Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Women leadership for public health: The added value and needs of women driving public health system reform in Ukraine

The Ukrainian health care system is undergoing reforms. Although women constitute a driving force in the Ukrainian health system transformation, their economic and decision-making participation remains extremely low. The existence of barriers such as: work/life balance, gender bias, stereotypes, lack of confidence, lack of mentoring, and lack of adequate networking and equal access to opportunities prevent women from reaching high leadership positions. With the aim to empower the current and future female public health leaders, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and WHO held a seminar entitled “Women’s Leadership in Public Health” in Kyiv on 16-18 May 2017. The seminar was based on the assumption that contemporary public health demands require a more inclusive and less hierarchical style of leadership – focused on developing and working with stakeholder networks. Such a leadership style is more effective in achieving public health goals. The international, interdisciplinary and inter-professional faculty engaged in the interactive meaning making around such topics as: the self-assessment of leadership competencies, public health leadership, leadership theories, system thinking, dealing with interests, power and stakeholders, barriers to women leadership and methods to address them, special leadership tools for women empowerment and leading change, communication and impact. Strengthening health systems for better health was the red thread throughout the whole seminar.
Simvastatin Hydroxy Acid Fails to Attain Sufficient Central Nervous System Tumor Exposure to Achieve a Cytotoxic Effect: Results of a Preclinical Cerebral Microdialysis Study

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors were potent hits against a mouse ependymoma cell line, but their effectiveness against central nervous system tumors will depend on their ability to cross the blood–brain barrier and attain a sufficient exposure at the tumor. Among 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A inhibitors that had activity in vitro, we prioritized simvastatin (SV) as the lead compound for preclinical pharmacokinetic studies based on its potential for central nervous system penetration as determined from in silico models. Furthermore, we performed systemic plasma disposition and cerebral microdialysis studies of SV (100 mg/kg, p.o.) in a murine model of ependymoma to characterize plasma and tumor extracellular fluid (tECF) pharmacokinetic properties. The murine dosage of SV (100 mg/kg, p.o.) was equivalent to the maximum tolerated dose in patients (7.5 mg/kg, p.o.) based on equivalent plasma exposure of simvastatin acid (SVA) between the two species. SV is rapidly metabolized in murine plasma with 15 times lower exposure compared with human plasma. SVA exposure in tECF was <33.8 ± 11.9 µg/l per hour, whereas the tumor to plasma partition coefficient of SVA was <0.084 ± 0.008. Compared with in vitro washout IC50 values, we did not achieve sufficient exposure of SVA in tECF to suggest tumor growth inhibition; therefore, SV was not carried forward in subsequent preclinical efficacy studies.
Coarse climate change projections for species living in a fine‐scaled world

Accurately predicting biological impacts of climate change is necessary to guide policy. However, the resolution of climate data could be affecting the accuracy of climate change impact assessments. Here, we review the spatial and temporal resolution of climate data used in impact assessments and demonstrate that these resolutions are often too coarse relative to biologically relevant scales. We then develop a framework that partitions climate into three important components: trend, variance, and autocorrelation. We apply this framework to map different global climate regimes and identify where coarse climate data is most and least likely to reduce the accuracy of impact assessments. We show that impact assessments for many large mammals and birds use climate data with a spatial resolution similar to the biologically relevant area encompassing population dynamics. Conversely, impact assessments for many small mammals, herpetofauna, and plants use climate data with a spatial resolution that is orders of magnitude larger than the area encompassing population dynamics. Most impact assessments also use climate data with a coarse temporal resolution. We suggest that climate data with a coarse spatial resolution is likely to reduce the accuracy of impact assessments the most in climates with high spatial trend and variance (e.g., much of western North and South America) and the least in climates with low spatial trend and variance (e.g., the Great Plains of the USA). Climate data with a coarse temporal resolution is likely to reduce the accuracy of impact assessments the most in the northern half of the northern hemisphere where temporal climatic variance is high. Our framework provides one way to identify where improving the resolution of climate data will have the largest impact on the accuracy of biological predictions under climate change.
Revisiting the Concept of Growth Monitoring and its Possible Role in Community-Based Nutrition Programs

Background Community-based growth monitoring (GM) and growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) have been implemented worldwide. The literature provides controversial messages regarding their effectiveness. Numerous countries have GM as their main community-based activity and need guidance for future programming. The notion of GM is usually clear, but the follow-up actions include a range of activities and interventions, all under the heading of “promotion. ” Objective We suggested definitions, objectives, and outcomes of the GM and GMP. By providing some clarity on these conceptual issues we attempted to provide a basis for consensus building and development of recommendations on when this activity should be promoted or discouraged. Methods We reviewed basic concepts and global experience of GM and GMP using publications about GM and GMP, UNICEF country reports and other publications, field observations, and reports of recent expert consultations. Results Realistic added benefits are suggested as compared with general counseling that could also be delivered outside the GM session. We provide a narrow definition of “promotion” in GMP, in which actions are tailored to the results of monitoring, as well as suggest quality implementation criteria. Conclusions GM, even if complemented by a promotional package, can have only a limited impact if it is not part of a comprehensive program. GMP cannot be viewed as a competitor to highly effective interventions, but may serve as a possible platform for their delivery. The decision to build community-based programs on a GMP platform should be based on consideration of benefits, feasibility of quality implementation, and capacity of human resources.
Inhibition of Cronobacter sakazakii by heat labile bacteriocins produced by probiotic LAB isolated from healthy infants.

Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause bacteremia, meningitis, and necrotizing enterocolitis, most often in neonates with case-fatality rates that may reach 80%. The antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria against a wide range of foodborne pathogens is well-established in different types of food products. The objective of the current study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. casei isolated from feces of healthy infants against different strains of C. sakazakii in agar and a rehydrated infant milk formula (RIMF) model. The inhibition zones of C. sakazakii around L. acidophilus or L. casei ranged from 22 to 32 mm on eMan Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) agar under aerobic conditions, while a slight reduction in antibacterial activity was noted on modified MRS (0.2% glucose) under anaerobic conditions. It was observed that pH-neutralized cell-free supernatant (CFS) of L. acidophilus or L. casei was inhibitory against tested C. sakazakii strains. The inhibition zones of neutralized CFS were lower than the antibacterial activities of live cultures. The antibacterial activity of CFS was abolished when CFS from L. acidophilus or L. casei was heated at 60 or 80 °C for either 10 min or 2 h, or treated with trypsin or pepsin. This was considered strong evidence that the inhibition was due to the production of bacteriocins by L. casei and L. acidophilus. Both the CFS and active growing cells of L. casei and L. acidophilus were able to reduce the viability of C. sakazakii in the RIMF model. The results may extend the use of natural antimicrobials instead of conventional preservation methods to improve the safety of RIMF.
SDR based EPC UHF RFID reader DS-SS localization testbed

This paper presents the design and evaluation of a flexible UHF RFID testbed, which is intended to be used for developing real time localization systems. It is based on an off the shelf software defined radio platform, i.e. the National Instruments USRP-2922. Special requirements for a localization algorithm based on a superimposed Direct Sequence-Spread Spectrum signal which is currently under active research have been considered for the described implementation progress and specifically for the decoder. Because some of the requirements couldn't be fulfilled using the provided manufacturer's driver framework, a custom field-programmable gate array implementation has been carried out.
In humans IL‐6 is released from the brain during and after exercise and paralleled by enhanced IL‐6 mRNA expression in the hippocampus of mice

Aim: Plasma interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) increases during exercise by release from active muscles and during prolonged exercise also from the brain. The IL‐6 release from muscles continues into recovery and we tested whether the brain also releases IL‐6 in recovery from prolonged exercise in humans. Additionally, it was evaluated in mice whether brain release of IL‐6 reflected enhanced IL‐6 mRNA expression in the brain as modulated by brain glycogen levels.
Changing preferences for environmental protection: evidence from volunteer behaviour

ABSTRACT Over the past couple of decades, public awareness about environmental issues and concern for environmental protection appears to have increased substantially in Canada as it has in many other countries. This research has two objectives: first, to empirically assess the factors affecting voluntary participation in activities to protect the environment in Canada and to determine if participation has changed from 2000 to 2010, and second, to contemplate whether a change in environmental participation over time might be considered evidence of changing preferences, and thus demand, for environmental protection. Analysis makes use of data from Statistics Canada’s 2000, 2004, 2007 and 2010 Canadian Survey of Giving, Volunteering, and Participating used to estimate two IV probit models. Results suggest the likelihood of participating in environmental protection has increased over time providing a signal that preferences for environmental protection may have increased in Canada. Post-secondary education and social capital developed in youth have the largest impacts on the likelihood of participating. The results are expected to provide valuable information for public policy makers and environmental non-profit organizations.
Binaural and Monaural Localization of Sound in Two-Dimensional Space

Two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, part 1, binaural and monaural localization of sounds originating in the left hemifield was investigated. 104 loudspeakers were arranged in a 13×8 matrix with 15° separating adjacent loudspeakers in each column and in each row. In the horizontal plane (HP), the loudspeakers extended from 0° to 180° in the vertical plane (VP), they extended from −45° to 60° with respect to the interaural axis. Findings of special interest were: (i) binaural listeners identified the VP coordinate of the sound source more accurately than did monaural listeners, and (ii) monaural listeners identified the VP coordinate of the sound source more accurately than its HP coordinate. In part 2, it was found that foreknowledge of the HP coordinate of the sound source aided monaural listeners in identifying its VP coordinate, but the converse did not hold. In experiment 2, part 1, localization performances were evaluated when the sound originated from consecutive 45° segments of the HP, with the VP segments extending from −22.5° to 22.5°. Part 2 consisted of measuring, on the same subjects, head-related transfer functions by means of a miniature microphone placed at the entrance of their external ear canal. From these data, the ‘covert’ peaks (defined and illustrated in text) of the sound spectrum were extracted. This spectral cue was advanced to explain why monaural listeners in this study as well as in other studies performed better when locating VP-positioned sounds than when locating HP-positioned sounds. It is not claimed that there is inherent advantage for localizing sound in the VP; rather, monaural localization proficiency, whether in the VP or HP, depends on the availability of covert peaks which, in turn, rests on the spatial arrangement of the sound sources.
Crony Sectors as a Barrier to Economic Well-Being and Ecologization (Case of Ukraine)

DOI: 10.14254/2071789X.2018/11-3/7 ABSTRACT. This paper investigates the relationship between oligarchic economies and the crony sector development, which includes industries with the dominating rent-seeking behavior. In order to analyze the period from 2006 till 2016, cross-countries’ data on the Power Distance Index, Crony Capitalism Index, Sustainable Society Index, among with the environmentally related taxes are referenced. Regression analysis for the distance to power and dependence on crony capitalism is carried out with a focus on the relation between crony capitalism and ecologization. Existence of a vicious cycle associated with hierarchical tolerance and barriers towards ecologization in modern welfare economics, is debated. Conclusions are made concerning the cultural and social factors having their direct impact on the existence of crony sectors and functioning of weak institutions
Chemotactic Role of Neurotropin 3 in the Embryonic Testis That Facilitates Male Sex Determination1

Abstract The first morphological event after initiation of male sex determination is seminiferous cord formation in the embryonic testis. Cord formation requires migration of pre-peritubular myoid cells from the adjacent mesonephros. The embryonic Sertoli cells are the first testicular cells to differentiate and have been shown to express neurotropin-3 (NT3), which can act on high-affinity trkC receptors expressed on migrating mesonephros cells. NT3 expression is elevated in the embryonic testis during the time of seminiferous cord formation. A trkC receptor tyrophostin inhibitor, AG879, was found to inhibit seminiferous cord formation and mesonephros cell migration. Beads containing NT3 were found to directly promote mesonephros cell migration into the gonad. Beads containing other growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) did not influence cell migration. At male sex determination the SRY gene promotes testis development and the expression of downstream sex differentiation genes such as SOX-9. Inhibition of NT3 actions caused a reduction in the expression of SOX-9. Combined observations suggest that when male sex determination is initiated, the developing Sertoli cells express NT3 as a chemotactic agent for migrating mesonephros cells, which are essential to promote embryonic testis cord formation and influence downstream male sex differentiation.
Labour Market Failure, Capital Accumulation, Growth and Poverty Dynamics in Partially Formalised Economies: Why Developing Countries’ Growth Patterns are Different

The assumption of perfectly functioning labour markets is ubiquitous in growth theory, yet incompatible with equally ubiquitous poverty in developing countries’ informal sectors. We argue that developing countries and high-income countries differ as in the former, induced by informal sector poverty, the macroeconomic labour market fails with the result of a persisting wage differential between the well-observed formal and the unobserved informal sector. In such setting, formal sector employment growth is driven by formal sector capital accumulation, formal sector capital accumulation is free from diminishing returns and growth is endogenous. These propositions hold as long as informal sector poverty exists. Empirical testing using panel data and cross-sectional data from a stable sample of 73 developing countries provides strong support for these findings.
Platelet-derived growth factor inhibits demineralized bone matrix-induced intramuscular cartilage and bone formation. A study of immunocompromised mice.

BACKGROUND Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been proposed as a therapeutic agent to promote bone-healing. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of PDGF on the ability of human demineralized bone matrix to induce bone formation in a nude-mouse muscle-implantation model. We also examined whether platelet-rich plasma, which contains PDGF, also modulates osteoinduction in this model. METHODS Human demineralized bone matrix, previously shown to be osteoinductive in the calf muscles of nude mice, was mixed with PDGF-BB (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 microg/10 mg of demineralized bone matrix) and was implanted bilaterally in the calf muscles of immunocompromised (nu/nu) mice (six mice in each group). Heat-inactivated demineralized bone matrix was used as a control. Tissue was harvested at fourteen, twenty-eight, and fifty-six days after implantation. Platelet-rich plasma was prepared from the blood of a healthy donor with use of the Harvest PRP preparation device, activated with thrombin, and mixed with active and inactive demineralized bone matrix. Fifty-six days post-implantation, tissues were harvested. Osteoinduction was assessed with use of a qualitative scoring system and with quantitative histomorphometry. RESULTS Cartilage was present at fourteen days in all tissues that had received an implant, but the amount decreased as the PDGF concentration increased. PDGF reduced bone formation at twenty-eight days in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect was resolved by fifty-six days, except in tissues in which demineralized bone matrix and 10 microg of PDGF had been implanted. In sites treated with 10 microg of PDGF, the area of new bone was decreased and the area of bone marrow was reduced at twenty-eight and fifty-six days. PDGF also appeared to retard resorption of demineralized bone matrix in a dose-dependent manner. Platelet-rich plasma reduced osteoinduction by human demineralized bone matrix that had high osteoinductive activity and had no effect on osteoinduction by demineralized bone matrix with low activity. CONCLUSIONS PDGF inhibits, in a dose-dependent manner, intramuscular osteoinduction and chondrogenesis by demineralized bone matrix in immunocompromised mice. Platelet-rich plasma also reduces the osteoinductivity of active demineralized bone matrix.
Successful management of pulmonary tuberculosis in renal allograft recipients in a single center.

BACKGROUND Pulmonary infections, especially tuberculosis, are responsible for significant mortality and morbidity among renal transplant recipients in developing countries. Conventional diagnostic modalities are associated with a low yield, delaying specific therapy. METHODS All patients transplanted within a 1.5-year period were prospectively followed-up for one year. Patients were on a cyclosporine-based triple immunosuppressive regimen. None received isoniazid prophylaxis, and those transplanted in the last seven months of the study period received daily cotrimoxazole. Patients exhibiting unequivocal evidence of pulmonary infections underwent further evaluation. Search for offending organisms was made by sputum examination and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). RESULTS . Thirty-nine infection episodes were recorded in 34 patients. M. tuberculosis was isolated during 10 episodes, pyogenic bacteria and Pneumocystis carinii in 6 each, candida in 4, aspergillus in 3, cytomegalovirus (CMV) in 3, and nocardia and mucor in one episode each. More than one organism was isolated during five episodes. Bacterial pneumonia and tuberculosis were diagnosed in another seven and two patients, respectively, on the basis of a therapeutic response to specific chemotherapy. Over two thirds of the organisms were identified by examination of BAL fluid. BAL was useful in the diagnosis of tuberculosis and P. carinii pneumonia but was relatively insensitive for CMV and bacterial infections. An increased frequency of acute rejection and higher serum creatinine were factors that predisposed to infections. All patients with pulmonary tuberculosis made a full recovery. CONCLUSIONS Tuberculosis and P. carinii are the most common nonpyogenic infections in the first year after transplantation in developing countries. An aggressive search for tubercle bacilli should be made using bronchoscopy and examination of BAL fluid in patients not responding to a short trial of antibiotics. A four-drug regime without rifampicin given for 18 months is effective for pulmonary tuberculosis in patients on cyclosporine. We recommend routine prophylactic use of one single-strength tablet of cotrimoxazole daily for at least six months after transplantation.
Test-retest Reliability and Practice Effects of a Rapid Screen of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Test-retest reliabilities and practice effects of measures from the Rapid Screen of Concussion (RSC), in addition to the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (Digit Symbol), were examined. Twenty five male participants were tested three times; each testing session scheduled a week apart. The test-retest reliability estimates for most measures were reasonably good, ranging from . 79 to . 97. An exception was the delayed word recall test, which has had a reliability estimate of . 66 for the first retest, and . 59 for the second retest. Practice effects were evident from Times 1 to 2 on the sentence comprehension and delayed recall subtests of the RSC, Digit Symbol and a composite score. There was also a practice effect of the same magnitude found from Time 2 to Time 3 on Digit Symbol, delayed recall and the composite score. Statistics on measures for both the first and second retest intervals, with associated practice effects, are presented to enable the calculation of reliable change indices (RCI). The RCI may be used to assess any improvement in cognitive functioning after mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
Feasibility of using the RAPAEL Smart Glove in upper limb physical therapy for patients after stroke: A randomized controlled trial

We aim to assess the feasibility of using the RAPAEL Smart Glove as an assistive tool for therapists in clinical rehabilitation therapy settings and to investigate if it can be used to improve the motor recovery rate of stroke survivors. Our randomized controlled study involved 13 post-stroke inpatients. An experimental treatment consisted of one 30-minute game-assisted therapy and one 30-minute conventional therapy per day while the control treatment consisted of two 30-minute conventional therapies. Each therapy block consisted of 15 days over a period of 3 weeks. The measured outcomes were the scores on the Wolf Motor Function Test and the active range of motion for the forearm and the wrist. The mean Wolf Motor Function Test score for the group that received game therapies as well as conventional therapies was significantly higher than that for the group who received only conventional therapies. The results suggest that the motor recovery rate of the clinical rehabilitation therapies can be improved when wearable sensors and therapeutic games are used by therapists in their routine therapy practice.