Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Key Factors that Promote Low-Value Care: Views of Experts From the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands

Background: Around the world, policies and interventions are used to encourage clinicians to reduce low-value care. In order to facilitate this, we need a better understanding of the factors that lead to low-value care. We aimed to identify the key factors affecting low-value care on a national level. In addition, we highlight differences and similarities in three countries. Methods: We performed 18 semi-structured interviews with experts on low-value care from three countries that are actively reducing low-value care: the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands. We interviewed 5 experts from Canada, 6 from the United States, and 7 from the Netherlands. Eight were organizational leaders or policy-makers, 6 as low-value care researchers or project leaders, and 4 were both. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: The key factors that promote low-value care are the payment system, the pharmaceutical and medical device industry, fear of malpractice litigation, biased evidence and knowledge, medical education, and a ‘more is better’ culture. These factors are seen as the most important in the United States, Canada and the Netherlands, although there are several differences between these countries in their payment structure, and industry and malpractice policy. Conclusion: Policy-makers and researchers that aim to reduce low-value care have experienced that clinicians face a mix of interdependent factors regarding the healthcare system and culture that lead them to provide low-value care. Better awareness and understanding of these factors can help policy-makers to facilitate clinicians and medical centers to deliver high-value care.
Physiological, oxidative and metabolic responses of lactating water buffaloes to tropical climate of South China

Abstract Background Heat stress in tropics is generally associated with significant economic losses resulting from reduced performance, morbidity, and mortality of livestock. To avoid serious consequences of heat stress, it is imperative to better understand the physiological responses and biochemical changes under the state of altered body homeostasis during different seasons of the year. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the seasonal dynamics of physiological, oxidative and metabolic responses of lactating Nili‐Ravi buffaloes to the tropical climate of South China. Methods Physiological responses including rectal temperature (RT), body surface temperature (BST) and respiratory rate (RR) along with serum biochemical and antioxidant parameters of 20 lactating Nili‐Ravi buffaloes were evaluated during different seasons of the year. Results Higher temperature‐humidity Index (THI) during the summer season (>80) resulted in a significant increases in RR and BST as compared to the winter season. Higher oxidative stress was observed in the summer season as revealed by significantly higher MDA while lower serum antioxidant enzyme (TAC, GSH‐Px, SOD and CAT) contents. Moreover, serum cortisol was also significantly higher in summer and autumn. The levels of growth hormone and ACTH were also significantly (P < 0.05) lower in summer and autumn as compared to other seasons. The negative association of THI with physiological and antioxidant parameters was observed while it was positively associated with serum MDA and cortisol levels. Conclusions Our study revealed moderate heat stress in lactating buffaloes in the summer season which calls for attention to avoid economic losses and animal welfare issues.
Seroprevalence of bovine foot and mouth disease (FMD) and its associated risk factors in selected districts of Afar region, Ethiopia

Abstract Background A cross‐sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to May 2019 to estimate seroprevalence of foot and mouth disease virus for cattle and assess associated risk factors in selected districts of afar region. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study areas. A total of 384 bovine sera were collected from 72 herds and seroprevalence of the disease was determined using 3ABC‐ELISA technique. Data were recorded and coded using Microsoft Excel spread sheet and analysed using STATA. Potential risk factors of the disease were also assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results Out of 384 sera tested at National Veterinary Institute, the overall seroprevalence of foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus was 19.8% (n = 76; 95% CI = 15.8‐23.79) at animal level and 56.94% at herd level. The herd level seroprevalence was higher in animals tested from Dubti (85%, n = 17) than Asayita (48.13%, n = 13) and Chifra (44%, n = 11). Among the associated risk factors, age, herd size, district and contact with wild life were statistically associated with foot and mouth disease serostatus (p < 0.05). Medium and large herd size animals were 2.49 (95% CI: 1.33‐6.63) and 6.05 (95% CI: 2.54‐14.43) times more likely to develop the disease as compared to animals from small herd size, respectively. Conclusions The current study finding revealed that FMD was more prevalent and economically significant disease in the study districts. Hence, further studies ought to be conducted to estimate the region wise serostatus magnitude of the disease, to assess its economic impact and to identify the circulating serotypes and strains in the areas.
Intestinal Biopsies for the Evaluation of Environmental Enteropathy and Environmental Enteric Dysfunction

Abstract Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a syndrome characterized by impairments of digestion and absorption and intestinal barrier failure in people living in insanitary or tropical environments. There is substantial evidence that it contributes to impaired linear growth of millions of children in low- and middle-income countries, to slowed neurocognitive development, and to diminished responses to oral vaccines. It represents the functional consequences of environmental enteropathy, an asymptomatic inflammatory disorder of the mucosa, and there is considerable overlap with the enteropathy observed in severe clinical malnutrition. The majority of studies of EED have employed functional tests based on lactulose permeation to define the presence of abnormal leak in the gut. However, where intestinal biopsies can safely be collected the opportunity then arises to study the underlying enteropathy in cellular and molecular detail, as well as to measure important functional elements such as enzyme expression. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize the current understanding of environmental enteropathy obtained from small intestinal biopsies, and prospects for future work. We review histology, electron microscopy, transcription and protein expression, physiological measures, and the microbiome. We conclude that while noninvasive biomarkers of enteropathy and intestinal dysfunction permit large-scale studies of unquestionable value, intestinal biopsies are still required to investigate pathophysiology in depth.
Macrophages of different tissue origin exhibit distinct inflammatory responses to mycobacterial infection

Macrophages display marked plasticity with functions in both inflammation and tissue repair. Evidence demonstrates that this spectrum of macrophage phenotypes is influenced by their local microenvironment and tissue origin. However, in vitro macrophage experiments often do not or cannot readily use macrophages from the most relevant tissue of origin. This study investigated if the origin of two C57BL/6 mouse macrophage cell lines of alveolar (AMJ2‐C11) and peritoneal (IC‐21) origin may influence their response to mycobacterial infection. Both cell lines equally controlled the growth of Mycobacterium bovis BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, although the expression of all proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines measured (TNF, IL‐6, MCP‐1, MIP‐1α, MIP‐1β, and RANTES) was significantly higher in AMJ2‐C11 cells than in IC‐21 cells. During M. tuberculosis infection, IL‐6, MCP‐1, and RANTES expression increased 5‐fold, and MIP‐1β expression increased 30‐fold. Additionally, AMJ2‐C11 cells exhibited significantly higher inducible nitric oxide synthase activity than IC‐21 cells, indicative of a more polarized M1 response. The expression of multiple surface markers was also assessed by flow cytometry. CD80 and CD86 were significantly upregulated in AMJ2‐C11 cells and downregulated in IC‐21 cells during M. tuberculosis infection. The results support the notion that the origin of tissue‐resident macrophages influences their phenotype and antimicrobial response and demonstrate hereto unrecognized potential for these cell lines in in vitro studies.
Detection of pseudorabies virus with a real-time recombinase-aided amplification assay.

Pseudorabies (PR) is an acute infectious disease of pigs caused by pseudorabies virus (PRV), which has caused great economic losses to the pig industry worldwide. Reliable and timely diagnose is crucial for the surveillance, control and eradication of PR. Here, a real-time fluorescent recombinase-aided amplification (real-time RAA) assay was established to detect PRV. Primers and probes were designed based on the conserved regions of the PRV gE gene. The assay was specific for the detection of wild-type PRV, showing no cross-reactivity with other important porcine viruses (including PRV gE-deleted vaccine strains). Analytical sensitivity of the assay was three 50% tissue culture infectious doses (TCID50 ) of PRV DNA per reaction with 95% reliability, which is comparable to that of a PRV-specific real-time PCR (qPCR) assay. In diagnosis of 206 clinical tissue samples, the diagnose accordance rate between the real-time RAA assay and qPCR assay was 97.57% (201/206). Interestingly, the amplified products of real-time RAA could be visualized under a portable blue light instrument, making it possible for the rapid detection of PRV in resource-limited settings and on-site screening. Therefore, our developed real-time RAA assay is a diagnostic method for the rapid detection of PRV in the field. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Gender assessment in energy projects: perceptions, practices and the role of a regional directive in ECOWAS

ABSTRACT The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is the first regional organisation, globally, to have a Directive on Gender Assessment in Energy Projects. The Directive provides a framework for Member States to ensure that women and marginalised groups in project-affected communities are adequately protected from adverse impacts of energy projects. Being a recent instrument, one may wonder how this experiment will pan out. Drawing from scholarship on regionalism and using social impact theory, this paper adopts a forward-looking approach to consider if the recently adopted Directive will now become practice. We find that ECOWAS has the procedural legitimacy to successfully impact the domestic institutions of its Member States through this Directive – with ECOWAS being seen as a strong and influential institution by its members. However, ECOWAS’ consequential legitimacy, regarding this Directive, may be slightly weakened by its lesser ‘immediacy’, i.e. its level of interaction with ministries, departments and agencies, when compared to other actors such as international financial institutions. The paper concludes with the recommendation for stronger regional oversight and guidance from ECOWAS. We also call for action to financial institutions, private investors and community-based organisations to make gender assessment in energy projects a consistent and meaningful practice.
Sorafenib prevents the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of liver cancer cells by regulating autophagy and hypoxia-inducible factor-1

Sorafenib has been approved as a systemic drug for advanced liver cancer; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of sorafenib on the proliferation, autophagy and apoptosis of HepG2 cells under hypoxia. Briefly, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting was performed to quantify HIF-1, LC3II/I, mTOR and p70s6K expression levels. Cell proliferation was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and the cell apoptosis rate was evaluated using flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that autophagy and apoptosis were induced by hypoxia, and that sorafenib further enhanced hypoxia-induced autophagy and apoptosis in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the mechanism of sorafenib-mediated autophagy in liver cancer cell were investigated by using chloroquine (CQ). The results showed that CQ significantly inhibited autophagy by decreasing LC3II/LC3I ratio in HepG2 cells treated with sorafenib and/or hypoxia. By contrast, sorafenib could increase the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and of the autophagy marker (LC3II/I) and decrease the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin and p70 ribosomal S6 kinase in HepG2 cells under normoxia and hypoxia conditions, suggesting that sorafenib could induce hypoxia and autophagy in liver cancer cells. In addition, sorafenib was demonstrated to prevent proliferation and induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells under normoxia and hypoxia. Sorafenib could also prevent the malignant behavior of HepG2 by inducing hypoxia and autophagy. In summary, the findings from the present study suggested that sorafenib may inhibit liver cancer progression by activating autophagy and HIF-1 signaling pathway.
Mapping phosphorus concentration in Mediterranean forests using different remote-sensing methods

ABSTRACT Mineral nutrition is essential for optimal plant growth. Phosphorus (P) is a relatively small component of leaf dry weight, with a concentration in plant foliage of less than 1%. Despite its low concentration, P is an essential element in plants, mainly used for energy transfer. Mapping P concentration using traditional methods is expensive and usually limited to a small area; it is time-consuming and covers only a few plant individuals or species. In this study, we demonstrate the use of remote-sensing (RS) data acquired from the feld and airborne hyperspectral sensors to predict and map the P concentration in leaves of different woody Mediterranean plant species. Comprehensive field work included leaf sampling, laboratory analyses, and spectral measurements using a visible, near-infrared and shortwave-infrared (VIS–NIR–SWIR) field spectrometer. Using different spectral configurations, we built accurate models to predict P concentration in leaf samples. The models were built using a NIR data analysis technique with the data mining software PARACUDA II. This software allowed us to identify the correlative wavelengths for P-bearing molecules in selected woody Mediterranean plant species. The hyperspectral-based model for leaf P concentration was extracted from the reflectance data acquired using a manned aircraft carrying a hyperspectral sensor (Specim AisaFenix 1 K). The model gave a reliable correlation between points extracted from the hyperspectral image and samples measured in the field. We believe that the methodology used in this study will help forest ecologists better understand the concentration of P in the foliage of woody Mediterranean plant species.
Investigation of temperature-dependent performances of InP/In0.53Ga0.34Al0.13As heterojunction bipolar transistors

Temperature-dependent dc performances of lattice-matched InP/InGaAlAs heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) using the InGaAlAs quaternary alloy as the base and collector layers are studied and reported. When compared with conventional InP/InGaAs HBTs, the device studied exhibits a higher common-emitter breakdown voltage and a lower output conductance even at high temperature. The variations of offset voltage and ideality factor at different temperatures have been analysed. In addition, with decreasing temperature from 25 °C toward -196 °C, an irregular temperature behaviour of current gain is observed. At high current levels, the temperature-dependent current gain is mainly determined by the reduced reverse hole injection current. As the current level is lowered, the dominance of reverse hole injection current is correspondingly replaced by the recombination current.
Influences of different sources and levels of crude fiber on performances, fatty acids profile and carcass traits in growing-fattening pigs’ diet

Abstract The present study has investigated the potential of including different sources and levels of fiber (6.5% and 7.5%) in growing-fattening pigs’ diet. The nine weeks feeding trial was conducted on nine hybrids TOPIGS castrated males with an initial average weight of 25.25±2.11 kg, randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups with 3 replicates per group. The control group (C) was fed with a corn, wheat and soybean basal diet and it was characterized by 3.5% crude fiber (CF), the experimental groups E1 had 6.5% CF (4% alfalfa meal and 12.36 % sunflower meal) and E2 had 7.5% (6% alfalfa and 18.38% sunflower meal) decreasing the dietary rate inclusion of soybean meal from C (21.42% soybean meal). Bodyweight (initial, final), average daily feed intake (ADFI), leftovers were registered and average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated during the experiment. At the end of the study, the pigs were slaughtered for the determination of carcass traits and meat quality parameters. The productive performances were not influenced by the source or level of the fiber content. The saturated fatty acid (SFA) values were significantly different (P<0.05) in E1 group for shoulder and belly samples compared to C and for breast samples on E2. Higher MUFA concentrations significantly different (P<0.05) were noticed for ham, sirloin, rack, shoulder, breast on E1. PUFA, Ω:6 concentration shown significant differences (P<0.05) within E2 to all meat samples collected, except the neck. The best carcass classification results were recorded in the E1 with 6.5% cellulose (50% Class S and 50% Class E) according to the SEUROP system classification. The study concluded that the dietary percentages of alfalfa meal and sunflower meal did not compromise productive performances but the average muscle thickness and meat percentage registered lower values compared with group C. Further studies with the same raw materials but changing the inclusion percentages should have experimented with emphasis on carcass traits results.
A Holistic Approach to Education for Sustainability: Ecofeminism as a Tool to Enhance Sustainability Attitudes in Pre-service Teachers

Abstract To achieve an effective Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), teachers should possess appropriate sustainability attitudes to transmit those values to their future students. In this article, a holistic educational intervention around the ecofeminist movement is described and its impact on the sustainability attitudes of 188 pre-service teachers is assessed. The quantitative results with a validated questionnaire reveal an initial high level of sustainability awareness and a statistically significant increase in the environmental dimension after the educational intervention. In addition, the qualitative analysis of the stories and activities for children prepared by the students in a process of didactic transposition confirms their ability to effectively integrate different competencies around a topic. Due to their status as future educators in the early stages of the system, pre-service teachers are relevant to disseminate a holistic view of ESD and we can conclude that ecofeminism is a thematic node that integrates key concept and attitudinal content to achieve that goal.
The Effects of Initial-Terminal Position on Pointing Task for Touch-Screen Tablet

ABSTRACT Previous studies have used the Fitts’ Law to predict the performance of pointing task on touch screens. It was found that moving distance, target width, and the direction of motion would affect the task performance. The present research aimed to investigate the impact of the initial and terminal positions (ITPs) on pointing performance in two Exps. ITPs were divided into two categories: center of a screen and outer of a screen (center ↔ outer) pointing, and outer of a screen to outer of a screen (outer→outer) pointing. In Exp 1, 30 participants performed the center ↔ outer pointing tasks with 8 directions. The results showed that the outer → center movement was significantly faster than the center → outer at 45°, 90°, and 180°. In Exp 2, 30 participants performed the outer → outer pointing tasks with eight directions. The current study revealed that the ITPs influenced the performance of the pointing task, possibly due to human biomechanical characteristics associated with different movements.
‘Schooling at Home’ in Ireland during COVID-19’: Parents’ and Students’ Perspectives on Overall Impact, Continuity of Interest, and Impact on Learning

Educational disruption due to COVID-19 ushered in dramatically different learning realities in Ireland. Our research explored the experiences of children, young people and parents during the first period of ‘schooling at home’ (SAH) at the end of that academic year. An anonymous online survey, guided by social constructivist emphases, yielded responses from 2733 parents and 1189 students from primary and second-level schools. Substantial evidence emerged of parent-perceived and student-perceived negative psychosocial impacts of SAH on students. Further, our research clarified the exceptional stress experienced by parents in attempting to support SAH. A novel finding was student perceptions of having learned less during SAH, most likely due to significant declines in academic engagement. Recommendations for potential future periods of SAH include the need for innovative means of simulating socio-collaborative contexts, more flexible school supports based on unique home learning contexts, and enhanced psychological support for parents and at-risk children/young people. In addition, we recommend that further research in the Irish context should specifically investigate the perspectives and experiences of those from minority ethnic and lower socio-economic groups.
The role of thermal diffusion, particle clusters, hydrodynamic and magnetic forces on the flow behaviour of magneto-polymer composites

In this paper, we study the shear-induced flow of magneto-polymer composites, consisting of dispersions of magnetic particles in solutions of polymers, as a competition between the colloidal forces amid particles and their bulk transport induced by the hydrodynamic forces. For this aim, we analyse the role of different experimental parameters. Firstly, by using only solutions of a well-known anionic polymer (sodium alginate), we provoke a moderate hindering of particle movement, but keeping the liquid-like state of the samples. On the contrary, a gel-like behaviour is conferred to the samples when a cationic polymer (chitosan) is additionally added, which further reduces the particle movement. We analyse the effect of an applied magnetic field, which is opposed to particle transport by hydrodynamic forces, by inducing magnetic attraction between the particles. We perform the analysis under both stationary and oscillatory shear. We show that by using dimensionless numbers the differences between samples and experimental conditions are emphasized. In all cases, as expected, the transport of particles driven by bulk hydrodynamic forces dominates at high values of the shear rate. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Transport phenomena in complex systems (part 1)’.