental healthcare service provision and other services are discussed, and the future research agenda is outlined. We find that the existing application of optimisation in specific healthcare settings can be transferred to mental healthcare. Also highlighted are opportunities for addressing specific issues faced by mental healthcare services.
Boron Oxide Enhancing Stability of MoS2 Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is the most well-known transition metal chalcogenide for lithium storage applications because of its simple preparation process, superior optical, physical, and electrical properties, and high stability. However, recent research has shown that bare MoS2 nanosheet (NS) can be reformed to the bulk structure, and sulfur atoms can be dissolved in electrolytes or form polymeric structures, thereby preventing lithium insertion/desertion and reducing cycling performance. To enhance the electrochemical performance of the MoS2 NSs, B2O3 nanoparticles were decorated on the surface of MoS2 NSs via a sintering technique. The structure of B2O3 decorated MoS2 changed slightly with the formation of a lattice spacing of ~7.37 Å. The characterization of materials confirmed the formation of B2O3 crystals at 30% weight percentage of H3BO3 starting materials. In particular, the MoS2_B3 sample showed a stable capacity of ~500 mAh·g−1 after the first cycle. The cycling test delivered a high reversible specific capacity of ~82% of the second cycle after 100 cycles. Furthermore, the rate performance also showed a remarkable recovery capacity of ~98%. These results suggest that the use of B2O3 decorations could be a viable method for improving the stability of anode materials in lithium storage applications.
THE BENEFITS OF MEETING KEY GRADE THRESHOLDS IN HIGH-STAKES EXAMINATIONS. NEW EVIDENCE FROM ENGLAND

ABSTRACT In England, failing to achieve a ‘good pass’ (C/4 grade) in key subjects is thought to have serious negative implications. Yet evidence on this issue remains relatively sparse. This paper therefore presents new evidence on the link between meeting a key threshold on high-stakes examination and a wide array of future outcomes. Using Next Steps survey data collected from around 4,000 young people in England, we explore the short-to-medium term benefits of achieving a ‘good pass’ (grade C/4) in English Language, double science and mathematics. Results from our regression analyses point towards a sizable association with future educational attainment; those who achieve a good pass in GCSE mathematics are around 5 percentage points more likely to hold a university degree by age 26 than observationally similar individuals who fail to meet this threshold. No link is found with future wellbeing and mental health, while results for labour market outcomes are somewhat mixed. The findings potentially motivate the need for GCSEs to move away from awarding a set of discrete grades and towards a continuous measurement scale. Alternatively, if discrete grades are to be retained, computer adaptive testing should be introduced for GCSEs to increase measurement precision around high-stakes grade boundaries.
DNA methylation biomarkers in asthma and rhinitis: Are we there yet?

Abstract The study of epigenetics has improved our understanding of mechanisms underpinning gene‐environment interactions and is providing new insights in the pathophysiology of respiratory allergic diseases. We reviewed the literature on DNA methylation patterns across different tissues in asthma and/or rhinitis and attempted to elucidate differentially methylated loci that could be used to characterize asthma or rhinitis. Although nasal and bronchial epithelia are similar in their histological structure and cellular composition, genetic and epigenetic regulation may differ across tissues. Advanced methods have enabled comprehensive, high‐throughput methylation profiling of different tissues (bronchial or nasal epithelial cells, whole blood or isolated mononuclear cells), in subjects with respiratory conditions, aiming to elucidate gene regulation mechanisms and identify new biomarkers. Several genes and CpGs have been suggested as asthma biomarkers, though research on allergic rhinitis is still lacking. The most common differentially methylated loci presented in both blood and nasal samples are ACOT7, EPX, KCNH2, SIGLEC8, TNIK, FOXP1, ATPAF2, ZNF862, ADORA3, ARID3A, IL5RA, METRNL and ZFPM1. Overall, there is substantial variation among studies, (i.e. sample sizes, age groups and disease phenotype). Greater variability of analysis method detailed phenotypic characterization and age stratification should be taken into account in future studies.
Clinical Profile and Determinants of Mortality in Patients With COVID-19: A Retrospective Analytical Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Center in South India

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic gained ground in India, starting from a few cases and spreading to the whole country; eventually becoming the second-most affected country worldwide. Here, we present the clinical and laboratory profile and the risk factors associated with mortality in COVID-19. The study comes from Kerala, a region that reported the first case in India. Kerala has the second-highest case burden in the country but also has managed to keep the case fatality rate down below the national average. Methodology This is a single-center retrospective cross-sectional study on 391 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 positive inpatients between September 2020 and October 2020. Hematological parameters, coagulation parameters, liver function tests (LFT), and renal function tests (RFT) results were collected and compared among survivors and non-survivors to identify predictive biomarkers of mortality. Results The mean age of all patients was 53.2 years (SD 17.0). On bivariate analyses, the mean values of total leukocyte count (TLC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D-dimer at admission, prothrombin time international normalized ratio (PT INR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors: mean (SD) 11.9 (7.6) vs 7.5 (4.2) (x109/L), 10.5 (7.4) vs 5.3 (4.1) (x109/L), 11.6 (13.5) vs 3.4 (3.5), 185 (117) vs 48 (85) (mg/L), 829.4 (551.2) vs 323.6 (374.1) (ng/ml), 905.5 (589.1) vs 485.1 (353.9) (U/L), 4.01 (3.53) vs 1.29 (2.08) (µg/ml), 1.21 (0.42) vs 0.99 (0.18), 105.1 (91.4) vs 33.6 (31.0) (mg/dl), 3.6 (4.1) vs 1.1 (1.6) (mg/dl), respectively, p < 0.001. Absolute lymphocyte count, serum albumin, and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio were lower in non-survivors than in survivors (mean (SD) 1.3 (1.0) vs 2.0 (0.9) (x109/L), p < 0.001; 3.0 (0.7) vs 3.8 (2.1) (g/dl), p 0.005; 0.9 (0.3) vs 1.2 (0.4), p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified ANC, D-dimer at admission, CRP, and BUN as independent prognostic factors associated with mortality. Conclusion Several accessible tests like TLC, ANC, NLR, and BUN can be used in low-resource settings to assess severity in patients with COVID-19. In addition, ANC, D-dimer at admission, CRP, and BUN can be used as independent predictors of in-patient mortality in COVID-19 patients in hospital settings.